Hi Graeme, some more slot drag news for www.nzsca.co.nz
D van Moppes (DVan) from Vallejo California, has a passion for slot
car drag racing. He runs a website/community called www.Bracket500.com. Its a place where
like-minded racers world wide meet, discuss issues and share ideas to improve
the hobby. Earlier this year, when I was in L.A. I met DVan and talked
about how NZ could contribute to the world of slot car dragracing.
DVan had a vision to get sponsors together to supply the parts for a purpose
built car so it could be featured at various Drag Race events around the
globe.
We, in NZ, got the honour to build the car and be the first to host an event.
The sponsors eagerly supplied parts and support:
WRP: a stainless chassis and tube.
JDS: beautiful Star Convo wheels.
Precision fixtures:
An amazing chassis jig to build the car.
KD Brush Lube: Comm Drops.
Bracket500: A Hard body Studebaker
Uncle Gary: A
detailed interior.
RAS: custom decals.
My stepdaughter, Hannah, was chosen to build the car. That way she
could showcase how, a novice, using good products and a good fixture could
build a quality piece that could race around the world with the best.
The build was done during May and is covered step by step here:
http://bracket500.com/links/wtc/hannah/hannah.html
Seeing we dont have a dragstrip in Wellington, we sent the car to race in
Auckland.
The first global race event was 14 June in Auckland, with photos and details
here:
http://bracket500.com/links/wtc/nz/nz.html
The car was a pleasingly consistent runner. 3 different drivers managed
to get it into the semi final round of each of the 3 bracket races it competed
in. (2x 3rd and 1x 4th finish.)
The car now leaves NZ shores to race at the Australian Nationals in July
then the European Champs, August in France. Then on to USA. Later
in the year it will appear in Malta, Puerto Rico etc.
Whle that is the end of NZ's part of that story, we are already heavily involved
in the next international slot drag project "The Worlds Fastest Vette", but
thats for another day
Mark
