2017 SRC - Round #2 - SSME

[Mark Fox]

Hi All,

The 2nd round of the 2017 SRC was held Tuesday 23 May and turned out to be a real Cracker.

This is the oldest track in Australia I believe – Stoo was racing here when he was still a teenager so that gives you some idea.

Well she scrubbed up beautifully for the big night out and looked very comfortable in her new home. A big thanks to the Slotties at SSME.

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Entries of 15 for GT1 and 11 for Retro CanAm dictated the proceedings would be: -

2 round Robin Heats of 8 and 7 for GT1 and
2 Heats of 5 and 6 for Retro CanAm.

The Racers
Left to Right
Brad, Paul, Ando, Stoo, Neil, Mark, Steve, Ron, Casey, Michael, Stevo, Gregg, Bill, Wayne and Andrew

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GT1

Heat 1

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Heat 2

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The Wash-up
Gregg (the machine) had a close win over Ron closely followed by Brad who enjoyed his first outing on this fast but tricky track.

For the fast laps check out Casey’s time on Yellow (4.217), Purple (4.192!!!), Blue (4.215), White (4.319) and local racer Michael on Red (4.400!!!) and Green (4.307).

Both races were a little rough but I expect a lot of improvement in lap totals in future rounds.

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The Podium Cars
L-R Ron, Gregg and Brad

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and the Podium Racers

Gregg

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Ron

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Brad

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Retro CanAm

Heat 1

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Heat 2

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The Wash-up

Well it was Steve King all the way winning by 5 laps and setting fastest times on ALL lanes. This was a well-deserved win for Steve as he was the mid-wife for retro racing in Australia for which I am extremely grateful as it got me racing slotties again. Stoo was next in line followed by Gregg.

These cars are really suited here as shown by the fact that Steve’s lap total was only 1 down on Gregg’s GT1 total – well done.

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The Podium Cars
L-R
Stoo, Steve and Gregg

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In Finishing Order
Steve (chassis by John Tore Anderson – multiple World Title winner over many years and also signed by Mike Stuebe and Brian Warmack)

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Stoo (‘old faithful’)

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Gregg (Warmack Chassis by Mark Fox)

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and the Podium Racers
Steve

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Stoo

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Gregg (we have already seen him)

Well that sums it up – a big thanks to the SSME boys for putting on a great race and I am sure we will all be back for more. Also good to see that many travelled a long way to get to Luddenham for the race – we all appreciate the efforts we all make to have a race together.

Don’t forget the Geoghegan is on this coming Saturday at HSC.

[SlotBaker]

Mark, nice photo's and report, and thanks also for the nice words.

There were 3 of us who were the mid-wives for retro racing in Australia.
Dale Anderson and Dean Fraser were the other culprits.

Yes, the track did scrub up nicely, and is remarkable for being made in 1967, out of a combination of particle board for the straights, and masonite on ribs for the banked turns. It was nice to be racing on it again, and look forward to the next time.

[neiljb]

Thanks for the report Mark
What a top night!
Thanks to the boys at SSME. The track was well prepared and the hospitality was great.
Hopefully some of the SSME will have a crack at the Geoghan tomorrow night.
Cheers

[brady]

Another good report Mark.Thanks SSME members for a good night.The trip down was a lot better than I thought it would be,so hopefully I will be back for the next one.Regards Brad.

[stoo23]

Having been one of the people who thought it would be good to try and organize some racing on the 'Other' Tracks around Sydney, it has been somewhat disappointing to have Not been able to attend Any of the Previous Races, due to My Work schedule,..

So it was with some Joy, that not only was I able to attend an SRC round, but that it was Also at SSME !!,..

As Fox mentioned above, I Have Raced at this track as a Teenager and I have to say it is a track I have Always enjoyed racing at/on,... (as I did on This occasion !!), in fact as I recall, I raced at the Very First 'Association' race held there,... an Awful Long time ago !!,.. ,... as well as a Very 'Memorable' 24 Hour Event, racing with Wayne Bramble, Karen Cowell and Norm Clarke, racing with Nothing other than 'Grain of Wheat' style Bulbs on the Cars and similar Minimal Track lighting.

Was Certainly an 'Interesting' Experience racing in virtually Complete Darkness through the night. I was quite Pleased, that Karen & I set the Highest Lap Totals, (in the Dark) !!

It is Great to see the track Back in such good condition, again,.. after some obviously considerable 'Work' and in it's Own New Building.
Therefore, I too wish to thanks ALL those involved in bringing this great track Back into 'Action'.

It was a great evening, with a pretty reasonable number of Very good drivers and made for a very enjoyable evening's racing,.. as always,..

I thought I was 'Doing OK' in the Retro race,.. but as can be seen by the times/laps etc,.. Steve King,.. literally 'Wiped the Floor' with the rest of us !!,.. lol
Well done Steve !!

Am Definitely Hoping I can race at the Next SRC round to be held there,.. with,.. perhaps just Slightly More 'Traction' !!??,..
A great evening was had by all I would suggest and the 'Snag' Sangers were an unexpected but enjoyable addition to the evening !!

Thanks guys,..

[neiljb]

Thanks Stoo
Running a 24 hour on this gem would have been fun. Karen Cowell was a tough racer as was her younger sister Gaylene. Slot racing owes a lot to the Cowell family. Geoff was a great guy and G and D gave rise to many great racers.
I doubt whether many of us could stand up let alone stay awake for 24 hours these days!
However, I think I could manage a couple of hours of Retro CanAm.
Brad raised the idea last year and it seemed there was some enthusiasm at the time.
The HSC calendar is already full and I can understand James' reluctance to add another race after hosting parties all day. However, a 2 hour Enduro could be substituted for a regular Retro CanAm/F1 meeting already on the calendar.
Just putting it out there.
Three man team, no Pro Am seeding, 15 minutes per lane. Start at 7 finish at 9. CanAm or Coupes.
The possibility of one or two teams from SSME would help with numbers.
Am I on my own
Neil

[stoo23]

Hey Neil,..with regard to the 'Enduro' idea,... I'd venture you Wouldn't be 'Alone',..

In fact, it HAS Happened before,.. TWICE,..but was quite some time ago,.. See here;
http://aussieretro.ascra.com.au/080927results.htm

and Here;
http://aussieretro.ascra.com.au/081101results.htm

Cheers

[brady]

Hello Gents.This little track would be the ideal place for an Enduro,would it not.I hope Ron is reading all this.Now, I feel 2hrs is a little short.4hrs would be great.If us old farts can stand around racing for 8hrs,we can do so for 4.We could swap and change each bracket to suit each team.Bear in mind this is a 6 laner though.If you get more than six cars the old round robin will come into play.Also if many of us arre going to travell all that way it may as well be for something substantle,not a show and go.I dont care what time I get out of the place.This is something we all spend a quid on and I would like to spend some time at the track racing not thinking about going home.So if the SSME members agree I vote for the SSME Enduro.Regards Brad.

[SlotBaker]

Before the Luddenham track was moved into its new shed, we ran a 6hr with flexi coupes powered by Parma Deathstars. The 2nd last bracket was in near dark, with lights on the cars. We only had the old Johnson Amiga system, so was limited to 6 teams.
It was a fun race.

[neiljb]

Brad - good suggestion.
If the members of SSME hosted such an event................. I'm in.
2 hours, 4 hours ........... I'm in.
2 man team, 3 man team .........I'm in
Round robin ? .......... I'm in
Who wants to play ?

[SlotBaker]

I'm in, but not as an SSME member.

[stoo23]

Yes,.. the 6 Hour Flexi Enduro, was a Great Race !!!!

[Mark Fox]

I'm in - rather a 4 hour event please - I used to bring a marshal and then race the 2 hour series for group 12's at Kim Axton's Blue King in Melbourne when I lived there for a while.

Used to clean up as well which was really hard to do as Kim's track had was the breeding ground for a really imposing group of racers - especially in Group 12.

As an 'Open' racer these enduros were the only way I was permitted to take direct part in racing against these hot 12 racers although I had loads of success building cars for both the 'Pro' and 'Am' levels of Group 12 - yes that's right, the class was such a popular entry level that it had to be split up as the 'Hot' guys such a Paul Close were building stuff way outside of left field in performance and so two classes were set up - a kind of 'Box Stock' and 'Anything Goes'.

Anyhow I guess my point is that 2 hours is NOT an Enduro whilst 4 hours is getting there as a test of Man and Machine that is not too arduous on the Man part of the equation (even for us run-down 'older' types).

Also agree 100 percent with Brad in that we love the racing and we rarely get a chance to really shake it out.

Bring it on

[SlotBaker]

Sounds like we might need to start a new thread for a 4hour Aussie Retro Race!!!

[brady]

I have started a new thread Steve to try and get Ron's attention but no response yet.Yeah Mark, lets test these things properly.Regards Brad.