How To Build A 1/24 Slot Car Drag Strip
In 1999 Portland drag racers would spend their Saturdays hanging a few skids down at the local airport. All legit of course, organised by the Portland drag racing customs under the watchful eye of the airport authorities.
Like most temporary facilities however, when traffic at the airport increased it meant that the drag racers would need to observe a new purpose built home.
And then most 15 to xx of the local drag racers got together and decided to look for an alternative place to race. Pace ane was to register a new club and a few months later the Southward Coast Drag Racing Association was born. Step 2 was to look for a suitable block of land and source funding from which always level of government would come to the party.
Let'south just say step 2 took a lot longer than step i. In fact, four years afterwards setting up the new guild the guys were no closer to finding a block of land or raising the funds to build a drag strip. Not from a lack of trying listen you. If yous've been following attempts by other organisations to build elevate strips in Commonwealth of australia you'll sympathise how difficult this can be.
One of the founding members of the club is Dean Cleary. John Cleary, Dean'due south dad, could come across how desperate the guys were to build their own elevate strip, so he generously offered to lease the club 30 acres of his own country.
Naught ventured, nada gained
For the princely sum of $1 the club at present had a 10 year lease on a piece of state that would fit an 1/8th mile drag strip. Now all they needed was the funding (much easier said than done). Initial estimates were set at $120,000 to build the drag strip and put in very bones facilities.
In one case again they were unsuccessful sourcing funding from the government so they decided to organise an overdraft. John Cleary went guarantor and vi club members entered into agreements with John, so that if the poo hit the fan they would all exist liable for a portion of the debt.
Talk about delivery and passion for drag racing!
While in that location were a couple of objections to building a drag strip, the local council granted the permits in 2004. With the greenish light, 5 trucks ran back and forth from the local quarry for ii weeks to evangelize the base for the elevate strip.
Initially the plans were to start small and go on costs down. Through the generosity of local businesses the club had much of what they need to become started. 2 major parts of the infrastructure were donated by the Alcoa aluminium smelter in Portland; the control tower is a gatehouse from the smelter and the social club rooms are one of the accommodation units.
After two years of toil and hard work Southward Coast Raceway opened its gates to racers and fans on February 4th 2006.
It was a very special mean solar day society secretary Scott Cleary remembers. "Who can say that they got xx of their mates together and built a race track in such a short amount of fourth dimension and fabricated it work that well?"
From Super Street to Slamfest
From humble ancestry where a 6 2d car was considered quick, now days yous'll need to run mid 5s in Super Sedan to have lane choice in the onest circular of racing.
Fifty-fifty with racers going quicker and quicker, it was beyond the clubs wildest dreams that they would ever have doorslammers run downwards the track. But after being approached past the Slamfest organisers in 2009, this is exactly what happened. "We never intended to become to this size. If you'd ever said to united states of america that we would have doorslammers at that place in 5 years time we would take laughed and said you're a fool, go away. ", Scott recalls.
With all of the earnings going back into the runway, the club has continued to improve the facilities including a permanent shower block, sealed render road, longer run off expanse and improvements to the staging lanes to proper name a few.
The Slamfest continues to exist a marquee effect for the track and the 2013 edition will be no exception. The Make a Wish Foundation is besides an integral part of the upshot. Always looking for ways to give back to the customs, South Coast Raceway is very proud to have raised over $22,000 for the foundation over the past few years.
What's coming up downward s?
With a new ten year lease signed the rail is now turning its attention to creating a program for the future; a mix of moving forward and paying back the original overdraft.
High on the calendar will be range of improvements for racers and spectators; a purpose built scrutineering bay, resurfaced braking area, additional lighting and more pit power.
There'south a definite shift to alluring bigger cars, providing more of a spectacle for fans and trying unlike outcome formats. A great example of this is the Nostalgia Nitro meeting which will be held on December the 1st 2012. Fans can look forwards to match racing between 2 nostalgia nitro funny cars and ii nitro front engine dragsters.
South Coast Raceway Issue Calendar
- October 13th 2012 – Examination 'n Melody
- November 2d 2012 - Friday Off Street Drags
- November 3rd 2012 - Dash for Cash
- November 30th 2012 - Friday Off Street Drags
- Dec 1st 2012 - Nostalgia Nitro Meeting
- January fourth 2013 - Friday Off Street Drags
- Jan fiveth & 6th 2013 - Supercharged New Year - Rocket All Stars Racing Series
- February 1st & 2nd 2013 – Pro Modified Australia Slamfest
- March 1st 2013 - Fri Off Street Drags
- March 2nd 2013 - Victorian Sportsman Shootout
- Apr 5th 2013 - Fri Off Street Drags
- April 6th 2013 - ane/eighth Mile Outlaws
Rocket All Stars Racing Series comes to town
Another big step forwards for South Coast Raceway is the inclusion of a circular of the Rocket All Stars Racing Series (RARS) to the calendar. This is the kickoff fourth dimension a RARS round volition be run over the 1/8th mile distance.
Historically the rules didn't allow for ANDRA championship racing to exist conducted over less than the full ¼ mile. However, to provide more than racing opportunities the dominion volume has been updated to include i/8thursday mile and 1000ft racing distances.
Scheduled for the 4th and fivethursday of January 2013, the RARS round is part of the ANDRA drag racing championship for sportsman racers, consisting of groups 2, 3 and 4. As Scott explains, "we are definitely running groups iii and 4 but we're looking closely at the feasibility of group ii. We'll be speaking with representatives of the group ii classes to make sure it'south feasible for anybody involved and the track can handle it."
With a RARS round coming to South Coast Raceway there is more than incentive for racers chasing an ANDRA championship to brand the trip down south. Local fans will be able to experience drag cars and bikes they would otherwise be unlikely to see in the flesh. And with an influx of racers to the town the local economy of Portland is bound to benefit.
To all those that make it possible – we salute y'all
South Coast Raceway has come a long way in six years, none of which would have been possible without the generosity of sponsors and volunteers.
Equally Scott points out, "Basically we've been going out to track every weekend for the last vi years. It'due south really hard to do. We're very fortunate to accept a defended agglomeration of guys. We accept such good people in the gild; they're all very committed to helping out."
With the continued success of race meetings the gild is always looking for new members and volunteers. If you'd like to help out you can contact South Coast Raceway via their website or download a membership form.
Source: http://justdragracing.com/drag-racing-news/latest-drag-racing-news/7-build-your-own-drag-strip
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