|
Post by Taffy on Dec 9, 2013 13:47:18 GMT -5
Wow! What a result!
Congratulations to Chris and Alan!
I am very excited to read the complete report and I hope to read about a day full of racing fun.
This is the most important question for me: Why the h*** is that Matra so fast? It is nearly incredible. It is 10 rounds ahead of the 2nd and 18 rounds ahead of me! And I thought, the BRM could win some terrain in round 5....
|
|
JohnP
Masten Gregory
Posts: 14
|
Post by JohnP on Dec 9, 2013 15:05:36 GMT -5
Round 5: The Valley Raceway - Race ReportBefore coming to the report, I have checked the spreadsheet results against the written copy and confirm that the above results are now official. So, official congratulations to Chris! The proceedings started around 10am. Drivers on the day were Paul Cash, Bryan King, Dave Jones and myself. After refreshments and a warm up period (which lasted around two hours!), the race programme got underway with the Sports/GT support race. Heats were drawn with Paul Cash lining up against Dave Jones for heat 1. Dave Jones had brought along his lovely hand carved Sid Taylor Brabham BT8 but unfortunately it was sidelined by guide problems and Dave had to take over my Lotus 30. Paul, was running his splendid Testa Rossa but after two minutes of close racing was just pipped to the post by 0.2 of a lap. In heat 2 Bryan took on my Lotus 19 with his 250GTO. Bryan ran away from me taking this one by 2 laps. So the finals were set. Bryan took overall victory from Dave leaving Paul and myself to vie for 3rd and 4th spots. The results were as follows: 1 Bryan, Ferrari 250 GTO, 32.7 laps 2 Dave, Lotus 30, 31.2 laps 3 John, Lotus 19, 29.2 laps 4 Paul, Ferrari TR61, 28.6 laps Sports/GT support race finishing order:
Then to the main business of the day, GPd2013 Round 5: There would be twenty 3 minute heats in all with the cars paired according to reverse qualifying order. First out on track were Dave's BRM and Nigel's Ferrari. The nimble BRM was quite at home and able to maintain good speed through the turns. Nigel's Ferrari was not so well suited being a little over-geared for the short track. The Ferrari crew hang out the pit board as Bandini speeds past: The second pairing saw the two Lotus' of Mark and Tony competing together. Mark's 33 seemed well suited to the track giving Tony's 49B a good run for its money. Tony's gears sounded increasingly rough as the day went on while Mark gained a further advantage when his cockpit dash fell out making the shell lighter still!! Graham Hill had his work cut out!Mel's Brabham and Charles Cooper-Maserati were the third pairing and some close racing was had. Unfortunately the Brabham's pinion came loose with the car stuttering to a halt only 9 laps into it's fourth and final heat. The Brabham leaves the paddock area behind the pits:Next up, David's Cooper and the AAR (Al's American Racers) Eagle. These two were particularly entertaining. The Cooper seemed to find, lose and find grip in some heats while the punchy Eagle responded to a change in driving style in its final heat. The gears were sounding decidedly scratchy so in the last heat it was nursed along the straights but still covered a very respectable distance. And of course... Taffy's BRM outpaced Chris' Matra in their first two runs. However, as the track rubbered in, the Matra found increasing form while Taffy's car began to suffer with too much grip. In the final heat the Matra flew, securing the track record with a stunning 3.020s. Meanwhile, the BRM was digging in at the hairpin unfortunately losing time in the process. Here then are the heat by heat statistics: And so the day ended with Chris' Matra taking a victory parade lap with a salute from the Red Arrows having specially flown in from Forest Hall...
|
|
|
Post by Mark Huber on Dec 9, 2013 15:57:50 GMT -5
SCORING Through Race 5 of the GPd2013Entrant
| Car Number
| Points Race 5
| Results thru 5 Races
| Taffy
| 1
| 20
| 109
| Chris
| 6
| 25
| 100
| EM/Alan
| 36
| 22
| 98
| David L
| 7
| 18
| 84
| Charles
| 8
| 14
| 82
| Tony
| 9
| 12
| 64
| Mel
| 19
| 6
| 58
| Mark
| 14
| 16
| 56
| Dave J
| 17
| 10
| 54
| Nigel
| 20
| 8
| 44
|
Chris' unbeatable Matra MS10 continued its winning ways racking up a 4th victory in 4 appearances. Will this be a repeat of 1958 where Stirling Moss (aka Chris) despite 4 wins lost the Championship to Mike Hawthorn (aka Taffy) with one win and consistent podium finishes over the entire 5 races? (Taffy, I don't know why the Matra is so blooming fast.. perhaps we should have David Lawson dissect it before it is returned (in pieces) to Chris in Canada? Just a thought). So, it looks like it will come down to the Concours scoring. We will wait that tabulation from David Lawson to determine the final order of the 10 participants. Alan remains comfortably on the podium with another strong finish in this race. Meanwhile David Lawson and Charles swapped places in the standings as did Tony and Mel, Dave Jones and Mark. And in other news, speaking of cars in pieces, I note that my Lotus shed yet more parts.. no not Graham Hill's head, but the dashboard! It probably is a good thing this race did not go 8 or 10 races as the Lotus would have been racing on a bare chassis and motor only! I have registered in a correspondence course on the proper application of two part epoxy and super glue. Thanks so much to John and his great crew of drivers for the superb work they did this weekend to stage the fifth race of the GPd2013. Congratulations to the Podium trio of Chris, Alan and Taffy.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Wisdom on Dec 10, 2013 15:39:54 GMT -5
Wonderful pictures and an excellent report John. I especially like the photo of all the cars lined up in the pit-lane; it really captures the atmosphere of those moments before engines burst into life. The track looks marvelous and what a great setting for the final round of the GPd2013 Championship.
Mels pinion has done well since it was super glued back in September - I wasn't sure it would last the distance but it did; almost. I'm surprised Davids Cooper-BRM did not finish further up the order considering how well it performed in round one, but I guess that's motor racing for you
Many congratulations to Chris, Alan and Taffy on making the final podium and indeed to everyone else who has made this championship so enjoyable.
Dave
|
|
|
Post by Taffy on Dec 10, 2013 16:30:54 GMT -5
Thank you very much, John, for this report of the last race and of course, I have to repeat myself, for the excellent pictures of this event! I really like the idea to do a GT-race before starting the formula racers - like it was common practice in the 60´s races, too! And: the drivers have a better chance to get used to the track before climbing in the powerful formula cars. (Together with a few friends I did the same in a "Vintage 32 day" running 30´s, 50´s and 60´s formula cars and, in an accompanying program, 50´s GT-cars) I feel, that this was a curious race, and I could sit hours by hours comparing the race results in the heat report...Marks Lotus two times on third place, great! Alans Eagle in very good condition. What happened to him in heat 9? And I´m sorry to ask you, what happened to Pedro Rodriguez between heat 10 (first place) and heat 15 (last place!!) What was wrong with the BRM? Do I understand you right, that de-slotting of the BRM increased because of tipping caused by to much grip? And what about heat 20? Did you mix some nitro-methane into the racing fuel of Chris´Matra? (Mark, I have to admire you for your good ideas... . The mystery of the lowrider has to be unraveled!) I have to agree with Dave: this was a great joy!
|
|
|
Post by Mark Huber on Dec 10, 2013 18:10:52 GMT -5
Post race mortem - John has tabulated the Concours scoring over the 5 races. I will be announcing the final results after a review by our accountant, David Lawson.
- I have been assessed a littering fine by the race hosts for dropping so many pieces of plastic and metal on their tracks over the past 2 months. I have also been advised that I need to reimburse the cost of several bottles of epoxy and super glue.
- I do feel that my Lotus was in good company given that the last chapter of the event might have been called the Walking (Racing?) Wounded.. But all the cars survived, and looked pretty darn good if I do say so myself.. well I just did.
- The cars will be returned in due course except for Chris' Matra. This French racing blue (devil) has been sent to a German technical engineering firm for an automotive autopsy to determine where Chris got the Kryptonite and other secret materials that made it such a fearsome competitor on all tracks.
- Kudos and awards will be announced when the final results are posted (as well as a teaser about next year!).
|
|
|
Post by chrisguyw on Dec 11, 2013 12:33:41 GMT -5
Hello folks, Issue #74 of Model Car Racing Magazine (available Feb. 1st 2014) will be doing an article/pictures on "proxy" racing. As well as a general overview of proxy racing, this issue will contain an article on Dave Wisdoms' Forest Hall track, with some pics. of the cars competing in his round of the 2013 GPdM. In the #75 issue (available Apr. 1st 2014), there will be a further article/pics. with all of the cars competing in this series......(we will try to find a pic. of Marks' car before it lost its various bits and pieces).
Should anyone want a copy of either issue......(you can show your wife/girlfriend/kids/grandkids!!) please let me know, and I will see that you receive one.
Please wait until the new year to let me know, as I am up to my neck in Xmas stuff, and will likely forget if you tell me now.
All the best Chris Walker
|
|
|
Post by Mark Huber on Dec 11, 2013 12:36:59 GMT -5
AND THE WINNERS ARE:All of the participants who 3 months ago sent their cars off for this series. I hope you've enjoyed the experience irrespective of where you finished. I don't know how anyone could feel otherwise thanks to the wonderful organizing skills of my colleague David Lawson and the great hosting and track reporting from Dave Wisdom, Pete Shepherd, David Lawson (who wore many hats in this series) , Bryan King, Paul Cash and John Prince. These fellows, along with the driving teams, all deserve a big hand. Okay,, I suppose someone out there may want to know how it all sorted out at the end after the Concours judging. As a reminder, the drivers ranked each car that participated at each venue, after which John Prince tabulated the results to determine the final Concours ranking. So, missing a race would have an adverse effect for that car in the final standings. Here, without further ado is the final table: Entrant | Car Number
| Race Pts 1-5
| Concours Finish
| Concours Points
| Overall Points
| Taffy
| 1
| 109
| 2
| 22
| 131
| David L
| 7
| 84
| 1
| 25
| 109
| Chris
| 6
| 100
| 9
| 8
| 108
| Alan/EM
| 36
| 98
| 8
| 10
| 108
| Charles
| 8
| 82
| 3
| 20
| 102
| Mel
| 19
| 57
| 3
| 20
| 77
| Dave J
| 17
| 54
| 5
| 16
| 70
| Mark
| 14
| 56
| 6
| 14
| 70
| Tony
| 9
| 64
| 10
| 5
| 69
| Nigel
| 20
| 44
| 6
| 14
| 58
|
So first the GOOD NEWS:- Taffy, you get to keep #1 for next year.
- We have four entrants on the podium with Alan and Chris sharing the Bronze medal, just a point behind David Lawson, who captured the silver medal with his consistently good racing finishes and a Championship placing in Concours.
Now the BAD NEWS:- Taffy, in my role as Race Czar, I've decided that althugh you get to keep your #1 numeral next year, the appropriate handicap will be that you have to enter a car modeled after a German prototype.. As that might be a bit of a challenge for 1966-8 cars, but I am giving you dispensation to enter the following car.. although it's from an earlier period. Make sure you keep the wheelbase short and the tires skinny!
But Taffy, I know you might be a bit nervous about facing another really fast low riser Blue car that seems invincible.. Don't worry.. I've also decided that Chris will have to enter a somewhat more retro blue car next year:
- I have to find 4 podium prizes now instead of 3!
Thanks again to all of you.
|
|
|
Post by David Lawson on Dec 12, 2013 1:08:10 GMT -5
I had heard that this article about Dave's track was being prepared so I shall look forward to reading the magazine.
I used to subscribe to this magazine and I think Pendles still stock it.
David
|
|
|
Post by David Lawson on Dec 12, 2013 1:26:00 GMT -5
Thanks Mark for posting the final results for the series.
Well done to Taffy for winning the Grand Prix de Montana for the second year in a row.
Once more I will thank Dave Wisdom, Pete Shepherd, Paul Cash, Bryan King, John Prince, Sean and Nic Fothersgill of Pendles Slot Racing and Colin Nicholls of the Southend Slot Racing Club for staging the five races, I know just how much time, trouble and effort has gone into this series behind the scenes and it is very much appreciated. Thanks also to every individual slot car racer who drove the cars at the various rounds.
David
|
|
|
Post by chrisguyw on Dec 12, 2013 10:12:14 GMT -5
Hi David, Pendle do in fact still stock the mag.,.....issue #74 will have Daves' track, #75 will have more "series" coverage.
cheers Chris
|
|
|
Post by Mark Huber on Dec 12, 2013 12:01:41 GMT -5
The Lotus 33 in its better days.. before it started shedding parts... (I think Dave Wisdom may have already sent a higher quality version of this picture--along with others--to Robert.)
|
|
|
Post by Taffy on Dec 12, 2013 14:11:53 GMT -5
Well, I´ll make it short: I want to say thank you! Thank you very much to everyone, who made this proxy such an exciting experience for me! I am very happy about this second win in line, and I hope I can do the hattrick next year (Chris, what´s the name of your postman? I have to talk with him.... ) David, I have felt, that your Cooper would be ahead of my BRM in Concours. Congratulations, it is a very, very good looking car... Mark, you can call me Mike! What a racing season! If you want, I will introduce another car next year: It is german, too, it has wheels, thin as slices and it has 450 hp only.... Wow, I´m really happy!
|
|
|
Post by f143 on Dec 13, 2013 20:56:58 GMT -5
Congratulations to the 4 winners and thanks to all involved with the running of GP d'2013. Special thanks to David and Mark for their extra effort. Regards Nigel
|
|
|
Post by David Lawson on Dec 14, 2013 3:39:34 GMT -5
All the cars have arrived safely back with me from John Prince in Southport.
I have taken a photograph of each chassis and will compile a little report on each car in the next few days.
In the meantime I have parcelled up Dave Jones spare Ferrari 312, Tony Condon's Lotus 49B and Mel Ault's Brabham BT20 and will be posting these in the next couple of hours and they should all comfortably arrive home before Christmas.
Chris Walker has asked me to hold on to his car until after the Christmas postal rush and I think it may be prudent to hold off posting all the overseas cars until the New Year, however I am more than happy to post the cars immediately if you would prefer, please let me know what you want me to do with your car.
David
|
|