Quarter-Scale Cars, Salmon River Jetboating (108)Ron Phillips has taken model car building to a whole new level, creating fully hand-crafted quarter-scale models of vintage racing cars. Starting with his first quarter model — a 1957 Ferrari 801 — all are fully functioning replicas of the originals. They run on fuel and start with an ignition key, but to add to the fun, can be controlled with a remote from a mile away.
Quarter-scale model car prices start at around $40,000 — but the real vehicles they're modeled after can cost $1 million and up. The models are assembled with more than 1,500 individual components, and it takes approximately 400 hours to machine and assemble each car. Only 25 models of each design are made, and quickly become highly-sought automotive art.*
Race against the clock — race against nature. Every year during the third weekend of April, jet boat racers come from all over the world to Riggins, Idaho, to challenge the Salmon River, also known as the "River of No Return." The jetboats confront 34 miles of furious and unpredictable waters between the towns of White Bird and Riggins. Each entrant has been painstakingly built, painted, assembled, wired and tested, but few finish the race. The history of the death-defying river includes the Nez Pierce indians, who, more than 100 years ago, had defended their home from prospectors looking for gold.
Though the race is a great challenge, the weekend event is filled with fun and camaraderie that draws spectators we well as racers.
Resources:
*Contact information for Ron Phillips and his company is not available at this time.
Build and Detail Model Cars Like a Pro
by Terry Jesse
Basics of Scale Automotive Modeling: Getting Started in the Hobby
by Pat Covert
ScaleModel.NET
http://scalemodel.net
Listings for models in different areas
Salmon River Jetboat Racing Facts:
- The area's racing tradition began with Nez Pierce Indians racing their horses along the banks of the Salmon River.
- The Nez Pierce Indians introduced the beautiful Appaloosa horse to the Northwest.
- A strong undercurrent coupled with debris and melted snow run off making the Salmon River both difficult and dangerous for racing.
- The Salmon River is one of the few waterways in America that is not dammed.
Resources:
The River of No Return
by Cort Conley (Contributor), John Carrey, Johnny Carrey
Jet Boats: A Complete Guide to Purchasing, Operating and Maintaining Your Jet Boat
by Michael Kirnak
Salmon River Chamber of Commerce website, Riggins, Idaho
www.rigginsidaho.com
Whitewater Jet Boat Racing
www.jetboatracing.com
Information on jet boat racing and other related links
Wave & Rapid
www.waveandrapid-onlinemag.com
Information on the Salmon River, other whitewater jet boat races, and related articles.
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