AF-RF1 Post Race - Rockem Sockem

[Ced Collins]

Rockem Sockem Robots - Anyone old enough to remember those. This track reminded me of those for some reason. Not because there was carnage but because you were constantly busy. No time to get bored or rest here. Everyone did well with traffic and it was non stop. Well got my issues with the controller solved it seems with another OS rebuild and was able to get a run with the new Mazda physics under her belt. Under powered but handled well. Driver MONDO errors. I found that stupid street light on the left side of the track 3 TIMES and had to pit for damage. Did my best Joey Chitwood (another throw back name) after bouncing off the curb going down the hill...lol. The track was fun but so many places that could bit you if you weren't paying attention...lol.

[greds04]

Well I knew this race was going to have it's moments

Qualifying went better than I expected, Terry and Paul pulled last minute cracking times but we were all in the same range.

The race...oh boy, that didn't go as well as qualifying, I was down in fourth I believe from the line, and then I got tapped at the second turn, I got back onto the track about 8th or 9th, I'm not entirely sure but it was around that position.

I continued my run up the field, leadsled and Charlie were having their own fight when I caught up with them, looked like Leadsled caught that horrible concrete tire wall on the outside of the third corner, and I don't remember how I got past Charlie.

I gradually made my way up to 4th and I think I was chasing Tom for 3rd, when I went to the inside line for the last hairpin and I was hoping that he would do what everyone to that point had done (which was go wide, or slide the back end out a little and get bad traction coming out)....nope, when I thought he was going to the right for a wide line entry I was moving to the left for the inside when he was suddenly moving to the middle of the road which ended up with me giving him a tap, I feel terrible for what happened at that corner, and I have already expressed my apologies to Tom via email (I didn't see his post at the time of sending the email though).

So now I'm back where I started, I didn't think I would catch either Paul or Terry, but when I saw the notice that Terry went for his stop, and I had traffic ahead of me at the hairpin, I went for my stop as well. Terry must have been there getting repairs since I ignored mine and just got tires and fuel, and then made it out ahead of Terry for third, which eventually turned into second when someone else pitted.

I just thrashed the car for all it was worth to open up a gap between myself and Terry, and trying to make the most of the back markers and passing on the corners so they would be more trouble for Terry to try and get around on the high speed sections (since everyone had pretty much the same top end).

I'm glad I was able to catch up and fight for 2nd and 3rd, but I'm not entirely happy with how the race turned out for Tom, so this one is a very hollow 2nd for me.

[blackcat77]

I had a great time in this race -- seemed like it only took about 20 minutes or so because there was constant action. Terry and Dave just checked out on me at the start but I knew what lap speeds I could turn without getting myself in trouble and avoided the temptation to start flinging the car around because that's doom at this track sooner or later. I guess Terry was running medium tires because I was starting to reel him in a little by the end of the first segment, and when he pulled in, I went right behind him. I was on hards and didn't need new tires and in the end, that was the difference.

Dave, I was sorry to read about you leaving the race again -- you're having a real run of tough luck. Greg, sorry about the contact -- I didn't zig when you expected to and, crunch. Hope there was no damage for you -- I was fine. Susan, we were like Fred and Ginger when you looped it but no contact at all. That was my Yee Hah! moment of the race.

This was a really tough track and it seemed like everybody did very well considering the circumstances. I knew this was going to be just like Bristol and that's what it felt like. Conventional passing opportunities were very rare but one little twitch on exit and you could get by -- made for a great race.

[Greg 'GP' Haley]

i would like to apologize to both gary and jb i'm responsible for that at t2/lap1
you two were on the inside and i didn't heed my teammates 'easy on cold tires' recommendation. locked up under braking (not far enough) outside, clipping gary and him into jb. missed pit-in first time round messing with the lcd and lost lots more time on top of the 3 mins of repairs. 'kissed' the wall at maybe 20mph head on and all that damage--a balsa wood lola?

still had fun playing catch up -3laps
awesome track--great job paul and anyone else on the lead lap!!

[greds04]

No problem Greg, just a racing accident.

was your car crabbing I noticed from a distance it looked like it was at an angle, but going past it was going in a straight line?

[DaveS]

I was running behind Trev in P2 and gave the car a bit too much throttle coming out of a corner and spun it. Didn't hit anything and waited until Paul and any other traffic had passed to get back on track. Well I got it back onto the track and was determined to catch back up to Paul so I put my head down and l floored it and off I went at light speed. But I had one small problem, there was a tight left hander coming up and with the very large BRAIN FART[/size] I was having I didn't realize or consider that I was going way to fast to turn the car or brake hard enough and proceeded to drive my beautiful MGLola right into the outside wall and wrecked it!!!!

What a doofuss![/color]

Congrat's to Paul on his win and to the rest of the podium.

DaveS ;D

[Ced Collins]

Yeah Dave, that's not like you at all... ;D

Well Brianza should be interesting to say the least. Time to break out the P1's