New layout racing @SDRC

I decided to race Stock buggy Friday night, to learn the new layout at SDRC. Which it turns out is a replica of the layout for the 2013 KO Propo race at West Coast. 

No huge jumps on this layout, as my stock buggy can easily clear the biggest jump on the track, a triple after a double in front of the drivers stand. 

There would be heads up qualifying again with 3 heats of stock buggy, only the heat winners from would transfer directly to the A main. 

I managed to win my 1st heat, securing my place in the A main.  I would qualify no lower than 6th in the A. 

In round 2 I started on the pole and lead the entire race. But, on the last 2 turns, I clipped the pipe, allowing 2nd place, then 3rd!  I dropped to 3rd and lost the TQ. 

I started 2nd in the A main after some sorting of the order based on who won a heat. 

I kept clean on the start and took over the lead on lap 2.  I won the race and was the only one to turn 15 laps :)

I returned Saturday to run mod buggy with my RC10WC with an 8.5 installed!  I started out by running it with the eps at 70%, but by the main it was at 90%. 

I broke in R1 and pushed in R2. I went back to the front tires I used in R1, but raised my front ride height and the cat handled much better!  I managed to finish in 5th place with my "old" car :)

Reedy Race Layout!

We headed up north again, but this time to OCRC, home of the Reedy Race of Champions, for some Stock Buggy racing on Sunday 2/15/15. 

I got 2 runs in to learn the layout. One on new tires which sucked. And another on race tires, which was better.  At least I was able to clear the dreaded triple with my stock buggy :) On to racing!

I got tangled up a few times but managed to still finish 3rd, but with a slow 12 lap run. I would need to turn 13 laps to make the A. 

In round 2 I crashed over the triple too many times and finished 5th. At least I went 13 laps and qualified 5th in the A. My fast lap was now down to a 23.291 also. 

In the main I got a clean start and made my way up to 3rd by the 1 minute mark. I held 3rd up until the last lap when I flat landed and bounced onto my lid. I also didn't get marshaled as they all left before the race was actually over!  Geez!

John and I waiting for the main to start b

Return to IERC!

So another buddy wanted to race at IERC, so we headed back up north for some racing on Saturday 2/14/15. 

I did a lot better in qualifying this time around since I knew what tires to run. Lol!  I would end up qualifying 4th in the A Main. 

I took advantage of some crashes during the 8 minute main and managed to hang onto 3rd and pick up more race bucks and another toolbox plaque :)

Road Trip to IERC!

Stock Buggy, Saturday 2/7/15 @IERC

A bunch of SDRC locals headed out of town to race up at IERC Raceway. A few guys have never been up there and it was my 3rd trip up. 

Most of us raced in Hotshot stock buggy, a skill class between the guys right out rookie and the experts. 

In the first round I was on the wrong tires a super loose!  The car was almost undrivable!  I finished last n

In round 2 I put on some better tires, but this time my car pushed. I went faster but not fast enough t make he main. I would end up near he bottom of the B Main. 

Finally on the right tires my car handles awesome!  I took advantage of wrecks and pushed hard and managed to win the B Main and bump up to the A!

I started the A slowly wilting for a pile up to move up. It happened on the step up corner table top. A bunch of cars hot each other and I went around the outside and moved up to 4th!  I pushed and pushed and managed to take 3rd, but I crashed a bit too many time and eventually finished the race in 5th. 

However because our class was mixed with some expert guys, I actually finished 3rd in my class and won some race bucks and a toolbox plaque :)

Also because of the mixed classed a bunch of SDRC guys picked up race bucks and plaques!

Overall it was a fun trip north with some of the guys from SDRC!

SDRC pits at IERC!

Heads up qualifying!

Stock Buggy, Friday 2/6/15, @SDRC

Tonight SDRC was trying a heads up racing program.  The 1st and 2nd place cars "transfer" directly to the A main and cannot be bumped out. These cars positions are set by their fastest heat time from round 1 or 2 of qualifying.  All other positions are set by fastest time. 

In round 1 I drew a good number and would be starting 2nd!  But I ended up finished 3rd :(. Thus I could potentially qualify no higher than 8th, unless I could place in the top 2 in round 2. 

For round 2 I would start 3rd on the grid. I had an awesome run and won round 2!  Now I would qualify no lower than 4th!  I had the fastest run however and took the TQ!  I was TQ 2 weeks in a row!  Sweet!

In the main I started on the pole which was actually not the ideal spot to start from. I would have rather started from the 2nd spot. I got a slow start and got bumped and crashed in the valley up to the step up!  By the time I got going I was in last place!  I drove my ass off and came though the field like a freight train!  It took me a few laps to catch up to field, but once I did I was passing a few cars every lap!  Most of them I passed by hugging the pipe super tight to the 1st double while other cars had to go wide to be able to clear the jump.  I was able to clear or while right to the pipe :)

In the closing minute I caught up to the 2nd and 3rd place cars who tangled over the triple. I saw the wreck and drove by while try were both upside down :). I would finish in 2nd!

The heads up qualifying was a nice change of pace and was a lot of fun!  I think it will work as long as your start position I round 2 is based on how you finished in round 1. With that at least you have a chance to start up front if you are dealt a 5 or 6. With the old system of just reversing the grid for round 2 you were screwed if you had those numbers for the night. 

2 Wins In A Row!

I raced stock buggy this time, Saturday 1/31/15. I brought my B4 with an old LRP X11 8.5 to jump the triple. I put more boost in the ESC to make more power for the triple and it worked!  I was able to clear it now without a perfect landing from the double.

I spent most of my practice runs running the mod buggy and having a good time. With an hour of practice left I brought out my stock car to break in some tires. Unfortunately the track was too wet and slimey to turn any decent laps. :-/  I did 1 run and cleaned up my ride for racing

The track was fast again (or my tires were spot on) and I turned another 18 lap run!

This time an 18:12 with a 16.5!  I beat my best run from Friday night and was a only 3 seconds behind fast guy Jose!

Round 2 didn't start off so well as I had a few small mistakes that let Jose pull away and I was below TQ pace. Jose had a moment and crashed, while I stepped it up and was back on a pace to take the TQ!  I had a clean run with no crashes and beat Jose's run by 3 seconds with an 18:06 and stole the TQ :)

I got the holeshot and opened up a good lead on lap 1 as a wreck in triple slowed the field.  At about the halfway mark, I shorted the double and flipped onto my lid. This allowed the 2nd place car to close within 1 section of me. But I stopped making dumb mistakes while he
crashed and opened up a huge lead!  I cruised in for the win a lap up on 2nd place with another 18 lap run. Fun times!

Thanks to the SDRC crew for a fun night of racing and a great track to race on. It was dialed!

Friday Night Racing, SDRC, 1/30/15

Got the itch to race Friday after work this week.   I would race 13.5 buggy with my RC10WC.

I had a horrible start in the 1st qualifer, getting caught up in other peoples crashes. So I decided to go for the triple! Lol!  I made it clean 3 laps in a row, but on the 4th try, I shorted it and the left front arm took a hit. Parts went flying and and an axle popped out. The arm mount broke and the aluminum screws bent and sheared off!  With no spares, I switched over to racing my B5m with a 17.5, in the 13.5 class. 

My B5m was dialed!  I turned an 18:15 with a 16.6 fast lap!  My best run so far on this layout!

I would start 2nd in the main. I got away clean, but parked it into the pipe in the chicane to the straight trying to catch the leader. A few more mistakes and I dropped to 4th where I finished. At least I had a fast run in round 2. 

First time pitting along the wall.