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Post by bobjeffreson on Nov 23, 2011 4:51:44 GMT 10
Yesterday I had lunch with visiting American 1/4 scale racer Mark Hogue. Mark is currently touring Australia as Tour and Logistics Manager for the Moody Blues. Now that's a job.....yesterday he kicked off at 4:00am to receive the band's gear at the State Theatre and commence the set-up for last nights concert. When I said goodbye to Mark at 11:00pm last night, he was organising the dismantling of the gear...loading it onto trucks and sending it to Melbounre for the next concert tonight...  A big thanks to Mark for the 3 complimentary tickets to last night's Show. 2 hours of sheer heaven for an old Blues fan here... ;D Mark comes from Indiannapolis and would love to organise a USA V Australia Challenge at Ingalls Raceway, Indiannapolis Indianna, sometime in the future. Due to his tight schedule there was no time to get Mark to LQSS, however he did get to try his skills on dirt in Perth last weekend, due to the generosity of the WA guys. He even got to up-end Dale Pikes Aust 1 sprintcar during one hot lap seesion....   |
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Post by bobjeffreson on Nov 26, 2011 11:37:09 GMT 10
Mark may have been a bit lost, 1st time on dirt. However it seems he is no slouch on tar.
He are the results from last years National Championship Series in the Limited Sportsman class.
1st Dave Pipchock
2nd Mark Hogue
3rd Earl Clement
4th Doug Lebo
5th Andy Abernathy
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Post by bobjeffreson on Feb 2, 2012 15:18:49 GMT 10
********* LATEST NEWS********
WCM SOLD
This afternoon I took a Skype call fom Mark Hogue. He wanted to tell me of the news that he and his partners had last weekend done the deal to purchase the WCM 1/4 Scale Corporation from Rick Binnicker. Rick will still be involved in some of the manufacturing. Mark wanted to see the WCM name kept alive because of the history it has the the 1/4 scale hobby.
The Company will now be based in Indiannapolis and it start producing cars as soon as they get the new designs finalised.
Mark is looking to follow our designs and have centre belt/chain drive cars for both asphalt and dirt. His aim is to try and produce a very reasonably priced sprintcar, that will work on both surfaces.
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Post by robhod on Feb 2, 2012 16:36:56 GMT 10
Great NEWS!!!
Rob
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Post by bobjeffreson on Feb 3, 2012 8:05:45 GMT 10
Talking with Mark again and he said this.........
"One of the first priorities is to build a new OZ Sprintcar for you guys. I need you guys to help us design it so it meets your needs."
He said the first redesigned sprintcar in the new WCM range will probably be called the WCM OZ, in honour of the fact that we have worked out how to re-invent the centre belt drive system, which as I said, Mark wants to employ in all future WCM sprintcars and Grand Nationals.
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flo5
Mud Scraper
Posts: 27
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Post by flo5 on Feb 7, 2012 11:45:10 GMT 10
Bob,
Good to here, WCM is one company I've had saved to my favorites since I started to take an interest in the hobby.
It's never been updated in that time.....
I assume Mark has brought the website also, it so a statement wrt the new owners, intentions, etc would be great.
Being all the way down here in NZ, the internet is my main source of information.
Cheers
Fraser
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Post by bobjeffreson on Feb 7, 2012 16:39:08 GMT 10
Fraser,
I'm not certain what Mark and his Team have purchased. I don't believe that they purchased any of the machinery etc from Rick. Knowing Mark as I do, albeit for a short time, I'm certain that the website will change once the new Team start producing stock. That may not be too soon, as they are intending to start from scratch on this new venture!
I also look forward to this rebirth of WCM. The 1st quarter scale sprintcar I ever laid eyes on was a WCM, back in the mid 1980s. Tried to import one in 1987 without success. Even back then Americans were not keen on shipping outside their country. It was their loss back then, as I have a few now...
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Post by morrie on Feb 8, 2012 16:40:53 GMT 10
hope that they will ship to nz be good. more people the better ,keeps the sport going.
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Post by gasman on Feb 10, 2012 4:02:08 GMT 10
Good news about WCM....i've just purchased Bent's sprinter, and already have it striped right back for a rebuild. It will be good to have parts available again.
So that will be at least 3 cars we are bringing to Aus in June...
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kevin
Mud Scraper
Posts: 77
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Post by kevin on Feb 11, 2012 7:18:35 GMT 10
Great news guys. 1/4 scale .... just never gets old!
Kevin
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jeff
SSME Member 
international racer
Posts: 222
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Post by jeff on Mar 4, 2012 14:47:05 GMT 10
Great news bob. as you already know that my first sprinter i bought way back in 94/95 was a WCM and i first raced it in adelaide in 1995 where i came 2nd in the sa title behind the great keith noble. i still have the car and will be redoing it as show/shelf car.i could if i wanted even do it up and compeat with it they were that good. on my first trip to knoxville i met with all the originals of wcm which was very interesting to watch them all compete.
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