[woodcote]

Race Three - Micro Scalextric Street Stock

Sixteen entrants in Street Stock meant four full elimination rounds and fifteen races to enjoy before we’d know the winner. Alan started as top qualifier and favourite - although that billing hadn’t brought him any success in the earlier races.

Round One gave us some sensational races. Alan dispatched Leo in the first race, but David and Dylan P ran a tie in the second. As they crossed the line together, the race was re-run. This time Dylan pipped his father by a mere 0.001 of a second - David was leading until just before the line!

       

Gareth comfortably beat Peter, before another ridiculously close finish - Jane just failing to close down Terry at the line. The gap was again 0.001 of second. The big upset of the round was second qualifier Dylan W getting a poor start and Clive picking up the pieces with his best time. Tough luck on Dylan, but Clive seems to keep his performances for when it matters. Another close one was Noah’s Ford beating Andy’s Alfa by 0.003 seconds - seventh place qualifier beating tenth. Like most cars, Jeremy’s Veyron was slower today, but a 0.700 dead was enough to beat Jerome’s Audi TT. Finally, Doug gave Rebecca a scare, but the Porsche beat Lightning McQueen by 0.006 of a second.

       

Here are the Round One stats...

   

The Quarter Finals promised upsets, but failed to deliver. Alan breathed a sigh of relief to get through against Dylan P with a very quick 0.634 - beating his qualifying best, setting a new class record and equalling the course record.  Gareth had qualified one place ahead of WHO club mate Terry, but it was Terry who turned the tables in the heads-up race, winning by 0.069 seconds. Noah halted Clive’s unlikely progress with a 0.022 second win.  The closest race - and another upset - was Rebecca’s win over Jeremy. The Veyron looked odds-on to reach at least the semi finals, but the Porsche hit the finish sensors 0.005 second ahead.

All the quarter final stats are here...

   


Semi Finals. Terry’s times were heading in the right direction, but he’d need a big injection of pace to beat Alan’s in-form Mercedes. The two cars left the line together, but Alan quickly pulled away and finished a couple of car lengths ahead - the gap timed at 0.039 seconds. Alan’s ET of 0.655 was a very solid run.

       

Who would meet Alan in the final? Neither Rebecca or Noah were fancied to make it to the semis, so to have a shot at a final place was a prize in itself. Rebecca’s Porsche was through the start sensors 0.005 seconds faster and powered down the first half of the strip. The gap at halfway was pretty much the gap at the end, timed at 0.043 of a second. Neither ET was anything special - but getting to the semi finals was.

       

It's the final next...