TransAm proxy race - class U2 - UK race.

[LloydL]

Patience Chuck!

I am having difficulty in getting the page to display results in the manner that I would like to so, for now, here is the basic info which I will show more formally later:

Fastest lap of the day:

1 Datsun 6.43 seconds

2 Mini 6.44 "

3 Escort 6.67 "

4 Alfa 6.97 "

5 Imp 7.21 "

6 Volvo 7.24 "

7 Cortina 7.45 "

8 SAAB 8.12 "


THE RESULTS OF THE 2013 1/43 HISTORIC TRANSAM U2 PROXY (average laptime over 20 laps)


1 MINI (Peter) 7.80 seconds The Winner!

2 Datsun (Marc) 8.35 "

3 Alfa (Marc) 8.40 "

4 Escort (Lloyd) 8.45 "

5 Volvo (Lloyd) 8.65 "

6 Imp (Lloyd) 8.85 "

7 SAAB (Marc) 8.95 "

8 Cortina (Lloyd) 9.75 "

Congratulations Peter, well deserved, but oh so much closer than it looks on paper!

Full report to follow.

Regards, Lloyd

[Datto]

Wild!
Congratulations Peter!

Thanks Lloyd, Martin, and Bazz :)

Looking forward to the writeup.

[Guildman]

My feet are still aching, folks, but Bazz and I had a great day, driving some little gems, all in their separate ways. Much more fun than boring old 32nd RTRs!
So quick and smooth too. The Mini was something else, although the wispy pick-ups were troublesome to set up for 20 laps. But when it went well, it flew!
The Datsun was so smooth, but one bend had me tripping off to the Snetterton cafe, a place I knew very well as Snetterton was my first ever race meeting (24th April, 1964).
The little SAAB was a joy to drive. By far the slowest up the longish straights, but as you can see, by no means the slowest overall.
I liked the Imp, because ...I like Imps and because it was a right little growler, but occasionally ran a bit sick, but then picked up again.
What I thought so significant was the way these cars, all of them, ran and handled on VERY narrow tyres, scotching what most would think to be a restricting point. It appeared to make no difference. The Mini was, after all on half HO tyres!
Anglewinders were very smooth and plastic (Artin?) gears were almost silent.
Bazz and I drove their little nuts off in a bid to be fair to all of you and I don't think we could get any more out of them.
Thanks for trusting them to us and to Lloyd for a very enjoyable day, after which my dear bride did me a surprise steak au poivre! Poifick!

Marc, your little 3D and piano wire chassis are excellent! But it's that spring mount that must be the big difference.

Cheers,
Martin

[LloydL]

[Datto]

Thanks for the photos! Sounds like a fun day at the track :) Windshield is no problem.

[LloydL]

In retrospect, I am quite grateful that the first proxy stage that I have held on one of my tracks had a fairly small field of 8 cars, as it was one steep learning curve for me. And I cant wait for the next one!

What was lacking in quantity was certainly made up in quality, especially among the visiting cars. If there were to be a concours de elegance I would be hard pushed to pick one from Peter's fabulous Mini and Marc's superb SAAB 96, Alfa Romeo and the beautiful Datsun. As well as looks they all have interesting and very well prepared running gear.

Yes, there were a few minor adjustments to brushes and the occasional crown, but nothing we wouldnt get at any running session on any clubnight.

The main area that can be improved on is our lateness in actually starting the serious bit of running the proxy. The reason? Not lateness of the crew, Martin and Bazz were at my house at 11am as agreed. No, it was mainly that we were enjoying ourselves while they got used to the track and the cars, neither of which they had seen before, and chatting and not watching the clock enough!

The 20 lap runs did not start until 4pm, but were completed by 5 with ease. It was the fastest lap runs that were done earlier in the afternoon that took the most time, carefully fettling each car to attempt to get it running at it's best. The two that were most determined not to run at their best were my Cortina and Imp, though they were eventually coaxed to keep running for 20 laps in succession!

I should point out that my previous best laptime on this track was 7.27, so it does show how good these proxy cars, and the drivers, were on the day!

Now for the cars! What were they like? Taken in finishing order:

Mini!

This little car had much in common with the many small birds enjoying the glorious summer's day out in the garden, in that it weighed nothing at all and flew! Although I didnt drive on the day, I was lucky enough to drive these cars during the week when I was on my own and there was no deadline to meet.
With it's low mounted HO style Fyrebox boxer motor, this car had a fair degree of magnetic attraction to my plastic Carrera GO track, the only non wood track in the series. Because of this magnetic effect it handled like it was on rails and lapped a full second under my previous fastest lap. But when it reached its limit of adhesion it would let go and spin rapidly with little or no warning! There was never any risk of damage to the car as the track is flat with plenty of run off area. But it was this sharp cut off line that made it difficult to lap at or near its best speed consistantly and lost it time overall.
A fantastic little car that was a lot of fun to drive.

Datsun.

This car was deceptively quick when driven smoothly! It did it's best times when apparently cruising, and the times dropped off when it was pushed harder. Delightful to drive and so smooth and quiet, as were all of Marc's cars! It's only bad habit was that it frequently drove in through the front of my balsa wood cafe!

Reminder to self, move cafe or fit some soft obstructions on that bend!

Alfa Romeo.

With all that was going on we hardly noticed the Alfa! It did what it says on the tin. Without much fuss or bother it quietly finished 3rd!
It looks great and runs well when it counts, another great car from Marc!

Escort.

In complete contrast to the Alfa, my Escort lets you know it's there and demands attention. Yes it can do qiuck laptimes, but the driver has to be on his toes with this one. I have a lot of fun with this car in my own driving sessions, but it is either putting in an impressive laptime or heading off through the scenery at great speed. It does not have the docile handling needed to run 20 consistant laps with no excursions.

Volvo. In the 1990s. I drove a Volvo 120 Amazon for work for a couple of years, and the odd thing is that this model feels like the 1/1 car to drive. It is heavy and smooth and feels comfortable not being pushed to its limits. In this company I was pleased with it's performance.

Imp. This Imp has a similar motor position to the mini and shares a good amount of magnetic traction. During the previous week it was second only to the mini in unofficial practice and, if anything, was a little less nervous in it's handling. But come the big day it had the grumps! It did not hit form all day. Never a quiet car, it sounded like a tractor and went like one as well. Never mind, I am sure it is something minor and will be soon sorted!

SAAB. This car was never going to hurry, and we loved it! It had little acceleration as such, but so nice to drive. I could see a car like this being a lot of fun on my Little Monte rally track if it had less grippy tires fitted. Definitely a drivers favourite and so nice to look at!

Cortina. Had a last minute motor change when a terminal broke off and I just didnt get it meshing properly afterwards. Not it's day.

Overall I have learned a great deal from putting on this event, so will be more aware of what to expect next time.

Thanks to the other entrants. I learn a lot from seeing build details of these great little models on the various forums and Facebook groups that I frequent, but there is nothing like seeing and driving them in real life!

A special thanks go to Martin and Bazz for volunteering and driving the cars on the day. I hope I can call on them for a future event.


Anyone for a rally proxy in 2014? lol!

All the best, Lloyd

[Datto]

Thanks for the writeup, Lloyd! Same time next year? Different theme?

[masmojo]

[LloydL]

Thanks Marc, what do you fancy for next year? I am already considering a full blown Monte Carlo Rally themed proxy on little Monte. The only change of spec your current cars would need would be slightly harder tires, shore 40 works well on there.

As for a main 1/43 proxy, it needs to be something that more people will have a go at. Much as I favour pre 64 Le Mans, most will want to run later, easier to get cars, so I will go with the flow!

Mas, It was great having Martin and Bazz over. Martin is a model/pattern maker and has done many 1/43 bodies for kit makers over the years. I will be molding his Jag XJ13 and Ginetta G15 soon. Bazz has made a 1/43 hillclimb track already and has taken a few more resins away with him. Martin is too busy with work projects to do much for himself right now, but I expect him to bring over some cars to run next time!

I totally agree about the standards being achieved in 1/43 at the moment, it was apleasure to handle and run them. Glad your move is nearly done, I look forward to driving some of yours in the future.

All we really need is for Kyosho to increase their tie up with Spark and bring out some of Spark's beautiful racing and rally models with correct sized 13" wheels! We can wish, cant we! lol.

Regards, Lloyd.

[Cjent]

Fantastic pics, and a really terrific report! You did really well for a first proxy, Lloyd.
I gotta have a car for next year.
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[LloydL]

Thanks Chuck, I look forward to next year, whatever the classes.

Regards, Lloyd.

[Datto]

Looking forward to the Little Monte! :)


I had a bit of a wild idea. Sebring. Two series One for 1950-1973 for no-mag scratchbuilders, and 1975- present day for mag racers. The reason for the cutoff is no race in 1974 due to the OPEC embargo. I know that's a lot of years to pack in. Just daydreaming.

[LloydL]

Good idea Marc, but maybe an earlier cut off date for the vintage as by 73 they were wide! Maybe moe like 67 for the oldies with anything else in the other class.

Whatever is decided, I'm ready! : http://www.sportscardigest.com/alfa-rom ... r-profile/

Regards, Lloyd

[Datto]

Good point. These are the things I'd love to see. (1) A widely varied grid [we done okay, the three of us, imagine if more entered] (2) something to attract magnet racers, Lola T70s? Chapparals? Modern ALMS?

[Datto]

And where's Peter? The Champagne's getting warm :)