11 replies to this topic

[Cheater]

The SERRA road show filtered into LaGrange, GA, on Saturday, March 21, for the March series race. Racers from three states who made the jaunt to Raceworld were treated to some of the closest racing we're yet seen at a SERRA event.

Everyone was thrilled to see raceway co-owner Steve Harrington in attendance after his recent sugery. Steve is still pretty uncomfortable and feeling less than 100% and I know I speak for everyone in SERRA in saying how much we appreciate his joining us in that condition. Steve, get well soon!!

The companion class to Can-Am this month was F1 and eleven entries were present. The F1 format is qualifying followed by multiple 4-minute mains, with final standings determined by total laps.





(We missed taking a top shot, but the chassis are what most want to see anyway...)

F1 qualifying results:

1) Raymond Gonzalez - 3.144 secs
2) Tommy Flythe - 3.1584
3) Chad Harrington - 3.1662
4) Lamar McClellan - 3.1833
5) Jay Guard - 3.1986
6) Ralph Thorne - 3.2230
7) Bobby Robinson - 3.2297
8) Joe McIntosh - 3.2683
9) Don Weaver - 3.3256
10) Gary Shepard - 3.3792
11) Alex Harrington - 3.3895

With eleven entries, we ran two Mains, one 5-man and one 6-man.

Results of the first F1 Main:

1) Chad Harrington - 531 laps, best lap of 3.180 secs in purple
2) Don Weaver - 512, 3.180 in white
3) Bobby Robinson - 507, 3.242 in green
4) Raymond Gonzalez - 373, 3.124 in purple
5) Alex Harrington - 372, 3.507 in black
6) Jay Guard - 171 (DNF)

Results of the second F1 Main:

1) Lamar McClellan - 559 laps, best lap of 3.180 secs in yellow
2) Ralph Thorne - 558, 3.180 in yellow
3) Gary Shepard - 550 + 42 sections, 3.289 in orange
4) Tommy Flythe - 550 + 30 sections, 3.180 in yellow
5) Joe McIntosh - 539, 3.290 in black.

Final results of the F1 class:


L to R, Race Director Don Berni, Gary Shepard, Ralph Thorne, Tommy Flythe, Joe McIntosh, Lamar McClellan, lead-on marshal Don Weaver

1) Lamar McClellan - 559 laps
2) Ralph Thorne - 558
3) Gary Shepard - 550 + 41 sections
4) Tommy Flythe - 550 + 30 sections
5) Joe McIntosh - 539
6) Chad Harrington - 531
7) Don Weaver - 512
8) Bobby Robinson - 507
9) Raymond Gonzalez - 373
10) Alex Harrington - 372
11) Jay Guard - 171


L to R, Ralph Thorne, Lamar McClellan, Gary Shepard

Talk about close racing! Only one lap difference between first and second after over 550 laps, with third and fourth on the same lap! Wow!!!

Congrats to Lamar McClellan on his first race win at a SERRA event. Bet it's not his last... as he gets faster every time we see him.

F1 Concours

Best Appearing: Joe "Jobiwan" McIntosh

Most Realistic: Jay Guard




The Can-Am entry total was fifteen racers, including Steve Harrington, who wanted to race even though his strength and stamina are at a low level right now. After qualifying, it was decided to duplicate the F1 race format (rather than have move-ups and a feature race as we have been doing since January) in the interests of shortening the day for the benefit of multiple people in attendance.


SERRA Tech Nazi Jay Guard plies his evil trade in the background.



Can-Am qualifying results:

1) Jay Guard - 2.9949 secs
2) Ralph Thorne - 3.0520
3) Terry Kelly - 3.0769
4) Don Weaver - 3.1119
5) Gary Shepard - 3.1168
6) Joe McIntosh - 3.1258
7) Raymond Gonzalez - 3.1370
8) Chad Harrington - 3.1516
9) Bobby Robinson - 3.1597
10) Lamar McClellan - 3.1608
11) Tommy Flythe - 3.2144
12) Steve Saunders - 3.2155
13) Mike Fausett - 3.2535
14) Alex Harrington - 3.4238
15) Steve Harrington - 3.5667

This is probably the tightest Can-Am qualifying we've seen. A mere .165 of a second covers the first TEN qualifiers!!!

It was great to have Terry Kelly join us again. He says he's having a lot of fun running retro, as he doesn't have any of the responsibilities that go along with racing in his AMSRA series. I know just what you mean, Terry.

Results of the first Can-Am Main:

1) Ralph Thorne - 573 laps + 56 sections, best lap of 3.080 in purple
2) Chad Harrington - 573 + 53 sections, 3.130 in orange
3) Lamar McClellan - 563, 3.179 in purple
4) Joe McIntosh - 554, 3.129 in black
5) Don Weaver - 539, (listed BL was rider)
6) Steve Saunders - 509, 3.180 in blue
7) Alex Harrington - 427, 3.240 in purple

Can the racing get any closer? Ralph bested Chad by just three very small sections after almost 575 laps of racing. Incredible!!!

Results of the second Can-Am Main:

1) Jay Guard - 581 laps, best lap of 3.070 in red
2) Raymond Gonzalez - 579, 3.019 in red
3) Terry Kelly - 545 + 46 sections, 3.068 in black
4) Bobby Robinson - 545 + 38 sections, 3.180 in blue
5) Tommy Flythe - 542, (listed BL was rider)
6) Gary Shepard - 532, 3.131 in black
7) Steve Harrington - 500, 3.349 in purple (relief driver Eddie Lawley replaced Steve mid-race)
8) Mike Fausett - 357, 3.290 in yellow

Another amazingly tight race, with Jay barely edging out Raymond Gonzalez. Speedy has really stepped up his program in recent races (along with several others I could mention). Great run, Speedy!

Final results of the Can-Am class:

1) Jay Guard - 581 laps
2) Raymond Gonzalez - 579
3) Ralph Thorne - 573 + 56 sections
4) Chad Harrington - 573 + 53 sections
5) Lamar McClellan - 563
6) Joe McIntosh - 554
7) Terry Kelly - 545 + 46 sections
8) Bobby Robinson - 545 + 38 sections
9) Tommy Flythe - 542
10) Don Weaver - 539
11) Gary Shepard - 532
12) Steve Saunders - 509
13) Steve Harrington/Eddie Lawley - 500
14) Alex Harrington - 427
15) Mike Fausett - 357


L to R, Ralph Thorne, Jay Guard, Raymond Gonzalez

Can-Am Concours

Best Appearing: Raymond "Speedy" Gonzales

Most Realistic: Don Weaver


L to R, Don Weaver, Raymond Gonzalez




It is really great how the racing in SERRA events continues to get tighter and tighter with each stop we make. If you're a slot racer in the area, do yourself a favor and give retro racing SERRA-style a try. You are guaranteed to like it, if you like your slot racing highly competitive and just plain fun.

Our next SERRA event, #13, will be at Cordle Model Speedway on April 18, 2009. Come join us!

[LindsayB]

Good to see you guys still racing. I wish I was there.

[Richie]

Congrats to everyone on what looks like some really great racing!!!

[jdracer]

This is one I wish I was still around to attend... Glad to see the turn-out is getting better and better with every race.

I miss racing with you guys, but I am there in spirit... keep up with the great coverage of a great series for the SE...

I really wish there were a few tracks closer to me here in Idaho... I'm still gonna do my painting and building for when a track opens up close... but in the meantime I plan to get into R/C racing and race my T-Maxx and am in the process of getting a 1/8 scale buggy, both nitro powered...

So this is a big hello to all of ya and I do miss racing and crashing those little toy cars with ya'll.

Jim "Bone" Dalton

[Raceworld61]

Just wanted to personally thank Don Berni for the race directing this past Saturday. It was some of the most consistent race directing we have run under in a long time. I know our Slot Nazi, Shirley Harrington, does well at calling the races. But, you brought a level of evenness to the competition level. Something that a bunch of us racers have looked for, for quite some time. I look forward to racing under your direction again and again.

Chad

PS: I loved the true digital countdown for the SERRA Red Flag Rule.

['Slots of Fun']

Thanks for the kind words, Chad! It was my pleasure.

V/R,
Don

[Jay Guard]

Don:

I want to second Chad's remarks, that was your best, most consistent set of races yet.

THANKS and Keep up the GREAT work, we all appreciate it.

[Cheater]

And I want to suggest that every SERRA racer shake Don's hand and thank him the next time they see him.

Don is doing SERRA a tremendous and unique service: he's performing as the sole race director for a traveling series. If that's been done before, I am not aware of it.

Thanks, Don, for potentially making slot car history and for your dedication in making SERRA racing better and better,

[Ralph Thorne]

Will there be some pictures for this thread?

[Cheater]

Yes, Ralph, there will be when I can get to them.

[Ralph Thorne]

Awesome! You must stay busy with one of those J O B things.

[Cheater]

I've finally added the pics for SERRA #12 at Raceworld in LaGrange. Check the first post in this thread.

Here are some miscellaneous shots that are worth posting.


Here are the very nice plaques Raceworld awarded to the winners.


This is the first F1 main, being marshaled by the racers of the second main.


First Can-Am main, with several racers obviously in the pits. L to R, Alex Harrington, Bobby Robinson, Chad Harrington, and Don Weaver. The disgusted demeanors suggess they've all wrecked in the donut...


L to R, Speedy Gonzalez and Don Weaver. Don't let their kind grandfatherly looks fool you, this is a pair of fast racers and talented builders.


Joe "Jobiwan" McIntosh and his well-organized pit boxes.


Jay Guard, who exemplifies that old adage about a neat desk being the indication of a sick mind. LOL!!!


Jay's either coating his front tires with polish or he's repairing a split nail...

Thanks to Don Berni for handling the camera work until I could arrive on-site.