Race reports - 30th November - Saloons followed by Sports
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The track was painted last Saturday, tested on Sunday and tonight was the first time we’d use it proper.
Hundreds of test laps before racing started showed tyre problems should be a bad memory as we saw at least 6 different rubber compounds in action and with no tyre treatment applied the cars seemed to be flying round.
Talking of tyre treatment, I do like to get tyres ready before racing but didn’t feel they needed anywhere near the same amount…even if at all in fact. I did put one lot on the Mosler but that was all, on the unpainted track I would have treated the tyres 4 times before racing.
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SALOONS
Three Standard Class, three Open Class and one Modified Class
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Brian brought his Peugeot 406 out of a long retirement and loved racing it, I think we’ll be seeing more of this car.
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Mike’s huge Mk7 Jag used to be seen drifting round every corner but not tonight! A bit loose on the sharper left handers but not sliding like we’re used to seeing and setting faster lap times than last time out in the Monsters vs Mini night.
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Ed’s Merc and Gav’s Opel had to deal with some hooligan in a Scooby…with it being 4WD the rear end doesn’t slide out as you’d expect so he drives it differently to suit - it goes well Geoff.
But talk about a close finish, Ed & Gav were separated by a mere 0.046 of a second after 9 minutes racing…in Ed’s favour, just wait until he gets his Mac Pinches thumbie back.
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Chris was racing the Honda Civic again, it must go through some tyres that car, it certainly gets the miles put in not only on BallaYorkley but Rally too.
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Kev’s black Camaro has always had tyre problems towards the end of races…but tonight had wheel problems towards the end of the race, finishing the last 3 laps of Heat #4 on 3 wheels…but the tyres looked in great condition on this new track surface.
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Heat wins in heat order for Geoff, Kev & Brian
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SPORTS
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Brian was bringing them out tonight, retired cars, this time it was the Racer Riley, it’s a nice enough runner but I think his driving has moved on since he last raced it, looking like it needs a Shark 25 instead of that Shark 22.
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Geoff’s gold painted Lola…NO, it’s gold leaf, not gold paint, GOLD LEAF!...getting a run out before next weeks Le Manx (although it may be overlooked for a Revoslot Toyota LMP), looks a little in need of rear tyre change.
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Chris raced a Revo tonight, a beautiful Merc CLK GTR, it looks huge but side by side with Ed’s Ninco CLK GTR there’s little to no difference, but Ed’s Merc was rested for a Jag XJR9 which was also getting a run out for next weeks Le Manx. Chris’s Merc needs track time to get those tyres up to speed, Revo tyres like a lot of road miles before getting the best out of them.
…check out the face pulling on the video!
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Gav was racing a rapid Ferrari F40, Andy’s chassis, NSR Shark 30…he caught other cars up for fun…on the straights…but could he stay in front once passed?...not tonight as he finished behind Ed’s Jag.
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Two NSR Moslers, Kev’s copper rocket (although it’s gold paint NOT gold leaf…gold paint) has been quick for a couple of years, it’s only raced a few times this year, replaced by two other cars but loved this new grippy track, going even faster than before.
Mike B’s Mosler - ‘these tyres have had it, must be 4 years old’ - come on Mike, there’s a year left in them yet, no holes yet but 2nd overall and setting 2nd fastest times in Red and Yellow lanes.
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Close races…Heat #5, Chris & Ed, with the Jag finishing 1.3 seconds ahead of the Merc
…and Heat #6, Mike B, Geoff & Brian, all crossing the line less than 4 seconds apart, Geoff’s gold (LEAF) Lola winning by 1.3 seconds ahead of Mike B’s Mosler on ‘not’ knackered tyres.
Heat wins in heat order for Chris, Kev, Ed & Geoff
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Next week is Le Manx - Classic (pre-1975) followed by GroupC/LMP
Life is like a box of Slot cars...