[Graham]

At the "Oasis" a passing Camel train has just delivered a very large parcel from Chesterfield 

It says to be posted by the 01/08/22, does that mean that it is 2 days early 

Anyway the cars looking good, so I will add them to the photoshoot above

[Top Down]

   

Thanks for your patience and understanding. 

Home printed certificate of posting (your address details removed) with the official RM till receipt asking for feedback. They'll be getting some. I don't think it'll win me 100 pounds but it'll make me feel better!

For some reason online postage has a 'Use by' date of one week. Don't know why as 'real' stamps don't.

Anyway - they got there in the end - just!

[BAracer]

Must feel like a win already Top Down!

[Top Down]

A HUGE relief, I can tell you.
Couldn't leave RM feedback - system locked because of a typo by me - and no, no 4-letter words, even though I was thinking them. 
So - I logged a complaint instead. Six days to deliver a first class 'Large letter' 36 miles! I could have walked it quicker. 

Anyway - let the games commence - after a big thank you to Graham for waiting!

[Gpa113]

Excellent preview Graham 

Really looking forward to hosting a couple of rounds later on.

Perfect synopsis of my Scratchbuilt Fiesta, remember it from last year? Terrible thing, which was actually beginning to go OK, until it fell  to bits, seized it's pinion, cracked its chassis, and tired my patience once to often!  

Good luck to all competitors,  some fabulous looking entries.   Love that AA pairing....

Pip

[Top Down]

A gloriously colourful grid 

[OXO cube]

the vertical travel on the Datsun pickup has been shortened to hopefully prevent re-occurrence of last years 'jack knife' action 
and i have  removed the pathetic drop arm retaining strap , so it is now just  'loose and lively' ( as the wife says )
toyed with the idea of a soft spring , but struggled to find a good candidate 
also drop arm shortened to comply with the viewed from above rule 

on return last year the VW Tuareg had an unnoticed  suspension problem 
it had competed with one of the axle bushings having  popped out of the mount 
hopefully the repair helps it climb up the placings this year ( fingers crossed )

good luck everyone 
Kev

[Graham]

Just finished testing the track, and we are ready to run tomorrow 
I have added some rougher track pieces by taping corrugated cardboard to the track, so in addition with the two grass sections makes life interesting, my Ninco test car can negotiate it (when drive slowly) weather all the others can will be something we will have to see tomorrow 

Of course the other classes B,C & D will have to contend with the additional SCX obstacles in their entirety.

I will post some photos tomorrow morning

[Graham]

 Good Morning

Having ran my test car on both lanes yesterday, I was surprised that behaved quite differently due to the complexity of the track design.
So I will make a 10 lap run on each lane and combine the times to give the final result. I will also measure fastest single lap as a secondary timing to be used in the event of a tie.

Here are some photos, I have not been able to get a aerial shot of the layout, as it takes the length and width of the room.

But here is a segmented set of photos

" Test your Fitness" Round 1

Straight
I replaced the SCX power straight this year after last years problems with a new piece, although I could not find a Raid power straight on ebay. As you can see the very steep bridge to negotiate before the Oasis and then curves round for the finish.
   

Bridge Corner & S- Bends
There are two of these steep bridges but the suspension bridge on the left side also has the flexible rubber wood slatted surface which adds some additional bumps.
   

BodyMax Corner
Visibility is limited here, a mixture of rough and smooth SCX sections
   

Trials Straights
the nearest of the parallel straights hold most of the obstacles when the full SCX accessories are added, and on the far side is the home made obstacle track sections, this time I have alternated the grass with bumpy corrugated cardboard sections. 
   

[Top Down]

Didn't notice the Pampas Grass interspersed with rutted track on the back straight in photo four, at first glance.

Oops - and you actually mention it in the text!

Interesting.