Geoghegan Trophy Race 2015

[Mark Fox]

Hi All

On Saturday 30th May 2015 the HSC Retro contingent gathered for the running of the very historic Geoghegan Trophy Race - a trophy that has been has been up for grabs on a yearly basis for over four decades with many of the best names in Australian slot racing adorning its facade.

Over the race has varied from the original format of a sedan class open race to its current format of a retro Can-Am race and a retro F1 race with the winner being the highest point score over the two races combined.

Unfortunately a few of the HSC regulars (such as Stoo, Brad and Peter to name a few) were not in attendance whilst some of the usual 'Big Race' attendees (such as Charles R, Wayne B and the Kid)were also missing - leaving a somewhat modest field of 7 racers to battle over the spoils.

However it turned out to be a great race night on a magnificently prepared track (thanks James) as the times and lap totals attest to.

Off to the races.
James was looking serious as a good scrutineer should.

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Best Lookers
Darryl took out the Concours d'Elegance award for both Can-Am and F1. He really presents the most beautiful cars.

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Can-Am

The Can-Am was held over two Heats as the two volunteer marshals of Joe and James required that some of the field would have to marshal as a minimum of 3 (preferably 4) marshals are required at this track - it is tight with 3 or 4 marshals but it definitely helps the mind to focus on not deslotting.

Qualifying

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Sub 5 second times always mean the track is looking good.
The Race
The first heat was won by moi with 270 laps which was 1 lap shy of the total record for a 3 minute main - I had a few deslots (mind obviously not focused enough) and so while I was happy(ish) with my total I knew Paul's car was fast and he has been driving like a demon of late so I wasn't feeling too comfortable. Gregg came in on 262 followed by Darryl on 250 and Bill on 241.

The second heat was taken out Paul on 271 laps which equals Kid Kaos long standing lap total record - well done Paul. Paul was followed home by Leigh on 249 and Neil on 235.

Here I have combined the two heats onto one sheet to get an appreciation of the overall race. Basically I drove really well on all lanes as did Paul who just happened to smash me on Purple and Black.

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The Podium

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L- R
My take on a JK Kit, Paul's car is a Warmack - constructed by Bill, Gregg's chassis built by Wayne B (I think?)

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F1

This race was held in one Final as by this stage Stoo had arrived to say G'day - he did not race as he had work commitments that prevented his preparation - but he kindly took up a marshaling hat which meant we now had the bare minimum of three marshals.

Qualifying

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The Race

The line up L - R
Bill, Darryl, Paul, Leigh, Mark, Neil and Gregg

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Cars L - R
Gregg, Neil, Mark, Leigh, Paul, Darryl and Gregg.

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A very fast and clean race eventuated with the podium from Can-Am battling it out as shown.

I was able to hold off a very fast finishing Gregg T to take the race and also the Trophy with a 1st and 2nd placing against Paul (1st and 3rd) and Gregg (2nd and 3rd). Had Gregg knocked me off it would have been between Paul and he for the Trophy as a 1st and 3rd beats what would have been my two 2nds - in this instance Paul would have taken out the day due to his superior lap scoring overall due to his great Can-Am drive.

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The Podium

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L-R
Gregg's 'BoneHead' Chassis, My Tim Tyler Slick 7 Build, Paul's Bill W Slick 7 build.

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The Trophy Presentations

Concours d'Elegance
Double winner Darryl

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Qualifying
Double Speed Merchant - me

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The Podium Finishers
Gregg - 3rd Can_Am

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Mark - 2nd Can-Am

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Paul - Winner Can-Am

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Paul - 3rd F1

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Gregg - 2nd F1

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Mark - Winner F1

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The Geoghegan Trophy Winner 2015

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That concludes my report and I would like to thank James yet again for his excellent track prep and sponsorship of the race and Retro racing generally.

Question
How did I win the F1 Race?
Answer
Have Tim Tyler send me up his F1 Retro by express post the day before the race - put a nine tooth pinion on the motor and load 8 grams of lead on it and go - it is a really great F1 to drive - the best I have driven. Thanks Tim

PS
Tim has given me permission to do a show and tell on his build so I will do so in the near future. Keep an eye open for it as it is a really neat and interesting take on a Slick 7 kit he has been running for a while.

[pmdaniels]

Great report and great photos . I wish they raced Retro in SA ,I have built a couple of cars but have no idea if they are any good because of no one to compare them with . Will have to get up to HSC one day !
Just a question concerning F1 front wheels ,the copy of the regulations I have state a min width of .375" but a couple of the cars in your photos seem to have narrower front wheels than that . Just wondered have the regs been changed ?
Peter Daniels

[SlotBaker]

Well done Mark, and many thanks for posting the great photo's and report.

[stoo23]

Yeah !!,.. great Report once again Mark,.. Thanks and once again,..Congrats on your Win,..

Damn, I thought My was the Best F1 you had driven,..

Guess I will Have to go build a New,.. and Better one then,.. lol

Hey Peter,..in 'reference' to your question regarding the Front Wheel Widths,..... Well,..Yes,.. They ARE,.. 'Supposed' to be that Width !!
It's just that as Some Early cars were built,..shall we say,.. Without Great reference to the Rules, (when the class was just getting going) and probably, also a Lack of Available F1 Front Wheels when the cars were built, like my 2nd F1. We have been a bit easy on Some of the rules, especially in the Early stages,.. and Hey,.. Retro, whilst Seriously competitive and Always Great Racing,..Is,.. particularly about having Fun,..

Any NEW F1 Cars,..Should, 'Observe' the Defined Minimum Width,.. and,..may I Also say,..perhaps Diameter as well,..as Those 'Interesting' Very Soft 'Screw On' Front wheels as used by Mark on Timmy's Car,..DO rather look a wee bit on the Small Size,..atleast in the Photos !!,..??

Was this checked in Scrutineering ????!!!,.. ,..LOL

[Mark Fox]

Hi Peter and Stoo,

FYI the current regulations for F1 allow for .790" min diameter rears and .525" min diameter for fronts.

They also specify the wider fronts as per Peters' post but this has not been enforced since day one and the regulations should be altered to reflect this. The narrower fronts have been used since Retro racing's inception (for whatever the reason) and are also accepted in most locations around the world for this type of racing (have a look on Slotblog and Tokyo Retro sites to confirm if you like).

Further the fronts on Tim's F1 measure in at .750" - I measured them - they look a little less as they are very wide - in fact more than the .375" currently stated in the Regs.

Cheers