Not the biggest race of the year and certainly not the nicest day of year, weather-wise. A very unpleasant wind spoilt the day for us. But the wind only had an impact on our moods and not on the competitors’ driving skills! We’ve had at least two drivers that achieved their personal goals on this day.

Kevin Bann wanted to bring his lap time down to less than 20 seconds with his 8^th scale pan car and he did so…repeatedly!  Bjorn Boogaard had the same in mind with his 10^th scale 200mm nitro touring car and he also succeeded in doing so. He even got a fastest lap of less than 19 seconds…. Well done, the both of you! I am not sure whether Jason Landsberg set some goals for himself, but shame, this month his 10^th scale car really let him down, BIG TIME! Every time he went into the pits for fuel, his car had a flame-out. But he still boasts the fastest lap of the day, when he completed his 37^th lap in the Final in only 17.39 seconds. And that wasn’t the only lap of less than 18 seconds.. Brilliant racing Jason, and better luck next month!!

 

Below: Tobie de Beer’s car was chosen as the best presented RC body for the day. Mooi so!

 

The Race:

10^th scale Nitro touring: 6 min race

Heat 1 - Round 1:

Jason won the race with two of his 18 laps in less than 18 seconds. Bjorn, with 16 laps, was in 2^nd place and Kobus Griesel, with 7laps, ended 3^rd. Ronel Bann, the only female driver for the day, completed 7 laps and so did her husband, Kevin.  Tobie de Beer also got 7 laps and Henry did not start.

Heat 1 - Round 2:

Jason was still on a roll and won again and he even got one more lap in this round. Bjorn also got 2 more laps with Kobus following him, this time with 8 more laps than in the 1^st round. Kevin and Ronel improved dramatically on their first round, because they both now complete 15 laps.

Henry quitted after 8 laps, after a bump which broke his lower control arm.  Tobie did not start.

Heat 1 – Round 3:

Jason in the lead again, achieving multiple laps of less than 18 seconds, the fastest one being 17.48 seconds. Bjorn ended 2^nd, both the two top guys doing 18 laps. Kevin came in 3^rd with 15 laps. Then came Kobus with his 12 laps and behind him Ronel with 11 laps.

Tobie and Henry did not start.

Final 1/10^th scale:

Bjorn completed 81 amazing laps and won the race. Best lap 18.83 seconds. Well done! You’ve worked very hard on your first ever 1^st place on the podium.                                                                                 Jason Landsberg got 74 laps, BUT….. I think this is where Jason’s car trouble started. Every time he went in for a fuel stop, his car flamed out. This caused him the race, but he took it very well. He stayed calm and I never once heard him shout or yell out his frustration. Great sportsmanship displayed Jason, we are so proud of you! And by the way: Jason’s fastest lap was 17.39 seconds.                                                                                                                                                                                 Kobus Griesel ended in 3^rd position, with 71 laps completed. I notice that there was a pause in his laps for more than a 2 minute period. According to his pit crew (his wife Daleen) it was due to a flame out. Apparently he also stopped racing too early, thinking that the time was up. Eish Kobus, that was not ayoba!  Anyway, congrats with your podium place.                                                                                                                                                                                         Kevin Bann came in 4^th with wife Ronel in 5^th place. 58 and 57 laps, respectively. Tobie managed to do 20 laps. Henry did not compete in the Finals.

 

8^th scale Nitro:

Heat 2 Round 1:

Kobus won the race with Kevin behind him. Henry came in 3^rd, but with the fastest lap in this race, 19.9 seconds. André Steenekamp ended 4^th.

Heat 2 Round 2:

Kevin took the lead away from Kobus, improving his own best lap to 20 seconds. Kobus had a very late start and that was what caused him his 1^st place. André ended 3^rd and Henry did not start.

Heat 2 Round 3:

Kobus took his 1^st place back and forced Kevin, who had a late start, down to 2^nd again. Both completed 13 laps. Henry, also after a late start, ended 3^rd with 12 laps. André managed 11 laps. André too, had a late start.

8^th scale Final:

Kobus with his GT and Kevin with his pan car both achieved 79 laps. They provided a very exciting end to the race, when Kevin passed him on the very last corner. Unfortunately, they nicked each other only a little, but enough for Kobus to lose control. Kevin could have used that opportunity to win the race, but gentleman and good sportsman that he is, he waited for Kobus to recover and catch up with him. Kevin, however was already a very happy chappie, because he had driven several laps under 20 seconds, which was his goal for the day….his fastest lap being 19.10. Well done!!

Kobus’s fastest lap was 19.91 and his average was 22.64. Kevin’s average lap time was 22.65. So close…!!

André quitted after 30 laps, when his car broke down. I think it was a servo that went.. If I can belief my eyes, André had a lap of just 19.74 seconds, it was his 10^th lap.

Henry did 29 laps before he quitted the race.

A remarkable early end to a day’s racing, but because of the miserable weather, nobody complained.