[woodcote]

Apologies, we're running a little behind schedule. Top Fuel coming up about 9.45-ish...

[woodcote]

NHRA Top Fuel 4-Gear

Top qualifier Clive started off with what looked an easy run against slowest qualifier Noah...

   

It was very nearly a disaster as the Matco Tools Top Fueler bogged down horribly. Thankfully, Noah's dragster was slow and Clive's 1.038 still gave him a win by 0.104 seconds. Not a great start, but Clive's crew would have the next bye round to get things sorted for the final.

   

Next, Alan dispatched Dylan by 0.220 seconds - Alan clocking a quick 0.744 against Dylan's 0.950.

The race between Andy and Rebecca would be closer...

   

Andy's FRAM dragster had a good start, but the yellow Geico machine was closing... Andy held on for a 0.035 win - his ET 0.738 to Rebecca's 0.772.

That left one semi-final tie between Alan and Andy...

   

However, the big drama came a few minutes before. Clive's solo run was another slow one - 0.916 seconds. The motor sounded sick and didn't speed up on the rolling road. It looked like the top qualifier would be a sitting duck for whoever won the semi...

It was close at the start between the two orange dragsters, but Andy soon pulled away, winning by 0.095 seconds - 0.721 to Alan's 0.821. Meanwhile, Clive's mechanics were desperately throwing everything at the Matco machine...

   

Clive lined up not expecting much. Off the line, things seemed better...

   

Andy edged ahead, but Clive was getting serious power to the rear wheels and pulled level...

   

It was very close at the line, but maybe Clive had done it?

   

He had!



Huge congratulations to Clive and his crew for getting back in the game and winning the first Top Fuel medal...

   

Here's the ladder...

   

And the stats...

   

Just two races to go now - the Tyco match-race decider and NHRA 4-Gear Funny Car & Pro Stock...

[woodcote]

Match Racing Round Three

Only one match race went to a decider - the two modified 3.5 ohm Tycos of Clive and Andy.

Running without braids, Andy's car managed to hook things up better this time - his 0.510 was almost as quick as his first run and enough to win by 0.066 seconds. Clive clocked 0.577 and 7.231 mph - Andy's was measured at 10.471 through the speed traps. Result: 2-1 to Andy and an entertaining joust for the fans...

   

It will be great to see some more unusual match-ups in the Winter Series. The Tycos might be back...

[woodcote]

NHRA 4-Gear Funny Car & Pro Stock

The final race of the Summer Series promised to be another good one. Top qualifiers Pete and Jerome sat out the first round, Pete taking a solo run in the DHL Funny Car, clocking a pretty rapid 0.851 seconds.

The first race was between Iain's Auto Club Funny Car and David's Tire Kingdom Pro Stocker...

   

Iain was off the line fractionally quicker and the two cars ran side-by-side down the strip and through the line. Iain had it by 0.009 seconds - his time 0.885 and David's 0.887. That was close!

Andy qualified second and Alan's Pro Stocker seventh and last. An overnight inspection showed a brush at right-angles in the Summit car's motor. That fixed, Alan's crew were looking for a better run today...

   

The Summit Pro Stock was transformed - and Andy's JEGS car a little slow after a quick start. Alan crossed the line 0.011 seconds ahead, his ET 0.881, Andy's 0.901.

   

Doug's Nitro Fish Pro Stock had finished third in the qualifiers, so was surprised to be run very close by Rebecca's Castrol GTX Funny Car. It looked all the way as if the Funny Car would win it, but a dive for the line saw Doug win by 0.007 seconds - 0.860 to 0.875.

That gave us two pretty tasty semi-finals - a pair of Funny Cars and a pair of Pro Stockers

   

Iain was the outsider against Jerome in the DHL flopper. He wasn't far off. A quick 0.884 for the Auto Club car wasn't quite enough. Jerome clocked 0.864 and crossed the line 0.021 ahead.

   

On paper, Doug was favourite for the second semi, but Alan's car was now on the pace. It looked close to begin with... until the Nitro Fish car pulled away for a 0.051 second victory. Doug's winning ET was 0.846 and Alan's pace dropped off a little to 0.891.

   

Pete lined up in the DHL Funny Car against Doug in the Nitro Fish Pro Stock...

   

Pete nailed the start and already had a lead...

   

There was nothing Doug could do...

   

A 0.088 winning margin for Pete - a very rapid 0.798 ET to Doug's 0.882...

   

Huge congratulations to Pete and Jerome on their first Summer Series win!

   

Here's the ladder...

   

And the stats...

   

And that's it - the end of the RCR Summer Series. I hope you've enjoyed our socially-distant HO racing fun. A huge thanks to everyone who has taken part and to all those - especially Super Tires and Jadlam Toys & Models - who've supported the series.

The racing will start again in six weeks - with a five-event Winter Series... However, there's the small matter of another post-race South Coast HO Dragster fanzine to wrap up the Summer and prepare for the Winter. That'll be published over the weekend.

[Pondiless]

Thanks for everything Andy. A wonderful conclusion to a great summer series.

[alpink]

congrats Pete & Jerome!
congrats Clive!

[woodcote]

And congrats to Al on finishing top qualifier in Inline Super Comp at this weekend's big race in Texas!

If you want to follow more HO proxy drag racing, the coverage is here: nitroslots.com/thread/4847/texas-nationals-creek-dragway-thread

[Top Down]

Great photography and reporting really brought it to life. 

Thanks Andy  

[woodcote]

If the rain eases off a little tomorrow, I'm aiming to start getting your boxes back to you asap.

Included in the boxes this time are some NHRA decals from Alan, which are printed with white ink for dark coloured cars; glass beads ideal for making wheelie bars from Iain; bodies from Clive, Leo and the Nitro Slots guys; stickers from Policar, Santa Pod and Jadlams; plus a few other odds and ends. If you need Super Tires for your Super Stock 6.0 or T-Jets, just shout - I have some left.

A big thank you goes to Jadlam Toys & Models and to Super Tires who sponsored the summer series. Jane and Dylan will be getting a little something from Jadlams, who have also agreed to sponsor our Winter Series.

Thanks also goes to the NTRA Nitro Slots community for inspiring and supporting our UK racing - and to SlotRacer Online for giving us a very convenient place to host the race coverage, plus a small shelf in the Library for South Coast HO Dragster.

[Mazda]

Thanks for putting the event on Andy. Your commentary really brings it to life. It seems to be getting bigger each time and more competitive with some super cars being built.
Well done to the winners. It is really great that we now have some of the NTRA guys taking part.
Clive