4 replies to this topic

[Ken Bryan]

OK, the numbers for the day are 20, 18, 14, 12, and 128.

 

20

 

As in the number of years since retro racing started in Southern California in 2006.  Per the post from Peter LaBarba, Piranha Raceway will be hosting an anniversary race in two weeks celebrating 20 years of "D3" retro racing.  The Northwest Retro Racing League was built on this foundation.  I personally had the opportunity to be at Buena Park 5 times during those first 3 years.  Never made it out of the "B" main, but cherish the memories of being with DeLespinay, Warmack, Steube, and so many others. 

 

18

 

As in the number of years the Northwest Retro Racing League has been operational.  During that period we have had races on 3 different tracks in 4 different locations.  For most years, we have had the luxury of racing on 2 alternate tracks, and have routinely drawn racers from 100 miles or more away.

 

14

 

As in the number of years our current racing venue (Palouse Slots and Hobbies) has been in operation.  Owner Leroy is looking forward to doing a special event to celebrate his 15th anniversary next spring.

 

12

 

As in the number of racers who showed up on this delightful spring day to match skills against one another on 2 well-prepared courses.

 

128

 

As in the new track record number of laps set later in the day.  Read on to see why that is significant.

[Ken Bryan]

Stock Cars on the Red Track

 

As always, we begin with the slowest cars and steadily work to the fastest, alternating tracks as we go.  All of our rules started out mirroring D3, but when it stopped publishing rules there was a period where we could not consistently track what was legal for them (primarily bodies and motors), we adopted our own set.  This class is the one where we vary the most from IRRA, allowing a much more raceable car for our flat tracks.  As you can see, we allow anglewinders, have no weight minimum, and allow much more aerodynamic bodies.

 

Results:

 

Robert Clements is, in general, the man to beat on any given race day, and he laid down the gauntlet early in this month's race, posting the fastest lap in every lane and winning by a comfortable 6-lap margin that was never really in doubt.  Tri-Cities area racers (that would be the adjoining towns of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland) Bruce Schmitt and Tim Gray battled it out for second, finishing just a few feet apart.

 

A couple of veteran racers, Tom Brown and John Wimett, had significant car trouble.  John had to complete the race in a backup car.  But for the most part the racing was smooth and clean.

 

Totals:

 

1.  Robert Clements         151 laps

2.  Bruce Schmitt              145

3.  Tim Gray                      145 

 

4.  Leroy Sanders             140 

5.  Paul Dwyer                  137

6.  Ken Bryan                    132

 

7.  Shiggy Person             126

8.  Wes Spencer               122

9.  Dave Cueller                122

 

10.  Walt Hough                118

11.  John Wimett               116

12.  Tom Brown                 114

 

The Cars:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken Bryan]

Formula Cars on the Blue Track

 

After the first race we moved to formula cars on the older, and slightly longer, blue track.  This track is a particular challenge for formula cars, because it was built with 3.5" lane spacing, which almost guarantees some open wheel with touch and a car will go airborne at least some time during the race.  Since it is much more difficult to pass, it is hard to build up much of a lead, as drivers are forced to follow for a bit and either wait for a de-slot or find just the right time to pass.

 

In the first race, 6 laps separated first and second.  But in this race 6 laps separated positions one and six!  Robert's win was in doubt, but he manage to pull it out by a single lap.  The 3-way tie for the final podium position was settled by less than 10 feet, and Paul and John were separated by an inch.  But in the very end, the podium was the same 3, in the same order.

 

1.  Robert Clements         118 laps

2.  Bruce Schmitt              117

3.  Tim Gray                      115 

4.  Paul Dwyer                  115

5.  John Wimett                 115

6.  Ken Bryan                    112

 

7.  Leroy Sanders             105

8.  Tom Brown                   101

9.  Wes Spencer               100

10.  Dave Cuellar                98

11.  Walt Hough                  95

 

12.  Shiggy Person             63 DNF

 

The Cars:

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken Bryan]

Can Am -- The "quintessential" D3 Class

 

After a delightful lunch laid out by our lovely hostess Cheryl (a vast array of chesses and cold cuts on massive hoagie rolls, followed by ice cream treats), it was back to the final two classes.

 

For those interested in our schedule, we generally start practice at 9:00 and race beginning at 11.  Lunch will usually be around 1, and we are headed home by perhaps 4:30 or so, depending on turnout and issues that arise.  This is great, since most of us drive between 1 and 3 hours to get here.

 

This is only our second race date of the year, and Robert won 2 of the four races.  But now with 2 wins under his belt, and some of his best classes coming up, would one of the more "local" racers make it a clean sweep?

 

Um...can you say "home track advantage?"

 

Even though Robert has the opportunity to practice weekly on this track, there is something to be said for being the track owner and builder.  And track owner Leroy Sanders said it, pulling out a 2 lap victory to deny Robert the clean sweep.  In fact, Robert BARELY managed second, besting Tim Gray by a few feet and Tim would wind up holding his third consecutive 3 place for the day.

 

On every race day, it seems like one or two racers have a dark cloud that hangs over them all day.  On this particular day it would be Shiggy Person and John Wimett.  In this race John had his second round of car trouble, pulling his car in frustration.  Shiggy almost drove the rest of us crazy with a gear that had bad mesh, which got progressively more loud and annoying.  He finally pulled it and made adjustments.  It didn't help.  Mercifully, we all survived with hearing intact.  At least I think that is what people said...

 

Results

 

1.  Leroy Sanders            144 laps

2  Robert Clements         142 

3.  Tim Gray                     142

4.  Bruce Schmitt             138  6 laps separate the top 4

 

5.  Ken Bryan                  133

6.  Paul Dwyer                 131

7   Walt Hough                 129

8.  Wes Spencer              127

9  Tom Brown                   126

10.  Dave Cuellar             125  8 laps separate the next 6

 

11. Shiggy Person             111  (32 in red, a 128 pace, before gear issues)

12. John Wimett                  89  (had 36 in red, a 144 pace, before car trouble)

 

The Cars

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken Bryan]

Coupes -- Final Class

 

Remember that 128 number that I said I would get to later?

 

Well, some time in the last couple of years Leroy began posting the lap record for each class for each of the 2 tracks.  Most of the records are held by Chance Overholt, a top regional racer and operator of the new, multi-track, commercial-style raceway in the Tri-Cities.

 

Usually, these records will stand for a while, then someone will have the perfect combination of car and race day, and break the record, typically by a lap or two.

 

Well, last race, Robert put his car on the track and proceeded not only to run away, winning the race by 10 laps, and set the fastest time in every lane (from 5.144 to 5.255, with nearest competitors in 5.4 and 5.5 range).  He also obliterated the track record, previously set at 120, by 8 laps!!!

 

He did have a little help.  Three cars withdrew along the way, so only 9 finished and there were often empty lanes.  Tom Brown elected to sit out this race.  John Wimett had his third mechanical issue of the day, this time something inexplicably lodged in his lane, and retired after 5 laps.  Tim Gray, after 3 consecutive podiums, had ongoing issues and pulled his car early.

 

In addition, the track was in great condition.  Second and third place finishers were both within 2 laps of the former record as well.

 

So in the end, it was Robert Clements, winning his 3rd race of the day, Bruce Schmitt, finishing second for the 3rd time, and Paul Dwyer, driving an inspired race to collect his first podium of the day and second of the season in this class.

 

Results

 

1.  Robert Clements         128 laps, new track record

2.  Bruce Schmitt              118

3.  Paul Dwyer                  118

4.  Leroy Sanders             117

 

5.  Ken Bryan                    113

6.  Dave Cueller                111

7.  Shiggy Person             106

 

8.  Walt Hough                   99

9  Wes Spencer                 98

 

10.  Tim Gray                     67  DNF

11.  John Wimett                 5   DNF

 

 

The Cars: