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Post by David Lawson on Sept 23, 2014 1:34:49 GMT -5
A lovely selection of photos thanks to John.
Mark - Anyone can have a body post dislodge so I wouldn't worry. The good thing is that this time last year your car was shedding parts all over the place so you've obviously solved that problem as the Ferrari still looks complete.
David
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Post by Dave Wisdom on Sept 23, 2014 1:50:50 GMT -5
Thanks to Bryan & Pendle for hosting the event and also to John for the excellent photos. The slot fire track is now much more defined and improved visually following Nic's handy work. Another close event and there's more to look forward to at the next two venues.
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Post by David Mitcham on Sept 23, 2014 2:33:56 GMT -5
Many thanks to everyone involved in running the Slotfire race and for the pictures Bryan. Its a testamant to the quality of the cars that there have been so few problems and parts falling off. Very much looking forward to the next round where I hope Jochen can make some forward progress from the rear of the mid-field!
Best Regards
David
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Post by Aurora on Sept 23, 2014 6:47:06 GMT -5
Congratulations to Bryan, Taffy, and Tony. It’s close at the top, but are these guys pulling away from the field? What can be done to stop them? A rain dance? As the #14 Honda clearly has no chance of a podium, it is now being offered to the highest bidder for a specific role: Spoiler. It has been fitted with a modern Digital Outcome Generator (DOG), which runs software on the Planned Order Operating Platform (POOP). In conjunction with a deceptive driver, DOG POOP can manipulate the finishing order of a motor race. The system utilizes an FIA-certified Safety Car Activation Module, or SCAM, which is used to trigger a caution period. Also installed is a prototype of the next- generation Forward Array Kinetic Equalizer (FAKE), which has been so effective in the American NASCAR series. The system works by staging accidents and breakdowns, or depositing material on the track, which can then impede or slow down targeted drivers. Tired of losing? Get the outcome you want – today! Optimized outcomes are available on a per-race basis. Contact Aurora for details.
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Post by Mark Huber on Sept 23, 2014 7:43:12 GMT -5
Mark - Anyone can have a body post dislodge so I wouldn't worry. The good thing is that this time last year your car was shedding parts all over the place so you've obviously solved that problem as the Ferrari still looks complete. David Ah yes, well there was really no need to remind the rest of the field about my leaky Lotus BRM at this point is there? --after all the past is the past. So let's look to the future, eh? The GPd2014 is halfway through its relatively short season, and it looks to me that 4 cars might be favored to claim overall podium spots. Bryan's BRM clearly loved the Slotfire track which valuted #26 up in the standings, while Taffy's Matra, Tony's Lotus and Phil's Shannon have been quick and at the top in both races. When I survey the gallery I suspect that the field will tighten with so many cars that will make Concours judging a real challenge (at least in my opinion--I don't have a vote!) Still, racing is racing, and who knows what will happen at Cuckoo Pines and the Valley Raceway? For example a body could fall off a car. Wait, I think my Ferrari has already fulfilled that role. And Matt, we may need to redirect your creative impulses into other more benign areas, eh?
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Post by Bryan King on Sept 24, 2014 7:55:43 GMT -5
Just to wrap up my report on Round 2, a few thoughts on the performance of the cars on the Slotfire track.
Taking each car in number order.
1 Matra MS9 - Taffy Ulrich
This car was superb and everyone's favourite - it just can't be faulted. Very fast and smooth with good brakes and immense grip. It handles beautifully and was a joy to drive.
2 McLaren M7A - Dave Wisdom
Very fast on the straights but just a little lacking in brakes. Stable around the corners and can be driven fast with confidence but the back end was prone to step out if pushed too hard. A lovely car to drive.
3 BRM P83 - John Prince
Good speed and brakes and could be driven quickly into corners with out tipping up. It was a very drivable car just let down by the untrued rear tyres which lacked grip. The back end would often get loose around corners.
5 Honda RA273 - Nigel McKeone
A nice easy and controllable car to drive with good speed in the straights but a little low in the braking department. Handles well in the corners but couldn't be pushed too hard.
6 Ferrari 312 - Mark Huber
A very sweet handling car with good speed. Grip was excellent on the Slotfire track and the cars excellent handling meant it could be driven quickly around the corners. Very nearly up there with the front runners and popular with the drivers.
7 Cooper-Maserati T81 - Charles Lawrence
Fast in the straights but its tendency to tip up in the corners meant that it couldn't be driven hard. Also the front end tended to bounce about on the springy braids which unsettled the car at times.
8 Brabham BT24 - Thomas Menke
A very smooth runner and quick on the straights but could have done with a little more brakes and grip which made it a little slow around the corners. A nice predictable car to drive though.
9 Lotus 49B - Ross Trowman
Handles the corners reasonably well with good grip but lacking in speed on the straights. An easy car to drive.
12 Brabham BT19 - Alan Stubbings/Stu Loader
A very smooth and capable car. Handles well on the corners which can be taken at a good pace thanks to the grippy tyres and stable chassis. Just lacks the pace to keep up with the faster cars. An easy car to drive fast and very satisfying.
14 Honda RA300 - Matt Ryder
A nice car to drive but has perhaps a little too much grip on the Slotfire track and had a tendency to tip up in the corners so had to be driven with care. Also could have perhaps done with more top speed.
15 Eagle Climax - Chris Wright
This car was fast and handled beautifully. It was quick around the corners but slightly lacking in brakes. A popular car with the drivers.
16 Lotus 49 - Marc Abbott
A very fast car in the straights but had very little brakes and very little grip. The lack of grip probably down to the out of round wheels and tyres.
17 Brabham BT20 - Mel Ault
This car was quick on the straights and had good grip. It tended to be tippy in the corners but if driven with care it was a rewarding and enjoyable car to drive.
19 Cooper-Maserati T81 - David Mitchum
Good speed in the straights but had to be driven carefully in the corners as the grip from the rear tyres made it somewhat unstable. For most of the drivers the low braking power meant it couldn't be driven quickly.
20 Ferrari 312 - Stewart Harding
A sweet handling car which was very nippy around the corners and had good grip but seemed to be lacking in speed. If pushed hard it tended to tip up in the corners just a little.
21 Eagle TIG - Ric Woods
A very fast car in the straights but very little brakes. Good grip from the rear tyres but tended to tip up in the corners. It suffered from deslotting on the off ramp of the bridge which some drivers found difficult to cope with. The problem may be due to the sprung guide and a light front end but hopefully it won't be a problem in the next two rounds.
23 Shannon SH1- Phil Kalbfell
A very fast and stable car which is easy to drive hard. It can be driven very fast into corners and the car just hangs on and maintains momentum thanks to the immense grip and excellent handling. A lovely smooth car which was another firm favourite with the drivers.
26 BRM P83 - Bryan King
Very fast and predictable handling but didn't quite have the ultimate grip of Taffy's Matra and as a result was just slightly ragged on the limit.
31 Cooper-BRM - David Lawson
A very fast and smooth car which handles very well around the corners and was very predictable and satisfying to drive. With slightly more braking power and better grip I think it would have been up with the top cars.
91 Lotus 49B - Tony Condon
Very fast and easy to drive on the limit - and it was a very high limit. It took corners at a fast pace with excellent grip from the tyres. Another car well liked by the drivers.
To sum up I think it's fair to say that all the cars handled very well and I don't think there was a truly bad car amongst them. The lack of crashes and deslots compared to last year shows how well the cars drove. So well done to everyone for building such a beautiful and well handling set of slot cars.
Cheers
Bryan
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Post by David Lawson on Sept 24, 2014 10:18:40 GMT -5
Thanks for the very interesting driving impressions Bryan.
You've confirmed what I perceive as my car's shortcomings, I just didn't have time to put new tyres on the Cooper-BRM before sending it in and it does have a cooking motor.
For next year I will for the first time - build it, test it and set up the new car and try to get nearer the pace.
David
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Post by Taffy on Sept 24, 2014 12:51:05 GMT -5
The last days have been very busy for me, and I wish to apologize for my late comment! I want to say thank you to you, Bryan, for the race-report and for organising this round at Pendleslot, thank you to the Club for hosting this round, of course thank you to the drivers, that handled our cars with care and to John for the fine pictures. I like at most the "aerial view" of the track (beside of all pics, which show my car )! Its good to see, that there are younger people doing slotracing, too, in Britain. In Germany, there are only very few young people involved in this hobby, the most "slotters" are 50+, like me... A special thank you again to you Bryan, for your kind words concerning the handling of my Matra. After a day of hard work, this are the words a man really likes to hear....
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Post by Dave Wisdom on Sept 25, 2014 2:08:49 GMT -5
Thanks for posting the race report and individual analysis; all clearly written and a fascinating read! I agree, Taffy's Matra is truly exceptional and its hard to see anything else matching its speed and grip.
As the series now moves on to the tighter circuits the finale will be very exciting.
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Post by old23 on Sept 25, 2014 9:25:52 GMT -5
My belated thanks to Bryan and the driver team for the efficient and timely running of the event. Congrats to the podiumites -- the usual suspects. The cream really does rise to the top!
Of course, I am disappointed with the performance of my #20 Ferrari in Race 2 after finishing a pleasing 6th in Race 1. I guess I should have gone with a hotter motor than the standard Scalextric FF? Perhaps the circuits for the final two races will be more suited to its strengths and forgiving of its weaknesses.
Lovely grid pictures by the way.
Stewart
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Post by Bryan King on Sept 27, 2014 4:53:37 GMT -5
Hi Stewart
Yes, it's very odd that your Ferrari should be so far down the field after doing so well at Dave Widom's track. Your car didn't seem to have any problems on the day and as I said in the report it was quick around the corners but just a bit slow on the straights.
Looking at the car again now I can see nothing that would have caused it to become slow. The rear axle/gears/motor all spin freely without any notchiness or binding and the gear is tight on the axle. The front axle runs freely too. There are no marks on the inside of the tyres that would suggest rubbing on the suspension detail. And the guide wires all seem to be nicely connected with the braids.
Maybe it was just that your motor/gearing didn't suit the longer straights on the Slotfire track. So yes, I think you are right - it'll be interesting to see how your Ferrari runs at the next two rounds which are both smaller and twistier than the Slotfire track.
Cheers
Bryan
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Post by Mark Huber on Oct 3, 2014 8:44:01 GMT -5
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Post by Mark Huber on Oct 3, 2014 13:06:09 GMT -5
I've been advised that Round 3 will be at John Prince's Valley Raceway track some time in mid to late October and the series will then conclude with round 4 at Pete Shepherd's Cuckoo Pines track in early November. Valley Raceway Cuckoo Pines (last year's starting grid)
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abbo
John Love
Posts: 28
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Post by abbo on Oct 7, 2014 10:37:30 GMT -5
Race reports in the soon to be published SlotCarMAG. Good pic of the entire grid across the centre pages Marc
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Post by Mark Huber on Oct 7, 2014 13:03:14 GMT -5
Round 3 is scheduled for October 19th at John Prince's Valley Raceway.
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