Solo racing - Trans Am Challenge, Race #2

[chappy]

This is proving to be a very challenging series . The reverse order is a great idea and seems to help keep things interesting.
Congrats to Von and Artus and Barc on their current top 3 positioning.
I sense things are a long way from being over, and in fact are just starting to heat up .
Very exciting formula.
Thanks Slot head for the excellent reporting
Bob

[Pepsi62]

The SCX Cuda is showing it's capable of taking it to the Pioneer's and scaley's.. :music-rockout:
congrats to the podium getters, this is a fun series and love the reverse grid start, sure keeps it interesting and gives everyone a fair crack
thanks Slothead
Team Cuda Australia

[slothead]

Even though doing this type of racing is why I built a road course and acquired full fields of replica Trans Am and Le Mans type cars, this is the first time I'm actually doing a series. It's fun to see a race unfold and cars gaining or losing positions. Also enjoying the competition between types of cars (Camaro, Mustang, Firebird,...) and (Scalextric, Pioneer, SCX). I thought the Pioneer Mustangs might dominate but the Vonsirius & Artus Scalextric Camaros are impressive, as is CJR's Javelin.

Solo racing isn't what it used to be.

Slothead

[BARC 1]

BARC Racing Headquarters



No there is nothing wrong with Third, but we want to win


After a much needed vacation the BARC management team is getting up to speed on what has transpired in the Trans am Action.

Needless to say we are very pleased with the podium consistency of the Ford. Looks like this will be a tightly contested series, and we must continue with the consistent performance. Focus now will be to try to squeak some more speed out of the chassis to get us to a higher step.

Well done to the drivers for getting the BARC Mustang in the top 3.

[arroldn]

Seems I made a mistake in requesting that switch from the Cuda to the Challenger. What's up with that Challenger? Seems to like following the pack. Oh well.


Arrold

[slothead]

Trans Am Challenge – race # 3 report:

July was spent attending reunions and a very fancy wedding - but now it's back to racing!

After points were awarded for race 2, the standings were (pts):

1) Vonsirius - #13 Camaro (23 pts)
2) Artus - #40 Camaro (21 pts)
3) CJR - #1J Javelin (20 pts)
4) BARC1 - #22 Mustang (20 pts)
5) Chappy - # 28 Mustang (19 pts)
6) Pepsi62 - #42 Cuda (16 pts)
7) CARacing - #8 Firebird (12 pts)
8) TL racing - #41 Cougar (9 pts)
9) RMS racing - #2 Mustang (9 pts)
10) Tusco Todd - #1 Camaro (6 pts)
11) Hksks25 - #19 Camaro (6 pt)
12) Arroldn - #77 Challenger (3 pts)

During pre-race preparation the teams in points positions 9 – 12 were allowed to tune their cars.

Reminiscent of an oval track racing format used for special events, it was decided to split race 3 into a two race event, each 20 laps long. Half points will be awarded for each shorter race with the sum being the overall result for race #3. Also, a variable that determines how closely cars in a no-passing section can follow each other, which had been turned off in races 1 & 2, was reset to its nominal value as used in prior simulations. Generally speaking, cars exiting a no-passing section must now be 0.02 seconds apart. This value was determined by timing corner exit spacing from YouTube Trans Am videos.

The points standings were inverted to set the starting order for race #3A, with the #77 Challenger of Arroldn on the pole and the #13 Camaro of Vonsirius starting in 12th.

The Challenger of Arroldn got off to a strong start and proved to be tough to get by in a race with very little passing. The exception was CHR’s Javelin that started 10th but followed the Mustang of BARC1 past Pepsi62’s Cuda on lap 5, passed BARC1 on lap 7, then surged past Chappy, Tusco Todd, and CARacing on lap 8 to get to 5th place. However, the torrid pace of CJR’s Javelin caught up with it on lap 9 when it spunout and lost 8 positions. This left the outcome of the race in the hands of the cars that started up front.

RMS racing’s Mustang capitalized on the Javelin’s misfortune. Having already passed Tusco Todd to moved into 3rd on lap 2, it latched onto the rear bumper of Hksk25’s Camaro and finally made the pass for 2nd place on the back straight on lap 14. The winning pass came a lap later when the RMS Mustang took over the lead from Arroldn’s Challenger. This was the last pass of the 20 lap race during which passing was limited by both the shortened format and by the spacing imposed on cars in no-passing sections.

The finishing order was: 1) RMS racing, 2) Arroldn, 3) Hksk25, 4) TL racing, 5) CARacing, 6) Chappy, 7) BARC1, 8) Artus, 9) Vonsirius, 10) CJR, 11) Pepsi62, 12) Tusco Todd.

Half points were award for race #3A and the order inverted to set the starting grid for race #3B.

Tusco Todd started on the pole with Arroldn, Hksk25, TL racing, and CARacing rounding out the top 5 positions. Once again there was very little passing overall, with CJR in the #1J Javelin being the exception. From the 8th place starting position CJR passed the Pepsi62 for 7th on lap 2, RMS racing for 6th on lap 3, CARacing & TL racing on lap 6, and Hksk25 & Arroldn on lap 7 to get to 2nd place. At this point things were going very much as they did in Race #3A, only this time the Javelin stayed in the groove and got by Tusco Todd’s Camaro on lap 9 for the lead and drove away for the win.

In a race with only 9 passes, CJR’s Javelin made 7 of them on it’s way to the front. The other 2 passes occurred on lap 12 when CARacing’s Firebird got by the Cougar of TL racing for 5th position and Artus drove his Camaro past BARC1’s Mustang to finish in 10th place.

The finishing order for race #3B was: 1) CJR, 2) Tusco Todd, 3) Arroldn, 4) Hksk25, 5) CARacing, 6) TL racing, 8) Pepsi62, 9) Chappy, 10) Artus, 11) BARC1, 12) Vonsirius.

Points standings after 3 races: 1) CJR (29 pts), Vonsirius (25.5), 3) Artus (25), 4) Chappy (24.5), 5) BARC1 (24), 6) CARacing (20), 7) Pepsi62 (19.5), 8) RMS racing (19.5), 9) TL racing (17), 10) Hksk25 (15.5), 11) Arroldn (14), 12) Tusco Todd (12.5)

Race #4 will return to the full 40 lap format. Race #5 will have shortened A & B segments.

[BARC 1]

The BARC effort in the Tran Am series seems to be going backwards. We need to talk to the Ford guys and find out what is wrong with the Mustang. A very disappointing result is not moving us up in the standings

We still are looking for a good chassis man to replace Feathers, and I take full blame for not have hired the guy we need to help sort this Ford out.

[arroldn]

Glad to see the Challenger moving up the field. Let's go Team MOPAR.

Arrold

[dreinecke]

I knew better than to pick a Ford ;)

Fun stuff!

[texasleaguer]

We here at TL Racing being dedicated to automotive over exuberance have decided to reopen the race shop and get our equipment out of hock. The team decided some wholesale changes are required. We will be replacing/changing everything on the car that our 'buck-sixty two' budget can cover. Our driver has redeemed himself for the 'hot dog' faux pa by treating the team to an all you can eat buffet at the local Waffle House. However, he used TL Racing's petty cash, which in TL's case is the race budget, so the Cougar's wholesale changes will be limited to a radiator cap and a new cup holder for the driver. The team felt this was the right thing to do since he treated us to the Waffle House.

[BARC 1]

BARC manager was in touch with the FORD engineers today. Candid photo's just in. When asked for more info all that we got was, "no comment".( Isn't that what WTF stands for?)

[BARC 1]

With the recent performance of the BARC Mustang, and after recent dialogue with the Ford engineers, BARC has stepped up its efforts to get their own chassis man.

Clarke

"We can no longer afford to wait for things to work themselves out with the Ford Mustang. We must take Dramatic action and on that note I have hired Peter Dinklage to step in a take over the chassis program. Working with a Factory Ford will be challenging, but the limited options available will also be a good start for Peter to get up to speed on where we are at and where we need to be. Working with Peter in other areas has proven to be rewarding and satisfying. He knows what I find acceptable, and in this regard we are ahead on the game. He will be my hand in all things related to the TransAm effort. He is cunning and proven to keep calm when heads are rolling around him. We need him at his best to get this ship turned around".



When asked about the new role, he commented, "the last guy who had the job was a chicken, although I have my suspicions about that!




Regardless the job is known to be a real hair puller as the picture evidence shows

[vonsirius]

Here at Vonsirius Racing ltd. want to ask BARC racing for a little respect when talk about our chief engineer.

Not to be leading the Trans Am series as we do, it´s no excuse.

Yours;
Vonsirius Racing.

[BARC 1]

BARC Research Center

After race inspection has determined traces of herring were found in the BARC /Ford TransAm Mustang. Ford engineers working along side BARC personnel are at a loss to explain what might have happened.

"It is a mystery as to how herring would have found its way into our racing fluids. We have our suspicions, and are following up on this new information. We are looking into the suppliers QC, but are also looking for something more sinister and are looking at the things we know.

Who has a grudge against BARC racing?
Who has access to the paddock area?
Who has the technical ability to hit us where it hurts?

And finally who has the ability to get fresh herring?

The final question has us doubting our original assumptions. Let us just say that chickens are not known to be very proficient swimmers and have little access to the type of herring found in the fluids.

The investigation continues.

[chappy]

This series is going very Well and the points spread is evidence of some very tight racing . The Chappy Mustang will endeavor to make up the 4 and a half point deficit
To CJR. But not forgetting the prowess of Hksk who like Happy Harvick , sneaks up on you when least expected.
Good racing Boys
Bob