[woodcote]

Here are some details of the first two stages, coming up this Saturday and Sunday...

   

Fingers-crossed, both will be streamed live via YouTube with the videos embedded on this thread. As I said, my fingers are crossed! More about the coverage tomorrow.

   

Saturday's stage is a Ninco tarmac stage - lots of grip, a little bumpy, some tight corners and only short straights. It's a test of handling. I will be using the standard Ninco power supply and Ninco set controller. There's a single crossover, so one timed lap is two circuits. Each car will complete 7 timed laps. Timing is via a dead strip and Race Coordinator software.

   

Sunday's stage is a re-run of the Devil's Dyke Hillclimb, which was a real highlight (for me, anyway) of the WHO Winter Rally-Sprint. It is built from SCX classic track, including a long chicane and the 'Super-sliding ice-effect curve set' - which has non-magnetic rails. The track is powered by a standard SCX power supply and I'll be using a Parma 45 controller. There are two power taps. Each car will complete 5 timed ascents and descents. Timing is via a dead strip and Race Coordinator.

   

The elevation goes from the floor to 3-feet in around ten feet, with one particularly brutal ramp. The ice-effect curve (used as an S-bend) is part of the climb, placed towards the top of the hill. At each end of the fast layout are return loops made from the outer lane of standard radius curves. With a 15-foot straight and no particularly tight corners, this stage is a test of speed, plus an ability to climb and descend. It will punish cars that are a little too light at the front. Any guides that are too deep or too long out the front will cause problems on the climb.

   

One change from February is the start / timing line has been moved down towards the bottom of the hill - just next to the controller in the pic with the red Peugeot 307.

More about the schedule, coverage and running order tomorrow.