Round 2 - Larkfield SCC - October 2016
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You can find more pictures of the event in our Facebook photo album CLICKING HERE.
Race report - by Marc Townsend
Larkfield SCC produced a fantastic track for the first of two visits to the reigning Club Champions. Seasonal debuts for multiple title holder Elliot O'Gorman and Junior champion Henry Townsend, joined by the impressive Ray George meant that yet again there would be nowhere to hide from the moment the relays switched to start heat One.
As the first cars sped down the short opening straight into the technical section in front of the driver stations before setting off down the huge front straight. From there into a fast as you dare sweeping BSTS section before blasting back towards the drivers into the ultra fast banking before managing the downhill transition, the helpful camber giving way just at the time you wanted to get back on the power for the 180 of the Brad Curve taking as much speed in as possible so as not to ask to much in the traction zone and on under the bridge to the finish line. One of the best temporary tracks I’ve raced on.
Formula HO ran to its new shorter heats format but the rule that influenced the outcome most was the dropped score, check out the stats on the THORL website to see how much.
The finals got under way with Ash taking an early lead from Carol but by lap 6 Louis had taken over and held on until the 23rd and final lap when a relentless Callum took the step up by inches. In the next Nick and Dave were both quick but Jim slightly more consistent than either, it was Callum though who took the win and fastest lap. In the C final Mick had qualified a comfortable 9th but couldn’t get enough out of the yellow lane to be a factor in a cracking battle for the step up. A 24.40 for Callum and 24.45s for Andy W and Ray says all you need to know. Ray joined his clubmate and top Ten regular Al Wood alongside Elliot and Henry in the battle for big points and a shot at the overall win. Henry was the latest to rue his selection of yellow, neither the first or last of the day. It was Elliot who set the fastest lap of the race just a few hundredths under the time set by the also rapid Al. Two offs from Al and one for Elliot put them 3rd and 2nd respectively as the flawless Ray steppes up with the first 25 of the finals. All four competitors were to set a 25 or more in the sensational A final with three of them setting 6.5 fastest laps. Rays 6.7 lowering his best too, that combined with another flawless run and two offs for third place qualifier Marc saw Ray take a deserved podium. The brilliant battle at the sharp end continues with Tony Baldock taking fastest lap and the win in blistering fashion. A flawless run of 26 consecutive sub 7 seconds laps sealing the deal. Tony Mills took a much deserved second, despite three offs, sensational speed again seeing him clear of all challengers...but one. Can’t wait for the next instalment.
Concours is doing its job as a competition in itself and raising the standards of the bodies, particularly lexans being presented for racing. The voting section providing a lighthearted and friendly opportunity to socialise away from the pit table of track. Some fantastic entries this month with wins for Carols FHO entry. Jim Saunders has been producing some beautiful cars of late and fittingly it was the Mazda, the build of which we were able to enjoyably follow on social media, taking Sport Prototype honours. Ray George was to take GT with a stunning Audi painted by none other Paul Harwood, pretty cool to have one of the most influential figures of the last 30 years of British slot racing working on HO cars. The AFX Le Mans winner was no less fascinating, Tony B's Jaguar an exercise in form and function, the modifications made in the name of speed also producing a better model. Well done to all entrants and winners, we really appreciate the time and effort people are putting in.
Tonys Jag took his second trophy of the day when the track reopened for AFX Le Mans winning from Andy, these two along with Al Wood in sixth being the odd ones out as everyone else in the top ten were either from Larkfield of the Townsend family. Mick in third leading all three of his top eight finishing team mates and Dad Marc in fourth with sons Louis a sensational 9th ahead of brother Henry.
HONK featured strongly in the sports prototype class, in a strange twist this time none of their members were outside the top Ten led by Jim in 6th. Ray again fast in 5th and Dave Hannington really getting a handle on the Viper platform and driving very nicely at the moment in 4th. Marc took the Lap Record for the day by just one hundredth but could only manage third leaving Andy Whorton the only serious challenger to Mr Baldock but was to be two laps shy at the end.
The second running of the Jet class saw a sensational win for Ray ahead of the two Tonys with Callum a very good fourth.
A great day of racing. Larkfield is a great club and a cracking place to go racing and thanks go to them and all who rocked up and made the day what it was.
As the first cars sped down the short opening straight into the technical section in front of the driver stations before setting off down the huge front straight. From there into a fast as you dare sweeping BSTS section before blasting back towards the drivers into the ultra fast banking before managing the downhill transition, the helpful camber giving way just at the time you wanted to get back on the power for the 180 of the Brad Curve taking as much speed in as possible so as not to ask to much in the traction zone and on under the bridge to the finish line. One of the best temporary tracks I’ve raced on.
Formula HO ran to its new shorter heats format but the rule that influenced the outcome most was the dropped score, check out the stats on the THORL website to see how much.
The finals got under way with Ash taking an early lead from Carol but by lap 6 Louis had taken over and held on until the 23rd and final lap when a relentless Callum took the step up by inches. In the next Nick and Dave were both quick but Jim slightly more consistent than either, it was Callum though who took the win and fastest lap. In the C final Mick had qualified a comfortable 9th but couldn’t get enough out of the yellow lane to be a factor in a cracking battle for the step up. A 24.40 for Callum and 24.45s for Andy W and Ray says all you need to know. Ray joined his clubmate and top Ten regular Al Wood alongside Elliot and Henry in the battle for big points and a shot at the overall win. Henry was the latest to rue his selection of yellow, neither the first or last of the day. It was Elliot who set the fastest lap of the race just a few hundredths under the time set by the also rapid Al. Two offs from Al and one for Elliot put them 3rd and 2nd respectively as the flawless Ray steppes up with the first 25 of the finals. All four competitors were to set a 25 or more in the sensational A final with three of them setting 6.5 fastest laps. Rays 6.7 lowering his best too, that combined with another flawless run and two offs for third place qualifier Marc saw Ray take a deserved podium. The brilliant battle at the sharp end continues with Tony Baldock taking fastest lap and the win in blistering fashion. A flawless run of 26 consecutive sub 7 seconds laps sealing the deal. Tony Mills took a much deserved second, despite three offs, sensational speed again seeing him clear of all challengers...but one. Can’t wait for the next instalment.
Concours is doing its job as a competition in itself and raising the standards of the bodies, particularly lexans being presented for racing. The voting section providing a lighthearted and friendly opportunity to socialise away from the pit table of track. Some fantastic entries this month with wins for Carols FHO entry. Jim Saunders has been producing some beautiful cars of late and fittingly it was the Mazda, the build of which we were able to enjoyably follow on social media, taking Sport Prototype honours. Ray George was to take GT with a stunning Audi painted by none other Paul Harwood, pretty cool to have one of the most influential figures of the last 30 years of British slot racing working on HO cars. The AFX Le Mans winner was no less fascinating, Tony B's Jaguar an exercise in form and function, the modifications made in the name of speed also producing a better model. Well done to all entrants and winners, we really appreciate the time and effort people are putting in.
Tonys Jag took his second trophy of the day when the track reopened for AFX Le Mans winning from Andy, these two along with Al Wood in sixth being the odd ones out as everyone else in the top ten were either from Larkfield of the Townsend family. Mick in third leading all three of his top eight finishing team mates and Dad Marc in fourth with sons Louis a sensational 9th ahead of brother Henry.
HONK featured strongly in the sports prototype class, in a strange twist this time none of their members were outside the top Ten led by Jim in 6th. Ray again fast in 5th and Dave Hannington really getting a handle on the Viper platform and driving very nicely at the moment in 4th. Marc took the Lap Record for the day by just one hundredth but could only manage third leaving Andy Whorton the only serious challenger to Mr Baldock but was to be two laps shy at the end.
The second running of the Jet class saw a sensational win for Ray ahead of the two Tonys with Callum a very good fourth.
A great day of racing. Larkfield is a great club and a cracking place to go racing and thanks go to them and all who rocked up and made the day what it was.
The Winners for the day were:
Formula HO: Tony Baldock
AFX Le Mans: Tony Baldock
Sports Prototype: Tony Baldock
GT Jet: Ray George
Top Junior: Henry Townsend
Concours Winners: Carol N, Ray George, Tony Baldock, Jim Saunders.
RESULTS:
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Formula HO (F1 / Champ Car type cars)
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Formula HO race results. Click to get a bigger image. Excel Spreadsheet Below.
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Tony Baldock - Formula HO, Sports Prototype and AFX Le Mans Winner
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AFX Le Mans (AFX Mega G Chassis - LMP and Grp C Bodies)
AFX LMP Results. Click to get a bigger image. Excel Spreadsheet Below
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Ray George - GT Jet Winner
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Sports Prototype (VSR Viper / Super G+)
Sports Prototype Results. Click to get a bigger image. Excel Spreadsheet Below.
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Henry T - Top Junior
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GT Jet (VSR Viper Jet with Brass weights)
GT Jet Results. Click to get a bigger image. Excel Spreadsheet Below.
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Jim, Ray, Carol and Tony - Concours Winners
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Downloads and Finals Charts
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