Our June race at Motown 0n 06/23/2019 fell a week later than our normal race date due to scheduling around Father’s Day. This was the first of our two four race days scheduled for this summer. We use these races to get in an extra run with our 4.5” Stock Cars and also to run our Stock Cars on a flat track without changing our regular rotation.
The race had a somewhat light turnout but we had large enough fields to run all four with only the Stock Car race being a little sparse. All races were run in center six format with 3 minute heats. We used the same entry list from the Can Am race for all races and when a racer was not in a particular race, his name became a “ghost” driver to allow for some turn marshaling help.
This month we had Dave Cummerow as the sole home track racer from Motown. We had Randy Keil, Gary Brown, Richard Matthews, and Chris Crofts from FTH, Gary Hooks and Mark Bauer from Eddies, and Mike Andrews, Herman James, and myself as the “homeless” traveling crew. Finally, we had Tim Neja formerly of Buena Park raceway and now a central California transplant joining us for the first time and acquitting himself very well on these two rather tricky tracks..
We started on the Hillclimb and teched the Can Ams and Pro Coupes at the same time in order to save time later. I was sitting out at first so I watched Herman and Dave run 34 lap heats to start. Gary and Mark started out with 33s but then stepped it up to 34 and 35 lap runs. Herman followed his first heat with alternating 35 and 36 lap runs. Chris had a very fast car and was running 34-35 but he had a mechanical issue and lost a whole heat. Tim was getting used to the challenging sight lines on this track but was consistent in the 33 range.
As the race went along, Herman had a crown gear come loose and although he made a lightning quick repair, he still dropped some laps. In the middle of the race, I ran a 37 and then closed out my race with a 36 and a 35 for a 212 total. Dave stayed steady with 34s and a couple of 35s and came in with 206. Herman followed with 205 and Gary Hooks and Mark followed with 204.
Our next race was for the fast anglewinder coupes. There were several really fast cars in this race (mine included) but I had issues the whole race and was never a factor. Herman ran steady with mostly 38 lap heats and one or two 39s and he finished with a comfortable 229 total. Dave and Chris had similar speed to one another and ran close the whole race with Dave’s experience garnering him a 224 for second. Chris was third at 222.
We switched to the flat Korkscrew track for our F-1 race and Herman and I started our first heats with 37 lap runs. I ran only one heat then went to situouts while the rest of the crew rotated through. Gary Hooks has a good bit of experience on this track and he was running well but he was having quite a tussel with Tim who was in his first race and both guys were running 35s and 36s Mark and Gary have been testing together and he was right in the third place mix as well. I came back in for my last heats and almost immediately developed a problem with the brake knob on my controller. It turns out that I was knocking the knob out of position with the thumb on my non trigger hand and the brakes would go completely away. I identified the problem but it was hard to correct my hand position and the malady struck me again and again through the last two races. Herman continued on with 37s and a couple of 38S and he wrapped up his run with a 225 total. I struggled with the brake thing but managed a 219 for 2nd while Gary Hooks held off Tim and Mark with a 214 to 213 for Tim and 212 for Mark.
Our last race was for Stock Cars also on the flat Korkscrew. For this race, we only had 7 cars and our sitout strategy was a little flawed. I had a good 34 lap run to start but then my brake issues returned and I was never a factor after that. Herman ran a steady 34 lap average throughout and pulled away to a 204 total while Gary H. ran a slowish car very consistently with most heats in the 32-33 range and finishing with 193 for third. Mark was faster but had too many offs and he settled for a 189 and fourth just ahead of Randy with a 185. Mike has gotten pretty fast on this track but didn’t have the handling this time and came in sixth while Richard had a mechanical problem and was seventh.
I should make it clear that the brake issue that I had was not the fault of my controller at all. I was my hand position which allowed my off hand to nudge the knob occasionally and make the brakes go away. This is something that I’m sure I can fix.
Thanks go out to Gene and Jen for their help in race operations and to Dave for setting up all the races. Next month at FTH will also be a four race day with Stock Cars on the Yellow Dragon. Don’t forget, it’s a short turnaround as we go back to our normal 3rd Sunday schedule.
