since a recent race report, we’ve had a running joke in the club amongst Hugh, Calvin & Myself.  winning means layin’ the pimp slap down on your opponents and i think my win today certainly qualifies high on the ‘dnano pimp slappin’ meter after gettin’ spanked for several weeks in a row by Robby, Ian and a few others in the club.  though its great to get a ‘W’ under my belt, i can’t take the credit as i drove a car hooked and tweaked by Dahm, our most frequent Thai participant in our club races and a highly skilled automotive technician who works in full size car racing and go-karts.  he visits the shop often to practice and work on tweaks for his dNano collection.  one of his best works is a Porsche Carrera GT.  out of the box, its not exactly a competitive car, but after a few weeks in Dahm’s hands, its amazingly fast, owns the lap record on F1R (CW) and is one of the most precise, easy to drive cars i’ve had the pleasure of pimp slappin with.  he’s not a highly skilled driver, so he asked if i’d like to give his creation a run in this week’s club race and i gladly accepted.

we have club racing weekly on Sundays with qualifying starting @ 5pm.  we run a 1-hr session, broken into 15-minute increments with Groups of 2-4 drivers taking turns in 4 sessions to record their fastest lap and earn a place on the final grid.  a 10-minute break precedes the 30-minute final and today’s competition was interesting to say the least.  i grabbed the TQ spot with an 8.98 best lap followed by Ian, Olaf, Hugh, Calvin & Dahm.  Ian started fast as he always does, but the speed and handling of the Porsche was too much and it led the rest of the way.  Dahm and Hugh battled for position for a long while until Hugh broke a servo gear assembly in his 787b, ending his hopes of finishing the race.  in the last 5 minutes, Olaf had taken the 2nd spot away from Ian but his battery gave in, allowing Ian to re-secure the 2nd spot while Dahm gave Calvin a lesson, maintaining his position in 4th.  Ian still holds the points race lead but Olaf won’t relenquish the crown without a fight so we’ll see how this season unfolds. last week, we welcomed Ek as a new member and Julian Campbell visited to race with us from Indonesia (see photos).  we’ve had an unusual number of new visitors, all asking for membership information so check below the race report for the latest info!

Rentals & Access – NanoTrax is a miniature r/c racing club and caters primarily to members but we’re always excited to welcome people want to ‘have a go’ and interested visitors in general. if you’re looking to give 1:43 scale radio control car racing a try, we have five (5) rental cars available for 300THB per hour. all non-members, must pay a facility use & maintenance fee (120THB per day) to race on every visit. if you plan on visiting often, purchase membership for only 7,000THB per year and this fee is waived. occasionally, F2L is closed to all visitors but when available, can be used for group racing. currently, we cannot accept groups larger than 5 participants and reservation must be made in advance for groups of 5 or more. renters must be at least 12 years of age, provide a 500THB deposit and agree to a 150THB per incident damage fee when applicable (our circuits are built to protect models, normally rentals go without any damage). please contact me @ 084.782.9648 (English or Thai) for more information.

Membership Info – members are provided many benefits including 1) complimentary facility use and maintenance, 2) storage for car & tools, 3) hi-speed wi-fi internet for mobile devices & internet work station, 4) full time happy hour (buy 2 get 1 free beer, draft or bottle), 5) championship participation and points collection, 6) 15% discount on all parts and accessories available in the shop, 7) up to 6 months membership suspension for non-local members, 8) member tee-shirt and membership card and more! we’re able to keep the shop open due to the support of our members and we do our best to take care of them to show our appreciation. we do reserve the right to reject applications or cancel active membership for any reason, this right will be used only to preserve the atmosphere of fun and friendly competition amongst all participants.

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this week, we welcomed a new member – Ryan from the (USA).  he’d found our shop online and needed a hobby to help him relax while here working in Thailand.  this is his 2nd visit, and like many others, decided to support our efforts to maintain the best mini r/c racing facility in the world.  unfortunately, he’s already on his way to another project in Southeast Asia but we’ll miss him and his excitement for the hobby dearly!

i’ve been busy with other little projects in addition to our custom body project(s), here’s just a quick list of what’s going on:  1 – Nissan Fairlady Z  - i’d changed my Nissan over to 20′ size wheels because its shell has very low ground clearance and would snag on uneven tiles and drag during high speed cornering.  resolving this problem meant sanding away the ‘skirt’ spoiler from the shell (i hate to do this cuz the body is absolutely beautiful! (DNX407MA) but its necessary for peak racing performance).  X-Power sent some samples of their Foam Tire-Wheels over for testing but unlike other brands, theirs come installed on a black racing wheel already.  for those who have raced dNano, you know occasionally the tires can get pulled off the wheels and strong adhesives aren’t ideal for use with dNano, so pre-glued foam tires is a major plus.  the wheels can be re-used by removing the foam after extended wear and used with normal tires and that’s another bonus.  performance-wise, the grip is outstanding! on the F2L Power Slide layout, there were no longer any ‘sliding’ issues as Soft (S) front and Very Soft (SS) rear combo had my Z on rails!  these should be in stock sometime in late August.  check the online shop for info on the most recently added items available for dNano including the new Optional Spoiler Kit for the Reventon Type Shell (see photo).

2 – Racing Stickers – X-Power recently sent some racing stickers over as well, they allow you to turn a plain, lifeless dNano shell into a decked out, racing livery.  i needed a hobby knife to cut the stickers but the adhesive is strong enough to hold on slick, clear coat bodies.  unfortunately, over handling can cause the print to rub off so its probably best to apply a clear coat if possible.  while water decals will be thinner, these make creating a custom livery much easier.  they provided a pack of 10 sheets, each with a different assortment and more than enough stickers to create a nice livery for 1 or 2 shells.  these should be in stock by early august.  3 – eAsy Adjust Differentials - i’ve converted all my installed dNano diffs from their original shaft to the XP Easy Adjust Diff (if you already have a ball diff, use the conversion kit here).  when racing on a low grip, endless curve layout, the diff has to be loose for efficient cornering.  high grip, high speed layouts allow for tuning the diff to a tighter setup for better straight-line speed and acceleration.  having 2 circuits with varying surfaces in the shop means a lot of work with diffs and the change has reduced the time it takes for tuning & maintenance.  consider making that change if you’re like to ‘tinker’ a lot like i do.  speaking of maintenance, i’ve got to do some for Hugh before he gets back from his vacation to Kon Kaen (North Thailand) so i’ll review my step-by-step process in my next post.  see ya then!

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every week is a small event for our small r/c racing club here in Pattaya but this weeks event was special as we honored our racing points champion, Olaf and loyalty award winners, Ian & Doug.  Joom whipped up some spring rolls for the occasion and everyone appreciated the excuse to enjoy free draft beer but only after our first race of Season 3.  since Robby is still visiting us, it wasn’t hard to guess who would prevail in this contest.  he was clinical in practice and preparation and it showed as he sailed to victory, the closest competitor being me and i trailed by 15 laps!  the wide lanes and multiple corners present opportunities to reduce lap times and provide passing lanes that kept the 30-minute final interesting despite the major gaps in the final lap totals.  Olaf performed well with his R8 placing 3rd and Daam participated to grab 4th place.  Ian wrecked his DBR9 but was able to best Hugh who placed 6th and Doug drove his Reventon, wrapping up the field in 7th place.  the points race is now underway with six competition-packed months lying ahead of us to decide who will hold the awards at the end of Season 3.  thanks to all members who participate throughout the season, local and abroad.. nanotrax is only special because of you!

Season 3, Round 1 @ F1R – July 4, 2010

Main A Final (30 Minutes, F1R-ZigZag, CCW)
1 -Robby / ENZO Ferrari (183 Laps | 9.87 Avg. Lap | 47/8.91 Fast Lap) +20pts
2 -Qon / Mazda 787b (166 Laps | 10.92 Avg. Lap | 93/8.90 Fast Lap)
3 -Olaf / Audi R8 (159 Laps | 11.4 Avg. Lap | 26/9.58 Fast Lap) +11pts
4 -Daam / Porsche Carrera GT (135 Laps | 13.34 Avg. Lap | 26/11.58 Fast Lap)
5 -Ian / Aston Martin Racing DBR9 (129 Laps | 14.01 Avg. Lap | 30/9.93 Fast Lap) +6pts
6 -Hugh / Mazda 787b (124 Laps | 14.61 Avg. Lap | 13/11.31 Fast Lap) +5pts
7 -Doug / Lamborghini Reventon (101 Laps | 18.5 Avg. Lap | 18/11.61 Fast Lap) +5pts

TQ = Robby / ENZO Ferrari – 8.86secs

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we’re now coming to the end of the 6th month of this year, the end of the NanoTrax Drivers’ Championship Points (Season 2) and the beginning of Season 3 so that means, we’re due for a new layout on our main racing circuit, F1R.  yesterday we spent several hours installing ‘Zig Zag’ (named by Joom! ;-)).  Doug, Olaf and Dylan stopped by for their first test run in the evening, each trying to decide which is the best car to handle its new challenges.  this past sunday, we held our final race of Season 2 in the lounge on F2L and it was an intense, 2 main race that ended with a win by ‘yours truly’ in the Ferrari F40.  i finally was able to best Robby DV but it came on a circuit that is difficult to tune for.  F2L’s tiles are hard and vary in texture causing inconsistent car handling which turned out to be an advantage for me and the local members.  Olaf dropped into Main B along with Hugh, Doug & Dylan but was able to grab a spot in Main A by winning the Main B.  Main A was feverish, high speed competition including myself, Robby, Ian, Vincent and Olaf.  i’m sure everyone’s eyes were burning as there’s no time to blink when racing on a quick circuit with no straights.  everyone was in a rush to bounce after the race, so no pics but here’s the report.  be sure to check out pics of Olaf’s custom painted Aston Martin Racing DBR9 on the nanotrax forum.

Club Race Results for June 27, 2010 (Season 2, Week 26)

Main A Final (30 Mins):
1 – Q’on / Ferrari F40 (278 Laps)
2 – Robby / Ferrari F40 (276 Laps) +15pts
3 – Ian / Aston Martin Racing DBR9 (256 Laps) +11pts
4 – Olaf / Audi R8 (246 Laps) +8pts
5 – Vincent / Chevrolet Corvette C6-R (224 Laps) +6pts

Main B Final (20 Mins):
1 – Olaf / Audi R8 (175 Laps)
3 – Dylan / ENZO Ferrari (166 Laps) +5pts
2 – Hugh / Lamborghini Reventon (142 Laps) +5pts
4 – Doug / Lamborghini Gallardo (119 Laps) +5pts
— Top Qualifier = Q’on / Ferrari F40 (5.44secs)

NanoTrax DCP Standings
Olaf = 247 pts - Season 2 Champion!
Ian = 196 pts
Marlowe = 174 pts
Vincent = 166 pts
Dylan = 116 pts
Erwin = 50 pts
Marc = 36 pts
Robby = 35 pts
Hugh = 31 pts
Doug = 25 pts
Brian = 15 pts
Calvin = 11 pts
Boris = 5 pts
Tony = 5 pts
Johnny = 5 pts

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yes, its been quiet around here and that reflects the general conditions of things in Pattaya at the moment.  the economic slowdown, the strength of the Thai baht and the weakening of normally very strong currencies around the world has severely reduced traffic and sales @ nanotrax and many other local businesses.  we’re lucky to see many of our regular customers returning and doing their best to support the shop.  while things are a bit rough, we’ve done our best to cut costs while maintaining high quality service on and offline.  a big thanks to our customers around the world who have reached out and continued to support our shop from thousands of miles away.  because of that, we continue to bring you the latest in items that will hopefully enhance your experience with this hobby we all care so much about.  we haven’t seen a new body for dNano since the Chevrolet Corvette C6-R was released in February and dNano fans have been longing for something new.  X-Power has answered the call with a new, handmade shell designed to fit the (DNC502) Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Chassis.  the Limited Edition Reventon Type Shell is now available @ our online shop.  additionally, the new XP Screwdriver for dNano has been added to our long list of available parts and accessories.  for those on a budget, this is definitely an interesting, economical option for working on your moving chassis.

racing still continues weekly @ 5pm (Sundays) and with Robby, Erwin and Vincent back in town, expect to see some high speed, heated competition on both circuits in the coming weeks.  for race reports and other topics, visit our dNano forum.  have questions or concerns? e-mail the webmaster!

on May 30, 2009 NanoTrax officially opened its doors and 1-year and many experiences later, our anniversary fell on the perfect sunday.  Club racing on F2L, F1 Grand Prix coverage and a celebration was on the schedule.  we decided to keep the party small inviting just members who happened to be in town.  Joom made snacks and the draft beer was open but since most drivers’ skills go straight to hell after the 3rd glass of cold Heineken, everyone waited to take down the keg.  Dahm joined us for the race with his newly acquired Porsche Carrera GT and newly painted wheels but unfortunately, practiced on F1R for the past few days and ended up in last place.  Hugh keeps getting faster and found himself in a battle with Olaf for 4th place.  Olaf had troubles with the DBR9, falling short of Marlowe in 3rd place.  Ian found a good rhythm but couldn’t stay on top of my F40.  as far as our anniversary, i feel blessed that we were able to survive in a turbulent economy and this is only one hurdle of many we’ll have to overcome.  thanks to all those that have supported us and helped us make it this far.  until next time, check the results + pics below and if you’re racing in your area, pick up everything you’ll need at our online shop.

Club Race Results for May 30, 2010 (Week 22)

Main A Final (30 Mins):
1– Q’on / Ferrari F40 (252 Laps)
2– Ian / Aston Martin Racing DBR9 (245 Laps) +15
3– Marlowe / McLaren F1 GTR (242 Laps) +11
4– Olaf / Aston Martin Racing DBR9 (228 Laps) +8
5– Hugh / Mazda 787b (225 Laps) +6
6– Dahm / Porsche Carrera GT (172 Laps)
— Top Qualifier = Q’on / Ferrari F40 (5.53secs)

NanoTrax DCP Standings
Olaf = 213 pts
Marlowe = 174 pts
Ian = 158 pts
Vincent = 134 pts
Dylan = 100 pts
Erwin = 44 pts
Marc = 30 pts
Hugh = 21 pts
Brian = 15 pts
Calvin = 11 pts
Doug = 10 pts
Boris = 5 pts
Tony = 5 pts
Johnny = 5 pts

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