NSW State Titles - Round 1

[Mark Fox]

Hi All

Well I was back from my globe-trotting adventures for 48 hours and still a bit jet laggy when I headed out to HSC for the 1st Round of the NSW Retro State Titles for CanAm and F1 held on 4th November on the Flat Track.

A small contingent of 5 racers were set to battle it out tonight as there were a few absences from the regular (irregular?) participants in these races.

CanAm

Qualifying saw moi take the honours well clear of Darryl who was well clear of Stoo, Casey and Wayne.

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Cars in order of Qualifying times – a couple of nice new builds here from Stoo and Casey.

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The Start:– Cars L-R and people R-L
Casey, Wayne, Darryl, Mark and Stoo

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I managed to slip back into the good form from my pre-travel outings and led all the way setting fast times across the board to have a convincing win finishing 7 laps up on 2nd with 3rd a further 8 laps adrift.

Darryl held down 2nd all the way whilst Stoo cemented 3rd after negotiating Purple and Black as Wayne and Casey battled it out for the 4th and 5th spot. I must say that Wayne put up a great show and was holding down 4th until he hit Black when Casey swooped to take the honours in their great little battle. Casey (who had a shocker of an opening bracket on Red) is a big improver in this class and I expect him to be challenging in the near future.

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Podium

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F1

Qualifying was another clear pole for me with Stoo pinning 2nd well clear of Darryl. Wayne and Casey looked to continue their battle with only 2/100 of a second between them.

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Cars in order of Qualifying times – nice new build here from Casey.

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The Start:– Cars L-R and people R-L
Casey, Darryl, Wayne, Stoo and Mark

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I got off to a pretty poor start with a few unforced errors in the first bracket to be led by Stoo and Darryl. However a cracking 2nd bracket of 35 on Orange put me 2 laps up on Stoo and 3 on Darryl and so I started to feel fairly confidant I had the car to do the job – just need to drive it! Casey was struggling with a car that was a little light whilst Wayne was having a ball with his loaner from Joe – a ‘BoneHead” Z Rail (#47 to be precise).

By the 3rd Bracket I was 3 laps up on Darryl and 4 on Stoo with my car just blitzing. However Stoo had completed Purple and Black by this stage and so 4 laps down was a great position to be in and his car was honking also.

The 4th saw pretty much the same spread whilst in the 5th Stoo started to haul and was clear of Darryl who had an average run on Purple to drop to 3rd , I was 6 laps up on Stoo but with Purple and Black to finish on, still ok me thinks.

The 6th bracket saw no change in positions with Stoo and I both posting 35 but Darryl bombed Black with only 29 so it was going to be Stoo or me but I was 6 laps up and felt pretty good as it should be enough of a buffer.

Stoo clawed back a lap whilst I was on Purple and so into the last bracket 5 laps up I was looking good – but – only just made it as Stoo turned 35 on Green to my shaky 31 on Black to give me a 1 lap victory with a new lap total record 268 with Stoo equalling the old mark reached by Cody, Paul and myself of 267.

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Podium

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Really great racing thanks again to the perfect track conditions provided by James as usual.

A special thanks also to the volunteer marshals of Cooper, Coopers’ Dad, Joe and Gregg.

My Pit Crew
Whilst traveling I had the good fortune to recruit these lovely ladies (in my traditional Hot Pink ensemble) as my pit crew should I ever race in Argentina.

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See you at Luddenham for the 4 hour Enduro next weekend and remember the 2nd (final) round of the State Titles on 25th November (CanAm Qualifying @ 6pm I believe)

[SlotBaker]

Welcome back Mark, and congrats on the wins.
Good to see Stoo that gave you a good run with the F1.
Congrats to Darryl and Stoo on the podiums.
Thanks for the report and piccies.

[neiljb]

Thanks Fox,
Congrats on the new record.
Sorry I was not there, but I had a clashing date night with Marion.
I will be there to play for round 2
Neil

[stoo23]

Thanks for the Report Mark,... and the Great racing, especially in F1's and Congrats' on the New F1 Lap Total Record !!

I must admit, I was pretty damn happy with my driving in the F1's, but perhaps ever so slightly annoyed with the couple of 'Un-Forced Errors' that may have dis-allowed me the cumulative Track Position to have ended up on the Same Lap as yourself, in the End !!,.. as that would really have been something and an even more satisfying and exciting Outcome

All in all a Very competitive and Very Fast, Clean and thoroughly enjoyable F1 race.
The Old Chassis is Still performing pretty well it would seem

Was perhaps slightly Disappointed with the CanAm result, (with the New Car), as "Old Faithful", May actually have been a More 'Known' and consistent/competitive 'Option' on the Night and I think the Newer Motor in it may actually be ever so slightly Faster than the previous unit fitted to the New car !!??,... although, my late arrival and lack of testing along with perhaps Not the Best 'Set' of Tyres 'Fitted' on the New Car, certainly did Not Help matters,.. let alone my Stupid 'Starting-Lane' choice !!,.. Arrrghh !!!,.. What WAS I Thinking starting on Purple?,..

I think I just did a Great Job of 'Running the Lanes In' for Darryl !!,.. Should have started on Blue,.. DOH !!

The New car Felt Pretty good but may need a Slight bit of Re-Adjustment to the Front Axle Height etc to get it sitting/performing as 'Intended'

As you suggested Wayne certainly 'acquited' himself Very well for his First 'Foray' into the World of Retro's and Should (in Theory) be able to run well with his New car in the Next round, along with Casey, who's cars seem to perform quite well on the Big track.

With a few more entries to be expected for that Round, should make for a rather competitive event

Once again, a Very enjoyable evening's racing.
Thanks to all who attended and to the Marshals, (young Cooper, Coopers’ Dad, Joe and Gregg) and ofcourse, once again to James for the Track 'Prep' etc.
See you all at the Next Round.

[petrolhead]

Thanks Mark for another great report.

As mentioned it was my first run with a retro and it was an enjoyable night of racing.

My goal was to stay out of the way of the fast guys being Mark,Stoo,Darryl and Casey.
For the first three brackets I was running third in Can Am and then lost my way a little,
but all in all a great experience racing with the guns shame we didn't have enough for two heats.

Looking forward to round two on the big track with my new car.

A BIG thanks to Joe for the loan cars, and also to the guys who marshaled the races so we could play.

And to James for the well prepared track to race on,thanks again.

Cheers

Wayne W