NTRA releases inaugural edition of NTRA Quarterly!

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1 NTRA releases inaugural edition of NTRA Quarterly! Inside this edition. Why Proxy Race? NTRA 2010 FNALS. AW Drag Sets Released. Coming Events. Tech Tips. NTRA 2010 Points Talley And the winner is... Mr. Wizard at it again. For Sale Congratulations to 440GTX for his sweep of Stock, A/Gas, and Nostalgia Funny Car at the inaugural NTRA World Finals. Full coverage on page 3. WHY PROXY??? by John Balich Proxy racing in all forms allows racers and builders to compete on a Regional or in the case of NTRA National Level, actually our reach extends beyond the 50 states as we have had Canadian entries and at least ONE notable Entry from a MARINE stationed in unspecified parts of the Middle East! "Semper Fi" bud! We try to provide an interesting build up, race weekend and after race follow-up so the competitors get a feel of what participation in a Full Size drag Meet might be like! Ask any of our many satisfied racers, and you will find the enjoyment dollar per hour rate makes this activity a great and modest expenditure. Proxy racing additionally provides a sense of community, camaraderie, and forms friendships that would likely never occur otherwise. The cost is normally postage only. So how does NTRA run these events? Well there is customarily a test and tune weekend about a month or so before the finals. Every track has its differences and this gives members with a track at home to compare numbers with the host track. For participants without a track it provides feedback on their race car. Some local tweaking is done with the input of each racer to maximize performance for race weekend. Any inadvertent rules violations can be caught and corrected after and sometimes during test and tune weekend. We want EVERYONE to be able to race! A basic tenet of NTRA racing is that 'host' club members may not compete. continued on page 2. AW Drag Sets Go On Sale It s been a long time coming but it has finally arrived.mid-december Autoworld and NTB began taking orders for the long awaited newly released dragstrip promising delivery by Christmas. Much a buzz was made on Nitroslots and many other HO friendly sites. Many fearing that this would be another wait for it moment ending in disappointment. While insiders promised this was the real deal. It s late December and I can t find anyone that has posted a review. Glad or sad, we d like to hear your opinions. -NTRA

2 WHY PROXY??? (con t) A basic tenet of NTRA racing is that 'host' club members may not compete. No home court advantage! How are drivers determined? The host track has latitude in this process, normally a random drawing of names and car numbers will suffice. Another possible format that hasn't been tried yet. is to have a driver "adopt' a car for the eliminations, giving the driver a 'vested' interest in that car doing well. Local drivers are normally pre qualified by their abilities and chosen by the meet director/track operator. The local drivers normally ARE competing with each other for cutting the best lights etc, so they are bound to be on their toes. Why have drivers at all? Well this is a good point. For years I held 'dead stick' racing on my track. This style of racing has ONE switch powering both lanes. At the throw of the switch both cars simultaneously launch. The main argument in favor of this style racing is that it is ultimately fair to the fastest cars. I still do this type racing at home for my own amusement. We discussed this option at the outset of NTRA racing and rejected it. A large part of drag racing is ability to react to the tree. It's the human element. I think it makes for much more dynamic racing. Would you be thrilled that your faster car was eliminated by being 'treed' or by a red-light? Of course not, but it s part of the package, and for me part of the fun. I just think of myself as a car owner/ builder with a hired driver who I hope comes through for me! Amusement. We discussed this option at the outset of NTRA racing and rejected it. A large part of drag racing is ability to react to the tree. It's the human element. I think it makes for much more dynamic racing. Would you be thrilled that your faster car was eliminated by being 'treed' or by a red- light? Of course not, but it s part of the package, and for me part of the fun. I just think of myself as a car owner/ builder with a hired driver who I hope comes through for me! Dead stick racing feels like time trials to me. Interesting, but not particularly dynamic. Also, our style has a way of keeping us a friendly family, as we commiserate with our buddies who got RED LIGHTED or TREED, since we are all in the same boat. Lots of good natured ribbing and camaraderie precede and follow these events. We have all kinds here, meaning some guys are dead-dang serious, and at the other extreme are guys who just wanna see their car in the program. It's a good time for all. None of the above is meant to disparage other racing formats; it's just an outline of how we try to do things and why. We don't ask racers to choose between NTRA and other race formats. All you have to do to compete with us is sign up, mail your car in time and pay postage. One last word, proxy racing is not meant to replace 'live' racing. It's just another option. We encourage you to race locally, ESPECIALLY if you have a commercial track. Support the local Hobby shop when you can. Form your own racing series or form a club if you can't find one near. Tell us about your group. We want to hear about your racing and hear your ideas. More than anything, we want more guys to enjoy more racing than ever before. Another 'last' word!! This is a great hobby for Father- son, Father daughter and yes mom -daughter or mom- son participation. You don't need a physics degree to be competitive! Any such racers would get lots of help and attention from the old guard here because we value that kind of participation. This article was taken from the archives of Nitroslots.com. Originally written shortly after the formation of NTRA, early Lighter 2011 NTRA Race Schedule In spite of decent turnouts for NTRA s 2010 races and responses equally as well for impromptu races held in 2010, the 2011 race schedule is lighter compared to The release of the AW Drag Set has sparked a call for classes to include the 4-Gear chassis. Also being called for are classes that include Magna/X-Traction chassis. NTRA realizes that adoption of classes which include these chassis is a matter of organizational survival and will most likely be added during the 2011 race year. A huge problem for NTRA is the lack of venues available to host proxy races. This is the main reason for the lighter race schedule this year. NTRA hopes that during the race year some Nitroslot members will come forward offering up their home track as a possible venue for future proxy race events. So, if you have track available, or are in the middle of building one, and are interested in hosting a NTRA proxy race, let someone in NTRA know. A Call For Host Tracks As the article above mentions, NTRA is looking for responses from Nitroslot members to volunteer their track and time to host NTRA proxy races. An ideal track system would include features like early start detection, RT calculation, ET calculation, speed, and win detection. Other luxury features like 60 not required. Your track not quite ideal? Let us know what you have, there may still be place for you yet. Drag strips without these features may be considered for a Flashlight series of drag racing (start light and win detection at minimum). If interested send PM to ninjatek or me at ninjatech@verizon.net.

3 NTRA 2010 FINALS Here they come! 440GTX SWEEPS NTRA FINALS WITH TRIPLE MANE WIN AT LIONS DRAGSTRIP First through the gate was Nosubfor3's black-and-silver rig. Looks like he's got some assistance from RCR and the Flying Aces for the Finals. Wood's gorgeous red-white-and-blue Oldsmobile Stocker and his bad-in-black supercharged Torino Gasser are the envy of the Lions pits. Demon is obviously well prepared for his match race with Sam's Mustang, arriving with a pair of Petty Blue D-100s. When asked about the contents of the tank, Demon explained it was just Energy Drink for Mopars. Swamper and Tyler made the long haul from Florida. These guys are travelin' in style, with a converted school bus from Smokey Yunick's place in Daytona, the "Best d**n Garage in Town." Wonder if they've got any of the Smokey magic in those Chevy Gassers? We'll find out soon. Sam's a Mustang man through and through. While Chima drove the rig over the Continental Divide, Sam flew in on SKR Custom's P51 Mustang. The Lions management was a little annoyed when he landed on the drag strip. 440GTX and the Ohio Mafia arrived in force, with a transporter stuffed with Mopar Muscle. In addition to his familiar Dodge Father Funny Car, Matt's debuting Roger Lindamood's Color Me Gone '67 Charger. The rig was accompanied by Little Tony in his favorite black hearse.

4 NTRA 2010 FINALS (con t) Two of the standout entries in Nostalgia Funny Car arrived on tricked-out transporters. Hairycanary's stunning yellow Firebird out of Goodie's Speed Shop has got to be a contender for Best Appearing, while Scottman's Funny Rat Corvette takes a different approach. Who knew that a fiberglass body could rust? A pair of classic supercharged Chevy Gassers from SST1610 (a very sharp '55 Chevy) and Eddiebee (blown Stingray, probably no longer a candidate for restoration). Fordcowboy went with Ford power, bringing a sharp Boss Willys Gasser and a pair of well prepared Mustang Stockers. Derwood made the long haul for Ohio with 440GTX, towing his supercharged Cuda with a color-coordinated D-100 Dodge. Bondoman had to call in a favor from a NASCAR team to get his Cam Am Nostalgia Funny Car to the Beach. Finally, Demon and Richard had a little trouble on the tow from Florida when the truck expired outside of Little Rock. Fortunately they were able to flag down a couple of helpful farmers, and following the exchange of some Confederate currency, the boys were off to California. NTRA Finals Stock Eliminator Qualifying Pos. Car # Entry Best. 1 3 Wood GTX Road Runner GTX Road Runner Nosubfor3 Camaro Bluegnuoy Nova Derwood Challenger Derwood Cuda Ninjatek Chevelle Nosubfor3 Chevelle Ninjatek Chevelle FordCowboy Mustang Eddiebee GTX Eddiebee Chevelle FordCowboy Mustang No Time 15 1 Scottman AMX No Time Every car made one run each in the left and right lanes. Most runs were within a few thousandths between the lanes. It's close at the top of the qualifying order, with four Mopars and three GM entries within.017 seconds! Top Speed went to Wood's 442 at 8.64 mph in the left lane, followed by 440GTX's No. 24 Road Runner at 8.55 mph in the right lane. Two cars had problems. Scottman's AMX was bouncing badly, and deslotted on numerous qualifying attempts. Ford Cowboy's No. 9 Mustang can't get the engine started. We'll get these cars back to the pits and see if repairs can be made before the start of eliminations.

5 NTRA 2010 FINALS (con t) 2010 NTRA Finals Gasser Qualifying Pos. No. Entrant Best 1 4 SKR Willys GTX Willys GTX Willys Richard Cuda Derwood Cuda Demon Willys Wood Torino Tyler Nova Derwood Willys Ninjatek Willys Nosubfor3 Austin Swamper Nova Nosubfor3 57 Chevy SST Chevy Ninjatek 57 Chevy Bluegnuoy Willys Eddiebee Corvette Scottman Willys FordCowboy Henry J Eddiebee 57 Chevy It's all Willys at the top of the Gasser qualifying list. Sam showed 'em how they do it in Colorado, taking the top spot -- but before he enjoys his Rocky Mountain high, he's going to have to contend with the Ohio Mafia's Mopars and several fast flyers from Florida. This was a wild qualifying session compared to the Stockers, with 18 volts of juice and the fans on their feet. Tyler had 'em screaming when he did a power wheelstand at half-track, backed in down, dropped the pin in the groove, and still ran a.734. Not to be outdone, Swamper had his Nova sideways and up on two wheels in the lights on the next pass. Derwood's Cuda went straight for the sky on its first run in the left lane. He got the Mopar settled down for its second run in the right lane, and nailed the No. 5 qualifying spot. Two cars are having engine problems. Swamper's Nova smells like oiled brushes, and Eddiebee's 57 Chevy is putting out death smoke. Nostalgia Funny Car Qualifying Pos. No. Entrant Best GTX Dodge GTX Charger Bluegnuoy Vega Nosubfor3 Vega Wood Mustang Bondoman2K Grand Am Derwood Challenger Hairycanary Firebird Eddiebee Vega Nosubfor3 Grand Am Scottman Corvette Ninjatek Grand Am Ninjatek Nova Fordcowboy Cougar Although the NF/C class isn't running for championship points at the NTRA World Finals, the season finale has attracted a topflight field of cars. Running on 13.8 volts, it was an all-440gtx show in qualifying as the Dodge Father nailed down the No. 1 and No. 2 spots with his might Mopars and set the Top Speed at a booming mph. But Matt doesn't have this one in the bag -- Color Me Gone stuck a brush on its second qualifying run, and sputtered through the lights on 5 cylinders, and Derwood's Challenger also hung a brush on his warmup. If the Hemis falters in eliminations, the Vegas of Bluegnuoy and Nosubfor3 are right there, along with Wood's 'Stang. Lane choice? Doesn't matter. Seven cars ran their best time in the left lane, seven ran their best in the right. 51 cars have made qualifying runs today in three eliminators, and the fields are set. Race officials are working on the elimination ladders, and the racing will begin after a short break.

6 NTRA 2010 FINALS (con t) STOCK ELIMINATOR LADDER CHART

7 NTRA 2010 FINALS (con t) GASSER ELIMINATOR LADDER CHART

8 NTRA 2010 FINALS (con t) NF/C ELIMINATOR LADDER CHART Full coverage (38 pages) including more photos as reported by RickV, Track Manager and Host, is available at

9 Coming Events Full Weekend Of Racing!!!!!!!! Friday March 11th Events* Qualifying for all classes MM/PS Eliminations to follow qualifying with Live coverage Saturday March 12 th * Lite tune ups for the Gasser and Rats that need it. No major overhauls. Help for the newbies. Door Slammer Eliminations Saturday Night (Live Coverage) Sunday March 13 th * (Live Coverage) Rat Rod Eliminations, Gasser Eliminations One car entry per class so send your best one I will message you my address as you sign up. $7 will cover 1 or all 4 classes Please include your Entry # on your car. Include yor Nitro Slots username along with warm up instructions with your package Track Specs: 16' Timed section, Rail height.013, Routed MDF board, Floor enamel painted surface sanded smooth, 2-12 volt industrial deep cycle batteries, Trackmate timing system, Round rail. The rail itself is.062 in diameter. From the edge of the slot to the rail is 7/32" Test & Tune will be 02/12/2011

10 Coming Events (con t) July 2 3* Lion s Dragstrip, California Manufacturers Funny Car Challenge Featuring NF/C (4-Gear) Test & Tune will be 02/12/2011 October 15 16* Lion s Dragstrip, California 2011 NTRA Finals NTRA Stock & Ratt Rod Classes Test & Tune will be 09/11/2011 *This is the schedule as of and is subject to change. For more info about proxy racing and events check out Blow on it through a straw. Heavy side will end up on bottom, epoxy light side & repeat. This photo shows an in-line type arm between magnets. - Pick up shoes - Radio Shack Desoldering Braid These are the supplies that I used and they do not not have to be the exact same. Experiment and see what works best for you. 1.) Take your Desoldering braid and a pair of needle nose pliers. Place your braid on the smooth section of pliers. With a firm clamp, pull the braid through and repeat as necessary. This will make them flatter. Tech Tips How to balance an armature. The following is taken from the Nitroslots forum. It ia a very basic how to by MobyDidIt on balancing armatures. This is how I have been balancing arms for years. Stick a set of inline motor magnets to your vise jaws. This photo shows pancake type arm between magnets. Put the arm in between & close the jaws enough so that the arm does not wobble while spinning but spins freely. When done just remove the arm & magnets & your vise is back to normal. - Eric Note Some debate has taken place on the NitroSlots forum as to the benefits of balancing an armature. No conclusive determination was made. However, it was noted that improperly balancing armature would be more harmful than good. Suggest a little more research other than this article be consulted if attempting for the first time. How to make braided pick up shoes. Here is a "how to" on soldering braid to your pick up shoes. A great way to make those Thunder Jets run much faster. The first time I tried it with my T jet, I picked up 3 tenths on the strip. This method will also work on any pick up shoe. Tools and supplies needed. - Soldering Iron - Solder, 60/40 Rosin - core from Radio Shack. - Flux, Lucky Bob's part # 1200 Acid - Flux, (Great stuff) 2.) I like to bend the ends up a little to conform to the pick up shoe at the front. I'm using tweezers here. After bending the braid on the tip.

11 Tech Tips (con t) How to make braided pick up shoes. 3.) Pick up shoe is placed in a pair of pliers to hold it in place. I then put a small drop of flux towards the front of the shoe. After your Iron is hot, melt a small amount of solder to the head of your iron. Place iron on the drop of flux and the solder will transfer to the shoe. ( solder shown on shoe ). Pick Up Shoe held in place with pliers. 4.) Add a drop of little flux on the underside of your braid. Place braid on the shoe and hold your iron against the braid above the solder and hold until the braid and shoe are fused together. Desoldering Braid available at Radio Shack. Drop of Flux Solder 5.) After soldering I take a pair of needle nose and squeeze the braid against the shoe. This will make them flat. Pictures of supplies used. Solder and Luck Bob s Acid-Flux. T-Jet chassis with braids applied. - SKR Follow up response: It is probably not necessary to add flux on the solder braid. Solder braid is already impregnated with flux. That is an important feature of solder braid that helps it to wick up the solder from connections. (the actual purpose for the stuff!) - randtek -Tech Tips taken from NitroSlots website. Got a little tidbit you think could be helpful to fellow slot car hobbyist? List your tech tip on the NitroSlots website under the heading Tech tips. Or send your tech tip along with photos to ninjatech@verizon.net or send PM to Ninjatek. Tech tips need not be only for performance enhancement. Tips on dressing up bodys, wheels, or controller adjustments are also desired. Short cuts, care and maintenance or timing system trouble - shooting are good also. - NTRA

12 RESULTS OF NTRA s 2010 POINTS RACES Manufacturers Points Race Scoring- 10 points for round won, 1 point bonus for final Winter Nationals Nostalgia Pro Stock A / Class B / Class Rd #1 Rd # 2 Final Rd #1 Final Totals GM Ford Chrysler Winter Nationals Mountain Motor Pro Stock A / Class B / Class Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Totals GM Ford Chrysler Winter Nationals Pro Comp A / Class B / Class Rd #1 Rd # 2 Final Rd #1 Final Totals GM Ford Chrysler MARCH MADNESS Super Stock A / Class B / Class Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Totals GM Ford Chrysler GATOR Nationals Ratt Rod A / Class B / Class Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Totals GM Ford Chrysler

13 Manufacturers Points Race (con t) GATOR Nationals Gasser A / Class B / Class Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Totals GM Ford Chrysler NTRA Finals (#4) Stock A / Class B / Class Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Totals GM Ford Chrysler NTRA Finals (#4) Gasser A / Class B / Class Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Rd #1 Rd # 2 Rd #3 Final Totals GM Ford Chrysler Total Points By Class Chrysler GM Ford Race Event Nostalgia P/S #1 Pro Comp #1 M/M P/S #1 Super Stock #2 Gasser #3 & #4 Ratt Rod #4 Stock #4 Totals All Events

14 NTRA CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS RACE 2010 Car Race #1 #2 #3 #4 Total 440GTX Rick V Derwood Kdog nosubfor Ninjatek Eddiebee SKR rockonx Tyler Richard Wood Swamper Demon Bluegnuoy ALSTAR lab Thunderwreck Scottman Fordcowboy R Harris HOCHALLENGED SST Slotman John B

15 NTRA TOP ELIMINATOR POINTS 2010 Race Car #1 #2 #3 #4 Total 440GTX Rick V Derwood nosubfor rockonx SKR Wood Ninjatek Richard Slotman lab Swamper Scottman Tyler ALSTAR Thunderwreck Demon Bluegnuoy EDDIEBEE R HARRIS And the winner is GTX. In spectacular fashion, 440GTX won both the 2010 Championship Points Race and the 2010 Top Eliminator Points Race. In the Championship Points battle, 440GTX outpoints the first runner up by more than 1000 points. As Top Eliminator 440GTX wins 19 races throughout the series for a total of 190 points. RickV and Derwood came in as first and second runners-up respectively, in both Championship Points Race and Top Eliminator Points Race. Both having ten wins or more in the series, while the rest of the field failed to do better than half of that. The champ will be going into semi-retirement from the NTRA series, running only a limited number of races in This opens up an opportunity for a new champ to emerge in So, get to tuning those cars and be sure to enter as many races as you can. See ya on the line (from my rearview). Chrysler takes the win in the Manufacturers Points Race with 236 points, outpoints GM by 12. Ford having limited entries throughout the 2010 series managed to pull 81 points. -NTRA

16 Mr. Wizard at it again. The receptions of the AW Drag Set are a little mixed, but mostly favorable. Many are happy with their cars and tracks. Others, not as happy with their cars performance out of the box, but are finding tips online that seem to help. For the price the track is quite a bargain. Got yourself an AW Drag Set for the holidays? Wish it came with RT, ET, and speed display? Well, an add-on from independent developer Mr. Wizard may be just what you are looking for. Mr. Wizard, who has developed a magnet meter available on his website is currently working on a standalone timing system as an add-on to the AW Drag Set. When complete AW Drag Set owners will be able to add much of the features and functionality found on high end timing systems. Mr. Wizard intends to deliver the unit in a self contained package that will use LED/LCD to display RT, ET, and MPH. Timing calculations are performed by electronics contained within the unit having no need for an external computer. The unit interfaces with the sensors that come with the drag set. Two additional sensors will need to be added to your track to form the speed trap to capture MPH. I did not ascertain from Mr. Wizard as to the simplicity (or difficulty) installation may be. The unit at this time is in the development stages, with some testing completed. No release date has been set, but Mr. Wizard is doing his best to bring to you the finished product as soon as possible. Timing system for AW Drag Sets coming soon from third party developer Mr. Wizard. Mr. Wizard s timing system will feature: *Reaction Time accurate to one thousandth second (.001) *Elapsed Time accurate to one thousandth second (.001) *MPH accurate to one hundredth (0.01) *Stand-alone unit with LED/LCD display *No computer required Also check out Mr. Wizard s magnet meter at

17 For Sale A page of the newsletter is reserved for NitroSlot members to list any hobby items they may have for sale or may be looking for. As this is the first edition of the newsletter I will list some the website and links of NitroSlot members and supporters. To list in future issues, send all info and photos to ninjatech@verizon.net

18 This issues Watermark Car Each issue we will feature a car that is used as a watermark. This month s Watermark Car is the canary yellow Pontiac Funny Car Hairy Canary cast and painted by hairycanary. Rick (hairycanary) has Pro Stock, Funny Cars, Pro Mod and others which he has cast. For more information about bodies and decals by Rick, contact him at HairyCanaryJr@aol.com. Next issue Vol.1 No.2 SPRING April 2011