Sunday the 11th of July saw Rnd 4 of the UK SRS series, the venue was Herts
which over these last few years has grown into one of the best dirt tracks
in the UK.
The hot dry weather over this last month has baked the surface
rock hard so it does not wear or deteriorate, but leaves a flat surface
that is very predictable & great to race on although gives a high tyre wear
but is a small price to pay for the pleasure.
Some 90 odd drivers attended this meeting meaning the competition would be fierce even with some of the
pro’s away at the Euro’s. Team Xray was pretty depleted for this event so it was
Bren left flying the flag for our corner but was happy & confident with the car.
Rnd 1 & typically at these events an extra 4 minutes is given before the
start on the first run as a warm up to learn the track as time is to short &
does not allow for a true practice or re seed . The out laps where fast & a
good run but for two errors cost Bren dear so he went 6th in round. I knew I
was up against it as I found out that most of the top runners had been
running on the track most evenings that week so knew it like the back of
there hands. The balance of my car felt good so only a tyre change on the
cards & hopefully a mistake free run.
Rnd 2 the tyres worked a dream & the mistake free part was spot on, the
slower car in front I had not planned for & this lost time at the beginning
with a slower car holding me up till I passed so had to settle for 2nd in
round ½ a second of tq, if only but we can all say but if.
Rnd 3 with a main place guaranteed tried a different setup to normal & this
just released the car further making it feel on rails taking tq in that round by 5 seconds.
For the main knew I just had to be patient & bide my time & get around the
first few turns clean, this I did & got away clean braking away from the
field with local wizard to the track Mark Tatman. The battle with Mark was
great where he led just up to the half way point & only fuel stop at 10
minutes, just prior to the stop I took the lead & with a quick re fill
gained a few seconds & a small buffer. The gap stayed at 5 seconds until 2
minutes to go where Mark closed the gap & was just on my tail, from here I
just shut up shop knowing he would have to work hard & go around the outside
to make any pass. As hard as he tried there was no way through which
eventually forced him into an error 3 turns from home allowing me to relax &
cruise the last few turns & take the Win.
1 Brennan Ralls 29/20m 28.67 42.37 Xray 808 OS Speed
2 Mark Tatman 29/20m 34.00 42.55 losi 8ight2.0 eu Nitrotec R21
3 Mark Stiles 28/20m 11.74 43.28 Losi Eight 2.0 Aplha
4 Oli O’Connor 28/20m 20.88 43.6 Xray 808 OS Speed
5 Mark Tarrier 28/20m 34.80 44.1 losi 8ight2.0 eu novarossi plus 21-4t
6 Nick Hill 28/20m 36.58 44.16 Mugen MBX6 RB
7 Darren Hayden-ball 28/20m 42.19 44.36 losi 8ight2.0 eu Nitrotec R21
8 Pete Stevens 27/20m 17.59 45.1 Mugen MBX6 OS Speed
9 Karl Jackson 26/18m 25.97 42.54 Mugen MBX6 Nitrotec R21
10 Steve Johnson 26/20m 14.72 46.72 Mugen MBX6 novarossi plus 21-4t
11 Janos Nagy 23/17m 41.64 46.16 losi 8ight2.0 eu Aplha
12 Simon Turner 18/13m 30.56 45.03 Kyosho MP-9 orion
13 Jim Thompson 14/11m 3.10 47.36 Losi Eight 2.0 Novarossi
14 Michael Waller 9/ 6m 31.85 43.54 Kyosho MP-9 Sirio
Set up sheet
http://forum.teamxray.com/xform/index.php?act=view&ID=1349&setup=xb808
An enjoyable race & fitting end to a great day & track thanks Herts.
Thanks also to Xray, Hudy, RC Disco, KO, Piraterc, Custom blitz
Thanks to www.piraterc.com for the images
