Hey Casey,.. thanks for starting / addressing the Preamble regarding this upcoming Event.
It was only the other day I was thinking of doing the same
BUT,.. I was NOT aware that James Had '
Pullled the Plug' on future Retro Enduro events at HSC, although a perhaps Not so surprising situation/Outcome, to have 'developed' from the arguably Poor Attendance, mostly but especially more recently !!
Perhaps All the More Disappointing, (as you also so succinctly point out), considering all the 'Talk' and suggestions by various Racers, regarding their 'Wish' to Attend and Compete/Run in ENDURO events of this nature.
Enduros, (as Mark, myself and Other Older racers have often stated), are a Great Way to Learn and 'Hone' one's Driving by getting a level of RACING 'Track Time' Not normally available in the rather sadly 'Short' 2 Minute bracket Sprint race rounds run at HSC.
As you yourself 'suggested' at the Previous HSC Enduro, it is WHY both yourself and Shalin committed to running the Enduro's,.. to get More Effective 'Track Time' on the Small Track,.... so as to 'learn' IT and (hopefully,..lol), get Better at driving it !!!
I think this was actually visible and Provable with Both your own and Shalin's performance, last time out, as Especially Shalin, was Seemingly beginning to even Enjoy driving towards the end of the event and Both your times and totals were improving,.. as too were both Jason and Ron's !! (although I could perhaps suggest that Ron is often too Courteous
on track to his own disadvantage !!,..LOL).
Whilst Mark and Myself May have done a lot of Winning,.. (which as I am sure Mark will only too happily agree)
,.. IS The Whole/Main Idea,.. it IS in reality the Actual 'Competing' and Racing that We both Really Enjoy and a Closer 'Hard Fought' Win, is All the more enjoyable (AND Desirable!!), than a 'White-Wash',.. Walk-Over as such !!
As an Aside, when Mark, Wayne Bramble and myself were teenagers and beginning to take this Slot Car racing 'lark' somewhat seriously, We (along with Lindsay Byron), decided to form a 'Team' and race in the "Teams Enduro" series that was a hard Fought and long standing annual 'fixture' of the NSWMRRA's racing calendar back in the day.
These events Were invariably Well attended, usually 7 to 8 Teams of 4 drivers and the races were 8 Hour events, held at all the Usual higher profile tracks of the day and the other 'Teams', were made up of ALL of what were the Best Much Older and Far More experienced "Older Dude" racers of that time, who really knew what they were doing and realistically Drove damn well and were both Fast and reliable.
In all Honesty and reality, there was (in Effect) almost NO Way,.. that we, (as young 'Green-Horns'), were EVER going to Win or even get a Podium place,.. as the overall competition was SO Strong and those guys took the Enduro's Very Seriously !!!
BUT,.. it really gave us 4 youngsters a Great chance to Drive with and against some of the Best Older drivers of the day (something that did Not often happen in the Sprint race series of the time) and allowed us to get Inordinate Racing Track Time on the various tracks we raced on AND to learn from and interact with them and to gain Invaluable experience in Car Setup and Motor building etc, which in Hindsight we were 'All the Better for' in the ensuing Years !!
I think Mark, myself and Wayne really DID truly enjoy racing in those Enduro's and I for one would Always be happy to continue to compete in Enduro style events !!
As Enduro's were Also a 'Feature' of SSME's long distant past (there being a couple of 24 hour events I have raced in, when in my Teens), as well as a number of more recent shorter events, it would be Great if that 'Tradition' could continue at SSME in the future !!
