An XRAY race report from the Proline Challenge 2010 @ Slough
The last weekend in August & long Bank holiday weekend for many years now has been the Proline challange, again this year it would return to the Remote world track or better known as Slough. Rain all week had made any prep work very difficult but was a blessing in disguise as it would help the track groove up very quickly once racing started. The large marque gave enough pitting for all that wanted to use it with the track & facilities as usuall spot on showing why the sponsor CML & Proline only want to use this venue.
For Xray we had several international drivers Christopher Mccauley & Barkley Abernethy from N Ireland, Anthony Cabot & Davy Bales from France. Ricky Burnett, Jamie Kerr & Ben Kennett for RcDisco. Team Xray UK the usual motely crew of Brennan Ralls & Reece Sawyer although Reece was short of Tony his pit man dad this weekend but we took him under the wing for his first solo flight.
Saturday was set aside for practice in a 10 minute run non timed for all then 3 timed runs of 5 minutes with your best time to used for a reseed. For this event Reece & Bren run some new parts which from the start showed great promise, for them it was a great oppertunity having just raced a national the previous week knew what a stock car would perform like. They would continue to run these parts because as the track evolved the balance of the car was very good making the car work better in all aspects of the track. The track started to groove up quickly & on the smooth flowing track meant times would be very close. Bren & Reece had good runs to end up in the top 2 heats with the rest of the team also happy ended up in good heats which would help there passage through qualifying.
Sunday & qualifying day Reece was the top of our pile with a pace good enough easily for TQ if not for some lady luck, several times he was top of the leader board but for his favourite hairpin that cost him several times through out the day but was safe in the semi. Was suprised to see the concrete there on the monday thought it was to mysteriously vanish over night. On the other hand silky smooth Bren would run 3 mistake free runs to secure his semi position, the final 2 rounds more test parts where trialled again showing even more promise.
For Barkley, Christopher & Davy all would secure grids in the 1/8ths so most enjoying good runs & a happy Proline qualifying.
Monday & finals day, with the track still in great shape grooved up & no dirt out of place what more could you wish for. Plenty of wrenching in the pits & tyre glueing kept the team very busy on the run up to the respected finals. Both Barkley & Christopher bumped to the 1/4’s, with Barkley wanting value for money this weekend pulled a demon drive to make the semi, with a grin & smile im sure toughed on the back of his head ( great drive buddy ).
Reece was first out for us in the semi & a great drive kept him 3rd all race till near the end when a back marker did not move when repeatedly told to took him out bumping him to 4th but still a main place.
Bren & Barkley in the other semi would both get good starts, unfortunatelly Barkley flamed out exiting the pits loosing any chance now of progressing. Bren drove another mistake free 20 minutes, his smooth driving style gave an easy 10 minute fuel stop & huge advantage. With a good battle with Graham Alsop all race would take the 4th spot & grid in the main. For the grid it was semi time based & Bren would get his lucky 7 spot & Reece due to the back marker bumped to 11th through times but an hour long main a few meters is nothing.
The Main with all the prestige & photos, hype of the start & 10 minute call due to radio interference yep we had it all. With all the build up again & cars to the line the flag dropped & was off, Bren held station in 7th for the 1st few laps & Reece too, although from what i heard there was plenty of shouting near the back so maybe not so clean there. Reece worked his way through & upto Bren tucking in behind at around the 20 minute point & into the 6/7th spot, both looking very comfy & set for a good finish. Well I hoped but for Bren’s his race was about to change as the car collapsed off a jump crashing relogating him to the back as the marshall was running the other way to another car. From here the car just felt odd & was unable to corner or jump as fast , turned out the shock seal had blown so understandably the pace had gone. Reece on the other hand drove a great race to finish 5th & top of our pile, missing his corner all race I believe great run buddy.
That was it another great event, ran like clockwork all to the thanks of Sponsor CML & Proline with Dave duggan, Race crew of Sue & Kevin Griffin, Diane & Steve Merry, Adrian Svenson & June Perry so thank you for such a great event.
A big thanks to our sponsors Xray, Hudy, Rcdisco, CML, KO, Proline, Byron & Neobuggy for the photo’s etc.
Download Bren’s Setup Sheet – HERE
Thanks to www.neobuggy.net for the images & a great event again!!
