Formula GP – 2016, Race 2 Results

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Our second Formula race was a little more exciting than our first outing.  Unfortunately one of the more dramatic events was Marty’s motor pod cracking leading to a DNF for his 3rd heat (see our forums for a possible preventative patch).  Ary was in Brazil so Russell drove for Team Barbosa and posted some respectable times in the 3.8s. Our CorpusChristi chapter was represented by John B. – it was great to see him again. Jordan had to sit out b/c of work obligations, but Team Cass was well represented by dad (Butch/David), clinching top laps.  Stephen had a few spectacular events but regardless posted lowest ET at 3.720 squeaking by Marty by 3-thousands of a second, and was hot on Dave’s heels by a fractional finish of perhaps 3 inches!  In Group-B Alex/Alejandro posted fantastic ETs and laps to nip at Stephen’s heels by 2 laps.

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20160423-LeaderAlex also fielded a new livery, the wild stripes and florescent colours laid over his former tiger stripes – all we could come up with was ‘Cirque du Soleil’ for his livery. Who knew they were big Formula sponsors!?  Race-2 of the Formua GP series was relatively pedestrian; there were a few spectacular events but mainly the cars were fast and the drivers got incredible times with the control of the heavy chassis and wide wheelbase.

Heat-1 pitted Russ, Steve, and John against each other. Steve came out swinging and posted at 3.7 et within a few laps, followed by Russ at 3.8 and John a very respectable 4.0.  Russ and Steve were neck/neck and back/back until the last minute when Steve gained 2 laps until Russ caught up and finished at: Steve 76, Russ, 76, John 64.

Heat-2 brought in Dave who very quickly ran ahead of everyone with 3.7s followed by both Russ and John at 3.9s (way to go John!).  Not much contact happened and it was a yawner for the most part – Dave 75(!) Russ 69  John 65

Heat-3 brought in Rich for John.  In the 1st 4 laps both Dave and Rich hit 3.8s, with HelloKitty dusting Butch by a very slim hundredths!  Don’t mess with a kitty cranked on Red-Bull!  Both dipped into the 3.7s. At 2:40 into the race we went on a hunt for parts that had laundry-bagged over the track. After the restart Kitty slid ahead at 3.772sec.   Surprise Finish: HKR/RR 74L with Butch & Chapp65 tied at at 72L.

Heat-4 rolled on Marty for Russ. Within 7 laps Marty was leading by a blistering 3.728 followed by the other guys at 3.8s.  Most of this race was drama free with times staying in the 3.7/3.8 range.  At the last two minutes Dave and Rich were neck and neck until the last 20 seconds when Dave lead HKR by 3 laps with a finish of Marty 78!  Dave 76 Rich 73.

Heat-5 added Alex. Within 5 laps Marty was posting low 3.8s, Alex high 3.8s and Rich 3.9s. At lap 12 Rich deslotted and got creamed by Marty.  After a brief pit Marty was back in again posting low 3.7s until Lap 50 when a mild collision was enough to pop loose his front free-wheel hub requiring another parts-hunt and pit work.  Soon racing was on again and Rich and Alex posted some respectable 3.8s trying to catch Marty’s 3.7s. The finish was Marty 78 (incredible in spite of the contacts) Alex 74 and HK Racing at 73.

Heat-6 rolled in Mark as the other RedBull (Rich) retired.  Off the bat Marty led with mid to low 3.8s to Alex’s high 3.8s. It was not Marty’s day as on lap-9 he touched wheels with JEGS/RedBull and cartwheeled into the retainer wall. Nothing appeared broken but within a few seconds the noises indicated a rubbing part – quickly deduced as the motor pod’s axle support had broken (which had happened to both Dave and Mark during practices weeks before. This seems to be an issue with the flimsy leading leg of the Slot.It long-can motor pod.)  Alex and Mark continued in a short state of yellow-flag confusion then went to full speed,  Alex consistently posting 4.0s and then mid 3.8s as Mark struggled to break 4.3. Very few deslots occured during the remaining laps, with Alex finishing at 73 (3.86) and Mark at 65 (4.2).

Heat-7 saw KeinMitleid racing join the fray. We had a slight delay in starting to recover body parts from the slot to prevent guide jams and other trauma, After green Steve immediately showed dominance with 3.8s with the colorful Cirque du Soleil at his heels with 3.9s. We had a few contacts at the mid-point but overall it was a fairly drama free race as Steve steadily gained laps finishing at 76 laps (3.72) Alex 73L (3.89) with JEGS/RedBull in the prestigious DFL spot with 67L (4.2).

John joined us for the 8th heat as Alex took a well deserved rest. At 2 minutes in John and Steve were neck-to-neck until a de-slot shook things up. Steve’s engineering skills were evident as he hit 3.758 and stayed in the 3.7/3.8 range as John posted 4.1s to Marks 4.2-3s. After the midway point John broke 4.0 but John and Mark were neck-and-neck up to the last 1.30m when John pulled ahead by 2 laps as we watched Steve’s brake lights (oh wait he doesn’t really brake much does he?!) There were enough minor delsots that the lap counts were lower than some of the other heats, with Steve at 71L (3.758) John 66 (4.032) and Mark being consistent if anything @DFL with 64L (4.229).

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BarkingSpyder

At 4-years old in Pensacola I repaired my steering linkage on my Ford Pedal-car. Dad later converted this car to a Blue Angel with ailerons and elevators with a working "stick/yoke"; the rudder was controlled by the steering wheel. I like all motorsports - I grew up going to a NASCAR Feeder track with Sportsman and Modified classes, and was lucky to attend drag races in 1970 at Orange County Raceway. My first solder-iron was a Christmas gift at 9yo; I modified T-Jets to be AFX spec before AFX Cars were in local stores. I rebuilt a few tractor & car (SIMCA) engines plus transmissions by 15yo (I still have my ring-compressor and valve spring tool) I am a former mountain and road bike geek & perennial sound engineer. Struggling guitar hobbyist and Amp "tweeker" 

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