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Club Focus

"Racing is life.... anything that happens before or after is just waiting." Steve McQueen, Le Mans, the movie, 1971

To maintain scale racing by only using 1/24 hard plastic or resin bodies, Pelican Park members implement sanctioning rules that tightly and clearly set out appearance and technical standards. All events are staged under OSSM (Oregon Slot Sport Management) Regulations. New members are selected from folk who appreciate the club's objectives. To build, model and run scale cars mounted on custom scratch built chassis winnows out the casual slot racers who are merely seek a sheer speed experience.

Since a structured formal organization of elected officers involve too much politicking that distract from the essence of the club's focus, Pelican Park members believe a collegial consensus guided by the original sanctioning regulations better insures the club's success. The only formal administrative position of treasurer is filled by a volunteer member. Individual monthly member dues are $35.00 to pay for the rent and operating expenses.

As a result Pelican Park Speedway has thrived since 1989 with an average yearly membership of about 15 dedicated racers, many of whom once participated in real auto racing, from SCCA, to dirt, to sprint, or to drag racing are now sharing and appreciating the camaraderie of scale auto racing. Like model railroaders who in miniature capture the essence of 1:1 railroading, Pelican Park Speedway members capture the essence of 1:1 auto racing in all its variety.

Members' ages range from 34 to 77, representing a fine cross section of the area's population and occupations. In their shared enjoyment and commonality of purpose, Pelican Park members are proud to sustain a tightly knit group whose lasting friendships are a hallmark of the club's identity.

PPS rules start from the proposition that the 12 varied classes are designed to encourage performance through scratch building chassis innovations. What matters on the track is who can build the fastest chassis. Motor performance is not a factor. By requiring stock bottom-line sealed 16Ds, motors and their costs are taken out of the equation. Everyone races with relatively equal cheap horsepower. Over the last 26 years small differences in the hundreds if not thousands of motors used have averaged out making varied weekly minor motor performance inconsequential. As with 1:1 racing many other factors, including luck, may play into a winning car. "Chicken one week-feathers the next," goes for each member- no one dominates. The Pelican Park experience or magic comes from members who are first long time friends, then competitors. The notion that one would secretly, illegally tweak a motor, to cheat on his friends, to betray other members trust, just doesn't happen. The club's self enforcing rules are very "limited" with respect to motors.

On the other hand... in the area members wish to compete-chassis design- the regulations are very "unlimited". Aside from minimal rules about ground clearance, wheel diameters, inline chassis configuration, and that the scale appearing hard plastic bodies must completely cover the chassis and guide flag, chassis rules are wide open. ... that's it. That applies to all classes. Any novel inline chassis a competitor can dream up to make a slot car go fast(er) is allowed. Both the "limited" motor rule and the "unlimited" chassis rules have the added benefit of being easy to understand and consequently easy to police. It is a simple, yet sophisticated, approach to slot racing rules. Has worked for 26 years!

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