Not a big race in the middle of a Gauteng winter season, but we all know that there also were other RC  race meetings taking place at other clubs on the same day.  (Which we cannot feel bad about; because our club’s racing dates are out every year before the year ends)  This month we did not even had a Truggy class and the local guys had their very own, intimate Buggy competition.

 We cancelled the hired marshals, after warning the drivers that the club is not prepared to take on the expenses if the drivers do not co operate by entering online before 3 o clock on Friday.  

The bunch of drivers that came to practice on the tar road compensated for the small group that took part in the actual race of the day on the off road track. Michael Glauss, Herman Jr and Herman Sr, as well as Wilken and his young boy: we hope to see you at our next on road club race. And Tony de Abreu and his 18year old son that practiced on the off road side after the prize giving, we would also like to see you back at the track in the near future. 

The next off road race in August should be attended much better, because the guys will probably start practicing for the RCX in September.

Although Henry (track owner) won the 1^st  qualifier and the Final race for the day, we have to applaud the Claes family for their contribution:

 Dad Johnny was by far the fastest driver on this day. He came to participate in the Truggy class, but because we did not have any other Truggy drivers, he agreed to rather join the Buggy class. Fortunately he did bring the buggy along… although he did not prepare it for racing. Maybe just as a substitute for his son Johnrique’s buggy?  Anyway, Johnny missed the first two qualifiers, due to a lack of time to get his car in racing condition, whilst pitting for his son and probably also did a bit of marshaling as well?! His multiple laps of 52 seconds had been the fastest of all the drivers on this day.

The 6 year old Johnrique improved from 66 seconds to 59 seconds. Well done, little man!

Mom Marika spent the day on the track, acting as a marshal, with the help of André Steenekamp, our race control man.  I took over the commentating with a voice that only came through as a whisper, due to laryngitis… But we survived the day.  As they say: All is well that ends well.

BELOW : Marika Claes and André, our voluntary marshals

 

Below: Piet du Toit received Best Presented RC Body of the Day award:

Heat 1 :

Car 1 – Henry Ogden was the only driver to complete the race without problems. He won the race.

Car 2 – Johnny Claes DNS

Car 3 – Piet du Toit quit the race after 2 laps due to a loose crew on his steering servo.

Car 4 – Johnrique had a late start and subsequently completed only 2 laps.

Car 5 – Ewald vd Neut ended 3^rd.

Car 6 – Jannie Holzhausen endes 2^nd. – Fastest lap 54.04sec.

 Heat 2 :

Car 1 – Henry now had a flame out after two laps. And without a pit crew to restart his buggy, he lost too much time to get back on the driver stand to add more laps.

Car 2 – Johnny DNS

Car 3 – Piet won the race and he also got the best lap time – 53.6 sec

Car 4 – Johnrique ended in 2^nd place

Car 5 – Ewald encountered car trouble and retired after 2 laps.

Car 6 – Jannie ended 3^rd.

Heat 3:

Car 1 – Henry ended 3^rd

Car 2 – Johnny joined the race at last and did so with a BANG! He won the race with a quickest lap of 52.44 seconds. Well done!!

Car 3 – Piet ended 4^th after a flame out.

Car 4 – Johnrique DNS

Car 5 - Ewald DNS

Car 6 – Jannie ended in 2^nd place. 7 beautiful laps!!

30 minute Final Nitro Buggy race:

Henry again was the driver with the least hiccups and he won the race. Only one flame out that forced him down to his gazebo, restart his own car and get back onto the driver stand. Eish…

Piet had more flameouts, which obviously caused him to lose more racing time, Piet ended 2^nd.

Ewald only started after the race was already on for 4 minutes. And afterwards he had to deal with two more flameouts. He ended 3^rd.

Little Johnrique stood his full 30 minutes. Even with three long flameouts, he still managed to complete 21 laps.

Jannie raced some pretty awesome laps, but oh boy, they cannot be proven, because his transponder came loose!! Of the ones that did pick up, the fastest one on record was 54 seconds.

Johnny was plagued by a poltergeist …he kept burning glow plugs!! So sad…because it would have been nice to see him perform to his optimal capability. Johnny’s best lap – 52.67 seconds.

6 month series prize giving:

The 6 month series prize giving could not take place, because the majority of the trophy winners were absent. We do however excuse the father-and-son team, who were both the champs in their respective classes : Stephen Smith in Buggy class and Wayne Smith in the Truggy class. The birth of a firstborn ( and 1^st grandchild) is not a common, every day event. We wish you all the best with the birth of little Emily. Jason Landsberg, 3^rd in nitro Buggy had work obligations. Kobus Griesel, 3^rd in Truggy was missing in action. Henry received his 2^nd place in Nitro buggy and so did Johnny Claes for his 2^nd place in the Truggy class.

So here it is again:

Nitro Buggy:

1. Stephen Smith – 489 points
2. Henry Ogden – 484 points
3. Jason Landsberg – 397 points

Nitro Truggy:

1. Wayne Smith – 399 points
2. Johnny Claes – 298 points
3. Kobus Griesel – 297 points