Post by rickvoegelin on Mar 14, 2010 12:21:29 GMT -7
I flew into Orlando on Friday en route to Sebring for the season-opening 12-hour ALMS race next Saturday. Now Orlando means Disney World and amusement parks to some people, but to me it means only one thing: WDWAHO! (Apologies for the long post, but there's a lot to show.)
I visited Phil Trover (aka "All-Star") to check out his track that will host the upcoming NTRA Rat Rod/Gasser race. Phil is the one who introduced me to HO scale drag racing, but I have forgiven him for that. Tom Cones (aka "Demon") was also there. I did not meet Pyscho in person, for which I am eternally grateful, but there were strange sounds coming from Phil's closet.
WDWAHO is a great venue, a perfect re-creation of a 1/8th mile country drag strip. Phil has called on his experience as a 1:1 track operator to add all the details. There was a big turnout of spectators for a Friday night race, so you can see that All-Star is still a hands-on promoter.
Phil's wife, Sue, runs the concession stand. I can't vouch for her chili because the portions were HO scale, but judging by the lines at the windows, it's a popular place. The only longer line was at the women's porta-johns. Cones has bought signage at the track, but only seems to get little jobs from his advertising <g>.
I was concerned to see that a spectator had been injured, but Phil explained that she had simply over-indulged in adult beverages and would recover, albeit with a painful hangover on Saturday morning.
Racing is a dangerous sport, and sometimes things go horribly wrong. The graveyard at the top end of the track is a grim reminder of what can happen, even in slot car drag racing. The Grim Reaper was poised in the shutdown area, looking for recruits.
Naturally we had to run a race. You can forget about Southern hospitality when you visit WDWAHO. Phil (far end) and Demon used me for a doormat, even after giving me two cars to run. I was a first-round duck in the eliminator, and it was all Demon in the final round with a very quick Super G Daytona.
The next stop on my Orlando adventure was the Miracle Mile commercial track. They have a 1/24 scale figure 8, a Blue King, and full 1/4-mile 1/24 drag strip. I met the fast and famous of Florida slot car racers, including Richard and Swamper.
Phil introduced me to Clay Kvetko, the "John Force of 1/24 drag racing." Clay's cars were magnificent, with detailed engines and custom bodywork. These weren't shelf queens -- he ran them in the bracket race.
Swamper had a sweet Warren Johnson 1/24 Firebird in his pit box. Randy's wife was racing as well.
And now the truth can be told: Demon has a secret fondess for Fords. How else can we explain why he races a Bob Glidden-inspired T-bird? Maybe Psycho made him do it.
If your travels ever take you to central Florida, my advice is to send the kids off to Disney World, and then visit the slot car racers' Magic Kingdom.
Cheers,
Rick V.
I visited Phil Trover (aka "All-Star") to check out his track that will host the upcoming NTRA Rat Rod/Gasser race. Phil is the one who introduced me to HO scale drag racing, but I have forgiven him for that. Tom Cones (aka "Demon") was also there. I did not meet Pyscho in person, for which I am eternally grateful, but there were strange sounds coming from Phil's closet.
WDWAHO is a great venue, a perfect re-creation of a 1/8th mile country drag strip. Phil has called on his experience as a 1:1 track operator to add all the details. There was a big turnout of spectators for a Friday night race, so you can see that All-Star is still a hands-on promoter.
Phil's wife, Sue, runs the concession stand. I can't vouch for her chili because the portions were HO scale, but judging by the lines at the windows, it's a popular place. The only longer line was at the women's porta-johns. Cones has bought signage at the track, but only seems to get little jobs from his advertising <g>.
I was concerned to see that a spectator had been injured, but Phil explained that she had simply over-indulged in adult beverages and would recover, albeit with a painful hangover on Saturday morning.
Racing is a dangerous sport, and sometimes things go horribly wrong. The graveyard at the top end of the track is a grim reminder of what can happen, even in slot car drag racing. The Grim Reaper was poised in the shutdown area, looking for recruits.
Naturally we had to run a race. You can forget about Southern hospitality when you visit WDWAHO. Phil (far end) and Demon used me for a doormat, even after giving me two cars to run. I was a first-round duck in the eliminator, and it was all Demon in the final round with a very quick Super G Daytona.
The next stop on my Orlando adventure was the Miracle Mile commercial track. They have a 1/24 scale figure 8, a Blue King, and full 1/4-mile 1/24 drag strip. I met the fast and famous of Florida slot car racers, including Richard and Swamper.
Phil introduced me to Clay Kvetko, the "John Force of 1/24 drag racing." Clay's cars were magnificent, with detailed engines and custom bodywork. These weren't shelf queens -- he ran them in the bracket race.
Swamper had a sweet Warren Johnson 1/24 Firebird in his pit box. Randy's wife was racing as well.
And now the truth can be told: Demon has a secret fondess for Fords. How else can we explain why he races a Bob Glidden-inspired T-bird? Maybe Psycho made him do it.
If your travels ever take you to central Florida, my advice is to send the kids off to Disney World, and then visit the slot car racers' Magic Kingdom.
Cheers,
Rick V.
Must be the red paint. Don't start smack talking
Third race down and Ford just missed getting in the field by .0004. Quite a accomplishment over last year. Live it up now fellas because the Johnson's will have more bowtie company to bench race with on Sundays soon as the new car gets more track time 
