Saturday 2wd

I started Saturday using the Losi BK2 (out of box BK2, not a modified version of it), with the Infinity 10x4 motor on 5 cells and Proline Step pins on the front and rear (front cut and shut, 6 rows of spikes on wide rims). The car felt very good right from the start, using red pistons in the rear 27.5wt oil pink springs and black pistons in the front with 25wt oil and silver springs. I had been put into heat 4, which was one of the high heats (with Lee Martin, Chris Rowcliffe, Richard Cree, Richard Barton) so I was on the track with some fast drivers too. Being car 10 I started last.

Round 1

Starting last I also delayed a second to set off to give me a clear track. The car felt very good and consistent. I didn't gain on any of the other cars qualifying on the same track, but I also didn't need a marshall nor get lapped by car. I finished with what I thought to be a good time, but gave me a round score of in the Mid 30's which I wanted to be higher.

Round 2

The only change being yellow springs on the rear from pinks, and a little bit more ride height, I again started 10th and same as in round 1, I had a clear track from start to finish. No marshall needed, no mistakes but didn't gain on any of the other cars on the track. I scored a low 40's in round - again not high enough. The track at this point had begun to form a few ripples and small holes on the racing line.

Round 3

I put the car to medium wheel base and stood the rear shocks right up, also adding about 50g of weight to the chassis and lifting the ride height slightly and going back to 6 cells. I went out for my heat and instantly I realized the track had rutted up very badly, holes beginning to get deep on the line, lots of loose dirt off the line - the line only being no more than 2ft wide and no grip off that line. The car felt very good and safe over the bumps, I didn't manage to improve on my previous times due to the track and through the heat I didn't need a marshall nor catch any car on the track. This time I finished 9th due to the staggered race start, and scored a 21 in the round - this is more like the score I needed.

Round 4

I made no changes to the car, just the usual motor skim, tyre change and general cleaning before the 4th round. I went out for my heat still starting 10th based on best finishing times. Again I delayed a second before starting to let me get a clear track and immediately I noticed the previous bumps and ruts had turned into some major holes and the track was now very difficult to get around fast. I managed another clean run with no mistakes, this time I caught and passed 2 cars on the track and a few more cars on staggered time, finishing the heat in 5th and managing a score of 12 points for the round. I hadn't done enough for the B final but I was secure in C final 1st.

Finals:

Due to the heat seeding, there was a long wait between the heats and the final. I made no changes in this time except for a little extra ride height to cope with the now very rough track. I started the C final and held the lead and was able to pull a large gap almost immediately while the cars behind made mistakes, I decided to drive at 70% as this would ensure no mistakes and enough to maintain the gap and the lead. Dan Greenwood managed to swap positions with Tom Cockerill and Steve Lawson all challenging for 2nd and setting faster laps than me, but unable to get close enough. I finished the final 1st followed by Dan Greenwood in 2nd. 5 minutes felt like 30 minutes!