I recently finished a new "home theater" system built around our new Sony Grand Vega 60" Widescreen high definition TV.   You can see pictures of the construction here.

Over the years I’ve built many large car audio systems, the last one was in our ’94 Integra which is posted here. There are times I wish we had a world class system in our cars again but that hobby is history and there are new things to spend money on…

Radio controlled cars (R/C) was something my co-workers at Island Sound and I enjoyed for a year or two. Although these cars were similar to the toys available for $39.95, our cars were quite a bit more sophisticated (and more expensive). Hardcore R/C racing involves some pretty expensive parts made of the same expensive stuff that real race cars are made of. Titanium, carbon fiber and graphite goodies all cost lots of money even at 1/10^th scale.

We would race around the parking lot at our Costco Island Sound location. In addition to racing each other, there were all those other racers to beat. You would think that three intelligent and innovative guys would band together to form an unbeatable combination. Ha! All we did was compete amongst ourselves! Every week we’d secretly buy all the latest go fast modifications, titanium screws to lighten the car by a few ounces, an new shaped wing to increase downforce, a new motor, better batteries etc. On race night we would unveil our new and improved racer. The typical conversation would go something like this.

Earl, "Colin, I see you bought new tires…"

Me, "Uh… oh yeah didn’t I mention that I was getting these? Say, aren’t those the new matched batteries I’ve been hearing about?

Earl, "Why yes they are…is that a new carbon fiber rear axle?"

Me, "Uh…what’s Roy got over there…?"

The R/C races themselves were 4-minute races in which the person who completed the most laps around our banked roller-skating rink was the winner. There were two qualifying heats to determine the starting lineup for the race. About 8 cars could compete at a time. What did we win? Nothing but bragging rites!

There are two distinct strategies for running an R/C race. Since the largest number of crashes occur in the first turn of the first lap, some folks hang back to pick their way through the first lap carnage. I on the other hand, tried mightily for a front row starting position and would try to out drag every one through the first turn. If I was successful, I could complete the first lap just as the first turn crashers were getting themselves straightened out and put them a lap down right from the start.

Since our R/C cars run on rechargeable Ni-Cad battery packs, getting the most out of each pack was the most important ingredient for winning and running fast. The perfect run would consist of 4 minutes and one second of top speed followed by entirely dead batteries. Unfortunately, most battery packs’ individual cells don’t all die at the same time. Better packs have matched cells to provide maximum power for the longest time. My race strategy outlined above was very hard on my batteries, if I missed my gearing or spun out, the extra strain of getting up to speed would mean I could run out of juice before the end of the race. The conservative strategy insured available power throughout the race but meant you had to pass more cars one by one. After two years of serious R/C competition, my interest started to fade…

Slowly my disposable income started to move towards our computer system(s)… Our first system was a Packard Bell 486-25. It cost all of $1295. It boasted a 120 megabyte hard drive, 4 megs of RAM, no CD and no modem. It lasted all of 2 weeks (much too slow even then)!

It was replaced by a Gateway 486-33 with local bus video. That one cost $2499 and it had a 240 megabyte hard drive, 8 megs of ram, still no modem or CD. Franceen and I shared that computer for several years adding 8 Megs of ram ($400), a SCSI 3X CD-ROM and 380 megabyte hard drive ($450 and $500 respectively), a 14.4 Modem ($179), and a Soundblaster sound card and speakers ($250). Whew! By the time were finished with that Gateway it was the most expensive computer we ever had.

One of the reasons for the continued "arms race" in computer hardware was to insure high frame rates in the two sim-racing programs, CART Racing and Grand Prix Legends by Papyrus. With my trusty (slightly modified) TSW steering wheel and pedals I could swap paint and race with the computer controlled opponents, but enough of that, I've already covered it in my November 20th 1998 newsletter.