Skip to content
Menu
Planet Stahl
  • Home
  • Candidate Stahl
Planet Stahl

3dBotMaker

Posted on March 14, 2020

This is an article I wrote for Throwin’ Wrenches.  Are you subscribed to the podcast?

www.throwinwrenches.com

 

While Daryl is cruising the tourist attractions of Orlando…  I’m stuck home “cyber-cruising” YouTube.  When I am not watching Donut Media or Expedition Overland, I am browsing for new channels and talent.  Usually, my night ends up on a Russian Traffic-fail channel.  (Dont even judge me, I know you watch them too!)  Good news though, I have found a new channel to love on, my current obsession is a YouTube page called 3DBotMaker Die Cast Racing.

Lil Bread's S2000 caught on the curb
Lil Bread’s S2000 caught on the curb

Find me a kid who had hot-wheels tracks in the 70’s or 80’s that didn’t run countless races on their prized collection of Matchbox or Hot-Wheels cars.  It was a universal truth that all kids wanted to know which one of their cars was fastest.  Now, if the kid documented the process, its a safe bet they work in accounting or with actuarial tables for a living!  With even the most basic track setup, with an adolescents IQ, a system of single elimination races would be run.  Countless races would be run to finally figure out that your General Lee from Hardee’s was no faster than a Matchbox Winnebago camper.

So, when I ran across the 3D Bot Maker YouTube channel a few weeks ago, I was a bit intrigued.  He’s racing Hot Wheels, Matchbox and a few off brands of 1/64th Die Cast vehicles.  Unlike my efforts at home 30 years ago, he’s also doing it in professional grade video, audio and titles.

Lil Bread’s S2000 getting knocked off the track

First off, lets understand the name and who these folks are.  3DBotMaker is the name of the business that started making accessories for the old style Mattel Hot Wheels tracks.  With some serious tech and a 3D printer, this guy is making electronic start gates and digital timing systems.  He was into the hobby before the video aspect as far as I can tell.

I found this channel searching for a Toyota S2000.  Somehow I stumbled onto the Japanese Car tournament that eventually led to a crazy wreck of “Lil Bread”.    The road to the Japanese Car championship was surprisingly long and thorough.  I was fully invested in these cars to the final races.  (each race video is 10 to 15 minutes, and can take several episodes to get to the championship races) One of the cars in the final running was a black Toyota S2000 with a driver named Little Bread.  During one of the final races, the real life million dollar ride was cast off the track and made a dramatic fall into the “fan parking” area beneath the track.  3D announced the event with faux concern that rivaled most anything on a real race broadcast.  In the end, we assume Lil Bread passed away in the grizzly accident.

What a second…  Lil Bread is not real.  Nor is this a real Toyota S2000.  This is where it all goes sideways in the rational mind.  This diecast race of 1/64th scale cars is made up and contrived… Right?  What is real racing?  If you watch a series of elimination rounds of 3D Bot Maker…  You will question everything you believe about racing; that the Driver is an integral part of the race.  There are no drivers in these cars.  There is nothing but gravity pulling the cars down a series of turns and declines.  Somehow, with the help of the capable announcer(s), this is enough to make for compelling viewing!  Who would have believed it?

I had to shop this idea around to make sure I am not crazy.  First, I confirmed my hypothesis with some guys at work…   And I now have my wife watching the Saturday releases of the

The death of Lil Bread

Ferrari championship series.  She even knows the cars now.   Folks, its confirmed, this is racing!  Childish, driver-less racing that will draw you in and consume you until you watch your favorite themed series.  (or watch everything they make!)

It may seem like I am jumping on the bandwagon with this post…  Jalopnik and some others have started throwing out some articles about 3DBotMaker, but I can assure you I have been a fan for a few months now!  Far predating the band-wagoners!

Post Script

I do have a concern, and it may seem hysterical that I am critical of anything they are doing.  I am afraid they might be having their “Jump the Shark” moment with the Ferrari series.  A little levity is great and I am not taking it too seriously.  Without giving anything away…  I’ll only say this, lets not think that people are here for the comedy… Its the racing that brought me in and continues to keep me hooked!

Links

https://www.3dbotmaker.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjN5K3IYZgz-vCWhI_DD01A

Tweet

Related

Archives

click here to help
Eric Stahl

Twitter

Tweets by Planetstahl

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • June 2015
  • January 2015
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • February 2013
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • November 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • January 2006
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • June 2005
  • May 2005
  • September 2001
  • May 2001
  • April 2001
  • March 2001
  • February 2001
  • January 2001
  • December 2000
  • November 2000
  • October 2000
  • September 2000
  • August 2000
  • February 2000
  • November 1999

Planet Stahl on Twitter

Tweets by planetstahl
  • Cancer
  • Candidate Stahl
  • Digital Divide
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Health
  • History
  • Home Improvement
  • Libertarian
  • Local News
  • Music
  • Pets
  • Social Commentary
  • St. Jude
  • Throwin' Wrenches
  • Trail Team
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Work
Eric Stahl

©2023 Planet Stahl | WordPress Theme by Superb WordPress Themes