DIECAST RACING REPORT May 6, 2021– Vol. 2 No. 8
Inside: Modified Racing at Nationals – Racing Cousins BlueLine’s 60g League – Quick Tips & More!
2 | Diecast Racing Report
In This Issue
Table of Contents Editor’s Notes News Briefs Calendar Resources
4
QuickTips
9
5 8
Features
6
Taking theTrack
to Atlanta
6
Racing Cousins
10
Pre-Modded Cars Make Commotion
18
Tournaments
10
BlueLine Racing
12
WeRaceDiecast
13
Rust Belt
16
OnTheTrack RTR
18
9
20
Flat Rabbit Racing Club 23 3DBotMaker
24
Diecast Racing Report is a publication of Kit Kayem LLC, 7511 Greenwood Ave N #112, Seattle, WA 98103, USA Comments or letters to the editor: comments@diecastracingreport.com Are you a writer, photographer, artist, or other ne’er-do-well? Drop us a line: submissions@diecastracingreport.com Staff: Jim Desaulniers, DeeZaster Jakk, Christopher (Kit) Kidder-Mostrom, Ali Kidder-Mostrom May 6, 2021 | 3
Editor’s Note
I
recently read that the “Golden Age” of diecast racing has come to a close. Over in the News Briefs section, you’ll see one of the reasons that declaration was made. One of the things that I associate that term with is comic books, and the issues of yesteryear. So, I’m going to riff for a moment on the potential similarities between the evolution of comic books and their fandom and diecast racing and its participants. The Golden Age of comics is when most of the major heroes that are part of American pop culture came into being. But, they were not the entertainment powerhouse that they now are. Between then and now, was the Silver Age. In that time period came the development of deeper storylines and backgrounds for the characters that people loved. It’s also the first time that fandom really expanded, thanks to exploring other media, namely TV and Film. And while the characters grew, so did the interest in the books. But, it still remained a medium with a relatively small following. There was also a bit of consolidation among those who put out the comic books. DC and Marvel (the biggest players today) took over smaller presses and incorporated them into what they were doing. Both the Golden Age and Silver Age of comics were prior to 1970. Many of the people into the X-men in the 1990s weren’t alive yet. Many parents of the fans of the MCU and modern comics weren’t alive yet. Nevertheless, there is a nostalgia for the time gone by, especially among those who were around at the time. I suspect that this is where the diecast racing community is headed. For many fans and participants, the hobby/ sport hasn’t existed on their radar for very long. Most track their introduction to it back as far as January of 2020 with 3DBotMaker’s DRC videos. And yet, there are guys out there who have been participating in this field for years. And it is their activities that were the bedrock upon which 3DBotMaker was able to build his house.
I believe that the racing world will adapt in the same way that the comics world did. As the way things used to be morphs into the way things are now, new racers and fans will come to know the changed feel of the sport. But, because the old guard so graciously shared their knowledge and expertise, their influence remains a vibrant part of the Silver Age that is now rising to the fore.
Kit Kidder-Mostrom Editor-in-Chief
Redline Derby has scaled back their operation over the last couple of years. League of Speed is just now returning from an extended hiatus. Diecast 64 has canceled the rest of his season. Nobody seems to know what happened to Kelly Motor Speedway. Life happens, and we all have to adjust. Even those we’ve come to depend on for stability have to adapt to new situations, and there’s no shortage of new situations these days. But, what’s exciting is that others rise to fill the gaps and add to the community as a whole. Diecast racing’s storyline gains depth. When the RLDRL folded at the end of 2020, Tim LaMontagne of BlueLine Racing proposed putting together a new multi-track series that was similar, but also something completely new. And, if threads on Redline Derby’s discussion boards are any indication, many of the newer racers who you read about on these pages, are eager to be a part of both the older tracks and the completely new ones. This is a sport that had a huge influx of participants and fans in the last 12 to 18 months. That does change things, but so long as we don’t forget our roots, and we learn from those who came before, much will remain of the good of the Gold as we walk forward into the Silver.
Support “Diecast Racing Report” through Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/DiecastRacingReport 4 | Diecast Racing Report
News in Brief
Diecast 64 Shifts Focus; Ends Season Early Just days after the submission deadline for the May installment of Diecast 64’s 2021 season, league owner Robby Comeford released a video that changed the diecast racing landscape for the remainder of the year. After concluding the May Mayhem races, Diecast 64’s scheduled season of events in oddnumbered months will come to a premature close. Citing a combination of life changes in work, family, and personal situations, Comeford noted that the previously set schedule had become difficult to maintain. This does not spell the end of racing at Diecast 64, just the truncation of the rigid season format, which was already pared down from the monthly events of the previous season. Comeford mentioned that he will still hold occasional races, which will be announced as time allows. Future races are likely to be single events, leaving behind the multiple classes. In the 2021 season events to date there were four divisions of racing each month. The entire announcement can be seen at the Diecast 64 YouTube channel.
War on I4 Debuts New Track, Big Plans Action from Florida has been missing for a little bit while Luthrell Church has been constructing a new track
that will take the diecast racing channel in a new direction: larger scale diecast racing. While most channels deal with 1:64 scale races, Church has opted to build a completely custom track that can handle 1:43 and 1:32 scale races. The track is still capable of hosting 1:64 scale races, as well. The track was recently seen for the first time in the first edition of the Supercars Tournament. This is a 1:64 scale race featuring the Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars with which diecast racing fans are most familiar. In the next few months, viewers will see two series that introduce Jada brand diecast cars to the channel. One series will remain in the familiar smaller scale, using builds that incorporate Jada car bodies and Hot Wheels Zoom-Jn chassis. Jada makes a line of 1:64 scale cars, and those are the ones that will be used on the project. The cars are more detailed in their castings and usually sport wheels what are affixed to the axles, rather than spinning freely like those of Hot Wheels and Matchbox. The wheels also feature rubber tires, which are notoriously slow on gravity powered road
courses. However, by replacing the wheels with those from the stable and fast HW Zoom-In, they should be able to compete well on the new track. The other series that will be coming up this summer involves the 1:32 scale Jada models which, again have fixed axles and rubber tires. Some of War on I4’s best builders will be adapting the cars to be better suited to racing. Builders are expected to alter the axle structure to allow for independently spinning wheels. They will also be coating the wheels with polyurethane to harden and smooth the tire surfaces.
May 6, 2021 | 5
Feature
Taking the Track to Atlanta: The Adventures of MDG at the 21st Annual Collector’s Nationals by Christopher Kidder-Mostrom
After a one-year hiatus thanks to the pandemic, the Annual Hot Wheels Collector’s Nationals convention was back in 2021 for its 21st gathering. This year it was in Atlanta, Georgia over the weekend of April 711. The convention tickets sold out, which clearly showed that collectors and racers alike were ready to get back into the action. One racer in particular, Michael Mathis (known to the racing community as Michael’s Diecast Garage, or MDG for short) had big plans for the convention. He packed his bags (more on that in a minute) and boarded a Greyhound bus in Houston, Texas, carrying with him a special track that he hoped would bring special joy to the convention attendees. In a year when the convention’s traditional modified racing class was left off the official racing docket, MDG and the Brotherhood of Speed provided an unofficial way for long-time racers to still get their modified racing fix. Diecast Racing Report caught up with MDG after the fact to see how everything turned out at the convention’s official and unofficial activities. DRR: I’m going to assume this isn’t your first time attending the Nationals. How many times have you gone before? MDG: Atlanta was my third show. My first 6 | Diecast Racing Report
time was Dallas in 2018, the 50th anniversary of Hot Wheels. I had just started modified racing in 2018. I mainly went to race on the 40’ eight-lane track. It was only a three-hour drive from Houston. I met Don Boomershine and Jon Soffa that first Thursday night. In 2019, I drove to Chicago for my second event, which culminated in a little diecast tour that went through Indiana to Mr. Mom’s facility, down to Kansas to race at the Backroads raceway with Don Boomershine. DRR: What was different about this year? MDG: Other than the temperature checks and the face diapers, not a lot.
Feature Some friendly staff and people. Great vendors in rooms covering all 15 floors of the Crown Plaza Perimeter at Ravinia hotel. The hotel staff was gracious and accommodating as well.People seemed to be eager to be able to visit and shop for treasures or hard to find items. Everybody was happy it wasn’t canceled, of course. DRR: You set up a track of your own there. Was it one of your regular tracks from the Bayou City Diecast Raceplex, or something you built especially for the event? MDG: All of the tracks at the BCDR are permanent installations. That’s the main reason they run so well. I designed a portable track–Bayou City B21 Bomber–starting about two weeks from the event. All materials and construction tools were taken in my luggage, bought specifically to transport it.
modified race, the categories always remain the same. With inside information and close connections, I found out that the modified races had been removed from the schedule by the organizers. Immediately plans started to transpire. When I was coaching Little League, we halways had a saying: ‘We dream, we believe, we achieve’. I think it holds true in most endeavors. Don’t get me wrong, the desire to race more than what is offered by the organization was not the only factor. The will to conceive and make a race happen like no one had apparently done before was something this Orange Track Outlaw* was born to do. An who better to sponsor and promote it than the Brotherhood of Speed‡. DRR: So, what official racing did you take part in? MDG: On the official
(MDG cont. on page 19) DRR: Why take a track with you? MDG: Simple answer? To race modified diecast. The extended version goes something like this… The races held each year on the track at either the Collector’s Nationals or the Convention in Los Angeles are basically the same. Year after year, except for a Feature Race and (previously) a
*Orange Track Outlaws is a Facebook group in which MDG hosts oneshot drag races that are open to all. Two of those races are listed in this issue’s Mail-In Calendar. ‡Brotherhood of Speed is an invitation-only group of dedicated, long-time racers headed by David Currin, Brian Oldford, and MDG. May 6, 2021 | 7
Calendar
Stock: Wallside Formula E League – Deadline for Entry: May 16, 2021. Road Course. All entries must be the HW Formula E casting. Limit 2 entries per household. Custom paint/decals required, no other modifications allowed. This is an annual event. More Info: RedlineDerby.com. Diego’s Diecast First Mail-In – Deadline for Entry: May 29, 2021. Drag Strip. Stocks and Mods race against each other. 70 gram weight limit. More Info: RedlineDerby.com. The Rubber Rally – Deadline for Entry: June 4, 2021. Dirt drag strip. Stocks and Mods race against each other. 60 gram weight limit. More Info: RedlineDerby.com. Sunday Pinks – Deadline for Entry: Ongoing. Road course. No weight limit. No FTE/NPAs. Limit 2 vehicles per entrant. Weekly head-to-head races. Racing for pink slips. Submissions must be on original card. More Info: Rust Belt Diecast Racing
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Mail-in Race Deadlines and 2.0s will race separately. Modifieds: Limit 1 of each car per racer. The Mayes Mountain Missan Tournament – Deadline for Entry: May 15, 2021. Road Course. 60 gram weight limit. Some restrictions on wheel type. Limit 2 entries per household. Vehicles must be Nissan (including Datsun) models. Limited spaces still available. Contact host prior to submission. More Info: RedlineDerby.com May Muscle Mayhem – Deadline for Entry: May 25, 2021. Drag Strip. 75 gram weight limit. Cars must be HW Ion Motors Thresher casting. Limit 1 car per racer. More Info: Orange Track Outlaws Diego’s Diecast First Mail-In – Deadline for Entry: May 29, 2021. Drag Strip. Stocks and Mods race against each other. 70 gram weight limit. More Info: RedlineDerby.com. Memorial Day Rodger Dodger Rumble – Deadline for Entry: May 29, 2021. Drag Strip. 75 gram weight limit for original Rodger Dodger casting; 85 gram weight limit for Rodger Dodger 2.0 casting. Two divisions: Originals
More Info: Orange Track Outlaws The Rubber Rally – Deadline for Entry: June 4, 2021. Dirt drag strip. Stocks and Mods race against each other. 60 gram weight limit. More Info: RedlineDerby.com. Ladder Wars – Deadline for Entry: rolling (open submissions). Road Course. 50 gram weight limit. More Info: RedlineDerby.com Friday Night Cheese– Deadline for Entry: rolling (open submissions). Road Course. 150 gram weight limit. More Info: ILC Race Series King of the 621– Deadline for Entry: rolling (open submissions). Drag strip. 100 gram weight limit. More Info: RedlineDerby.com Kings of the Crest– Deadline for Entry: rolling (open submissions). Road course. 90 gram weight limit. More Info: TranSport Diecast Racing
Resources
Quick Tips
Wheels are Where It’s At: Where Your Car Hits the Road
T
he best way to make the rounds in diecast racing is to start with the basics – a good set of wheels. There are so many options out there, but - if you follow these quick tips - you should be on a roll in no time! 1. Learn the lingo. 10SP… BLOR… RSW… Y5. What do these these strange codes mean? There are over 70 types of Hot Wheels hot wheels. In his video “DCTV Lite Ep 20 – Hot Wheels Wheel Types Explained”, diecasttvchannel teaches you some of the names you should know in order to learn the lingo. There’s even a quiz! 2. Grow a crop of wheels. Not all wheels are created equal. Before any other step on the road to speed, you have to make sure you have good
wheels. Check out “League of Speed’s Speed Shop Episode 1 – Wheel Farming” to see how expert modders pick and choose their wheels. 3. Take a look into FTE history. You’ve heard the hype, but do you really know what’s going on with FTEs? Back in 2011, RaceGrooves put together a video all about these famous wheels. Check out “The Inside Story : Faster Than Ever Hot Wheels” to see what makes FTEs faster than ever. 4. Give Real Riders new life. Though you may see the occasional Real Rider race, generally speaking, these rubber wheels are made for shelf sitters. However, with a little
polyurethane, you can give them a hard coating that will help these wheels perform as good as they look. War on I4 Diecast Racing shows you how polyurethane works in his video “Level 1 Wheel and Axle Race Modification for a 1/32 Jada Diecast”. 5. Go with what you like. Whether due to performance or appearance (or both), pretty much every modder has a favorite wheel type that they return to time and again. And why not? Use what makes you happy! So, what’s your favorite? Join the ongoing conversation at Red Line Derby Racing.
May 6, 2021 | 9
Feature
RACING COUSINS by Christopher Kidder-Mostrom
You could say that racing is in their blood. Cousins Keith and Thomas Filipiak have made quite an impression on the diecast racing world since they came on the scene during the pandemic lockdown last year. That may be because they put a lot of effort into getting their cars dialed in just right, or it might be an innate sense of how to make anything on wheels go fast. Followers of WeRaceDiecast’s King of the 621 will know that the Filipiaks have domininated that track since the beginning. On the racetrack, Keith is Flip’s Racing, and Thomas is FPD (Filipiak Performance Diecast). Keith races under the names of Flip, Remy 12 Gauge (his son’s name is Remington), and Amber Beach (his wife’s name combined with her favorite place). Thomas races under a variety of names, including Clutch, Buddy “Throwin’” Sparks, and Deuce (named for his son). Like their fathers, the younger set of cousins are also into racing. Deuce even does a bit of diecast modding, but generally, the sport is the domain of the elder generation. Naturally, when two relatives are quite competitive, it turns into a rivalry. So, is there a rivalry between these two? “Oh, there’s a f*@#&n’ rivaly, alright!” says Thomas. “Keith tests on his track to make sure his stuff is fast, the comes over to my track and tests there. He does it just to make me feel bad,” he laughs. “He dominates me on my own track. It’s sad, really.” Keith puts things more succinctly. “Of course there’s a rivalry between us. We both wanna be faster than the other, but we also help each other as much as possible.” “We do share information pretty freely,” agrees Thomas. I tell [Keith] what I’m trying if I think it helps. We bounce ideas off each other all the time.” So, they have a friendly rivalry, and a cooperative, but competitive relationship. And they both produce fast cars. Keith was an early heavyweight at the 621. Thomas joined him shortly thereafter: “Finally winning King of the 621 was big for me,” he claims. Keith’s rides at the Maryland track, and across the world of diecast racing vary greatly. He sticks to 10 | Diecast Racing Report
Feature
ANYTHING WITH WHEELS – Keith (black cart) and Thomas (blue and white cart) don’t let their familial relationship interfere with a good race in any scale. Here they are in go-karts on a track that they built on a friend’s property.
castings that are inherently fast, and that can be modded to be even faster. He cites the ‘08 Mitsubishi Lance Evolution as a particular favorite. Anyone who knows Thomas knows that, when given the chance, he’ll be submitting some variation of a Ford Mustang to the races. Thomas comes by his affinity for the pony cars honestly. His first car was a 1966 Mustang Fastback, and he drives a Mustang in 1:1 races when the world isn’t in a pandemic setting. Both cousins race go-karts. “Keith was pretty good, too!” Thomas declares. “But, then Corona hit”. That’s when they discovered diecast racing. Both Thomas and Keith were introduced to 1:64 scale racing by their sons who had discovered Sub4ra’s ADRC (Adult Diecast Racing Cup). Keith explains that was the spark that he needed. “I went
and purchased fomr track and built a fat track set up at my cousin’s, and the rest is history.” Cheering for the Filipiaks is easy, not only because they build cars at a level that they are always in the running for the podium, but because they compete all over the place, too. “I’m really enjoying the Dynasty of Dodge Tournament at Bay City. The DIRS series is awesome,” says Thomas. “My favorite track to compete at is Diecast 64,” Keith mentions. “It was the first place I sent cars to race. Robby does a great job of hosting the races and putting out the content for the racers.” “D64 is and always will be the proving ground,” adds Thomas. “Neither Keith nor I have missed one race since we started in June of last year. That is where you find out what kind of builder you are.” Being that they are both at the top of the game, and they share a last name, it’s not terribly surprising that they are often mistaken for each other. And yet, Keith says, “I think everyone is finally figuring it out.” May 6, 2021 | 11
Tournaments
BlueLine Racing by Ali Kidder-Mostrom
In 2021 here at Diecast Racing Report, we’re shining the spotlight on some lesserknown (or at least lesserfollowed) track channels. Each month, one channel will get a full month of race write-ups alongside our established tracks. With so many tracks, there is no way for anyone to catch all the racing action, but this should spread the net a little wider. Hopefully, one of these new channels will catch your eye and become a favorite worth following. This month’s featured track is BlueLine Racing… https:// www.youtube.com/channel/ UCATVzjJnor8p9q_B57d8vdw
T
he 60 Gram Modified Circuit Championship just got underway at BlueLine Racing. Starting at BlueLine’s Northeast Beast yellow track, this was the first opportunity to see how the group of 35 cars, who will be making a seven track tour around the United States, in action. The premier of this tournament was 30 minutes of non-stop downhill drag strip racing. There’s a certain cadence to watching car after car go down the yellow track. And these were tuned by some of the best in the business, so there is little to disrupt the constant rhythm of sub 2 second runs. This leg of the tournament was a timed event. Two cars ran down the track each lap, but it was ultimately a battle against the clock – with the top 18 cars advancing from round 12 | Diecast Racing Report
one, then nine cars, then four and ultimately a winner named for leg one of this racing odyssey. Mixed in with more familiar names in the racing community, this slate of 35 drivers includes a number of up and coming racers, including Healer Racing – winner of the Redline Derby 2021 Rookie Rally. With a top 10 performance on the first run, Healer demonstrated that he has what it takes to carry beginner’s luck forward in the tournament. Healer Racing was one of many Cadillac V16 Concepts to grace the race. The long, smooth V-16 casting was indeed a popular choice. And, with limited exception, as the race field was culled, the contenders started to look uniformly long and blunt-nosed. BlueLine Racing’s Caddy was the one to make it furthest. Whether that’s home field advantage or that This channel is great for fans of: – Epic summer racing series – Tradi�onal, no-frills drag strip racing – Racing against the clock
he has unlocked the mystery of speed will have to wait to be seen as the tournament moves on to the next track. On the other side of builds, Big Mac, Big Poppy and Uncle Elvis each brought trucks that just couldn’t keep up with the sleeker models. Crazy Canuck (with his over-sized FTEs), Dubious Diecast and Aces High Racing’s SUVs also lagged behind. Generally, it looks like this tournament is not a good one for big boys. The exceptions, however, were Cut Rock’s Escalade and Mopar Mac’s Range Rover – which each made it into the second round of racing. Watching Cut Rock keep up with Healer’s Caddy, one begins to wonder what kind of treatment he gave the Escalade’s orange wheels. Another unique contender is Ca$h Money Boy$, who showed up in vintage styling. Unfortunately, the squared off body and old wheels meant the younger models passed him by. Sadly, a trend that it’s hard to imagine will change later in the tournament.
(BlueLine cont. on page 17)
Tournaments
WeRaceDiecast by DeeZaster Jakk
A
ll of the turtle vans, or traveling waggons, have finally all arrived at WeRaceDiecast to take on another track in the Traveling Wagon Tournament. The wagons were initially supposed to run on Clutch Mountain,but after a few unsuccessful test runs, management decided to move the wagons to the "There and Back" track to see how the vans could do with some "air time." Ryan Kelly, Lily the Dog, Doug and Second Hand Speed would all have first crack at the track in group one. Doug took a quick lead and held onto it for most of the first race, even when he got turned sideways, and went over, catching big air and landing sideways, but couldn't hold the lead at the end as Lily would slip by and steal the points from Doug. Doug got a jump out to the lead again in the second race, but this time no one could catch him as he ran fast for first. Second Hand Speed was trying to make a push on Doug but landed on his side coming off the jump giving second to Lily the Dog. In race three Second Hand Speed pulled into a quick lead, but as Lily the Dog tried to make a move for first, Speed got turned sideways and slowed Lily down coming over the jump, allowing Doug to move into second, and Ryan Kelly to steal third place right before the finish. Kelly beat Lily out of the gate to start race four, but Lily stuck close and got tied up with Kelly when she tried to pass coming over the jump. Ryan recovered quickly and grabbed a first place finish, while Lily got tied up
with Doug right after getting free of Kelly. In the end, Second Hand Speed got by to finish second, while Lily and Doug both got DNF's. Doug and Ryan Kelly would both tie and survive round one to move on to the semi-finals. Durty Murry, Fractal Panda, Mayfield41 and Jakeli all comprised group two, but first to try the new jump after it was extended. Mayfield 41 grabbed a quick lead in race one and soon got turned sideways with the pack pushing. Over the jump, Mayfeild recovered, but Jakeli slid by Mayfield to steal first, with Murray pushing in third, and Panda git a DNF.
from fourth, to move up to challenge Panda, but Panda spun to block Mayfield going into the jump taking away Mayfields momentum. Off the jump, Panda broke away from Mayfield to hold onto first, while Murray bumped his way past Mayfield for second. Panda and Jakeli were nose to nose from the start of race four until
In the second race Mayfield and Murray rocketed down the track for some huge, huge air and finished first and second. Panda grabbed third but Jaleli would suffer a DNF after being knocked off the track by a very wild Murray. Panda led the pack in race three as Mayfeild came May 6, 2021 | 13
Tournaments coming off the jump, at that point Panda came across the track to block out Jakeli and secure the win. Jakeli held off an advancing Murray to keep his second place finish, but blocking Murray from the points he needed to advance. In the end, even with the crazy finish, Fractal Panda and Mayfield 41 would be headed on to the next round. In group three Kit Kayem, R-lo, Kirk Adams and Idiot Luggage had their party wagons ready to go. Adams and R-lo started race one even, but R-lo jumped into the lead and spun sideways before the jump. Idiot pushed up into the pack going into the jump and helped R-lo regain control and hold the lead to finish first. Kirk fell into third coming off the jump, and a very gutsy Kit Kayem tried to bounce off Adams' roof and into second, but fell off the side to DNF instead. Kirk did come back to
14 | Diecast Racing Report
finish second, leaving Luggage in third. In race two, the pack was tight going through the turn and heading towards the jump, but Idiot went sideways in front of the pack going into the jump. Idiot, R-lo and Adams all slowed coming off the jump, but once again a very gutsy Kit Kayem tried to jump the entire pack, but ended up on his side and blocking the track just shy of the finish line, causing a rare quad DNF. Race two was re-ran but this time Idiot gets out of the gate slowly allowing Kirk and R-lo free reign. Kayem got around the hindering Luggage but couldn't quite catch R-
lo, who finished first, and Adams who took second. Kayem grabs the lead followed closely by Adams in race three, when Idiot was slow out of the gate. Adams began to press Kit, and the two got tied up allowing Luggage to steal first from Kayem, who came in second with Kirk in third and R-lo in fourth In the final race Kit Kayem fought out to lead and held it to finish first,
Tournaments but right behind Kit, Kirk had to block out Idiot to hold onto second, leaving Luggage in third and R-lo in fourth. With the final block, Adams would join R-lo to advance to the next round. Group four, Daddy G, Oliver James, Second Hand Speed 2, and Dangerous Dawn, would be the last of the first round. Daddy G and Oliver James started race one in a tie for the lead, but Daddy G snatched the lead and then some huge air off the jump to finish first. Dangerous Dawn came off the jump hot, but James blocked her out to hold onto second, Dawn finished third and Second Hand's 2nd finished fourth. In the second race James and Dawn were neck and neck coming into the turn, but Dawn got dangerous and turned on the jets to fly by James for
the lead. Dawn's speed was dangerous as it took her right off the track coming off the jump, while Second hand managed to sneak up and past Oliver and finish first, James finished second and Daddy G rolled in third. Dawn broke out to a fast lead with Second Hand, James and Daddy G close behind in race three. Coming out of the corner Dawn got on her side, but as Second Hand pushed her over the jump, Dawn miraculously recovered to hold on for first, with Second Hand second, James in third and Daddy G fourth. Daddy G and Second Hand started out strong on the final race until Daddy G got around Second Hand to take the lead. Daddy G got spun, but managed to recover and hang on to first while James and Second Hand fought for second. James wins the battle, and second place, Second hand followed in third and Dawn in fourth.
Oliver James and Second Hand's 2nd were tied for second so there would be a tie-breaker round to see who would join Daddy G and move on. In the first tie-breaker race, Oliver James got ahead of Second Hand to take the first win. In race two James gets out in front of Second Hand to try to block him but Second Hand slides to the inside to get around James causing the two to lose control and spin. James recovers backwards in the lead followed by Second Hand, James gains speed over the jump and gets a little wild putting two wheels up on the wall and grinding out the race and into the next round with Daddy G. Semi-finals and final round action is right around the corner, so tune in and subscribe to WeRaceDiecast to catch the thrilling finals!
May 6, 2021 | 15
Tournaments
Rust Belt Diecast Racing by Jim Desaulniers
Rocket Falls Dragway Cupkake Josh Pauffler, the 7-day and longest consecutive champion fell on Monday to Wesley Milligan in a controversial call. Wesley's Dodge Concept Car (Dodge Copperhead) would hold the top spot until Friday. This "too close for comfort" finish just proves the old Rocket Falls saying, “Welcome to Rocket Falls, where the lanes don’t matter and the finishes are made up anyways!" Friday came and Andy “Flyin” McBrian felt that Milligan was on top for long enough and took the champ down with a Chevy Silverado 1500 in a beauty of a 3-1 victory. We saw two podium changes this week, closing out the field on the Season Two Championship. Once we see how long Flyin’ McBrian holds the crown, the seeding will be completed
and racers will be drawn for heat and lane positions. McBrian’s victory in a GM gave the company the lead in the Weekly Model Shootout with 2 victories. Ford now holds second with 3, Hot Wheels in third with 2 and foreign models have yet to produce a single win.
Micro Mods & Friday Night Food Fights "Triple B" Barry Porter topped Shaun DeLong and others with 6
consecutive wins. In the year and a half history of the Sky Drop, no one has won 6 days in a row until now. This comes in the wake of back to back weeks in which the Monday winner took the podium. That had also never happened. They're back at the Sky Drop next week and the Monday winner will be poised to make history...or not.
Tiger’s Tail Raceway (Shredder Speedway) Last time at Shredder Speedway on the Tiger's Tail Raceway, they ran a shorter week with Josh Paufler standing in on Monday night. Tuesday and Wednesday races were some great fun, but on Thursday they ran Fat bottom Thursday with metal chassis and plastic body vehicles, creating some exciting action! The Champion for the night ended up being Mike Noble, but he failed to earn a spot on the Podium, racing against Wesley Milligan in the Bye Focal. Friday night saw a field of Ferraris and a Fiero, resulting in 'the Zombie' JD Elst winning the night in a gold Ferrari F40. Who dares to challenge Zombie for a chance to race the F40? He could be unstoppable for sometime!
16 | Diecast Racing Report
Tournaments (BlueLine cont. from page 12) Big Al’s Custom Diecast also brought one of the group’s only square-ish cars, but his Gov’ner made it past the first cut of this race and probably has higher hopes for the tournament overall. Not surprising, as it’s low front end mimics that of the ever-popular Caddy V-16. RLo’s sparkly bodied V-16 just missed the first cut, on the cusp at 1.900 seconds. Future tracks may see this Caddy have better luck. Similarly, Maker’s Box – who showed up in a unique car repping some ILC sponsors – was just edged out at 1.901. Both of these cars should be ones to watch in the future. Rivera Racing’s performance in this race was rather inconsistent, which is notable when most cars are putting up similar times for each lap. That may spell bad things for his Jaguar XJ220 moving forward or he may be a dark horse that others’ should watch out for in the coming races. Of course, the real car to watch belonged to Mattman213. His blue Corvette stood out from the crowd, not only because of its beautiful body, but also because of its beautiful performance. To no one’s surprise, Mattman213 set the pace and (ultimately) won the race. In the end he may very well walk away with the Championship belt. There are other top contenders that will make that a hard battle to win. Both Voxxer and BlueLine were just 0.001 second behind Mattman at the start. In round three, the bigger body of Voxxer’s Evo (the better to weight you with, my pretty…) may have finally paid off, as he unseated Mattman for the top spot moving into the final four. Also, the award for Best Driver Name definitely goes to newcomer “It’s Diego By the Way”. Voxxer may be a tough bet, however, as in round two of this race he was a bit loose – losing precious moments that make all the difference in a drag race. Then, in the final four he ended up with one wheel up on the edging of the track. This mishap seemed to carry forward into the remaining runs and when compared to BlueLine – with whom he had shared an initial lap time of 1.875 seconds – his final lap time was 1.906 and BlueLine was sitting pretty (and steady) at 1.876. Is it just inconsistent performance or is something wrong with his car? Hopefully, it will be squared away before the tournament moves on to Scale Racing
May 6, 2021 | 17
Feature
PRE-MODDED CASTINGS MAKE QUITE A COMMOTION by Christopher Kidder-Mostrom
Rob Thacker of Commotion Diecast was bitten by the same bug as many newer members of the diecast racing community. And so, he built his first track, Death Mountain Speedway. He then went on to build a second race track, Death Valley Speedway. The second track was longer, more involved, and more suited to handle the bigger, heavier rides that Thacker prefers. “Death Mountain is only about 20 feet and slower,” explains Thacker, “but it sparked the interest.” Thacker learned by doing. He had become quite skilled. He let his skills show on the second track, the scenery for which is all hand made. Over time he cultivated his car customizing skills as well. And that gave him an idea.
“Not everybody who wants to get started [in diecast racing] has the tools,” he thought, “and skill develops over time.” For those who want to jump right in, but aren’t yet ready to get seriously into building their own modified cars, Commotion Diecast now offers a line of premodded cars. The line is made up of four castings. Each is available in three different weight classes. They are black on black, painted with Cerakote, a ceramic-based finish that is highly chip-resistant. The models available are all Hot Wheels: Subaru Impreza, Nissan Skyline R34, Lamborghini Urus, and GMC Syclone. The cars all have new wheels and axles that are already smoothed and thoroughly rubbed with graphite. The three weight classes are 50g-60g; 60g-70g; and 70g-80g. Sales were announced on the Commotion
Diecast Facebook page on May 2, and the 60g-70g Skylines are already sold out. According to Thacker, the Impreza and Syclone are running low in the middleweight class, as well. For those who enjoy the thrill of the Hunt, there is one special edition of each casting that will be randomly sent out to lucky customers. Thacker is calling this the “Jenkins” model, named after Commotion Diecast’s colorful commentator. Anyone receiving a Jenkins Model will find that it is heavier and features several things that make it special. While Thacker is at the helm of this project, it is the team that helps him whose work he credits for making the venture successful: “Thank you to Chet, Biff, and Cole for their hard work!” These models are just the beginning. Given the rapid response that the first series is garnering, there will be a Phase 2 offering around July 4, and in the fall, Commotion Diecast will offer Expert Level cars based on the HW Zoom-In casting’s base, and likely featuring a completely unique body. Check out Commotion Diecast’s offerings on their Facebook Page. And visit their YouTube channel to see their builds in action.
18 | Diecast Racing Report
Feature (MDG cont. from page 7) side, I participated in the Sizzlers Practice Session and Races on Friday morning. I hadn’t fully committed to acquiring Sizzlers until after I hung out with Romy (of Rivera Racing), and his crew… I learnedto be alap counter, how to recharge during a race, hot not to put the cars back on track, and how to do it right. High paced, awesome racing. I loved every minute of it. Then, John Soffa (Voxxer Racing) had a Downhill Racing Seminar. Next was a three hour Open Practice session of Friday afternoon. This was my first time seeing the 6-lane track owned by Jason Hayes. This is the track that was used previously, before the newer 8-lane was built. DRR: What about the unofficial racing? MDG: Friday night the unoffical racing was scheduled to start at 9 p.m. The official Charity auction ran longer than expected, so we killed time showing off the B21 Bomber Track. People were crackin’ and trackin’ cars, testing them for Saturday and the official races. The compliments were flowing, and many people were impressed by the track. There was also a 2-lane Slingin’ Track set up in the room. Don Boomershine ( brought a fully digital launcher style drag track all the way from Kansas. Once the racers finally made it up to the 15th floor, we got all the cars and trucks gathered for racing. We went until after midnight. We ran four separate races: a Feature race for Dodge Demons at 85 grams… Voxxer won. DRR: How many racers were there? MDG: Six racers: Voxxer, Romy, MDG (me), John Farmer, Alex K (Kentucky), and Don Boomershine (Kaboom Racing). The same six
racers competed in the Zoom-In race with a 125 gram weight limit. Voxxer won that one, too. The third race had proxy racers competing. It was a truck race at 115-125 grams. BlueLine took the victory. The 100g Modified Car Race had sixteen racers including proxies. Voxxer won, giving him 3 of the four Modified class wins…Saturday was the official races. DRR: What was the best part of holding your own races? MDG: The best part was having the support of my diecast brethren GETTING SET UP – The skeleton of the Bayou City B21 who encouraged me and Bomber track starts to take form in MDG’s room at the 21st helped me pull it off. It Annual Hot Wheels Collector’s Nationals. was extremely gratifying seeing the track set up in MDG: First, I suggest getting a the room in Atlanta. Testing it and subscription to How Wheels getting it to run smoothly… Having Newsletter. Through that you will my peers give it a thumbs up. And have a better chance of getting a that they enjoyed building cars for ticket. Sill no guarantees. Then look the categories I came up with. ahead on your calendar and mark the dates in April for Charlotte, North DRR: What sort of activities did you Carolina. take part in other than racing? DRR: Was there anything that you MDG: Room-to-room shopping, like learned by going to Atlanta this year? everyone else. I participated in the customs contest for the first time MDG: I learned how close this with a hydro-dipped Rodger Dodger community is all the way from the 2.0 casting. I went to the opening product company down to the ceremonies for the first time, and to common collector. And even the closing ceremonies. It was without Mattel’s presence, the different without the Mattel preview Collector’s Event Unlimited staff and video. I love the Sunday and community had a great event. morning toy show where vendors set up and you get to shop tables… that’s In order to follow MDG’s advice, where I normally by most of my cars. you’ll need to follow this link: https:/ /hwcollectorsnews.com/. DRR: Would you suggest that folks Subscribers to the Newsletter can go to next year’s Nationals? get info on the 35th Annual Convention in Los Angeles, too. May 6, 2021 | 19
On The Track
On The Track: RTR Diecast Racing League by DeeZaster Jakk
finish for third and fourth.
W
Fractal Panda and Markista were neck and neck going into turn one of race two, but Panda would pull ahead to take first leaving Markista spinning behind in second. Doc and Rubber Tow got caught up in the comotion behind Markista leaving Doc in third and Rubber Tow in fourth.
ith rounds one and two done, the rest of the DIRS drivers were set to blow up on Mayes Mountain Motor Speedway and grab some much needed points, before heading on to Jackson Pass Speedway.
Group Three Rubber Tow from Monster Motorsports, Markista from MnM Racing, Doc driving for WeRaceDiecast, and last but not least, Fractal Panda from Fractal Panda Diecast all comprised group three. In race one Rubber Tow gets out to an early lead and manages to hold it for first, as Doc came from 3rd to finish a close second. Markista and Fractal Panda had some issues through turn two and crossed the
In race three Fractal Panda and Doc were bumper to bumper and trading paint all the way into turn two, but Rubber Tow got a break and went high to bounce by the pair and take the win. Markista wasn't as lucky as the rubber man, but did manage to get by Doc and follow the second place Panda for third. Poor Doc seemed to have a mess of problems after the tangle with Panda, and although it seemed he recovered, he had some unseen issues coming out of the last corner and his car stalled just short of the finish for an upsetting DNF. Doc jumped out to an early lead and looked like he had it in the bag in race four, but Rubber Tow shot around
20 | Diecast Racing Report
Doc on the high side of the track coming out of the last corner to pass Doc and steal the win. Markista was hot behind Rubber Tow, but could not get by Doc, so he took third leaving Panda in fourth this race.
Group Four In group four Eli Storm from WeRaceDiecast, Mopar Mac driving for Mac Mountain, from Chaos Canyon, Steve Stevenson, and finally Chips Maghee from Live Young Diecast. In race one Eli stormed out to lead the pack and never looked back, finishing first. Mopar Mac spun in the wake of speed left behind by Eli, but recovered for second while Steve and Chips got hung up behind Mac's charger. Stevenson caught a break for third, and Chips fell to a fourth place finish. Mopar Mac got out to an early lead
On The Track in race two, but started to spin and chips snuck by to move into first. Mac recovered, but wouldn't settle for second and took the high side of the track in the last turn to blow by Chips and finish first. Chips held onto second as Eli was coming in quick to finish third. Steve Stevenson had spun out in turn two and recovered to come in fourth. Chips Maghee and Steve Stevenson were side by side all the way into turn two, but Stevenson managed to pull ahead of Chips coming out on the high side of the track in this third race. Stevenson would hold out to finish first with Maghee right behind to finish second. Mopar Mac had a slight lead over Eli Storm, but when he spun in the second turn, Storm got hung up and couldn't get past Mac. Mac recovered for a third place finish and Storm took fourth. In the fourth race Steve Stevenson started to pull into the lead, but going into turn one Eli Storm got into the door of Stevenson and he spun letting Storm take the lead and once again finish first. Stevenson was trying to recover as Mopar Mac was challenging to pass with Chips Maghee right behind, but Stevenson held onto second, finishing backwards, with Mac in third and Chip in fourth.
Group 5 Representing group five, Myke Mayes from RTR, Glitch driving for Flat Rabbit Racing Club, Big Romey for Rivera Racing and Vapor Racing's Sneaky Bob. In race one Myke Mayes got out to a quick lead and finished first, but Glitch had a solid second until spinning in turn two. Big Romey got past Glitch, but couldn't hold onto second place, as Glitch came back to finish second. Big Romey would end
up in third, as Sneaky Bob finished fourth. Glitch gained the lead fast followed closely by Sneaky Bob to start the second race, but Myke Mayes had other plans, and slid around Bob and into second when Bob avoided a spinning Glitch. Glitch would recover and finish first with Myke Mayes in second, Bob in third and Big Romey in fourth. Sneaky Bob had the lead to start the thrird race when Big Romey ot sideways and sent Sneaky Bob into a spin. Myke Mayes took advantage of the high side of the track to get around Romey and Bob to finish first. Bob Recovered to finish second, but Romey wasn't so lucky and ended up on his side for a DNF giving third place to Glitch. In race four Mayes executed a perfect PITT maneuver in turn on to send Big Romey into a spin, in hopes of getting first, but Myke wasn't successful and Romey recovered to stay in the lead. Mayes did find a small window and flew past Romey coming out of the last corner, but failed to hold the lead as Big Romey tapped the rear end of Mayes to grab the much needed first place finish. Mayes finished in second with Bob sneaking up in third and Glich up on two wheels to finish fourth.
Group Six Slanman Customs own Erik Slan, Daddy G for G4 Diecast Racing, Dom Woodley driving for Dom's Tuner Shop and Lily the Dog from Lily's Bone Yard were set up in group six. Daddy G was hot to begin race one, but Erik Slan got tied up with Daddy G in turn two allowing Lily the Dog to go high and rocket into first. Lily gots turned sideways by Daddy G right before the finish line and Slan comes shooting in to hit Lily over the finish line in first, but Daddy G was right there to steal second, leaving third for Erik Slan and Dom in fourth. Daddy G was hot again in race two, but this time loses control and spins giving Dom Woodley the chance to come from fourth, grab the lead, and the win. Daddy G held on to finish second, while Erik Slan comes in third and Lily the dog in fourth. Dom carried his momentum into race May 6, 2021 | 21
On The Track three and fought past Lily the Dog to get the lead, and once again, the win. Lily and Daddy G get tied up in the final corner and Lily was lucky to roll into a second place finish. Erik Slan smacks the side of Daddy G and then slips around him to finish third, but Daddy G failed to recover from the dog fight and receives a DNF. In the fourth race Woodley once again would find the lead, but Erick Slan got into the side of Dom causing him to spin. Dom recovered and maintained the lead, and would go on to finish first as Erik was unable to overtake the lead. Erick Slan would finish second, fighting off Daddy G in third, and Lily the Dog in fourth.
Group Seven Flip, driving for Flip Racing, Josh Paufler for Rust Belt Racing, Clutch diving for Flipiak Performance, and Rowdy Rowley comprised group seven. Josh Paufler and Flip were neck and neck through turn two in the first race but Josh edged out Flip to take the lead and go on to finish first with Flip coming in second. Rowdy Rowley got in front of Clutch, but got hung up behind Flip and Paufler,
he lost control and rolled the car on its roof. Clutch dodge Rowley in the last turn to finish third, but Rowley would DNF. In race two Paufler shot out to an early lead but got spun allowing Rowley to slip by or a first place win and Clutch to take second. Flip, who got hung up behind Josh when he spun, recovered, but had to settle for fourth as he couldn't beat Paufler's sideway finish for third. Rowley jumped out in the lead followed closely by Clutch, Flip and Josh in the third race. Rowley held on to the lead to finish first with clutch still right behind for second, but Flip spun in the second straight allowing Paufler to race by and finish third. In the fourth race Clutch shot out in front, lost control and began to spin, but he managed to block out Flip and Rowley that were pressing to pass. Clutch gained control of his car to finish first while Paufler, who was in fourth, got past Rowley and Flip to back into second, leaving Flip to finish Third and Rowley in fourth.
Group Eight In group eight, Paladin for Rowley's
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Bros Racing, Gnocchi Jack driving for Jackson Pass Speedway, Iron Man for Irons Diecast Racing, and Khei's Diecast Garage were set up to finish out the DIRS at Mayes Mountain. In race one Paladin shot out to a quick lead he would keep until he lost control right before the finish. Gnocchi Jack was flying up to pass, but Paladin slid over to block Jack and hold onto first. Khei had a slow start, but came back to get around Iron Man to finish third, and Iron Man followed in fourth. Khei and Gnocchi Jack were neck and neck in race two until Khei spun in turn two letting Jack take the lead and finish first. Khei recovered but lost valuable speed and Iron Man blew by followed by Paladin, Khei would finish fourth behind Iron man's second place finis and Paladin's third. In the third race Khei looked like he was gonna get out in front, but couldn't fight off Iron Man who won the battle, and won the race. Although Khei lost the lead, he held on for a second place finish with Jack in third and Paladin in fourth. Iron Man shot out of the gate to lead race four but Gnocchi Jack fought his way from fourth, to get past Khei and Paladin to get a well deserved victory. Paladin stayed behind Jack to steal second from Iron Man, who finished third, and Khei cruised in at fourth. With the DIRS finished at Mayes Mountain Motor Speedway, the cars and drivers' next stop for the fourth leg is at Jackson Pass Speedway. Please continue to follow DRR for complete coverage of all the upcoming tracks and continued action of the DIRS.
On The Track
On The Track: Flat Rabbit Racing Club by Ali Kidder-Mostrom
I
t’s happened yet again: New Westrock has been taken over by Monsters! However, this time, there is no need to fear the invaders (unless you are a competitor), because these are Monster Trucks. That’s right, the wasteland outside of New Westrock is now hosting the ModStock Monster Mayhem series. If you tuned your tv to just the right channel recently, you probably caught Grease Eater bringing you all the action.
neither car was actually that fast. This turned out to be true, as – when up against Super Dave (of GNR Vintage Diecast Racing) in the semifinals, DMC was left in the smaller truck’s dust. Generally, this downhill track was the demesne of the traditional truck. The question is whether this will hold true for the modified division as
well. How much modification has been done and how that changes the balance of the vehicle could make all the difference in the world. Next, the Stocks battled it out again, this time in a Big Air event… over a lava pit! Most vehicles seemed pretty well matched when trying to hit the
Sixteen trucks (half mods and half stocks) will ultimately compete on two tracks and so far, we’ve seen the “Stocks and Drags” division race on both tracks. The first race was a simple downhill race down an open lane gravel road. For this sunny track, speed was key. That, and running a straight line. Lily the Dog was a perfect example as she pulled out ahead of competitor DQ Throttlestuck in the first round. Her traditional truck styling seemed to have the advantage against Throttlestruck’s snake-like visage. This may not bode well for some of the mods (who we have yet to see race), particularly Dragon, who also has an animalistic body shape. DMC’s extra bulk served him well when racing against Emma (in a Rodger Dodger), but it seemed May 6, 2021 | 23
On The Track hanging tires. Less than type of vehicle, it was how the truck came off the jump that really made a difference. Whichever monster came of the ramp with an angled, nose-inthe-air approach scored the important points. That said, when we found DMC and Jim D in the final match-up, it’s possible that the extra bulk of the taller SUV-style monsters lent some extra stability helping the larger trucks to land on their wheels as well - equally important for those who wanted to make it past the lava alive. The top two competitors for each race have secured a spot in the
ModStock Monster Mayhem finals, yet to come. Once the mods have winnowed the field, Jim D, DMC, Super Dave and Piggy 2 Lil’ will face
off against them in a stocks vs mods finale that should be epic, if this stock competition was any indicator.
On The Track: 3DBotMaker by Christopher Kidder-Mostrom
The story lines that have accompanied the races in the King of the Mountain’s third qualifying period have seemingly come to an end with the conclusion of the Impound Lot race. All sixteen spots in the tournament are now filled and attention can be turned towards the chase for the title, rather than on 3D being arrested, Susan getting him bailed out, cops monitoring the races, and so many messy crashes. Mid-season rule changes don’t always get the best reception, but the participants in the KotM qualifiers have rolled with the punches this season. 24 | Diecast Racing Report
Not only was the aforementioned police chase car added partway through the season, but so was the additional fifth lap in what had been a four-lap qualifier through the first few episodes. Those are actually big changes. Almost as big as the shift that happened between the 2019 season and the 2020 season that got rid of
head-to-head races in favor of the four lap races. The thing that one must remember, though, is that King of the Mountain has had many, many variations since
On The Track the beginning. It’s been head to head. It’s been three drivers compete to earn the right to challenge the King. It’s been one-shot chances at the crow. It’s been a tournament. It’s had no commentary at all. It’s had full commentary. King of the Mountain is an everchanging beast, and that’s part of the fun. The competition is now more rigidly programmed than before. But, 3D is still innovating all the time. And, while I am glad to see the end of the police chase cars and impoundings, I love that there might be a second chance race as part of the next KotM tournament that will give second place finishers a chance to get into the main event. So, as we move on to the actual tournament, who is in the position to win? What is the tournament going to look like? 3D already alluded to the fact that side rails are going to be added to the track, which means that the likelihood of cars taking a plunge off the straightaway between turns two and three decreases significantly. And that means that some of the cars that handle more loosely than the others may not suffer the surprising exits that we’ve seen previously. But, when it comes down to it, cars that aren’t pinballing all over the place still have the clear advantage on race day. It’s probably not a big risk to say that the favorite in the tournament has to be the number one seed, Luke H. In “The Faddy”. The car’s builder, Matt Allen, is one of the winningest racers to come on the scene over the last two years. His F’n Fifty made the last tournament, but ended up being a little too top-heavy to take it all the way to the checkered flag. This car, driven by his son, doesn’t have that problem at all. It’s carrying
its significant weight low over a wide stance with huge wheels set in a long wheel base. If there was one car to show off to beginners as “this is how to do it”, well… this is that car. But, as some may have seen in a recent repost of the 2019 tournament, even the fastest car in the tournament can careen off the track and the worst possible moment. Too much speed can send you airborne when that banked turn essentially becomes a ramp. So, who else is in the running? I think Golden Girl , who is driving Orange Peel has a solid chance. That’s a Nero 62 car, and we’ve seen the ‘Tooned Chevelle do well before. We have to respect the experience that has gone into the build of Terrance Jr.’s Purple People Eater. The builder of that car, Sean Coughlin (Redline Salvage Inc), is the guy who knocked my “Tartan Titan” out of the first KotM tournament. Sean builds fast cars what don’t normally exit in the first round. Will he make it to the final? I’m not sure, since he is starting in the same group as “The Faddy”, but it is possible that he will go far.
by Miscreants. I built it out of a car that was one of my brother’s and my fastest cars from when we were kids. But, if I am being completely honest, I don’t expect to make it past the second round no matter what. If I make it that far, I’ll be happy. “The Faddy” and “Purple People Eater” are on my side of the bracket. It’s going to be interesting to watch. Looking at the second half of the field, I think that we could see Pistol Pete or one of the Mustang playing spoiler, or even becoming a sleeper that sneaks into the later rounds. I really wish that Dale Johnson’s “Oh Really” was faster than it is. That Buick looks great, but it just doesn’t have the speed to compete. However, it did prove in its qualifier that sometimes slower, but steady can get you pretty far. Just not far enough to knock FGC Family off their throne.
I’d be remiss in pointing out that I am also pulling for my own entry, “The Kraken”, driven May 6, 2021 | 25
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