Back out to the USA for this great event. This time it is at a new track so we'll see how things shake out. I think it is Chet, Fred, Ryan, Abiye and myself heading down this time. Al Horne always puts on a good show and we are looking forward to this event!
Going to bed now...it is 4am. Will post pics and vids tomorrow.
- Tebo TQ'd and won 2wd mod, 4wd mod and Truck mod. Word up. - Tebo won A1 & A2 of 2wd and Truck. Won A2 & A3 of 4wd (Cav won A1) - I broke...a lot, but still had fun. I will keep coming back until I at least make the B main - There was MUCH drama in 4wd A3....more on that later. But a loud bang was followed by flying debris of a smashed in two M11x radio....I guess that is why it is missing from the podium pics. - Thanks to Joe Pillars, Al Horne, Jared Tebo & Matt Chambers for the set up help - Lots of funny shit happened. -Thanks to CRCRC for hosting another great Midwest Champs. See you next year!
So the track was soaked last night and traction was awesome all day today. Slicks were still in fashion and hopefully it will be again for qualifying. The track is so much fun to drive. Again the lap time battle was on and times are now into the low 17 seconds for 4wd (Jesse Robbers with a 17.1 I think). Robbers is looking good out there (always does here) so are Tebo and Losi duo Chambers and Evans. Cavaleri looks a little ragged out there but his times are fast still. The Losi cars looked dialed out there right now. Not much practice time with the controlled practice, but that is par for the course with almost 400 entries!!! The old "watch the triple" had been replaced with "Watch the double double". The announcer is a machine and does not get the thanks he deserves. Things have been running smooth and efficient as can be with this many people. My car is pretty good. I think there are a couple of different basic set ups people are running on the RB5's (Betts and Tebo) and mine is pretty similar to Tebo's with minor camber height differences. I didn't think I would like running the 13.5 class as I typically just run mod, but I'll say that it didn't feel that bad out there.
Random Thoughts: - Henry from CRCRC personally gave me a Medium sized shirt...lol...I got a XXXXXXL last year as a joke cause they ran out of mediums. Thanks my Filipino brotha! - Still lots of tire grinding all day long. There was a constant whir of belt sanders, drills and dremels - Again props to the CRCRC crew for running a great event and keeping it running smoothly today - I will pray to the traction Gods tonight hoping the traction stays like it is.
Jay'isms - Jay spilled the tire bucket...although it was NOT entirely his fault as Steve had moved it under their table without telling him it was there. - Jay is looking good out there and is driving well. Props to Jay. Jay trying to hide from the "Almost Live" lens after the bucket was tipped.
Ryan'isms - We placed a wake up call to Ryan this morning consisting of blasting "Jessie's Girls" over the phone. - Ryan is being relentlessly ball busted over this whole thing still.
Teasers: Chet proceeds to mount Ryan in an act of dominance...
JP Richards new TQ Racing car. Tebo's RB5SP Theilke's car (new body???)
So we left at 3am and cruised here pretty painlessly in about 7 hours. We had to make a slight detour to Parma International to drop something off from the fastcats gang. No crazy blizzard though so that is nice (weather is pretty mild actually). So day one is in the books and I have to say that this is the best layout I have encountered here so far. Fun, technical and flowy. Tires were slicks all day...thank god and I hear that water is in the plan for tonight and they are hoping it will be slick for the whole event (unlike last year which was pretty dry and slick by the mains). It is good to see everyone again and the locals are so nice. Some new faces are here too. Steven Hartson has made the trip out here for the first time and he got up to speed pretty quick. Times were dropping and the typical guys were the front runners (Cav, Tebo, Robbers, Evans). I will try and break out the spy camera tomorrow and grab some pics of new gear.
Random Thoughts - Awesome layout. They have made great use of the space for sure - Tebo has a new paint job and also has the new RB5 rear end kit - Speaking of paint...EVERYONE looks like they have new bodies and paint...except me :( - US Customs only grilled us a little bit. He didn't understand that people race RC cars...lol...We had to dig one out to show him. - Had the traditional Pancake House breakfast somewhere in Ohio. Yummy. - Lots of grinding of tires going on...like 24/7 sounds of drill presses, belt sanders, drills and dremels. Jesse Robbers I think had his belt sander going for almost an hour. He did have earphones on though. - Nancy Phend informed me that the Big Kahuna is not on Dakota's birthday this year....I will still expect cupcakes though...You don't get off the hook that easy!!!
I will now throw everyone under the bus with some 'ism mania:
Fred'isms - Fred has a leopard print suitcase for some reason.... - Fred is somewhat of a celebrity now because of this column . Some guy came up to him today and mentioned "Fred'isms"..haha - There are no poles here for Fred to hit. - There is rum in Fred's room...a fresh bottle of Appletons!
Ryan'isms
-Ryan was called the "Whipper Snapper"...he is now known as "Jesse's Girl" as he kept crashing like a pansy under the pressure of having Jesse Robbers standing behind him waiting for a spot.
Abiye'isms - Abiye shaved the big super fro. I think he used the afro to make special tire inserts....
Jay'isms - Well Jay didn't forget any cars, but he couldn't find his travel bag so he packed his clothes in a grocery bag...Jay'isms will now be called Hobo'isms. I am going to get him a big stick so he can carry the bag around properly... Jay's "luggage"
Note: Chet, Steve and I are exempt from "ism's". That is just the way it works.
Well, all packed up and ready to go. Departure time of 3am should be fun. At least we ended up renting a van so we can all go in one car with lots of room!
Ummm don't mind the Huggies box...mix up in some parts from Kyosho that I am giving back to Joe. They just fit perfectly in this box...haha No new body :( It wasn't ready in time. C'est la vie sometimes.
Well the top racers & designers at Kyosho have once again improved the rear suspension design of the RB5. They are the first to revise the rear end for brushless motor use (as who uses brushed motors anymore). Too bad it won't be here in time for CRCRC (for us mere mortals anyways). Cool!
Well having to do inventory at work kaibashed my racing efforts this past weekend. I also have to work at the Toronto International Boat Show this weekend so that I can take the 5 days off to go race toy cars. So, I won't have much track time under the belt (only three races since getting back into racing). For a seasonal business, I seem to be working a lot in the winter....
So the Toronto contingent (aka: CRCRC Rat Pack) will be down to 7 people as J.B. isn't making the trip anymore. This leaves: myself, "Old Guy" Fred, Chet, "Whipper Snapper" Ryan, "Super Fro" Abiye, "86mph" Steve and "I left my 2wd at home" Jay. We are trying to pack all of us down into 2 cars, but we'll have to see what pans out. I wanted to leave the trusty Subaru at home this year, but it looks like we will need the cargo space. I threw it out there for Ryan to use his brand new F150 but that e-mail went unanswered...lol (The others are all 4 door sedans). I mean who doesn't want to put 1500 km on their car in 5 days...oh wait I did it twice now. haha
Boxes are arriving daily now from Kyosho, Peak, JConcepts and some last minute little stuff from A Main Hobbies.
For all you race nuts there should be lots of coverage for the event. Here are some links to bookmark:
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