Siberia Racing-Main Page

Siberia Racing

Beware the Bear

Welcome to Siberia Racing's home on the web. Constructed in 1975, Siberia International Raceway (SIR) was the team's original track and the birthplace of MaDD Products. SIR is a four lane HO scale slot car track. The final incarnation of the track featured 14 challenging turns and a lap length of 50-feet. The AFX/Aurora track is mounted on a 4'-6" x 11' table. The track was rebuilt twice over its lifetime. The first rebuild, done in the late 70's added the first version of the M&M turns. In the 80's computerized lap counter system was added based on the Atari platform. The second rebuild, done in the 90's reworked the exit to the back straight and extended the straights to and from the infield esses. The second rebuild also reworked the wiring to have taps at approximately two foot intervals. The Trakmate race management system was added in the late 90's replacing the homegrown race management program. SIR hosted races in the Indiana, Michigan and Illinois HOPRA state championship circuits. Over the years Al Thurman, Rick De Rosa, Terry Hreno, Mark Rosenwinkle, Joel Pennington, Bob Dame, Rick Denig, Scott Terry, Jeff Wilson and a host of other top racers have tried, and failed, to tame SIR. After 25+ years of service SIR may be gone but not forgotten. Click on one of the images below for more about SIR.

Siberia Racing is affiliated with:

T-Jet and G-Jet Racing in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa

H.O.P.R.A.

Crystal Rock Raceway

CRR is the team’s current track. It is a slightly longer but simpler, 46' circuit made with Maxtrax semi-continuous rail track. CRR has proven a tough nut to crack. However, the track’s learning curve is much less steep than SIR’s. Unlike some tracks that are specifically designed to provide a significant advantage to the track owner and other “home track” racers, CRR was specifically designed to be easy to learn, tough to master and to not have a significant home track advantage. Tough design requirements but with timing and finesse sections the track has been described as easy to learn, tough to master as well as a super smooth addiction. CRR’s table is two feet longer than SIR and is built on a 4’-3' x 13' table. CRR uses both the Trakmate for Windows and the Slottrak race management system. Since its first race, CRR has proven to be a welcome addition to the NITRO, NART and MSRA circuits. After 10 years CRR is being replaced by a new fully routed track. The new track will show a return to the original track name and will be officially known as Siberia International Raceway II. SIR-II however, will be otherwise known as "The Bear".

Siberia International Raceway II a.k.a. "The Bear"

Like CRR the new T.K.O. track will be designed to run in both directions. "The Bear" measures is 4' x 15' and is two feet longer and a bit narrower than CRR. CRRs power supplies will be recycled to feed "The Bear". Two switching and two linear power supplies are hooked to a custom diode auctioneering circuit and provide power to a +2,660,000 Mfd filtering/capacitor bank that in turn feeds each lane's 40 Amp rated contactor. Individual lane power control is available. Power can be changed from 12V to 19V in seconds at the touch of a switch. The 12V power supply is continuously rated at 20 Amps. The 19VDC The power supplies continuous power output is in excess of 50 Amps. With the addition of the capacitor bank, the current surge capacity is well in excess of 100 Amps. This awesome power is served to each lane via multiple power taps. Each lane is wired for brakes, is independently reversible and protected by a 6-Amp magnetic circuit breaker. Unlike most breakers and fuses, magnetic type breakers do not have a thermal element and thus the breakers have no inherit time delay. The breakers will trip instantaneously in the event of a severe fault. An audible breaker trip alarm will sound if a breaker trips. A 19” monitor along with digital current and voltage meters at the race director’s (RD) desk allow the RD to monitor and control the action. Spectators can monitor the racers progress via three additional monitors.

While the track shares the basement with a workbench, pool table, dartboard, freezer, furnace and water heater the space is essentially dedicated to the track. Plenty of well lit pit space welcomes the racers. The room has accommodated up to 20 racers with room for more. Click on one of the images above for more information and a tour of "The Bear".

LINKS More of SIR /More of CRR / More of "The Bear" DR Racing Products | NART | NITRO | Lucky Bob's Raceway LINKS