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Post by pceng on Jul 22, 2013 10:21:44 GMT -7
Sure some will take this the wrong way, but it won't be the first time.
Guess this is just an observation, but seems things are changing or have changed since my becoming a member here. When first joining and for some time afterwards seemed everyone was interested in going fast and wanted to share info on how to or some new ideas on the same note.
Seems since we started the FED thing and the Smack thread that things have changed. Now everyone has "secret" things going on. Don't see any how to stuff anymore. From what I've seen the so called newbies don't need any help. But is this trend intimidating to someone new to the hobby? Was thinking it could be.
I like the idea of a class where anything goes, but seems since the FEDS became N/TF and an NTRA class that things got to serious and some of the fun went away. I remember that things seemed geared toward generating new members. Both the NTRA classes and threads being posted were more newbie friendly.
Don't get me wrong, I love the site and the NTRA races we have. Guess I'm really just wondering if we are doing anything to attract new members. I'm allways trying to talk someone into checking the site and racing with us. But there has to be a better way.
Do the classes and threads have anything to do with getting new people here? I don't know, the threads could be. Don't see the "how to's" anymore. I know that they are there ( somewhere in the site), but are they easy to find? Maybe a feature every month of an old "how to" or a breakdown of builds by race winners might help.
Like I said, basically just an observation. But a thought I can't get out of my mind...Peter
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Post by Doug412 on Jul 22, 2013 11:21:49 GMT -7
Been trying to get the word out on Facebook and in person with anyone interested in slotcars... Looking forward to being here awhile... I may not have the skill or money to back my cars always but if some short cuts are available thru this sight maybe the cars i build can get better..
As for Noobs well i'm new and my cars don't do bad against the "Ol Timer's" lol..
It would be nice to see winners telling some secrets.. Smack talk about spies is fun but an even spread of knowledge could help everyone here....Me i just try everything i can... If it works, i'm good if not i just go back to start and don't collect my 200 lol...:/ Wrecked a few chassis along the way but hey live and learn... Good luck to all racers new and old! Race On Doug412
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Post by darius on Jul 22, 2013 11:43:17 GMT -7
I can't say about how any thing "used to be" cause I haven't been here all that long. The how-too's here on the board have helped and several members have been happy to answer and give a hand any time I asked.
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Post by AJR on Jul 22, 2013 11:50:45 GMT -7
I consider myself still a "newbie". I've been a member of the forum for just over 2 years. My only experience with slotcars was as a kid. Almost all of what I've learned has come from info already posted on the forum. I am more than happy to share any and all of anything that I've learned. Anything new that I have tried, I have posted under my track thread. I actually love talking tech and welcome it anytime. To me, the forum seems to be growing and more popular than it was when I joined. There are only a few of the original members racing now for whatever reason, so that must mean there are new members. At present we have 107 sign ups for the Summer Nationals. Now those are cars not racers, but a lot of them are new. As for the F.E.D. class....I have learned more about tuning, etc. with my trial and error work I have been doing than anyone could have ever told me. I also would like to see new members and support any method of recruiting them. But I don't see the current direction or the F.E.D. class as detrimental to that. A "how to thread" with regular postings sounds good to me, but honestly....most of the how to's for some of these chassis are already on the forum. I am a low budget racer as well and had to make a lot of the tools needed. I am having a blast...that's all I can say. I am here to support the forum in any way necessary.
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Post by Eagle Racing on Jul 22, 2013 13:18:30 GMT -7
All the NTRA racers are coming to Texas for the 2013 Summer Nationals...  The forum is more popular than when I first joined about the same time as Jeff 2yrs ago. The F.E.D. N/TF class has grown and is a hot class. The excitement from classes like this is helping racing grow. The noobies are always intimidated no matter what class they race. That is just racing , there is a learning curve. The best how to's are in the archives. I like your idea of How To's here is an idea for you Peter. Why don't you start a thread or get Ninjatek to start a Heading Titled something like that and you can be the moderator and over see it. Then when you see areas that need a how to article you could put the word out and the membership could respond in kind. |
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Post by Phantom B.S.E. on Jul 22, 2013 13:48:58 GMT -7
Hello to all, I'm a rookie to the form myself and having a blast.I also have shared lots of how to tips and builds with everyone.(Pceng I sent you the complete list of parts used in my MM/PS that we grudge matched in May and said feel free to share the info)  As for the F.E.D. N/TF class I love it and haven't had a car make it past the first round yet,I would also like to add that this class is one of the things that really made me want to join the NTRA. As for new members we have 2 first time racers that I know of racing in the Summer Nationals this year and one of them (Stinger) already has a car ready for the race at Lions this year. I never in my life built an inline car till I joined this form and all I did was follow the how to from this form and try some gear setups that worked out pretty good so far.That's why I like sending 2 cars for a class so I can set them up trying different ideas.Sometimes they work and sometimes they fail but I still have alot of fun trying to keep up with the pack. Everyone here can feel free to ask me about any of my builds and I would be glad to share all I know and I feel everyone here On Nitroslots would do the same. RACE ON AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!! |
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Post by tjetsgrig on Jul 22, 2013 14:31:38 GMT -7
Ask me anything, I've got nothing to prove anymore! I build cars for people exactly how I would build one for myself! More than happy to share any info I got!!
JS
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Post by Eagle Racing on Jul 22, 2013 16:02:40 GMT -7
Peter re-read post, getting more people Hmmmm.....if you have a track it is a little easier. Jeff and I use to work together and we started road racing on my home track. Then we discovered Nitro Slots. I used to race at Neils Wheels in Plano so I called Neil aka Slotfather. Neil called Alan and invited him over for 2012 Summer Nationals. Alan now has Maple Grove Raceway. Jeff has Bear Creek Raceway. He works with Darius he is now racing in the 2013 Summer Nationals. I had another racer contact me out of Oklahoma City and he is coming to the race. He is a Nitro Slots member but does not race. We are hoping to change that. Word of mouth is always the best way and then show them.
With the forum I think the NTRA racing at the various tracks is a huge part of the attraction for more racers. It is very important to give the racer a quaility race. When you do they come back. I try to update my thread the Blacktop Raceway as often as I can with what is going on in the Eagles garage. I may not go real in depth with what I am talking about, but I do get a lot of PMs with a lot of questions that I always answer. The forum can have a ton of how too's and never get that many more racers. The race program and racing is the main attraction.
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Post by Phantom B.S.E. on Jul 22, 2013 17:49:31 GMT -7
I just wanted to add that the number one how to that is the best tip for racing any kind of slot car chassis "LAP THE GEARS" to help break em in,and this can be found on Nitroslots.Believe me it makes a big difference in performance.Also remember to have fun and build what you like,don't worry be happy win,lose or crash and race another day. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2013 6:33:51 GMT -7
Might has well chime in here. I joined Nitro a few years back under another name of JohnForce. Had problems with the account so I dumped it and opened up a new one. I was simply a lurker and nothing more. Then Slotfather invited me to the Summer Nats last year. That is all it took .$3000.00 later Maple Grove was open for some fun. Yes I went over board with it but the track and timing system is top drawer and the reason for that was to provide hopefully a great place to race for the members! The May open track was simply a test of the track and also an indicator as to what I need to do for the next race in Oct. This is a total learning curve and not everyone is going to give up ALL of the trade secrets! After all it is a race but for fun not money etc like the 1:1 guys. A lot of trial and error and lots of parts is the key or at least it has been for me. Having a track helps a lot too but my cars are tuned to my track and when sent off to another track with a different surface, controllers and drivers they do not do as well. So what I say. It's all in fun.
I spent 4 hours Sunday on one car just to get it down the track. After that another 2 hours trying to get more out of it. Adding a different spring in one area decreased the time by o.2 sec! How did I know to do that? I didn't! Nothing in writing that told me to do that. I just played around.
If I had one complaint about Nitro it would be that a lot of the class rules etc are scattered all over the sight. Hard to find some of this information. I had a chat with Cordell about it and he agreed. However Cordell is a very busy man like a lot of us and does not have a lot of time to clean things up. I have offered to help in this area if he wants to do it. It would be nice to be able to turn to one place and have all the info there and if any changes come in they would be made quickly.
Out of here. I got to go paint some cars for the summer Nats!
see ya at the track!
Alan @ MGDS
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Post by Doug412 on Jul 23, 2013 8:11:02 GMT -7
Seems we all want simple to find Threads.. One stop shopping for answers! Today i ripped down my track and changed the timing like Anger Jeff.. into the slot! Hope it works??? My cars are sitting in Texas so long, I gotta do something!! Ugh! is it race day yet? Build breakdown rebuild...start over it's enough to drive you to drink.... Ahh Someday! Mockingbird Heights Dragway is Under Construction!! Race On Doug412 |
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Post by AJR on Jul 23, 2013 9:55:52 GMT -7
Doug sounds like you might be having the same kind of double count issues that I am seeing. I still have not changed my lighting. I am going to an led bulb...the halogen that I am using now isn't the right type. So far changing the sensor to the slot has helped, but not eliminated the problem. It's kind of crazy....about the time I think I've got it corrected....BAM it does it again. I've been too busy with my cars to pursue it any further right now. After this weekend I will be back working on the track to get it dialed in. I will definitely pass on any info. to you. That has been the hold up to this point. I will keep you posted. I KNOW how frustrating it is!!
Jeff
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Post by pceng on Jul 23, 2013 10:39:25 GMT -7
Hey all,
Looks like a few of us started at close to the same time as members of NITROSLOTS. Like most slot racing for me started as a child, then came to a halt as a teen. At the end of that time, think I had maybe five or six running cars and boxes full of parts. So after a couple of years here I can't consider myself a rookie but I do feel new to this. A type of racing I never new existed before finding this site.
The thing I remember most when first joining were the "how to" kind of threads. Truthfully, a lot of which I found as ........ well old news as for the info they contained. Yet someone would always have questions. And more than a few members would always chime in to help answer them. I think this willingness to help others here still exists with our members. But all that have been here for a couple of seasons I think would have to agree that this willingness to help others used to be way more evident to someone viewing the site for the first time.
Yes we have new members, but quiet a few have moved on. Do we have more than ever? I don't know, don't think so but maybe Cordell, might know. Yep, whole lot of cars entered in upcoming race, but all entered in a given event never make it to the race. Five classes are going to be run, first time for such an undertaking that I know of. So of course a lot more cars are entered. Don't see the same people sending more cars as any sign of growth though.
Sure I suppose having a track helps to promote the hobby to the few able to view or race on such. But let's face it, none of us are spring chickens anymore. Every person I know, under the age of thirty has got to be tired of me trying to talk them into this (heck...took two years of prodding to get Doug, to join.......don't hold it against me LOL). If I knew of anyone with kids I'd be in their ears. Think the only way this can grow is with those still considered young.
Anyways didn't mean to get anyone worked up by this. Just my take on how I see things going. I like the FED or N/TF, t5he further removed from stock the better as far as I'm concerned (more to tinker with). When the T/F and M/FC ran last year I thought the idea was that they were going to be the premiere classes, but seems they have quickly been overshadowed.
What to do to get young blood involved? I don't have a clue. Only place I know of that sells H-O cars has a bill over their display of stock advertising NITROSLOTS (owner had no problem with it, only had to ask). Has it done anything? Doesn't seem so, but who knows what the future holds?
Enough from me, gotta go ................. Peter
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As for the F.E.D. N/TF class I love it and haven't had a car make it past the first round yet,I would also like to add that this class is one of the things that really made me want to join the NTRA. As for new members we have 2 first time racers that I know of racing in the Summer Nationals this year and one of them (Stinger) already has a car ready for the race at Lions this year.
