Dave's HO Raceway News |
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| February 2, 2011 |
| On the road with Dave's HO Raceway From time to time it is fun to take a road trip with the guys. This adventure involved 3 clubs, 2 from Michigan and 1 from California. As reported by host and track owner Ken Shepard. Click on pics to super-size, then return button to read on.... |
| 3X IROC RACE Report |
| Nineteen (19) racers took part in the Thursday January 6, 2011, 3X IROC in Troy, Michigan, which was a pretty good turnout for a work day! The all IROC format was selected for each of three groups to highlight its own race procedures and "FRAY" classs rules. Since the HO Club With No Name (HOCWNN) FRAY rules are similar to the original (Ferndale rules), HOCWNN decided to feature its LL Fast tracker class for its IROC. The primary goal was to give everyone track time to find their way around the 128' lap lenght 4-lane Somerset Hills Raceway. Racers were randomly placed into the qualifying races, and four 2-minute heats produced lap and section totals which were used to set racers into the mains. After everyone got adjusted to the IROC rotation, thing went pretty well. Here are the results from qualifying: |
| A Qualifier Nelson Swanberg 40.21 Richard Phillis 38.22 Bernie Browning 35.44 Al Michel 34.78 B Qualifier Kevin Marcy 41.82 Brent Bences 38.58 Mike Lazzaro 37.83 Matt Boynton 35.22 C Qualifier Ken Shepard 44.32 Dan Blakeley 41.04 Walter McClurg 36.66 Brad Bences 32.32 D Qualifier Doug Morris 40.89 Dave Simons 40.52 Jamie Jorgenson 38.37 Dave Bruner 32.51 --------------------------------- Overall Qualifying Order Ken Shepard 44.32 Kevin Marcy 41.82 Dan Blakeley 41.04 Doug Morris 40.89 Dave Simons 40.52 Nelson Swanberg 40.21 Brent Bences 38.58 Jamie Jorgenson 38.37 Richard Phillis 38.22 Mike Lazzaro 37.83 Walter McClurg 36.66 Bernie Browning 35.44 Matt Boynton 35.22 Al Michel 34.78 Dave Bruner 32.51 Brad Bences 32.32 |
| Last minute warm up before the race |
| Life~Like IROC cars to the line |
| Predictably, HOCWNN members had a big advantage and took top four spots. Dave Simons earned the 'Quick Study' award for learning the track quickly enough to get the 5th qualifier spot. Ordinarily in a HOCWNN event, the heats are increased to 3 minutes for the mains. In the interest of maximizing the time for the FRAY IROCs, the mains were run with 2 minute heats. Maximum laps completed from any main determine the finishing order, therefore you can win from any main. The yellow IROC car was slowly losing power as the mains were run, but all the racers good-nature accepted this as one of the IROC quirks that can happen. Overall Finishing Order for Life~Like IROC: |
| 1 Ken Shepard 45.82 2 Kevin Marcy 42.42 3 Doug Morris 41.94 4 Dave Simons 41.47 5 Dan Blakeley 41.37 6 Richard Phillis 40.60 7 Walter McClurg 40.46 8 Nelson Swanberg 40.42 9 Brent Bences 38.57 10 Matt Boynton 37.73 11 Jamie Jorgenson 37.46 12 Al Michel 36.53 13 Mike Lazzaro 35.54 14 Bernie Browning 34.66 15 Brad Bences 33.37 16 Dave Bruner 32.87 |
| Doug Morris marshalling the tight chicane just past the underpass |
| Dave Simons, team Dave's Raceway, again demonstrated his ability to quickly learn a new track by finishing 4th overall. Richard Phillis was tops in the Ferndale group with 6th overall. Kevin Marcy took top honors among the group who didn't build the IROC cars and hold an IROC race on his own track. Maybe the track host should be eliminated to keep these things on even keel? |
| Fray IROC Cars to the line |
| After that messy business was over, it was on to the FRAY races. By coin toss, it was decided to run the Pittsford IROC next. These super-Fray cars allow any arm, any body, and any number of teeth on the cluster shaft drive pinion. The finishing order for the Life~Like IROC was used to set up the 5-minute heat mains. Rob Selves of HOCWNN arrived to take Dan Blakeley's spot. Ordinarily, the Pittsford group races with 20V but we just plain forgot to change it from the 18V used in the first IROC - oops! Pittsford (Dave's Raceway) Modified T-Jet IROC results: 1 Ken Shepard 70.06 9 Dave Simons 64.25 2 Richard Phillis 69.14 10 Nelson Swanberg 63.25 3 Doug Morris 68.91 11 Brent Bences 62.49 4 Kevin Marcy 66.14 12 Bernie Browning 57.75 5 Rob Selves 66.04 13 Al Michel 57.45 6 Walter McClurg 65.98 14 Matt Boynton 56.98 7 Jamie Jorgenson 65.12 15 Brad Bences 55.78 8 Mike Lazzaro 65.07 16 Dave Bruner 52.88 Richard Phillis finished first in the non-track owner class, with Doug Morris close behind. |
| Next up was the Ferndale FRAY race run at 20V. The Ferndale format races to a set number of laps, awarding points for finishing order as racers cycle through the lanes, round robin style. Lanemaster scoring was set to power down as the winner completed 5 laps, and this fast moving event was off. What would happen? Well, this is embarrassing, I've looked for the results but I can't find them. Either I threw them out in a cleaning frenzy or perhaps someone else has them? I can tell you that Kevin Marcy finished tied for first with the track owner (geez, this track owner is a pest). |
| Thank you to everyone who traveled great distances, took time off work, and otherwise changed things around to support this event. Thank you to the HOCWNN members who made this event a success. To all who attended, if you're in the neighborhood, or know somebody in the area who's looking for some HO competition, please contact us. Your always welcome. HOCWNN club servant, Ken Shepard |
| Editor's note: Wow what a challenging track ! Track owner Ken Shepard made this well thought out 128 running foot 4 - lane race track with all the bells and whistles. Long straights, tight chicane, over and under bridge, hill climbs, plenty of curves, and for eye candy, a baseball diamond. A few players were run over. Our club was handed the trophy of humility, rubbing elbows with some of the finest HO racers, and track owners on the planet. The Fray cars out performed the Dave's Mod Cars on Ken's track. Kens slot depth caused Dave's guys to trim the guide pins, as the front wheels didn't touch the track. For me that was a handling issue. We were also beat by our own cars, maybe a challenge at our track the next time around ? Glad we made the show ! |