Saline Summerfest 2011 - Saturday August 6
 

Hi Guys,
We're once again participating in the Saline Summerfest, which this year is August 5-6. Our RC event is on Saturday the 6th with the same times as last year: 12:30pm to 2:30pm.

We're in the same spot as last year with three parking spots allocated to us. The spaces just off of Michigan Ave/ N. Ann Arbor Street in downtown Saline in amongst the Saline Street Machines.

We're still going to do "fastest lap", but a bit more informally than last time. The plan is to keep the timer running and identify fast laps as they happen instead of waiting to organize groups to run together. Hopefully this will get people through a bit quicker since they won't have to wait for all cars to be ready to run a "race".

Last year most of my time was spent taking names and fake smiling at crabby parents who were checking if it was their kids turn yet, so those of you who were there, can you please remind me all the things we learned and need to have ready on the race side from last year. :)

David is going to drop off track and table early in the morning to claim our space. David, myself and Chuck are all planning on being there during the event. Is anyone else available to come and help out?????? :):):)

Thanks in advance!
Meridith :)

We plan to be there again (on the Saturday).

-hobbycar

Hi Norman,
Thanks in advance to you and your boys. :) If you have time, can you give me a list of things you remember we need to have/change/do better. So far we remember we need to bring motor spray. Also, do you have any of the cars/parts? Long ago David mentioned you were going to work on them. Thanks again! :)

Also, David told me Okabe offered to help out too, so thanks to him as well. :)

I'll help out again this year. I'll also be able to help on Sunday the 31st for Maker Faire if you're doing that again this year.

I will be able to support this, but labor only. Thanks.

Don't worry - I'll do all the talking seeing as I don't know a motor mount from a servo! I can work the crowd, just need experts who actually know how to make Z's run! :)

Thanks Okabe and Lawrence! :)

We just did an "open to the public and all new racers" event this last Sunday. This box fan came in handy. The cars where running HOT!
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...ki/Cooling.jpg

The way we ran out event.

$1 for a 5 minute race. Esentially 1-3 minutes while we gather money and folks grabbed a car and controller. Then we called out to line up and started the race.

Winner of the race won a coupon for the feature race on the advanced track (we had one at 2pm and another at 4pm).

The feature race was this month's HFAY layout for an 8 minute race with our 2.4ghz cars (pn 70t MR-02's and Mr-03's but dialed down for speed).


Problems
- Overheating. Worst issue of the day.
- Some lost tires. Didn't have time to re-tape tires
- Bodies popping off. Had to make sure we taped the bodies for security. (So I'd say to remember battery strap tape or whatever you've had success with)
- On the AM radio's, folks hitting the steering trim and knocking the trim way off. After each race we drove the car back and made sure it was trimmed out
- 2.4ghz cars. Reverse delay a huge problem as expected. Added grief issue was pushing the RELEASE button on the KT-18 and dropping batteries.

I have to put a shout out to I-Lap and Flipside racing. Not a single problems with the lap counting. Bright as can be sunlight and not a single issue the whole day with hardware or newest (0.66) version of the software.


If I did it again? If feesabile, swap cars every race so one set can run under the fan while the other set runs. I've done this plenty of time before but not in such hot weather.

I cant make it as I'll be at the Ypsilanti Roots Jamboree... But if for some reason that falls through, I'll come out and lend a hand on Saturday. (Or maybe I'll do both)

I'm going to try to do both. :D

----

Edit: Okay... I'm totally in for this.

What motors were you running? Last year we improvised and did the old upside down compressed air trick/hit w/ motor spray to try to aide the cooling process. I like the nose clip on box fan trick too, we'll have to remember to bring fans! :):cool:

Dojo members:
We need to borrow GiroZ transponders, we've got the two loaners plus my personal = at least 3 more if not 4 (the one loaner can be dodgy at times) or preferably one or two extra just in case (we will replace yours should anything happen to it - they made it through Maker Faire and SSF last year no problem though! :)).

Also, does anyone recall the layout from last year? I know it was an oval, but more specifically, the dimensions, so I can pack tiles fairly precisely vs. figuring it out on the day? I'm thinking we should use the Wide Large Radius Inside Turn Kit this year too vs. the more
If we don't have the layout file, does anyone have pics? Lawrence, I'm pretty sure you took some?!

Lastly, Norman, do you still have the problem NASCARs and the spare parts box etc.? :)

Thanks guys!!! :)

PS, just a reminder than in addition to helping out, all Dojo members or any Mini-Z owners in the area are welcome to stop by to race/show the crowd our souped-up machines and well-honed skills (or something!? :p:rolleyes::D)! :)

You can use my transponda #22. I will take my Mini-Zs as well.
This is the sample oval, I'm not sure how big one you expect, though.

Thanks Okabe! Here's a couple of pics from last year to get an idea of the size of the space - I'm thinking we should maybe do 3-wide and forgo the pit lane, since last year a lot of the kids were basically not steering and riding the corners to get around the track? And maybe the wide turns on the inside to reduce the # of sharp angles they have to deal with? Does anyone else have pics/remember how long the space was?

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery...m/DSC_5414.JPG

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery...5/DSC_5410.JPG

Here's an aerial view - it's the three parking spaces closest to the building.

So for transponders, we've got mine, the two house units (thanks Bryan for fixing the diode on the one! :D), and Okabe's - that's 4 - Lawrence, Norman, can we use yours too, that'll get us the 6 that we need min.?

Thanks everyone!!! :):cool:

I guess some part of the track needs to be 2 wide only or we need to modify the sensor bridge for tranponder.
Here is the another sample. It might be required most of "straight tile" we have.

Good point RE bridge, we will indeed need a 2-wide section! Did you check out the pictures above - I think we might need to go quite a bit smaller - I don't have the exact dimensions, and we didn't use all of the space last time, but it looks like it was only about 6x12 tiles or something; we're not going to bother with on-site product sales this year so we can for sure go bigger, but ... Also, FYI the following tiles are at Bryan's house right now so should be taken out of inventory as far as this track's construction:

45 straights
3 bumps
8 inner corners
8 outer corners

:)

OK, this may be best available track with current number of RCP. The size itself is similar to HFAY track. If we make it bigger, definately need to get some tiles back from Bryan. By the way, does transponder work under strong sun light?

I am at a wedding that day... if you need the extra tiles that I borrowed please let me know in advance as I won't be around on Saturday.

have fun,

BT

I'll have my transponder. How many working cars will we have this time? Will there be a free AM channel again (#3 was busted last year)

Looks good Okabe - is the idea that the bridge would go in the inner 2-wide section ? I think that layout will work well for the inexperienced drivers; for the pit area, I wonder if we should perhaps even have only one opening in the direction opposite of traffic, to stop them wandering in and crashing into parked cars etc. (see attached sketch - just copy and pasted your image so it's not precise as far as tiles, but I think you'll get the general idea) - thanks! :)

Cool; Norman and anyone else, if you can bring yours for backup too I'd appreciate it! :)

I'm sure there will be a free channel at some point/we can make one for you. I tested the cars last night and two of 6 are working well, one needs some motor lube or a new motor, one needs a new antenna, one has a bit of a servo twitch, and one seems to roll after throttle or reverse (both, not just one way!) so I've got a fair amount of fixing to do in the next day or two! :eek:

Can someone confirm that they are bringing motor spray/lube? I will be bringing compressed air for cleaning and cooling but I appear to be out of motor spray... :confused:

OK, this is the idea that suppose to work for SSF. The oval is just one tile longer than previous one. I guess it is possible to place the bridge at the 2 wide section. I will bring my F1 Mini-Z.

I have cleaning spray I can bring. I don't have any motor lube though, I usually just steal Norm's :)

I can bring a few extra antennas too if needed.

I'll bring all my normal gear, so we'll have my transponder and the ancient volt meter and orange cones.

What time you want to show up there?

Thanks Okabe, that looks great! :D:D:D

Awesome - thanks L - bring those antennae too - much appreciated! :)

Oh awesome, those will all come in handy I'm sure! :D Event starts at 12:30, but I will be there at 11 to start setting up/charging/etc. Actually I plan on going in the early AM to drop off the track before there is much traffic etc. but if people can come between 11-12 I think that w/b good? Thanks guys!!! :)

Oh, PS, does anyone have a small but workable soldering iron they can bring? I can bring mine if not, but it's kind of huge...

Tested the layout in order to ensure I packed the right pieces etc. - looks pretty good:

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery.../IMG_01541.JPG

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery.../IMG_01551.JPG

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery.../IMG_01561.JPG

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery.../IMG_01571.JPG

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery.../IMG_01581.JPG

Thanks again Okabe! :)

PS, does anyone have an old-style (non ICS) transponder hookup? Somehow I'm missing one; still working on getting the 6th car to run at all, but assuming we can ... :)

I have one extra so I'll bring it. That track seems good for drifters as well. I should consider to bring my AWD.
One more thing we'd better to prepare a glue gun, I don't have it, though.

Cool - thanks Okabe! Definitely bring your AWD so we can show the kids how it's done! :) Great idea RE glue gun - I have one somewhere - will see if I can find it - whose was that we used the other night though, can whoever that was bring it? I'm heading over to drop off the track now - see you guys around 11! :)

Track is set up and vacuumed - heading back over there in a bit so we can start charging, setting up cars, etc. at 11 - there's a second table out of shot telling people to come back at 12:30 to race etc.; thanks guys! :)

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery...-18_75-640.jpg

I'm on my way with the family. I've got motor spray and my transponder.

-hobbycar

Thanks everyone for making it a great event! :D We ran 17.25 races - that's 17 races all the way up to to 2:30pm, and then the bonus race that we attempted in order to accommodate a few last kids which unfortunately got rained out just moments after starting! :eek:

Special thanks to:
Chuck: Chief Mechanic and EZ-Up Provider (by any means necessary, "Steve"! ;))
Okabe: Mini-Z Technician/Magician! :D
John: Senior Battery Tech and Junior Marshall :p
Lawrence: Senior Marshall and Junior Battery Tech :p
Norman: Professor - Mini-Z 101 :D
Dannug Family: Mini-Z Exhibition :)
Mrs. Mini-Z: pretty much everything else except the handful of things I didn't manage to forget! :rolleyes:
Arch2b: Battery Sponsor! :D

I didn't get a chance to take many pics, but here are a few:

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery...-44-04_762.jpg
Early AM Setup

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery...-44-22_138.jpg

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery...-44-34_669.jpg
Enticing sign...! :)

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery...-04-56_815.jpg
Grand Prize!!? No, sorry... :D

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery...-00-18_412.jpg
Intense racing action!

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery...-14-53_248.jpg
Parents had fun too! :)

looks like fun all around. :cool: i can guarantee you will have even more batteries next year.

We need to find a method of waterproofing mini-z electronics then have some wet racing action :D

Hehe thanks Arch! :) It was a lot of work, but in the end, even those of us who were just frantically swapping batteries and setting up races and trying to cool off cars the whole time had fun I think! :)

I definitely need a work bench next time.

I forgot to say...


1. Wow was it humid.
2. I had a real good time. I'm totally in for next year.


I've got some ideas on some things we can do next year to make it neat for the kids or to drive more interest to the site.

Yep, apologies for the lack of space - the three tables looked like plenty of space before there was anything on them - but once they started to get loaded up with cars, chargers, batteries etc. ... :eek: I think next year we'll want at least one more table, if not more! :)

Awesome - please share! :) I meant to post asking for feedback/thoughts/ideas so that we can capture what went well/didn't/etc. while we're still thinking about it and reincorporate it into subsequent events... :)

i'd like to learn more about the bridge seen in this photo. how can one go about purchasing one like this, if indeed one can?

does this bridge design allow for expanding length? can you slide the top arm out to accommodate a 3 tile wide track or can a longer top arm be made to swap out when needed?

arch2b,

One of our club members made it on his CNC machine. He hasn't been around in a while, but he may be willing to make you one. This one is designed for two tiles wide, but could easily be expanded to longer lengths. Will try to get him in contact with you, but I think he has been out of town quite a bit as of late.

BT

thanks, i would greatly appreciate it.