JohnP
Masten Gregory
Posts: 14
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Post by JohnP on Nov 30, 2013 13:29:44 GMT -5
Round 5: The Valley Raceway - testingFollowing a check over and quick clean up (braids, etc.), the cars have been out on track for a few test laps ahead of mid-week qualifying. I'm pleased to report all are running well. Of course, our on-track cameraman was around to capture some of the action! So, here are a few photos from the session: David's Cooper and Chris' Matra side by side through Woodlands: Tony's Lotus through the Esses: Mel's Brabham and Al's Eagle head under the bridge: Taffy's BRM (now sporting all four wheel inserts) at the Rumbles hairpin: Nigel's Ferrari hurls downhill towards Duck: Mark's Lotus powers onto the main straight: Charles' Cooper-Maserati sounding much sweeter thanks to a new crown gear: Dave's BRM H16 sweeps through the Esses: The test session suggests that the usual suspects are likely to be to the front of the grid but who knows? We will have to wait for official Qualifying to be sure... Kind regards John
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Post by David Lawson on Nov 30, 2013 16:18:20 GMT -5
John
Thanks for the introduction to your round of the series with that excellent set of pictures and that tantalising comment about practice times....
Your scenic track is a great venue for the final round, the cars look great in that setting.
David
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Post by Dave Wisdom on Dec 1, 2013 11:28:46 GMT -5
Excellent photos John; the track is looking wonderful. This has very nicely set the scene for next weekends final Grand Prix of the season.
Dave
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Post by Taffy on Dec 1, 2013 15:04:53 GMT -5
Hello, John,
I see, the cars will have a fantastic playground on your track. I love these scenic pictures!
What did you take for the armco barriers? And the trees, are they scratchbuilt?
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JohnP
Masten Gregory
Posts: 14
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Post by JohnP on Dec 1, 2013 15:39:26 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments David and Dave. Taffy, the armcos are cut down from Ninco barriers and mounted on wooden posts using panel pins. The trees were made using Woodland Scenics products (and a lot of PVA glue!). Kind regards John
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GPd 2013
Dec 2, 2013 12:39:15 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Mark Huber on Dec 2, 2013 12:39:15 GMT -5
John, your track is spectacular and your pictures are awesome. Looking forward to the finale. Thsnks so much for hosting.
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Post by Dave Wisdom on Dec 2, 2013 13:14:30 GMT -5
Hello, John, I see, the cars will have a fantastic playground on your track. I love these scenic pictures! What did you take for the armco barriers? And the trees, are they scratchbuilt? What I really like is Johns attention to detail. I love the way the paint has been 'worn' off the armco to give the appearance of just how close the cars have been passing those barriers. An excellent finishing touch. Dave
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Post by Mark Huber on Dec 2, 2013 19:38:08 GMT -5
Hello, John, I see, the cars will have a fantastic playground on your track. I love these scenic pictures! What did you take for the armco barriers? And the trees, are they scratchbuilt? Ah Taffy, great minds think alike... I was going to ask about the ARMCO barriers, but you beat me to it!
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JohnP
Masten Gregory
Posts: 14
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Post by JohnP on Dec 4, 2013 12:08:11 GMT -5
Round 5: The Valley Raceway - QualifyingQualifying ahead of Sunday's race took place this afternoon. Following a clean up, each car was given a 1 minute run with the best lap deciding qualifying position. This is how it went: 1. Matra-Ford #6 3.097 2. BRM #1 3.262 3. Eagle-Weslake #36 3.374 4. Cooper-BRM #7 3.551 5. Cooper-Maserati #8 3.564 6. Brabham-Repco #19 3.580 7. Lotus-Ford #9 3.593 8. Lotus-BRM #14 3.690 9. Ferrari #20 3.705 10. BRM #17 3.795 Well, that looks familiar! Chris' Matra smashed the track record to become the fastest car ever to lap the Valley Raceway. Taffy's BRM was smooth, quick and not too far behind while Al's Eagle felt a little more punchy... and was also quick! The next four cars were all within .04s of each other so I wouldn't want to predict the mid-field order come raceday. Finally, Mark's Lotus timed 8th just ahead of Nigel's Ferrari and Dave's BRM. Here then are the cars as they will form up for the grid this Sunday: Row1: Chris and Taffy Row 2: Al and David Row 3: Charles and Mel Row 4: Tony and Mark Row 5: Nigel and Dave Roll on race day!
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Post by chrisguyw on Dec 4, 2013 12:59:54 GMT -5
Hi John, Thanks for the continued great coverage and wonderful pictures....hope you boys have fun on raceday!!
For the 5th GP in a row the V12 in that bloody #1 BRM continues to run flawlessly........astounding!!
Cheers Chris
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Post by Mark Huber on Dec 4, 2013 16:27:56 GMT -5
Charles, Is that Jo Bonnier hiding behind that windscreen or a six year old boy with a painted on goatee? How'd you get your driver so low, fella?
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Post by Taffy on Dec 4, 2013 16:54:37 GMT -5
Yes, Chris, you are right. But there is another fact, too: one more time, Pedro Rodriguez sees this creepy low Matra on pole! His only hope, to have a better chance on this fine, short and twisty track: destroyed....
CanĀ“t wait for the race results! I hope, the drivers will have lots of fun racing our cars!
John, one more time: I love these pictures! (building my own track at the moment, they give me many suggestions!)
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Post by David Lawson on Dec 5, 2013 5:17:08 GMT -5
Thanks for the timed practice report John and the great photos, I particularly like the one of Taffy's BRM cresting the brow of the hill. You have a photographer's eye for composition.
The times are so close and as you say the midfield battle is just too close to call, Sunday will be fun.
David
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GPd 2013
Dec 5, 2013 10:03:44 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Mark Huber on Dec 5, 2013 10:03:44 GMT -5
Those are superb pictures in a fantastic setting. And John, regarding your Lotus 33 project and the "mystery" box, make sure you really race test those parts! I would offer some tips on attaching detailing but recent events have cast serious doubt on my skills in that area. ;-)
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JohnP
Masten Gregory
Posts: 14
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Post by JohnP on Dec 8, 2013 13:47:14 GMT -5
Round 5: The Valley Raceway - Provisional ResultsI am sure you are all keen to know how the racing went today so, until I have time to make a full report, here are the provisional results snapped from the spreadsheet: ...and a couple of snippets: The pinion on Mel's Brabham came loose in its final heat dropping it down the order. Tony and Al's gears were hanging on by the skin of their teeth by the end of racing but were nursed home in their final heats. Even so, the Eagle still managed second place just ahead of Taffy's ever reliable BRM. So, congratulations (provisionally!) to Chris chalking up another top spot as well as taking fastest lap of the day (3.020s): Full report to follow...
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