The race organizers have released the official roster for the inaugural Dragon’s Tail Road Rally.  16 teams from 10 different states.  (to open as a word doc proxy roster2015  )

2015 Dragon’s Tail Proxy List

Hello race fans. Tommy T-jet here on this fabulous weekend. We are here at the glorious Dragon’s Tail Rally. Teams have been pouring in from all over the country to test their technical prowess at this inaugural event. Lots of local veterans and east coast teams are moving in. With the frigid weather this week, our “eye in the sky” has had difficulty making it in the air. Aurora is up there now. To you Aurora.

(Aurora) Hi Tommy. It is beautiful here overlooking the Dragon’s Tail. Quite cold temperatures we are having.

(Tommy) Any good news for us.

(Aurora) Well over this past weekend “Speedy” Van Doren made it down for some grueling test sessions. I talked to him a little, and he said the track was awesome. During the shakedown he was having some fueling issues that weren’t giving him consistent times at first. The problems however have been rectified so everything should be smooth as silk when he comes back down to help run the event.

(Tommy) What kind of cars are showing up.

(Aurora) The field is very diverse Tommy. Many British, American and German machines are well represented. There is also a sprinkling from Italy, France, and Japan.

(Tommy) Seems as if we have a good mix of cars. Any news on when the event will start?

(Aurora) Right now everything is just getting organized. Smokey should be arriving soon, so everyone should be going through tech here shortly. The legality of some cars are already in question, but we will get updates on that from Smokey when he arrives. I will try to get some pictures from above of the cars in the tech paddock.

(Tommy) Well sounds like everything is coming along nicely. My report shows 16 teams have arrived with a possible 29 cars. That is an amazing turnout. Sponsors have arrived in storm as well. We have to give great thanks to these guys for their support. And the race prepares to begin………….

BRP resin bodies and racing parts  http://www.bat-jet.com/

HO Models vintage slot car reproduction parts  http://www.homodels.com/

Bubba’s Racecar Shells resin cast bodies

VIASUE  Slot Car Racing Lap Counter & Lap Timer Solutions http://www.viasue.com/

9 Finger Hobbies Custom HO scale bodies to fit Aurora Tjet and JL “Thunderjet 500″ slot car chassis  http://9fingerhobbies.weebly.com/

Jim’s Custom Rod Shop Custom resin castings       http://members.tripod.com/jims_customs/

JAG Hobbies HO slot cars, parts and many other things    http://www.jaghobbies.com/

Super Tires HO scale silicone racing tires    www.supertires.com

1 Stop Slot Shop The place for original NOS Aurora Tjet chassis and the best aftermarket tools and parts  http://www.onestopslotshop.com/

Mongrel Racing Resin Bodies

C & R Racing silk screened water slide decals and resin-cast bodies      www.candrhoracing.com

JW’s HO Speed Parts Precision CNC machined HO slot car parts       http://jwhospeedparts.com/

KRB – King Racing Bodies

Western Pennsylvania Slot Car Club  www.wpscc.org

Bubba’s Race Car Shells

King Racing Bodies

As we make the final preparations for the Big Race, the last few sponsor prizes rolled in. We received a nice shipment of bodies from Bubba’s Race Car Shells. And a surprise last minute sponsor,  King Racing Bodies delivered some modified racing bodies handcrafted from their shop as well as some fine racing apparel from the Western Pennsylvania Slot Car Club.  There are some very Good prizes for all that were able to participate in the very first Dragon’s Tail Road Rally Proxy.

Habby’s hit a snag

Speaking of sponsors, we did receive some sad news from Habby’s HO Slot Car Lube Shop. Despite their enthusiasm to participate,  it seems that they hit a snag in the shipment of their fine product and had to pull their sponsorship for this year.  They wish all of the racers luck and hope to be involved next time.

Some of the entries start to unload

The most excellent and exciting news was the arrival of several more racers to the track.  At this point, 11 teams have shown up with word that a handful more will arrive by this evening.  It will be a full field and anybody’s race!  Once all the cars have been checked in, tech inspections will start.

Things are starting to gear up at the Dragon’s Tail with the arrival of the first racing team.  Glimmer Twins Racing Team rolled into town yesterday afternoon with two entries, a 55 Chevy and a shiny red Ferrari.  The towns people swarmed the flat bed trucks to get a good look as the cars were unloaded for inspection.  Several more cars are expected to arrive today.

It’s happening folks!

The local chapter of the V-dub Air Cooled Club held a gathering at the Burger Joint this weekend and boy were they in for a surprise!  While they were inside placing their orders, a caravan of trucks pulled into the parking lot.

How appropriate, since the cargo they were carrying was a shipment of the newly developed Ghia body from Mongrel Racing!   We counted over half a dozen of the resin shells arriving by truck.  More prizes from one of the sponsors of the Dragon’s Tail Road Rally proxy!

The body was approved by varies other established racing committees, so we figured we would welcome it too.  Racers will need every advantage to perform competitively on the twisting road course.  I wonder if any Mongrel Racing ghias will make an appearance at the DTRR proxy?!?

There has been some activity around the track, but for the most part things are very calm.   The town council sent crews out to prepare the course, repairing last minute potholes. A top notch driving team has gone out to test the turns making sure ample barricades are in place to provide adequate safety for spectators and racers.

The participating racing teams are being very secretive about their entries into the Dragon’s Tail Road Rally.  We do know that the local boys at Team Jeeter have had some late nights under the hood but are not allowing the press into Happy’s Garage at the moment.

We are taking this peaceful time to enjoy the holidays, before things start buzzing with activity as the racing teams arrive the first week of the new year!

JW’s HO Speed Parts at the Motel

BRP rolling down Main Street

We heard news that a green delivery van arrived late last night and the driver checked himself in at the Siesta Motel for some shut eye. This morning he came by race headquarters with a generous supply of speed parts vouchers from JW’s HO Speed Parts! 

No sooner did we wave goodbye to the green van, then down Main street came a rumbling semi hauling some special bodies from BRP.  Three metal flake stingrays of a patriot mix were donated to the prize pool!

And then at day’s end, a bright yellow panel van stopped at Happy’s Filler-up station to ask for directions.  “You’re at the right place buddy!” Some top notch decals and other goodies from C & R Racing were dropped off at race HQ.

Yes, activity has really picked up at the Dragon’s Tail.  Who will be the first Team to arrive?!?

C & R Racing Decals at the filling station

A Shipment from 9 Finger Hobbies

The DTRR steamed into the depot right on time pulling a long line of autorack cars.  A generous shipment sent from 9 Finger Hobbies, the latest arrival of sponsor support for the Dragon’s Tail Road Rally Proxy.  The engine’s fire box was red hot from hauling in over 2 dozen auto bodies!

As we enter the last month before the deadline, the racers will be showing up soon.  When you make those final chassis tweeks, be sure to visit our sponsors.  Tell them you plan to race the Dragon’s Tail!

Local law enforcement had its work cut out for them today as two speed demons tore down Main Street. Even though they were just a flash of yellow and gray primer, they were easily recognized as the stars from the cult classic movie “Two Lane Blacktop”.

Thanks to proxy race sponsor HO Models, the pink slips of these custom made beauties from the silver screen will be in the hands of some lucky participant of the Dragon’s Tail Road Rally!!!

Tommy Tjet here. I have just been contacted by Aurora with some interesting news.

(Aurora) Hiii To mi skwhdljzxhyuy.

(Tommy) What was that Aurora, I can barely hear you?

(Aurora) Sorry about that Tommy. We are up here in our new toy, a Bell Helicopter and it is a little loud. Now we will have an eye in the sky.

(Tommy) It will probably be a little easier to get around in than the planes from Freeman Field during the Carrera Panamericana.

A break in the weather allowed Aurora to take the chopper up for some scouting.  These shots were taken from the remote camera mounted on the exterior of the helicopter.

(Aurora) Oh yes Tommy. This Bell was built at the local factory. We were at much higher altitudes in those planes during the Carrera. From here, everything looks like HO Models.

Hey, what are those? Two cars are coming in at top speed from that Two-Lane Blacktop! Looks like a ‘55 Chevy and new Pontiac GTO. I wonder if they are coming in for the race?

(Tommy) Aurora, you must really know your cars to know what they are from up there.

(Aurora) Oh, this Bell is great. It will be a great addition to the crew for Dragon’s Tail.

(Tommy) Well, keep us posted. Have fun with the new toy.