Post by rickvoegelin on Aug 8, 2010 19:15:09 GMT -7
One of the great things (maybe the only thing) about traveling on business is the opportunity to meet the racers who post on Psychoslots and compete in the NTRA series. Today my travels took me to Urbana, Ohio, to visit Mopar City Dragway, where I met the legendary 440gtx (a.k.a. "Matt," although his name is really Scott -- go figure) and Derwood (a.k.a. Darren).
That's Derwood/Darren on the left, and Matt/Scott/440gtx on the right, pictured in their top-secret subterranean Mopar Speed Laboratory. Now the first thing you notice is that these guys are serious about their slot cars, with well organized pit boxes, lots of cool tools, clean workbenches, and Matt's impressive HO collection in the display cabinet. I'm guessing they put away all of the top-secret R&D projects before I arrived . . .
I got a real Ohio Mafia reception . . . they pretty much cleaned my clock on Mopar City Dragway. I set the track record for consecutive red lights. Not even a 60-ohm controller could slow down my r.t. enough to get a green. I must have been nervous. And Matt's NF/C Charger was outrunning the Summer Showdown-winning Jungle Jim Vega. Good thing he didn't run in his own race.
OK, all of you racers who are planning to run for the inaugural Stock Eliminator title at the NTRA Finals at Lions Drag Strip, you'd better get to work. 440gtx and Derwood already have their Mopar Stocker combinations dialed in, and without revealing any times (I'm sworn to secrecy), I'll just tell you that they're plenty fast and smooth. We may have to hang another 100 pounds on those Hemis . . .
Of course, no visit to Urbana would be complete without meeting the Ohio Mafia's enforcer, Little Tony himself. Tony don't talk much, and he's not real friendly, but I hear he's a riot on St. Valentine's Day.
I want to thank the Ohio Mafia for their hospitality during my visit. And it was purely accidental that Matt's pit box ended up in the trunk of my rent-a-car.
On the run,
Rick V.
That's Derwood/Darren on the left, and Matt/Scott/440gtx on the right, pictured in their top-secret subterranean Mopar Speed Laboratory. Now the first thing you notice is that these guys are serious about their slot cars, with well organized pit boxes, lots of cool tools, clean workbenches, and Matt's impressive HO collection in the display cabinet. I'm guessing they put away all of the top-secret R&D projects before I arrived . . .
I got a real Ohio Mafia reception . . . they pretty much cleaned my clock on Mopar City Dragway. I set the track record for consecutive red lights. Not even a 60-ohm controller could slow down my r.t. enough to get a green. I must have been nervous. And Matt's NF/C Charger was outrunning the Summer Showdown-winning Jungle Jim Vega. Good thing he didn't run in his own race.
OK, all of you racers who are planning to run for the inaugural Stock Eliminator title at the NTRA Finals at Lions Drag Strip, you'd better get to work. 440gtx and Derwood already have their Mopar Stocker combinations dialed in, and without revealing any times (I'm sworn to secrecy), I'll just tell you that they're plenty fast and smooth. We may have to hang another 100 pounds on those Hemis . . .
Of course, no visit to Urbana would be complete without meeting the Ohio Mafia's enforcer, Little Tony himself. Tony don't talk much, and he's not real friendly, but I hear he's a riot on St. Valentine's Day.
I want to thank the Ohio Mafia for their hospitality during my visit. And it was purely accidental that Matt's pit box ended up in the trunk of my rent-a-car.
On the run,
Rick V.
