its a shame i’m so horrible with names because we’ve had a load of new visitors and made so many new friends but i can’t keep up with all of them! not only have we had a steady flow of old friends, we’re getting new ones from our feature on XTV, produced by Pattaya Channel. they’ve yet to release it on YouTube but when they have, i’ll load it here @nanotrax. check out the gallery to see whose been in and what we’ve been up to. i’ve been busy with multiple projects and admittedly lazy with race reporting but believe me, we’ve had a few and its been fun in small groups. check out our new fan page on Facebook and if you’re looking for the latest parts for dNano and Auto Scale Collection items for Mini Z, stop by our online shop. that’s the short of it for now, i’ll catch ya in a few days when i have more to report. thanks for your continued support!

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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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the past few days, Joom and I have been working on our custom livery project.  after extended discussion with several members, we all agreed that it would be really cool to have racing liveries for existing dNano since we haven’t seen anything new since XP’s release of the Reventon and Kyosho’s most recent release in February of the C6-R.  with this in mind, i located Patto’s Place for decals, ordered a few sets and Joom skillfully installed the Brummel #8 livery on my Ferrari F40 (see gallery).  it turned out pretty good but the auto scale models already have a clear coat which makes it difficult to install permanent decals.  if we wanted to install decal sets on completed models, that would mean starting with a fresh, blank body or finding a way to strip the paints without damaging the plastic.  since we’ve already got blank bodies for the 911 GT3, Gallardo and R8, we found a nice livery that matched a set of decals we picked up and went to work on our ‘from scratch’ project.

my task was to paint the base colors using an airbrush.  this lays paint smooth, even and secure with no mess as long as masking is done properly.  after the base colors, Joom‘s task was to install the decals.  she’s a professional nail stylist so applying tiny stickers to small objects is already an easy job for her.  while she installed decals, i built a spoiler and mount that would suit our needs for this project.  Joom entered the final stage by attaching all the detailed light fixtures, our home-made spoiler and other model parts with acrylic.  we both feel it turned out well for our first project but i almost wrecked it when i added a final clear coat and tried to wipe off the excess paint with a tissue.  take my advice, paints and tissues don’t mix.  we were able to save it but of course it wasn’t as pristine as we’d like it to be.  i think we’ll keep this one but will probably add a ‘custom livery’ service to our online shop if we can perfect the process.  have you done  custom livery for your dNano? send a photo to qon@nanotrax.net and i’ll post it on a future blog update with your name and location included.  i’ve got to do maintenance to prepare for upcoming races so i’ll share my technique in my next update.

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yesterday (Wednesday), we closed the shop in honor of Mother’s Day (Thailand).  while everyone took the day off, we stayed in the shop to modify the track layout.  its not quite as technical but will certainly present challenges with its narrow avenues and sweeping curves.  after a recent discussion with active members, we’ve also moved race day to Sundays @ 4pm.  if you plan on racing, be sure to come in during the week for some extra practice on the new layout.  lots of new items coming into the shop over the next few days, check back on Monday for that along with a race report.

Incoming Inventory
today, we received a healthy shipment of Auto Scale Collection items for dNaNo & Mini-Z.  for some time now, we’ve only had complete chassis sets available but considering we’re the leading location in Thailand to buy dNaNo, i felt it was necessary to stock Fitting Parts Sets & corresponding bodies for customers who would like to change their car without necessarily having to buy a new one.  if you’re not aware, i’m here to inform you that your dNaNo is very specific so in order to change the body, you have to change the moving chassis as well – unlike many other r/c models before it where any body fits on a standard chassis.  check the gallery to review dNaNo option parts, dNaNo Auto Scale, Mini-Z Auto Scale & Mini-Z option parts now available in the showroom at NanoTrax, Pattaya.  i’ve discussed online sales directly with Kyosho and we’re clear to sell Mini-Z around the world and dNaNo in Thailand so expect online shopping to open within the next 3 months.  until that time, please contact us directly by email if you want to arrange purchase of available items.

Head 2 Head (Mini-Z)
think you’ve got what it takes to battle it out on Race Course F1R? now that we have the Mini-Z IC Tag, we’re now able to offer Mini-Z for race rental (MR-02_LM Chassis, Porsche 962CLH ASC).  currently, there are 2 available models so you and a friend can compete at NanoTrax at the standard Mini-Z Rental rate of 350 ThB per hour (200 ThB for dNano).  place your 1500 ThB insurance/deposit per model, drive with care & earn bragging rights on F1R or F2L (Mini-Z ASC bodies are relatively easy to damage so i recommend anyone renting Mini-Z have some considerable experience with R/C racing).

New Visitors
traffic is picking up quickly at NanoTrax so i want to quickly acknowledge our most recent visitors, Chris & Cee.  Max brought them in to find a new hobby and i think we turned them into instant R/C addicts.  Cee tried a few dNaNo’s and settled in on the McLaren F1 GTR while Chris is stuck on the Porsche 911 GT3.  i’m still waiting for my contact to deliver more chassis sets so as soon as i have them, i think they’ll make that move and join the club for some weekly club racing action.  if you’re new to R/C, don’t worry! most interested folks that come in have never touched a pistol grip transmitter but quickly ease into it after only a few minutes.  a desire to compete, a good attitude & a little spare cash is all you need to become our most competitive club member.  up next, i’m going to produce a quick dNaNo breakdown video in Thai so check back in 3 days for an update.

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Happy Birthday, Son! PJ, you are now 9 years old, right? lol – the years have flown by so quickly.  you are growing so fast & i wish i could be there to see every second of it.  i think of you every day & hope that i’m in your thoughts as well.  i don’t want to get in too deep here online, but i wanted to dedicate this update to you so that you understand how important you & your future is to me, your father.  i’m also very proud to have such an intelligent & well mannered young man, studying daily to be a leader & visionary of the future.  while i love giving you praise for your accomplishments, i have to also find a way to help you understand the things you are doing wrong & how to fix them.

Respect Your Elders
your grandma is a really good lady and she has sacrificed a LOT to take good care of you.  she’s worked for over 40 years teaching and disciplining children but now she’s retired.  she left her job for a well deserved rest but because of her love for YOU & ME, she’s taken on a new job: taking care of YOU.  i’m in Thailand as a father & an entrepreneur, slowly building not only for my future, but for you and your brother’s.  i can’t be there and you can’t be here so your grandma is taking on the responsibility of insuring that you get the best education at the best schools and you are in a comfortable, safe home, the best of the best.  your problem at this point, is that you can’t see what she means to me and you.  you have it all, so you don’t know what its like to have nothing and this is the reason sometimes you behave in a way that makes her believe you don’t appreciate her.  i don’t wanna be the dad that has to call & yell at you, i wanna be the dad that calls and we have fun catching up on what’s been going on in your life.  i know my mom can be a little hard to handle… she knows this.  everything you go thru with her, i’ve been there.  i know how you feel but understand that your years as a child are short in comparison to the many years you have ahead of you as an adult.  you are intelligent, but she has experience AND intelligence.  if i had listened to her more as a child, i’d have advanced so much further in my life than i have now… appreciate what she is in your life son! if you feel like you wanna catch an attitude or she’s getting on your nerves, stop by and read this again:  for now, listen to your grandma, do what she says and in a few years, you can do whatever you want and once you reach that point, you WILL appreciate all the things she has taught you and sacrificed for you.  learn to control your emotions, focus on what’s important and let go of the things that are not.  if you can do something about a problem, then do it… if you can’t, let it go and move on.  just be sure all your decisions are positive and do your best to find resolutions that make your dad & granny proud!  enjoy your day, as it is just a day, be grateful for the next, and every day you’re blessed with life, health & love.

dNano Lamborghini Murcielago Upgrade
now, to the upgrades!  since you’ve been in a bit of trouble the past few days and have been showin’ out with granny, i gotta hold on to your gift.  i’ll send it, but your uncle will decide when’s the best time for your to have it after a VERY long period of good behavior & approval from me.  note that this gift is not only special because its from me, but its a collector’s item.  it can’t be purchased at any retail outlet in the US and its the smallest racing car on the planet.  this is NOT a toy!  yes, you can play with it but in order to appreciate what you are getting, you have to understand the technology that went into creating it.  be sure you read the entire owner’s manual before operating it and only run it on a track designed for mini-rc models.  well, you can play around a bit on the hardwood at mom’s house, but… make sure the dogs are locked up!  i’m going to upgrade your car as an additional gift with Ball Bearings, a Carbon Rear Suspension Plate & Aluminum Rear Wheel Hubs.  you should read extensively on these parts and what effect upgrading them has on your car.  i know you’re competitive so racing may be something you’re interested in.  if you want to race, that just takes desire.  if you want to WIN, then you have to combine your desire with knowledge, experience and practice.  all upgrades have already been covered on this blog, so i won’t go into step-by-step details.  have fun, and once again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Shop, Track & Inventory Update
we’ve spent a few days wrapping up planning and initiation of the interior design while waiting for the construction workers to complete the installation of tile flooring on the showroom.  Boonlak, our intereior designer, came by to wrap up the contract & deliver design concepts.  his work looks good on paper and we’re hoping his work reflects the design concept.  construction will begin on the 15th, the official move-in date on the lease.  at home, the track is under slow but steady construction.  we planned to take our time on this one as its the track that everyone will see upon entering the showroom.  we ordered additional material for the track that we plan to build on the 2nd floor.  the main track is black with green walls, the 2nd track is red with white walls.  most of our time on the tracks is spent painting and applying the walls with various types of glue.  dNano inventory is a bit scarce at the moment so we’ve decided to explore the possibility of stocking Mini-Z.  i did express this idea with Charlie and though he’s not really for it, i feel its important to be prepared in case issues arise with our primary product, dNano. i’m really interested in providing a resource for parts and supplies for many hobby grade r/c products while focusing on miniatures, primarily Kyosho dNano & Mini-Z models.  attempts at contacting a Kyosho distributor have been unsuccessful so we’ll see where that goes.  actually stocking Mini-Z isn’t even calculated into the budget yet but in this business, its an avenue that must be researched.  i’ll keep you posted with any major moves on that front.  my birthday is tomorrow, February 14th… guess what i’ll be doing?  back on the grind baby!  Happy Valentines’ Day to everyone… enjoy the weekend.

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i’ve cataloged available parts in stock for the dNano and you’ll find detailed pics with prices (in Thai baht) already added to most of the items.  any interest in buying items listed requires an email at the moment so if the price isn’t clearly visible, inquire when contacting us.  parts are extremely limited and as a matter of fact, some of these parts i really want to keep for myself – lol.  if no one contacts me then i’ll keep the good stuff but i’ll be fair, post everything & open up the opportunity for customers first.  Nu & Bey stopped by tonight for a few beers & we kicked it for a minute.  i should have video or new pics of something from the Pattaya RC track tomorrow so stop by if you have a sec.

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ตอนนี้ที่ร้านเรามี รถ 12แบบ พร้อมวิทยุและอะไหล่จำนวนมาก มาให้ทุกท่านชม ทางเราได้นำรูปมาลงไว้ให้แล้ว ส่วนท่านที่ต้องการทราบรายละเอียดเพิ่ม เกี่ยวกับตัวสินค้าท่านสามารถ สอบถามมาเป็นภาษาไทยหรือEnglishก็ได้นะคะ ตามสะดวกของทุกท่านนะคะ หร ือท่านที่อยากทราบอะไรเพิ่มเกี่ยวกับรถบังคับรุ่นอื่น เช่น Buggy, Truggy , Mini-Z หรือนอกเหนือจากนี้ สามารถสอบถามมาทางเราได้คะ เพราะเรามีพี่ๆจาก Pattaya R/C Powerboat ซึ่งเป็นผู้เชี่ยวชาญทางด้านนี้โดยตรง เป็นที่ปรึกษาให้คะ

เรามีข่าวดีมาบอกทุกท่าน คร๊าบ
ตอนนี้เราได้วางโครงการเปิดร้านในพัทยา ลักษณะของร้าน เป็นโชว์รูมรถบังคับ มีสนามด้านใน มีที่นั่งสำหรับแต่งรถ และอีกหลายอย่างเพื่ออำนวยความสะดวกของท่าน และในตอนนี้เราได้ติดต่อกันสถานที่ แห่งหนึ่ง  คาดว่าจะได้ข้อสรุปภายใยสิ้นเดือนนี้ หากผลสรุปออกมาเป็นอย่างไรเราจะนำมารายงานทุกท่าน…นะคร๊าบ