[woodcote]

   

We're back at the Barn on Wednesday for the second Nascar night of the year and the first road course of Bulldog era...

   

We've run the track at a couple of test nights without the bus stop chicane, but that will definitely return this time!

[Gareth]

Race Report

Round 2 of Nascar saw one of our infrequent visits to a road track and we would be heading to New York state and the brilliant Watkins Glen. The Cup layout hosts Nascar in real life and our version was a pretty good imitation despite the lack of elevation changes.  The 3” AFX chicane standing in for the Bus Stop posed a real challenge for the drivers all night.  

   

There were 22 on the grid with Luca being the only rookie while we welcomed back Chas and Beth for their second races.  It was a pleasure to have Jerome come back fresh off of completing university and submitting a many thousand word dissertation.  Congratulations Jerome! 

   

Oliver was the first to show what good pace looked like around here with a rapid 25 lap run which only Jerome and he could replicate.  Behind there was a very tight bunch of John, Terry, Andy,  Pete and Ash.  Ash’s pace was very impressive as he was racing the Mega G+ in Gen6  along with Ollie Bean who was also looking pretty rapid. 

   

We also had some bizarre failures during the heats with Gareth having a spring unravel and wreck his car; Terry and Oliver both having a bent pickup shoe as well.  Definitely something with the track causing a few mechanical issues. 

   

The heats ended with Oliver on pole position with John just a lap behind him.  Ash was the Gen6 pole man with Pete acting as a Bulldog buffer to his closest rivals, Ollie and Rob.

   

   

[Gareth]

G Final

   

James (blue) had had an erratic evening with his Bulldog with the generally unfavoured white lane being his strongest heat.  Kevin (red) had also been struggling with his Bulldog.  They’d be up against newcomer Luca (yellow) and Beth (white) who were both in Gen6.

   

This race was all one way traffic as James found the form of his life to produce an absolutely brilliant drive. A small hiccup on lap 19 when someone jumped into his lane and he had to slow down but apart from that he cruised to a dominant 25 lap win.  This was even better than his 22 lap white lane heat and really showed promise. 

   

Behind him it was a much scrappier and erratic race as Luca, Kevin and Beth all struggled with the chicane in particular.  Luca slipped into second on lap 1 and held it all the way to the chequered flag.  A promising debut.  Behind him, Kevin was hunted down by Beth who eased through into 3rd place on lap 9 and kept it the position to the end. 

   

[Gareth]

F Final 

   

Buoyed by his victory, James stepped up into the yellow lane to take on Gary (white), Isaac (blue) and Tracy in red. The Barn prepared for James to deliver another perfect drive but what we actually got was complete carnage!    James, Isaac and Tracy all crashed on the opening lap but were swiftly marshalled back on track.  That allowed Gary to get away for the opening 3 laps before he too had a crash.  Isaac was now in the lead for a lap before he too crashed and went to the back.  

   

This pattern became the blueprint for the first minute of the race as each driver hit the front for a lap before swiftly crashing and falling away again.  

   

But then finally Tracy clawed her way into the lead and held on for several laps only to crash on lap 16 which opened the door to Isaac who had been flying in between the occasional crash of his own.  The fastest car in the race swept into the lead and took the win.  Behind him the battle for 2nd got very intense as Gary homed in on Tracy but he just fell short by the narrowest of margins.  Behind him was a very dispirited James but at least he could console himself with the knowledge that he and the car can do it when he wants too.  

   

[Gareth]

E Final

   

Mike (red) was on pole for this one with Gareth (blue), Stephen (white) and Isaac stepping up into yellow.  

Gareth stormed into an early and convincing lead, Isaac crashing on lap 1, Mike and Stephen on lap 2 and then Stephen again on lap 3.  But then disaster struck on lap 7 as the #83 nosed on at Turn 1 and despite Pete’s best efforts wouldn’t go again.  The left pickup shoe had sheared, the spring was gone and that was it.  Another bizarre failure.  

   

That allowed Mike back into the lead and he put in a very good run from that early off to rack up 22 laps and the victory.  Isaac briefly popped up into 3rd early on but he was deposed by crashes and Stephen who drove to a determined 3rd which became 2nd with Gareth’s retirement.  That win is getting closer!

   

[Gareth]

D Final 

   

Mike stepped up into white lane for this one taking on Rob (yellow), Chas (blue) and Kev in red.  Mike led them away from Rob before a lengthy crash for Rob allowed Chas into 2nd place who held it until Kev hunted him down and passed him.  Sadly for Kev, it was short lived as a string of crashes sent him tumbling down the order with Rob passing him for p3.  

   

So a lights to flag win for Mike and he bagged the double step up with a brilliant drive, Chas finished 2nd, Rob 3rd and Kev 4th.

   

[Gareth]

C Final

   

The C Final would be the battle ground for the Gen6 win this evening with Ash (blue) on pole position taking on Ollie (red) and Mike in (white) for that victory.  Also joining the party would be Pete with his yellow Monte Carlo bodied Bulldog in the yellow lane. 

   

It was Mike who led them away before being overtaken by Pete who was really flying.  A crash for Mike on lap 3 saw him slip to 3rd behind Ollie with Ash being somewhat cautious on his opening laps which left him in 4th.  

   

A second crash for Mike on lap 13 allowed Ash to move up into 3rd, his pace now much more representative of his potential.  That pace also must have been beginning to worry Ollie in 2nd as he had 3 consecutive crash laps.  This was hugely costly as Ash was able to slip by to claim p2. 

   

And that was the end of the action with Pete hitting 25 laps, 2 laps clear of Ash and Ollie while Mike’s exciting charge through the finals hit the guard rails in this race.  Ash did claim Gen6 honours while Ollie couldn’t even claim the Junior medal as a consolation as he aged out of the Juniors this year.   

   

[Gareth]

B Final 

   

Andy (blue) had fallen shy of the A Final by just 0.65 of a lap so he was gunning for that white lane step up in the final of finals.  Matthew (red) had shown Andy equalling pace in red and blue so he was brimming with his confidence beneath his elven flowing locks!  Jerome (yellow) was the other automatic qualifier and would be keen to beat his dad in white.  

   

Andy streaked into the lead from Matthew while Jerome and Pete both had a more cautious opening lap.  Lap 2 and both Andy and Pete crashed, elevating Matthew into the lead which he held even with a crash on lap 7.  Behind him, Jerome had a pair of crashes which allowed Andy to close the gap and retake 2nd place.  It was all drama for Pete though as he struggled to hook up with the tight and treacherous white lane.  Crashing on laps 2, 3 and 4, he finally hooked it up for lap 5 only to be off the track for nearly a quarter of the race with a huge accident on lap 6.  A fast but crashy final run doomed him to p4.

   

Back up front and Matthew as the next to blink as we got to the half way stage of the race as he got into the crash/fast lap/crash/fast lap pattern for a whole 6 laps and that just isn’t consistent enough to give you a win.  Sure enough, Andy was back into the lead leaving Matthew to duke it out with Jerome.  Both of them were blisteringly quick but with multiple mistakes on this deceptively challenging track.  Ultimately Jerome came out on top by just 0.1 of a lap with Andy scooping the win and the step up.

[Gareth]

A Final

   

It was a delight to see John (yellow) back in the A Final.  John was known as the Doctor of WHO for many years as he became our first multiple time champion.  He’s had a few years away from the medal positions so to see him here was awesome.  John would be doing battle with pole man Oliver (blue), Terry (red) and Andy in white.  

   

I’ve spoken many times about Terry’s appalling luck and disasters, one of which has always been his body clashes with opponents, the very thing that cost him a win in Mod last time out.  This time, Terry had been running his stock red Monte Carlo throughout the heats but was persuaded to switch to his light green stock Monte Carlo for the final by Oliver who was also running a stock red Monte Carlo.  


Why these guys don’t get a unique paint job done is absolutely beyond me.  It is so staggeringly simple.  

1. You use a sharp knife to cut the body plastic holding the windows in place under the bonnet and roof.  
   
2. Remove the windows and pop the body in methylated spirits or isopropyl alcohol for 24 hours.  
   
3. Scrub the body using water and a scourer to remove the paint, using a tooth pick or dental pick to remove the paint in the panel lines. 
   
4. Use Google to find your favourite colour or numbered Nascar or favourite sponsor.
   
5. Go to pattosplace.com to find the car you chose, I practically guarantee he will have those decals for you. 
   
6. Email Patto stating the decals you want (in 1/64th scale peel and stick), pay his invoice and await your parcel.
   
7. Buy spray paint and primer.  I recommend Tamiya TS spray paint for hard bodies. Sussex Model Centre has it in stock or you can use any paint from Halfords. 
   
8. Prime your body with grey or white primer and lightly sand to smooth it. 
   
9. Apply your spray paint with light, even coats allowing it to dry between coats.  You can use a clear coat on top to really finish and protect the paint.
   
10. Cut out and stick your decals to the body.
    
11. Refit your glass using a little glue to hold it in place.
    
12. Admire your beautiful and unique car safe in the knowledge that your car will be easy to spot in a race. 
    

Paint rant over, let’s get back to the racing.  Terry had an absolute disaster.  Big and lengthy crashes on laps 1, 3, 4 and 5 ended any hopes he had of challenging for the win.  Several more crashes sealed his fate and he came away for a second month looking visibly disappointed and frustrated.  Sending a hug your way Terry, if you want some support with the paint thing, let’s talk!  

   

Andy had a troubled start to his race too which meant he was in a race long battle with John.  A lengthy crash for John on lap 9 saw Andy into 2nd place but with John then stringing together a 9 lap run of sub 5 second laps and reeling him in, it was Andy’s turn to have a trio of crash laps allowing John back into p2.  A late crash for John on lap 20 left them neck and neck before Andy found a few more tenths in the final laps to claim a brilliant 2nd on the road.

   

You’ll notice I haven’t mentioned Oliver or 1st place yet and that’s because he delivered an absolute masterclass in blue lane.  One minor off on lap 21 was the only thing to blot his copybook as he dominated the race.  Smashing in a 4.199 fastest lap on the way, just to show he could do it, the rest of the race was just fast and consistent driving to a well deserved win.  You could go as far as to say an expected win because I think Oliver was just in a class of one all night.  

   

So an excellent evening of racing (even with the bizarre mechanical failures) ended with Oliver taking the win, Ash the Gen6 win and Isaac the junior medal by default it has to be said!  We need more juniors!  Congratulations to you guys, thank you to the set up and strike down crews.  Big shout out to Andy who had to zoom home to grab a cable to get the laptiming working; hero!  

   

See you for F1!