Saturday, November 6, 2010

The Toronto Hobby Show: Day 2 Race Day!



So Day 2 is here and 3 rounds of qualifying and single mains will all be run today. Round one for me was good. I was on a good pace but with a few laps left Steve Bortolotti was on my ass and we tangled going up the final jump before the finish line. This cost both of us the extra lap but the runs would be good enough to make the show.


1st round is done.....holy crap it is fast.

Round 2 was a bit of a gong show and I just made too many mistakes. Got in some hot laps but couldn't string them together for a clean run. This bumped me down a few spots.

Round 2....faster still...

Round 3. Tried a couple of set up changes, but they made the car traction roll like crazy so this round was a write off. I never got to see the list but I don't think too much changed order wise.

Not sure what happened to the computer system but something crashed and they ended up losing the first round data and had to build the mains from rounds 2 and 3. This...pardon my french...really f'd a few people and saw many racers who should have been in the A Main bumped out. Not sure what solution could have come about, but it wasn't fair at all to these guys. I know we were pressed for time from the delays but I would have been PISSED if it was me.
2wd Open A Main:
My race was over before it really started. At the tone we were all off ok, but in turn 3 the guy behind me on the grid (I think it was one of the Ottawa guys) figured he could win the race in the first lap and T-Boned me onto my lid. It wasn't even close to being a pass and this dropped me to dead last. I tried to triple the big jump to make up some time and just cased it and flipped onto the roof...right as the marshal was running to get another car. Even the announcer said that sucked...lol. This comedy of bad luck had me being lapped by the end of the first lap. So I now had to pull over and let the top 4 guys through and kiss any chance of a decent finish goodbye. I think TQ JB bobbled on the first lap and let Steve lead for most of the race but a traction roll later on let JB back into the lead and take the win. I couldn't see what was going on as the track and racing was just to fast and you had to really focus on your car. On a track this fast and with 11 second laps, one crash will put you down half a lap. I was hoping to finally have a good carpet result as I think I found a really good set up finally but it wasn't to be. Can't wait to get the RB5 dirty now though!

2wd Open A Main results


2wd A Main Video (my hack got missed but nice view of me getting lapped pretty much on the first lap...haha)
2wd Open B Main
I usually don't include lower mains, but this was one of the best races of the night. Ron's last lap Hail Mary pass at the finish line was a sweet attempt. Lots of lead swapping during the race too. Awesome.

2wd B Main Results


2wd B Main Video
4wd Open A Main

JB hates calling races so I said I would do it. Another amazing race to watch. Numerous lead changes and bumper to bumper racing. I'll let the video do the talking (I'll try and find a better one as my camera cut out part way through...) but Leonard Shinzano took the win with Abiye Birku in second and Steve Bortolotti in third (after a failed Hail Mary attempt off the triple let Abiye sneak in for second).


Random Thoughts:

- It was a really fun event and I think we got some awesome spectating (and hopefully some new racer!). The show was small but pretty busy throughout the weekend.
- Thanks to Tamiya Canada for making the race happen. The track layout was super fast, flowy and fun.
- While I still prefer dirt, not having to clean your car is a definite bonus.
- Niftech traction compound is crazy stuff on this carpet...insane traction boost.
- I really feel bad for the guys who got hooped out of the A Main after the computer crash. That was balls.
- Some weird action in the 4wd B Main. They stopped the race after a couple laps cause someone didn't get marshalled???? All I got when I didn't get marshalled (in an A Main no less) was "That Sucks"...lol.
- I think the hottest item at the show were small RC helicopters. Every other person had one. I did see a fair share of guys leaving with RTR cars so that is good. I bought a little 4 channel heli myself.
- Nice to see people from Montreal and Ottawa come to the event. I don't think the Ottawa guys (who just race on dirt) were prepared for the crazy lap times some of the carpet off road aces could throw down. There is a learning curve for sure in adjusting your driving style and car set up.
- Nice to see the nitro guys show up too. They did quite well for not driving electric in ages.
- I was finally happy with how my RB5 performed on the carpet. Figures I find a set up and fastcats closes down.
- 140 entries. Hopefully this shows we can support an indoor facility? Rumours abound about a new indoor track opening up...but that seems to happen every year here.
- Fast lap in 4wd was Abiye with a 10.8 (only 10 second lap). Fastes in 2wd was JB Catricala with an 11.2. SICK SICK SICK times. I was pleased with an 11.4 for myself.


Fred'isms
- Fred never hit one pole....


Jay'isms
- Jay was one of the guys who got hooped out of the 4wd A Main due to the computer crash.
- Jay handled it with immense poise. I would have raised hell over it. His other qualifiers were crap and he had to race in the C Main.....ridiculous!


Ryan'isms
- So much for his trash talk. I must have scared him with my texting of my lap times as he didn't have the balls to show up...haha...he actually got stuck at work so I teased him all day with text messages and picture messages. Missed a good race boy!


Mike'isms
- Mike got 2nd in the C Main. Good driving for a guy who has been away for 2 years and was using 2 year old gear.
- I am trying to convince him to go 8th scale this summer too. Good to have you back!


Pics:


These two poles I thought were Fred's destiny...but he kept it clean and never did end up hitting either of them!

There were 4 or 5 Durango's here. Sweet looking car.

Nitro Ace George Stilliadis not having fun wrenching on 10th scale cars...haha

Carpet offroad Ace JB Catricala is running a little weight on the front of his B4

Overview of track

Steve Bortolotti singing Karaoke

Steve Bortolotti's Tamiya cars

Daniel Yachnin's Losi 4wd....old skool!

One of the Ottawa guys.

Another Ottawa racer...cool charger

Leonard Shinzano's RB5

Marelene & "Gump"

Hardcore Raceway's Jay getting prepped

Now that is a car stand

Should put these in a pop machine


Some of the "interesting" booths at the show:

Not sure what this game was but it was an airplane dogfight board game...

Yummy prawn & Worcestershire flavour chips and other food not normally sold in Canada!

Didn't know people still played with Mecanaco.

Not much was going on in this booth

Plasma cookware....the guy was not as exciting as the Shamwow guy (Shamwow had a booth here as well but the guy in the commercials wasn't in it)

Lots of Robot War booths. These things are BIG!

Some kind of Halo tourney or something like that. Lots of acne and virgins in this booth....not a chick anywhere near it either...lol


the latest thing here. Mobile gaming trailers. 5 50" TV's all networked etc running PS3 and XBOX's. Cost about $300 for the day at your house for a party. It was pretty pimp inside.

I will assume this booth will not be back next year....only because it is steam engine model building and...well who uses steam engines anymore and everyone in the booth was like 90 years old.

A fair amount of model train stuff this year.

Extras:
- Forgot about the Dungeons & Dragons booth
- Insane Legoland booth
- Cool booth with 3 old skool Nintendo Entertainment Systems running Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Super Mario with a prize for highest score.



Quick few laps with my RB5SP2. Sorry, the camera flew off the roof after a few laps and I can't remember how to edit the video down.

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