Race #1 was for Can-Ams on the Nuvolari track, which is pretty much the same as it was 25 years ago when I last raced on it. The only change all these years was made when it was resurfaced maybe 20 or so years ago. The finger (turn inside the bank) was made 4" wider in diameter. It still has the tighest turns you will probably see on any slot car track and you will certainly will never see another Engleman 220 like this. The track was squished together to fit between two poles in the original building. It makes for an interesting track that gets a lot more interesting when the marshalls are in place blocking a lot of the turns.
This turn had a 4" smaller diameter when I used to race at Elmsford 30 years ago.
The track has the same "character" as before which did cause a few issues with some cars but which will all be addressed before our next event. Some cars launched on red going into the bank as there is a slight rise on the straight right by the seam, and we all know Engleman seams on 1,000,000-year-old tracks are not super smooth. The cars with a tad extra front clearance had no issues. Lou promised that he will address the minor track issues before the next event, and is really pumped up on retro racing. We have a second race coming up there later in the series and look out for a big race in the spring. Possibly an IM Retro Nationals like his IM Nats they used to hold every year in October.
Seventeen racers showed up to do battle.
On the whole I think the East Coast cars have the nicest presentation.
Concours was up first and we now use the system where all the racers are given a blind ballot to express there choices. When the votes were tallied my Noose painted O/S Ti22 was third, Dean Willis's Eddie Mac O/S Ti22 was 1st, and Noose's beautiful O/S Ti22 was second.
Here is another shot of the 1st and 2nd place bodies.
Noose once again got all the cars teched in record time. Only a couple of drivers had issues with bodies being too thin and a little tape fixed the problem and made no difference to their performance on the track. This was the only new rule I believe for this season and everyone was pretty much legal the first time through tech.
QUALIFYING
Qualifying times where in the 7.5 range until Rob Kurylo ripped off a fine 7.252. Rob's time held for awhile until Matt Bruce did a 7.071 which looked like it might be unbeatable. Jay came close to getting Matt with a 7.085. I had to follow Matt and I guess somewhere in the back of my in my drug fogged brain something from 30 years ago found its way to the finger and turned a 7.033 to cut Matt. I was TQ until the great Wassmerman came up. Andy had been bragging of running under 7 secs. in morning practice and backed it up with a 6.807 after a few laps and he simply pulled his car off to save it.
Andy Wasserman, The first Elmsford retro top qualifier, Elmsford local, national champion, Team Camen member, and close personal friend of Tore Anderson.
A Sit-Outs
Andy Wasserman, 6.807 secs
tonyp, 7.033
Matt Bruce, 7.071
Jay Kisling, 7.085
Rob Kurylo, 7.252
Dean Willis, 7.305
B Sit-Outs, two move-ups to the A
Lou Del Rosario, 7.409 secs
Ray Carlisi, 7.460
Harry Boudreau, 7.519
Jimmy Roselli, 7.578
Noose, 7.582
Marty Pollack, 7.740
C Main, two move-ups to the B
John Molnar, 7.751 secs
Dom Roselli, 7.803
Billy Walker, 8.067
Bruce B., 8.126
Keith Dickson, 8.622
