Open practice on the morning of the race:
It was 10:00am and Herr Stroebl dropped the green flag for individual qualifying – 5 of the 7 entries were ready – the rest would start in positions at the rear of the field.
Qualifying was fast and furious with the top three qualifiers in the 6.0s…
Qualifying Result:
Pole: Art – 6.049 seconds (Green)
2. JoB – 6.056 (Yellow)
3. KKr – 6.085 (Yellow)
4. JMs – 6.206 (Yellow)
5. MiA – 6.394 (Yellow)
6. SiR – No Time
7. ToN – No Time
Promptly at 10:30am the green flag fell to start this edition of the 2.4h race. After the first seven heats and one quarter distance JoB jumped out into an early lead, also posting what would turn out to the be fastest lap of the race. ToN would struggle early on, eventually forced to switch to a backup. Resulting penalties proved hard to overcome.
The top three would be separated by just 2 laps… and SiR passed MiA to take over 5th place… just three laps behind JMS…
Quarter distance standings:
1. JoB – 349 Laps
2. Art – 348
3. KKr – 347
4. JMs – 336
5. SiR – 333
6. MiA – 326
7. ToN – 208
Dusk fell and some began to struggle. An uncooperative body mount screw caused severe handling issues for SiR, forcing a costly green flag pit stop. With the issue resolved and new tires SiR was back on track after 4 minutes… allowing MiA to reclaim fifth place… at the front the battle was fierce, with Art pushing hard and eventually passing JoB to take the lead. Just three laps separated the top three…
Half-way Standings:
1. Art – 692 Laps
2. JoB – 691
3. KKr – 689
4. JMs – 664
5. MiA – 652
6. SiR – 621
7. ToN – 515
Temperatures rose as it became darkest in the forest. Several struggled… tires were wearing, fingers were cramping and eyes were drowsy. Every racer battled through to finish their heats… JoB lost a lap to the leader and KKr struggled to stay just 5 laps behind. SiR and MiA remained quick. Noises worried team JMs but he held position. ToN would survive several off track excursions and continue running.
Three Quarter Distance Standings:
1. Art – 1027 Laps
2. JoB – 1025
3. KKr – 1020
4. JMs – 982
5. MiA – 954
6. SiR – 939
7. ToN – 807
As daylight broke JoB began an epic charge to the front although lap times for the leaders were noticeably slower now… Both Art and KKr were racing on ovals… late in the race JoB passed Art to take the lead… JMs also struggling, had MiA closing but the gap was still too much to overcome… SiR and ToN completed the field… JoB would finish with a record total of 1365 laps for the event, one more than last years’ race winner. Art would finish one lap back with KKr locking down third 11 laps behind the leader.
Final Race Results:
1. JoB – 1365 Laps (49.874 ext.)
2. Art – 1364 (36.016)
3. KKr – 1354 (53.873)
4. JMs – 1303 (43.933)
5. MiA – 1281 (32.596)
6. SiR – 1266 (47.662)
7. ToN – 1116 (84.543)
The field, in order of finish:
The race was not without its fair share of carnage – and parts littered the track…
Congratulations to JoB for a great battle and fantastic drive at the end to take his first ever 2.4h title, setting a new race lap total which will likely be hard to beat!!! Cheers to everyone who participated and made it such a fun filled day of racing – KKr, JMs, SiR and ToN…
:good:
The Happy Canadian Scale Modeler!
