RACE REPORT - SSME 4 Hour Retro CanAm Enduro

[Mark Fox]

Hi All,

Well racers came from some corners of the globe to contest the second ever 4 hour Enduro for CanAm Aussie Retro.

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This race was held on the SSME Track located in Luddenham which is a great track for the Retros.

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Six teams comprising 13 drivers in total signed up for the battle as follows:-

FASTUFF (Mark Fox and Stoo Amos)
DBO (Neil Bolton and Peter Daniels)
Ric’s Raiders (Steve King, Darryl Toole and Kevin Sherwood)
RAZ (Ron Griffin and Ziggy)
The Baxters (Wayne and Michael Baxter)
F##k Knuckles (Ando and Cruz)

Fastuff were out to hold on to their winning ways from their glorious victory at the HSC 4 Hour event whilst the competition were out to deflate their collective egos and gain personal and team glory for themselves.

Ric’s Raiders with Steve building and backed by Darryl and Kevin were definitely a top chance to do the job on their ‘local; track. Steve has won every SRC sprint round on this track this year whilst Darryl is a very consistent driver along with Kevin who is a rocket also.

DBO (pronounced DeeeeeBO – as many ‘e’s as you like here) was a new configuration after the now well documented fragmentation of Team EBO. Former National Champion Peter Daniels was flown up from Adelaide to create a new pairing with Neil.

RAZ comprising Ron and Ziggy (after Ando dropped out to form a Team F##k Knuckles with Cruz to make up a 6th team for the event) were going to be fast.

The Baxters also loomed as a big threat with both Wayne and Michael showing speed in the SRC sprints.

F##k Knuckles were the definite dark horses here in my mind as it was a new pairing and I had no idea of their ‘form’. Special thanks to them however for forming a new team at very short notice to fill the field on this 6 lane track.

So it was ‘on’ and we set off to race on a warm Sunday morning.

First up a bit of a munch on the excellent bacon and egg sambos prepared on the BBQ – thanks for that Ron and Ando.

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The tech inspection garnered the following:-

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Getting ready to go:-
The lull before the storm.

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Line up at start L –R
EBO, RAZ, The Baxters, Fastuff, Ric’s Raiders and F##k Knuckles

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Poised to go.

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Racing

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Bracket 1
Faststuff hit the lead early over Ric’s Raiders, The Baxters, RAZ, F##k Knuckles and DBO. DBO and F##Knuckles both spent time off the track with niggles.

Bracket 2
Same order excepting DBO moving to 5th ahead of F##k Knuckles where both then stayed for the duration with a series of issues with their car.

Fastuff, Ric’s Raiders, Baxters and RAZ all extended their leads over the next position.

Bracket 3
No change in position but Fastuffs' motor begins to slow and their 18 lap lead falls to 8 over Ric’s Raiders..

RAZ closed the gap significantly on The Baxters after some issues in the 2nd bracket seemed sorted.

Bracket 4
Fastuff now looked stuffed as Ric’s Raider closed the gap further and with Fastuff having a slowing motor and finishing on White and Red it looked like Ric’s Raiders were in the box seat.

RAZ closed to within 9 laps of The Baxters and it looked like a real shoot out for 3rd would ensue.

DBO and F##k Knuckles remained 5th and 6th respectively.

Bracket 5
Ric’s Raiders hit the lead in style clawing 19 laps off Fastuff (or make that Faststuffed ) to lead by 16 laps.

The charge by RAZ on The Baxters 3rd spot came to an end with some further car troubles

No changes in the lower order to report.

Bracket 6
Fastuffed were completely swamped in this bracket as Ric’s Raiders’ car was hitting its straps big time to post a whopping 51 laps more to comfortably win by 67 laps over the ever slowing Faststuff.

RAZ came back at The Baxters and posted 31 laps more but it not enough as The Baxters nailed 3rd spot above RAZ by 30 Laps.

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Cars in Finishing Order

Ric's Raiders

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FASTUFF

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The Baxters

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Raz

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EBO

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F##k Knuckles

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The Podium

The Baxters - 3rd

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Fastuff - 2nd

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Ric's Raiders - 1st (big smile all round here)

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The analysis of the race sheet shows how comprehensive Ric’s Raiders win was. They scored most laps on every lane colour and fastest time on all lanes barring on Green where Fastuff took the honour in the 1st bracket prior to motor fade.

Well done to all participants and a big thanks to Ron and SSME for his/their involvement and commitment to the Retro cause.

[neiljb]

Thanks Fox,
Nice report. I like the tech sheet.
Thanks to Peter for his participation in 'The Big Slot Car Party' weekend( Marion's description). Peter raced at Dapto on Thursday night, practised at SSME on Friday night, Competed in the NSW state championship on Saturday and the 4 hour on Sunday. All after a two day drive from Adelaide.The man is a machine!
We left SSME practise session very happy with both of us running 4.7's and someone (not Peter) doing a couple of 4.6's. Went home drank beer and ate Pizza. The start of the big weekend was underway.
Peter found the HSC easy looking Big Track not so easy. With more track time, I am sure the former National Champ would have kicked butt.
The car was still running good times on Sunday morning, so we packed it away ready for the big race. Peter continued to practise using the back up JK.
Well a big hit knocked out most of the lead, making it an unhappy slot car. A couple of more hits and a sick motor meant lots of time in the pits. so we just motored around doing the best we could. Went home drank beer and burnt some meat on the BBQ.
The big weekend was over, not a lot in results, but still lots of fun.
I want to thank the SSME for their participation and hospitality. The track was prepared well. The breakfast and lunch was great.
I hope we can continue run Retro in both sprint and enduro next year.
Neil

[trophy]

Can anybody tell me the size of that building the track is in

[SlotBaker]

Nice summary and piccies Mark. Thanks for putting it all together.
Our day began well with a lucky lane draw for the first bracket putting us on White, allowing us to get the 'hard' lanes out of the way early, and things got better from there.
Apart from losing a couple of body pins at different times, and needing to put new braids on after the 4th bracket, the car was getting quicker as the race went on. The poor Parma Ti22 got a few punches in the face, and is a bit worse for wear tho.
There was plenty of good racing and I particularly enjoyed the close company of Michael, Ziggy and Stoo where we circulated in close quarters quite a few times for many laps.
Many thanks to my team mates, Kevin and Darryl, for making the day memorable.
Also, thanks to everyone involved in putting on the race.

[dtslot]

Thanks Mark for your usual great report, SSME for a well prepped track and hosting.
We were very lucky to have nice cool day, and a great breeze air flow,,perfect conditions,,,,,most comfortable race I have ever had !!! Thanks to all the teams ,,,,for some really close racing,,,,and good racing manners......and a lot of laughs !!!!!!
Again thanks to STEVE and KEVIN ,,,, both such consistant and fast drivers,,, and Steve's car,,,,,,wow,,,,he sure did set it up just right !! a real pleasure to drive
see you all at the next race Darryl

[stoo23]

Had been meaning to add some comments regarding this race myself, for ages,... So,.,..
Congrats to Steve, Darryl and Kevin well driven all and 'Tough' Competitors always

BUT, perhaps in a similar situation to Gregg T with regard to one of the previous SRC rounds at SSME,...
Insult was 'Added' to the already depressing 'Injury', when a Speeding Fine arrived in the Mail the other day !!!

I am SO annoyed !!,.. Grrrr,..

Whilst there Are times when I guess one could say I drive,.. perhaps 'Spiritedly', I have not had a Speeding Fine for So long, I honestly Can't remember when last it was and the Most annoying thing is,.. I Wasn't even in a Hurry !!!

I had left home in plenty of time, (proven I guess by my arrival at SSME just after 9.00am), was simply a case of Not really paying attention and going 'Downhill'.
$116.00 thanks very much,..... NOT

The Dreaded Pennant Hills Rd Strikes again Grrr,.. was where Beecroft Rd joins.
I was Not even aware there was a Camera there,...

So "Overall",.. has Now kinda' made for a Very Dissatisfying 'Event' !!!

[Mark Fox]

Should have saved the speeding for the SSME track but sadly it was not to be

[Greg Erskine]

Bad luck Stoo,

That area is normally 70kph but there is a 60kph road works restriction at the moment (in the north direction), and then there is also a 40kph school zone nearby. I think the "safety" camera was originally a red light camera.

regards
Greg

[stoo23]

Should have saved the speeding for the SSME track but sadly it was not to be

Ha Ha,.. yes,.. as suggested when we spoke, had I known it had happened, I may have seen it as an 'Omen' !!

That area is normally 70kph .......... and then there is also a 40kph school zone nearby.

Yeah,... I know,...got 'nabbed' at 81kph !!, 8.09am Sunday Morning,.. virtually No Traffic.

I think the "safety" camera was originally a red light camera

Yes, possibly, judging from the 'Position' the Shot was taken.

I know the road pretty well having grown up in the general region and have travelled on it a Lot over these past few years heading to Narrellan relatively regularly,...

[neiljb]

Sorry to hear Stooie, Ouch, probably enough to buy a new slottie.

.......... Where is my soap box?
I would feel better if the powers to be just called them revenue cameras not safety cameras. As someone who relied on my licence for work, the demerit points were terrifying. The dosh was just annoying. Like you said a bit of inattention and down hill. Never seen a speed camera at the top of a hill!!
........ Soap box gone!

Sorry I haven't been racing much lately, been a bit unwell again.
Hopefully I will get a couple in this weekend.
Cheers