[Graham]

Just a few more photos I took yesterday

                       

[Graham]

 Good Morning

I completed the Stage 7 yesterday afternoon and evening

This is the basic track layout I used
                 

It is changed from last year, I dispensed with the flexible bridge as this always gave me issues running the cars, but I have added a 2nd hump, this time we have two following each other.

In the back ground you can see some obstacle sections which I substituted in depending on the Category of vehicles run.
This initial set up was for the Category 5 Dakar Sprint Cars which in general could only cope with the basic track layout.
So I started with those first.

          

Although I used the new power track section which I bought after last years issues with this track unit failing, it was still an issue this year. I don't know why this appears to be a continuous issue with these SCX sets.
Having virtually finished one Category of cars but one, the power again failed on the lane I was using, so I had to repeat that category again on the 2nd lane 

[BAracer]

Can you add some weight handicap to that land rover please! It's a long way ahead of a competative bunch.

(Love you Chris! xxx)

[Graham]

Can you add some weight handicap to that land rover please! It's a long way ahead of a competative bunch.

(Love you Chris! xxx)

To be honest I don't think that would help, even if I chucked on a load of bags of coal on the back 
On reflection it was better suited to be classed as a Ninco vehicle, so probably not a wise choice on my part allowing Ninco chassis's to be used in the Dakar Sprint.

[BAracer]

I've got no problem with it in Class 5. It's just that it only leaves two steps on the podium to try and get my Panda onto and in the winners photo!

(Perhaps create a 4th place podium step?!)

[Graham]

So onto the Ninco Category,

For this run I added a couple of corrugated cardboard sections to the track layout.
   

We certainly had some different results, as I remember Andy's BMW X5 loved this track surface in the previous years events.

       

[classicchrisk]

Can you add some weight handicap to that land rover please! It's a long way ahead of a competative bunch.

(Love you Chris! xxx)

To be honest I don't think that would help, even if I chucked on a load of bags of coal on the back 
On reflection it was better suited to be classed as a Ninco vehicle, so probably not a wise choice on my part allowing Ninco chassis's to be used in the Dakar Sprint.

I thought I'd made a mistake, even trying to build it. Quite a tall vehicle, so expected this to be a disadvantage, so plenty of ballast to hold it down. 
I thought I'd have done better with Spirit Peugeot 205, with its 4wd and drop arm mounted guide. Also had a Ninco C4, in mind. The Ninco Pajero chassis under a Focus WRC was also considered.

I can't believe how well the Landrover is doing, must be beginners luck, on my first ever raid event!! 

[Graham]

So for the SCX vehicles all the special sections were put into place:
2 Grass
2 corrugated cardboard

SCX Ramp
SCX Dunes
SCX Suspended bridge

                     

SCX Results
            

When I ran Andy's Sandbuggy I thought it was so fast nothing was going to beat it on this track, even with all the obstacles sections in place,however perhaps the stability at the front just made it slightly unstable and it came to grief on the bridge otherwise it was certainly the fastest run so far.

[Graham]

So after another shopping trip, it is back to the results for "Lightweight vehicles" Category 3

The cars were run on much the same level as for the SCX cars apart from the elevated SCX bridge was removed, I did try the cars across the bridge but mostly they failed to get across consistently.

          

So here we have the surprise of the day, as BARacer's modified SCX Touareg took the first place, I thought the Odyssey was going to be unbeatable on this track but.... it wasn't 

[BAracer]

UN - BEE - LEAVE - IBBLE !

I did do some ballast work on it, but really...you other Raid thoroughbreds need to up your game!

(Here's hoping no-one appeals this result)