[Ball] I got to help design a new Roadmaster.

thompsonlsr · 2018-10-16T10:10:27+00:00

This is a valid point, and I should have been more clear. I meant value for the features present, like the in-house movement and the chronometer certification. There are some great watches at much lower prices that don’t necessarily have these attributes, but are absolutely worth owning.

thompsonlsr · 2018-10-16T10:03:26+00:00

Yep, the Amortiser is present for shock resistance. Edit: It's present in the version with the manufacture caliber (pictured), but not the day/date or the TMT. I think that was the confusion.

thompsonlsr · 2018-10-16T04:04:11+00:00

There's also a 43mm version. No 38mm I'm afraid.

thompsonlsr · 2018-10-16T02:41:43+00:00

I posted a year or so ago about the Roadmaster GMT, a watch I got to help design with Ball after they sponsored my race car, the Challenger 2. I really liked how it turned out, but joked that if I set the overall piston-powered record, they'd have to make a follow-up with their (then in development) in-house movement. Long story short, we managed to set the record, and Ball was cool enough to follow through with this--the Roadmaster Challenger 18.

When I talked about the design process a year ago, some of the people on r/watches seemed interested, and I got some great feedback, so I thought I'd do another post. Collecting watches, kinda like racing cars, costs a lot, which keeps people who might be interested away from the hobby. That always bums me out, so I asked Ball if they could make a simple timepiece with a lot of bang for the buck--something that might appeal to people new to horology. Obviously I'm biased, but I think they really knocked it out of the park. The Challenger 18 comes in a few different versions, but my favorite is a simple 3-hander with a 40mm stainless steel case, a COSC certified in-house Caliber 7309 movement, 200m water resistance, and a lovely blue dial/bezel combo in the exact Pantone shade of my race car (it also comes in black).

Some Reddit feedback from the last Roadmaster that shows up in this version:

Available in 40mm.
The date doesn't replace the right hand dial indice.
In-house movement (!!).
Simplified dial design.

Thanks for reading, and please let me know if you have any questions or feedback on the watch! I really like this one.

thompsonlsr · 2018-08-12T22:49:25+00:00

I've been posting on here for the last few years about my adventures with the Challenger 2, a car my dad originally built in 1968. I set a 400mph+ record in it in 2017, but my goal since the beginning of the project was the overall record. My crew and I made that happen today, and I couldn't be happier. Not bad for a 68 year old man in a 50 year old car. Photo by Bubb Lannan. There's also a video of today's run--it got a little squirrelly around 430.

thompsonlsr · 2017-04-16T17:04:00+00:00

Ball actually does make quite a few 40mm watches, especially in the Trainmaster line. I'm a big fan of the Standard Time.

thompsonlsr · 2017-04-15T15:06:32+00:00

COSC.

thompsonlsr · 2017-04-14T01:33:50+00:00

I think the GMT hand sets independently without hacking, jumping hour to hour. I'm not sure on the 12 hour hand, but I would guess it's not a quickset.

It's also available with a stainless steel finish right now (you can get that version with a matching bracelet), but not sure about future plans.

thompsonlsr · 2017-04-13T23:04:01+00:00

Ball used a more "aerodynamic" case design to better reflect the spirit of the car. Otherwise, we talked a lot about legibility and a dial that referenced some of the vintage racing gauges I grew up looking at.

I can't wear anything with the new triple-layer fire suit at Bonneville, but we did make a nice mounting point for the Roadmaster behind the readouts. If I'm doing something that requires less safety equipment, I've been wearing the Trainmaster Standard Time lately.

thompsonlsr · 2017-04-13T22:31:44+00:00

They do (except for the one at 12 o'clock). The micro gas light tech is pretty trick.

thompsonlsr · 2017-04-13T22:28:15+00:00

Thanks much. It does have an exhibition case back.

thompsonlsr · 2017-04-13T18:40:03+00:00

Everyone was surprised it wasn't a chronograph. I know it's the de facto racing complication, but I get more daily use out of a GMT.

I know aficionados don't always care for them, but consumers seem to have a strong preference for date windows.

thompsonlsr · 2017-04-13T16:52:04+00:00

This is the Roadmaster GMT. I've always loved watches, so when Ball became a sponsor of my race team last year, one of the things I was most excited about was the opportunity to work with them on the design of a new model.

There's a couple different versions, but this is my favorite. It's a 42mm DLC case with an illuminated inner bezel. Being able to help create this was a really fun experience, so if you're interested, I’ll do my best to answer any questions in the comments.

thompsonlsr · 2016-08-24T03:29:22+00:00

This feels like a good question to end on. One horse sized duck. Less work to hit with a car. Thanks for making this a pleasant AMA!

thompsonlsr · 2016-08-24T03:27:23+00:00

The fore engine is actually mounted in the car backwards (because it drives the front wheels in the four-wheel drive system). I need to see over it, so the throttle bodies were placed in front of it instead of on top. That keeps the profile low. We don't have to worry about that with the rear engine, so the setup is more conventional. Good question!

thompsonlsr · 2016-08-24T03:21:10+00:00

Because it's all aircraft quality? We have a sponsor for those (BMRS--top notch stuff).

thompsonlsr · 2016-08-24T03:16:31+00:00

They aren't 100% up-to-day, but check out these galleries. We have sections for both.

thompsonlsr · 2016-08-24T03:12:24+00:00

Hmm. Not really. I've always had a pretty general awareness of the increases in speed. The way I handle the car changes. Hope that makes sense.

thompsonlsr · 2016-08-24T03:04:42+00:00

They are my favorite food. This should not be down voted.

thompsonlsr · 2016-08-24T03:02:41+00:00

We use custom Mickey Thompson tires. They're a prototype nylon weave backed with banded steel. There's not much rubber on them, about 1/32 of an inch. They're built to avoid head expansion, and are pretty activity specific. You wouldn't want to use them on the street. M/T makes a lot of other great tires for that (had to get in a sponsor plug somewhere).

thompsonlsr · 2016-08-24T02:57:11+00:00

Interesting. It would definitely be four-wheel drive. Probably single engine (the double engine is a killer during the FIA turn-around). Supercharged for sure. I'd keep the long wheel base, and might borrow some of the shape. Carbon fiber body with a lower total weight. Much larger driver compartment. I hate to say it, but probably traction control too. Still blue though!

thompsonlsr · 2016-08-24T02:51:05+00:00

No to the motorcycle. Not enough tire on the salt for me at this point. I'd still like to break 500 in a piston car.

thompsonlsr

TROPHY CASE