http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml A Day in Our World of Radio Control Car Racing: RC Blog Fri, 09 May 2008 22:03:43 -0500 http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml/0722e5d4c1083580ba1057b5a7cb7c22_47027617.writeback Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:47:19 -0500 I have not been able to keep up with the blog. There has been so much going on lately - it's just crazy! Mike & I are now owners of MDI Racing - a radio control hobby shop in West Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach to be exact. The store pretty much takes up most of my time - I am still racing in the Gas state series and trying to keep up with my soccer games. Just got my new Serpent electric car "S400" - I just started to build as I want to get ready for the upcoming ROAR Region 4 race I am hosting at my new home track - Village RC Raceway in Royal Palm Beach. I am also running my bad-ass new nitro motor by IDM in my new Kyosho Evo car. I ran the car for the 1st time at the 1st race of the Gas state series - came in 3rd in my main. Also my 1st new 1/12th scale electric car, the CRC "T-Fource" is finallly ready - I just need to run and see how that goes! The picture on the home page will always be current at least since I can hardly keep up with any thing else - until then Happy racing! ;) http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml/a41d6201dfd556104c0d96ac144d2922_45d33074.writeback Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:53:24 -0600 This IS an Event! My Hubby, Jaylen & I stopped in to check it all out. The Legacy Grand Hotel on International Drive in Orlando was pretty much overtaken by the Snowbird Nationals. What a great location for this international affair with everything nearby! Hotel rooms were converted in pit areas as well as a Hobby Shop ran by Superior Hobbies. I did the rounds and saw a bunch of familiar faces and tons of new ones. I was told there were over 400 registered racers with many competing in several classes. I should note that there were 5 women racers. My home girls Toni and her Mom Lynn, of course, and I had the pleasure of meeting Carissa and Diane. All 4 ladies are featured on the RC Racers page of this website. There were 7 on-road classes and 9 oval classes. The track, located in the hotel ballroom, was carpeted and was easily converted from on-road to oval. There were live radio interviews courtesy of RC Race'n Radio (rctalklive.com) and they also interviewed winners right after the races! How cool is that! I think I'll do the Snowbird one of these days but not before nitro Winternats! Winternats is calling my name so I'll be there for 2008. I will be at the finals for the 2007 Winternats to check out the Top Dogs this week-end in Fort Myers. Look out for my upcoming report. For now check out the photos for the 2007 Snowbird Nationals. http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml/d12df3479463df228f752aedc6532765_459b0997.writeback Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:40:39 -0600 Well, I just want to wish everyone a great RC Racing Year, this year. We've got a full race schedule ahead and I plan to be at as much racing event as I can possibly attend. We've got 3 more races left in the Florida On-Road Gas State Series (FORGASS), we've got the beginning of the Electric State Series, with the 1st of 7 races on January 20 & 21. We've got the week long Florida Winternats in Fort Myers in February and from list of racers, it looks like it will be a great one. We've the RC Pro Series "fuel Challenge" at Homestead RC Raceway on a track being designed by Art Carbonell. Also my new favourite race of the season, 2007 Great Lakes Challenge in Toledo, Ohio during the 1st week in August. I'll be there. So, let get out there race our little hearts out and most importantly . . . have fun! til we race again . . . . . Denise (Deebs) http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml/183a91175255284b5b5e238af514f6b5_453ed449.writeback Tue, 24 Oct 2006 22:04:41 -0500 The FSEARA (i.e. Florida State Electric Auto Racing Association) had it's last race of the 2006 season at our local track Oakland Park Speedway. We had 2 awesome days of racing with the perfect weather. I had a ball! I decided to enter my first major electric race here and I must say I am hooked. My car was a hand me down from my fiance Mike, Schumacher Mission 1, yes, that's right! After a rough first day, Tony and Troy from Team Schumacher took my car into their "lab" and boy, she was on point shortly thereafter. What! I luv how the car handles. . . . Thanks guys! I will definitely be investing in some decent battery packs and a faster servo! Even though Butter thinks that I should just get an X-Ray all together :) I also had the pleasure of meeting 2 other women racers, Toni & Lyn. Good luck in the Air force Toni and Lyn, I saw a paint job of yours . . . real NICE! I believe everyone had a great time from the comments I read on rctech. I look forward to participating in future electric races. Thanks Tim, Tony M., Mike A., & Troy. Big Shout outs to Marlene, Rene, Patrick, Cheryl, Tino, Robert, Big Mike, Mike & Wayne. http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml/3816b10679c6645b9275007898bfb059_44ff6576.writeback Wed, 06 Sep 2006 19:19:02 -0500 Well, it's about time for the Florida On Road Gas States Series to begin. This weekend as a matter fact, September 9th & 10 at the Lee Civic Center Raceway in Fort Myers will be the first race of 7. Two new tracks have joined this race circuit. A brand new track in Homestead (south miami) and Port Charlotte on the west coast. I hope we have a good consistent turn out this race season and hopefully more women racers. It's lonely out there! I will keep you posted on the races this season with pictures and the usual blab! see you out there and happy racing . . . . http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml/bfd5b7f3e5b6b048e4cc29c8657a6d15_44f1a87d.writeback Sun, 27 Aug 2006 09:13:17 -0500 I know this has nothing to do directly with the hobby but since Mike and I share the love of RC, I figure I'll share the news with you all (for those of you who don't know) Mike & I (Denise) will be getting married this coming November at a small, family gathering. I know this will conflict with the upcoming State Series. I predict that we will miss only one race (hopefully no more)We have a very busy race season this year, so it will be hard trying to juggle everything. So, if you see me just a tad bit stressed out, you know why. . . . . http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml/9b92fd65c0d1ef162b661ffce1849d47_44dd3169.writeback Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:39:53 -0500 Day Five -- August 8th -- Sunday . . . Well, this was it! New bodies were out, the the kinks were worked out or close to it. Lower mains were 20 minutes, B Mains were 30 minutes and the A Mains were 40 minutes. BUT get this, before the Mains began, the National Anthem was played over the PA system. Now that's a first for me. My main was the first of the sedans -- the last main, yes that's right, the E Main. I was in the 7th position out of 15 and it was a pretty smooth start as far as starting of Mains go. A little over 5 minutes into the race, my car flame out, yep, it just shut off. Luckily, I was able to pull out of the way of other speeding cars and thanks to the amazingly quick dash of turn marshal and team buddy Thomas, who retrieved my car with lightning speed and handed off to my pit man Mike. The car was on the starter box, it wouldn't start and I was calm. George and Mike tried again, it wouldn't start and I was still calm. The engine was really hot, they changed the glow plug, topped off the fuel, cranked her up and success! I was off again and I was still calm. I had no idea where my position was at this time but I new I was definetly no longer in the top 5 after that little mishap. I kept my cool, drove smooth an consistent and before you know it, I was in the 3rd position. What! I really need to work on my endurance and with the last 5 minutes of the 20 minute main, I could barely keep it together and it showed. Just keep the car on the track was the thought constantly in my mind and alas the race was over with me in 3rd! Yeah! Beautiful Trophy . . . Mike race was next, the D main also 20 minutes, his position was 12th out of 14. This race also started out very smoothly. He seems to has his roll traction issues finally worked out after multiple tweeks and adjustments. It was a very tight race and very early he moved up into 3rd position and held it for several laps until he crashed. His pit crew, Dillan and I, worked hard to get him back on the track. He fell to 6th in no time and after a few more mishaps with an eratic engine, he moved up to and finished in 5th position. Later when we pulled down the car, we found a broken carborator slider barrel which resulted in the eratic engine. Also his battery wires were completely frayed and exposed at the base. As soon as we took the battery out of the car, it started to smoke up! Thanks to quick reaction, Mike was able to cut the wires and save the battery pack! Yeah! Thomas was in the 2nd race of the 1/8 scale cars, the E Main, 8th position. He had a really bad start. I was preparing his camcorder to record his race, I looked up only to see his car slammed into the wall at the end of the straightaway. That was it! The next several hours following were certainly the most uncomfortable hours I have spent since the competition cause he was sure mad . . . . There was an awesome raffle half way through the day. Hundred of prizes provided by the many Sponsers of the Event. For new car kits, to motors to hats to fuel, tools and list goes on and on. Thomas won a 1/8 scale body, a "Hudy" tool and a pair of gloves. Douglas won Diff Lube and a hat. Mike and I won Diff Lube. We cleaned up and pull down the cars, packed everything away and left the track around 5:00pm while the 1/8 scale A main was in progress. We went to "Bob Evans" for dinner and headed out to the Airport to drop Thomas and Douglas off. Mike & I head back to hotel and hit the road Monday morning at 3:30 am for the ride back to the airport and drop off the rental minivan. We arrived back Fort Lauderdale around 10:00am with no resistance at the airport. I had a great time, I believe that was the general consensus. I will definitely be back next year. I guys of 1/8 Racers of Toledo, Ohio really put on a great event, races ran smoothly and all very helpful. I would like to see toilet facilities a little more convenient closer to the track rather than having to go all the way into the Mall. They also need to work on the PA system cause with all the engines going and generators, you can hardly hear a thing in the tent areas. I would like to thanks Big Mike, Thomas, Josh Cyrul (for advice on our Kyoshos), Dillan, George, James and Bobby Watson (for the carborator). I want to give a shout out to Robert Maestrey, Douglas, Brenda & Freddy, Kim, Rafael, Paulo & Team Serpent, Art Carbonell & Team Mugen & David Larry. Next up Florida State Series. Until we race again . . . . . http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml/e4bfdacfdd0a6d747117496ee65c2913_44dd30c6.writeback Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:37:10 -0500 Day Two -- August 5th - Thursday . . . Today was a very frustrating day. We arrived at the track around 8 am and said hello to fellow racers and then the rain came down. We had thunderstorms on and off throughout the day. I was not able to get as much practice as I would like. Day Three -- August 6th -- Friday . . . Qualifiers began around noon. It broke down like this . . . 172 racers in 17 heats, only 2 women. We ran a total of 5 qualifiers, 2 on Friday and 3 on Saturday. Tech was interesting because they did not tech the bodies like what we are used to down here but they teched the weight of the cars and fuel. For fuel, they checked to make sure that the tank was ROAR legal with the amount of cc's it holds (not sure what the amount was, I passed, so who cares). For the weight, 1/10 scale minimum weight is 1,725 grams, my came in at 1,765 grams while the 1/8 scale minimum weight is 2,525. Thomas was car was a little light, so he had to add about 30 grams in order to pass. Mike and I both ran the Kyosho V One RRR. Mike's best was 13 laps while I did 12 laps. Thomas with his Mugen MRX4 did 15 laps. Day Four -- August 7th -- Saturday . . . Today was a rough day! Nothing seemed to go right. From nerves to traction rolls to busted shocks to massive tire chunks, spins outs to flame outs, you name it, we had it. By the end of the day, the standings for us were as follows 1/10 scale out of 66 drivers, Robert was 14th, Mike was 50th and I was 58th. 1/8 scale out of 73 drivers, Thomas was 61 and finally 1/8 scale Masters out of 26 drivers, Douglas was 10. http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml/f259e657ef77b04da82570fb94ec6877_44dd2f12.writeback Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:29:54 -0500 We arrive in Detroit, Michigan on Wednesday, August 4. The airplane landed promptly at 12:15pm but then we had to wait for about an hour for our luggage. We did have a slight mishap when leaving Fort Lauderdale. Mike, Thomas and I decided not to check our cars and radios (transmitters) but to carry them on board with us. Well, our cars and radios triggered security. Held us up for about 15 minutes as bags we searched and phone calls were made. Never the less, no strip search was involved and we were finally sent on our merry way. It took us a little under an hour to get to the track in Ohio from the airport. Dispite all the detours due to construction on the I-280S, we (Big Mike, Doug, Thomas and I) didn't get lost. My first impression of the track . . . . NICE! Not as intimidating as the photos led me to believe. It was a cross between Kissimmee and Fort Myers and the size is in between the two. A very high speed track with lots of beautiful curves. Let me tell you, it seemed as if all the 172 registered racers were fast as s***t and all excellent drivers. We set our cars down on the track around 4 o'clock . . .getting a feel for the track until around 8 when the track closed. This track is really NICE! http://www.sf-rc.zoomshare.com/3.shtml/7fb13f275ebba6aa635710dbdb8eb376_44c6c484.writeback Tue, 25 Jul 2006 20:25:24 -0500 well, the Great Lakes Challenge in Toledo, Ohio is just around the corner . . . . 8 days to be exact! Mike and I are almost ready, almost. We'll be testing our cars this week-end. We are both running the Koyosho RRR and Thomas will be running his Mugen MRX4. Hopefully there will be no rain cuz I could really use the running time. How about you Thomas? I will document and share our trip on the website! can't wait . . .