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Model Car Science: Winning Drivers Share Their Secrets

Here's how three of the world's top drivers consistently manage to take home top honors at any race.
Have you ever noticed how some drivers in your club seem to score one big win after the other, while you struggle along with the same equipment way back in the pack? There must be a reason for these continuing wins, but what is it? How do they do it?

We thought we'd investigate this matter ourselves, so we cornered a few of the "hot handlers" that we know, and asked them to share a few of their secrets with you readers. We think you'll benefit a great deal from their advice.

J. T. Brooks is a frequent contributor to this magazine and Model Car Science, our "lil sister mag." J. T. hails from England originally, where he bashed about gathering data and experience in the slot racing field, in anticipation of making his big move to America, the "mecca" of slot racing. For some strange reason, J. T. "holed up" in New York City, instead of the land of sunshine, where the checkered MC&T flag flies over the Los Angeles City Hall, and every park has a giant stone carving of a hand controller.

J. T. has very strong opinions on the proper way to win a race, as you will see, J. T., if you would be so kind.

"Well chaps, I will be most happy to impart any scrap of information that I have learned in my meanderings about the countryside, but I must warn you, it may not work for you. I can show you the way I drive in a race, but I cannot guarantee you success even if you follow my advice to the letter!

Perhaps this sounds like my brain is running amuck, but there is a reason for this seemingly contradictory remark. Each person has a completely different approach to the problem of getting a small, rapid car around a complexity of curves, in the minimum amount of time. Reflexes are different, some drivers are naturally more tmid than others, and a dozen other variables. However, perhaps I can touch on something that will help you. Let's have a go at it.

The very first requirement - and I'm positive any decent driver will back me up on this - is to always to drive a machine that takes a back seat to no one when it comes to being prepared. The hottest driver cannot do a decent job of driving a "pig"! MC&T has run many articles on car preparation, so glance through your back issues and study the instructions thoroughly. A quick review of these requirements may help any newcomers who may not have back issues of the magazine. Poor souls.

1. Keep your equipment clean. This especially goes for tires. All rolling rubber should be spotless. Traction simply disappears when dirt is allowed to accumulate.
2. There should be absolutely no binding in any moving parts. Nothing is harder on a motor than trying to overcome abnormal friction. A slot racing motor, though tremendously powerful, has little torque, or twisting power. Not only sill you lose speed, but the motor may even burn up if a tire is rubbing against a wheel well, or the like.
3. All tires should be glued to the wheel rims, twisted with the fingers (while the glue is still wet) until they set square on the rim, then sanded lightly to remove all sharp edges, after the glue dries. Tires that do not set on the rims perfectly square, are the biggest cause of wheel hop.
4. The motor pinion gear and the axle ring gear should not mesh too tightly. The best way to adjust gear clearance is to firmly "bottom" the ring gear in the pinion, then back it off just a fraction and lock the set screw. A bit of grease on every other tooth helps too.
5. Although the axle bearings usually require no oil, a bit sparingly used always seems to help.

That, basically, is all there is to the main steps in proper car preparation. Of course, the list can go on and on, but this article is supposed to basically deal with driving tips. All right mate, are you ready for a few flying laps? On the track and let's go! Now don't try to impress me bloke, you won't, you know! Just cruise around the circuit a few times to get the feel of it. Don't go making your face all red and shiny by turning turtle here, there, and everywhere' in an effort to shatter that lap record. You're still quite a ways from having a go at the lap record! Good show! Just practice being s-m-o-o-t-h-. It always seemed a bit silly to me, to see drivers arrive at a corner in a tremendous huff, going far too deep into the corner before backing off, only to come nearly to a dead stop in an effort to get their machine back under control! The object of the game is to go quickly! A driver who is continually on the ragged edge of losing his car completely may look like he's moving at a tremendous rate of knots, but he really isn't. A fast, smooth driver, on the other hand, can shatter a lap record without even getting anyone's attention! Now that's class!

All right mate, let's start easy. Here's the proper way to take a corner, step by step.

1. Assuming you are approaching the corner at a high rate of speed, let up on the control plunger all the way (this applies the dynamic brakes), at a point somewhere near the entrance to the corner that will allow your car sufficient time to slow down to a speed that is safe to negotiate the curve. Only practice will tell you exactly where to get on the brakes. Pick a stationary object somewhere near your braking point to use as a guide. It eliminates guesswork.
2. As soon as the car enters the corner and actually begins to turn, gently apply power. If your car handles really well, you should be able to steadily increase the power throughout the entire curve, and accelerate steadily.
3. As soon as the car is lined up with the exit of the corner, you can punch the controller all the way open and head for the next corner.

Every corner is different, however, in some minute way. One may be slicker than the other, or stickier. Whatever the quirk may be, you must prepare yourself for it whenever you approach it. This is where the human element comes in.

Most chaps make the mistake of watching their car! Now I know it sounds as though I'm a bit balmy, but it's actually true. If you keep your eyes glued right to your car, you can't possibly be aware of a situation that is developing dead ahead! What if some bloke spins in front of you? You certainly don't want to prang your car, so you must be on your toes. Always look, a few feet ahead of your car. In other words, "lead" it. You'll still be able to see the car, and you'll be amazed at the way your lap times will improve.

Well, that is basically the story, in a nutshell, mates. Don't be afraid of any blighter, simply because he's had more experience than you. You just go ahead and practice the right way, and ignore everyone else. Soon you'll be shoving the nose of that B.R.G. Lotus GP car through the pack and be a "front runner" yourself. Luck!"

One of the gladiators in the infamous East Vs. West controversy that raged in the pages of MC&T in November, 1965, Richard Helm, is also one of the hottest drivers on the West Coast. We made him promise to refrain from digging the East, and to just state the facts about the proper way to handle a fast car. O.K. "Supermouth", go!

"There's only one way to handle a truly fast slot car, and that's with finesse! I have one machine in my stable right now that is capable of approaching the lap record on any big commercial track. but it requires a gentle thumb on the controller! The car literally evaporates from corner to corner. Tremendous speed is necessary to win races, but the road holding must be equally good.

I won't go into the niceties of chassis building - it has all been said a dozen times before - I'll just pass along a few tips on how to drive one of these bombs.

First of all, don't buy one of these super-hot tornadoes for your very first slot car! Start with a 1:24 kit in the $6 to $8 price range. Put it together exactly according to the instruction sheet, then take it down to your local commercial raceway. If you prefer 1:32, and don't have a commercial raceway nearby, buy one of the kits in the $4 to $7 range, and race it at home.

Stick with one car when you're learning! If you bounce from car to car, you won't know if your driving is improving or not. If you have a stopwatch, it will be a tremendous help, but you can get along without one if you have to.

After you build the car, go to the commercial track by yourself. You are going there to practice, not to race. If you take a buddy along, it's hard to resist the urt a to race with him. When you do that, you will forget about experimenting, and experimenting is exactly what you want to do. You must try many things to find out what works best. Try different "shut off" spots at the entrance to the corners. Try accelerating at different spots in the corner, etc. It's the only way to learn.

Always use a smooth driving technique. Driving a really fast car is like driving on ice! If you give the hand controller a sudden punch when the car is at a critical spot on the track, the car will become airborne faster than you can wink! A fast car is a responsive car. Make sure every command you give it has a reason.

After you become experienced, you may find it advantageous to "assist" one of your competitors in a corner. Now, this is not necessarily cheating, but neither is it widely accepted. However, it does go on in real racing to a limited degree. Don't make a practice of it, but don't neglect to use it if you ever get the chance either.

I'm talking about "nerfing" of course. It's dangerous not only for your competitor, but for you. There are places on a track where your competitor will be right along side, on the outside of the corner. A sudden punch on your controller can bring the tail of your car out quickly and catch your opponent's car squarely in the middle, and off the track. If you ever try this, be sure to hit him solid, and dead center. Otherwise you may find your car sailing through the air too!

From Tokyo, Japan comes some racing tips from one of our correspondents, Yashi Harada, a hot young driver who has been setting the slot racing fans there glowing with envy.

"There are many tricks you can. use in a road race, but you must know the driving characteristics of your competitor. There are some excitable types who you can cause to spin out simply by leading them too deep into a corner. It won't work with a "pro" however, so forget it!

You must always keep cool yourself. Remember, you can't drive the other guy's car, or change any given situation by "wishing" you have to change it by positive action! And by that of course, I mean by keeping cool and out-driving the opposition.

Above all, don't ever get discouraged, no matter how far behind you are! You've all seen this little scene before, I imagine: a close dual is carried on to the point where one car spins out. No matter how quickly his car is put back on the course, the driver who spun seems to lose interest in the chase because he is quite a bit behind. And his lap times will show it too! Keep the pressure on the front runner at all times. Never let up."

Follow some of the tips from these winning drivers and you'll find it a bit easier to get into that coveted winner's circle!