Posted 2nd May 2005

Results Index

Left to right
Adam
John
Barry
Steve

Kevin
Terry
Scott
Graeme

Right from the start the pace was hot with Canterbury Reds going into the lead as expected. The Dunedin based Pitlane team kept the pressure on. After the driver change the Canterbury Red team ran into trouble with a slipping pinion, a problem that caused them to stop twice, this dropped them 82 laps behind the All Stars. Pitlane had started on sticky BSP rubber but felt a change to Supernaturals would be beneficial, the time for this swap dropping them behind the All Stars. The All Stars car was running smoothly, if not ultimately as fast as the Canterbury Red and Pitlane machines. The Canterbury Black car ran at reasonable speed but seemed slightly behind the others in the handling area. The Canterbury Red team was comprised of "A grade" drivers from the Christchurch Slot Car Club ladder whilst the Black team were members of the "B grade" list. The third segment of this lane run saw the "Reds" rapidly gaining laps whilst the other teams ran consistently. With Steve Welford not being available, Reece Etwell was drafted in and ran very competitive times.

The lane change saw the All Stars in an unexpected lead, 10 laps in front of Pitlane with the Reds a further 42 laps in arrears.

During the second series the Reds showed their skill and speeds to put 54 laps on the All Stars who managed 6 laps more than Pitlane.

The second lane change had the Reds leading the All Stars. Who in turn were clinging to their lead over the Pitlane boys.

The Pitlane team poured on the pressure during the third series to lead the Reds by three laps for the segment. The All Stars pace feel slightly due to a controller problem and maybe a slightly tight back axle setup. Somewhere in there the Reds changed a gear, loosing very little time.

By the final lane change the Reds continued in the lead (with a smaller margin back to Pitlane). The All Stars could not match the pace of the leading teams and surrendered 2nd place to Pitlane.

Into the fourth lane series (forgot to capture the screen between drivers one and two). With both the leading teams running the centre lanes the battle was really on. The Reds had another gear change but lost little time coming home 9 laps ahead of Pitlane for this lane. The All Stars struggled a little on the outside green lane and could not match their previous totals although the car seemed as fast and smooth as it had throughout.

So the story of the event was the Reds fast but troubled with first the pinion slipping and then gears wearing (due to the motor bearing becoming sloppy); the Pitlane team running fast after finding the best setup; the All Stars with no car problems but unable to match the driving skills of the front-running teams; the Canterbury Blacks also unable to match the skills of the Reds and Pitlane and with a car that appeared to have handling problems at times but nevertheless ran strongly.

Many thanks to Barry Toomey for organising this very enjoyable event and the great trophy. This is to become an annual event.

Pitlane hope to hold an enduro for Falcon powered cars probably in early August, if you are interested contact Graeme Mitchell. (All that driving should make for good track learning ahead of the South Island champs which will be held in Dunedin early October)
 

All Stars	Canterbury Black	Canterbury Red	Pitlane