April 23, 2011 - Reflex Racing Series

[Mimi The Track]

Next Race at The Track will be on Saturday April 23, 2011.
open at 10 am.
:)

[geeunit1014]

2 weekends until the next Reflex Series Race! This is what im thinking for layout this time

[JuniorWKR]

well that a slow techincal layout... :rolleyes:;):D... hahahaa....

find the biggest pinion you got and have at it... that track is gonna make for some sick lap times... should be some insane highspeed passes...

[VAzRACER]

Looks good to me. I was going to say we should set it up this weeked but looks like the pole will get in the way. Think up a new One for this weekend since we've been on this layout for a month now.

[arch2b]

glad i get a break this weekend:p would be tuff coming from Mix11 to The Track all in a week. are we going to try 90mm again?

[geeunit1014]

well that a slow techincal layout... :rolleyes:;):D... hahahaa....

find the biggest pinion you got and have at it... that track is gonna make for some sick lap times... should be some insane highspeed passes...

Its more technical than the last one lol. Theres only so much you can do in a smaller space and keep the track "raceable" which is one of my goals. Its cool to have layouts that are super challenging just to get in a clean lap, but id like to promote door to door racing, and take it easy on any new guys we may pick up from The Track ;)

Looks good to me. I was going to say we should set it up this weeked but looks like the pole will get in the way. Think up a new One for this weekend since we've been on this layout for a month now.

Yea, I did this one specifically for mimis since the pole is not a problem. There are more that I like better for the future Reflex Series races too :D You know I have layouts on layouts for Garys :eek:

[VAzRACER]

glad i get a break this weekend:p would be tuff coming from Mix11 to The Track all in a week. are we going to try 90mm again?

I was thinking we could try giving F1 a shot. There seems to be some interest picking up again and more people have them so it would be easier to fill the class.

[arch2b]

i'm good for F1 :)

[VAzRACER]

Just want to remind everyone we will be meeting this saturday for our second monthly meet. It will also be the second race of our Reflex Racing club series.

Classes-

Reflex series race. 70t stock motor and a Ferrari body are needed for the series. You can race with any body but to score points in the series you will need a Ferrari body. Motor must be a 70t stock motor.

We will also be racing mod and f1 open.

Hope to see everyone Saturday!

[geeunit1014]

Can Matt Ward be stopped in stock?

Will Mike Keely have another under the radar win in mod?

Will Teach show up?

Will I manage to hit every barrier on the track again in the mains?

Come to The Track Saturday to find out :cool:

[arch2b]

thanks to mike, mike and matt for another great day of racing. especially for all the help with my mod car. in the end i ditched 98mm and went back to 94mm. i'm just much more confident with a 94mm setup.

my li-fe charger arrived while i was out so next time i can run li-fe in mod if the rules allow.

i'll try to get the video's for stock class up as soon as possible.

stock b main was close. i lost 1st by not taping my body and lost the when the body got knocked off. i even brought a new roll of tape with me so i have no one to blame but myself for loosing that one. gave away a 3 lap lead for an oversight in race prep. Jim easily took the lead with a much cleaner run as well. you can't win if your hitting the rails like i was either.

great racing everyone!

[arch2b]

fyi, The Track (http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/showgallery.php?cat=1390) has a gallery to which i've been uploading pictures.

[arch2b]

Video is taking forever to upload...

Stock (Ferrari) Class B Main (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCKps2WwC7Y)

Stock (Ferrari) Class A Main (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhbhrxzbA0k)

[VAzRACER]

Thanks for the pics and video.

[tr1kstanc3]

Thanks for hosting another fun race.

[geeunit1014]

April 23 was the day for the 2nd edition of the Reflex Series in the MD/DC/VA area, held once again at The Track. The track layout for this race was a bit more technical than last, with laptimes over 1 second slower. The racing was a bit closer this month as we shall see...

Once again the Feature Class for our area is the Ferrari Challenege: 70t motors, Any Ferrari body. Also ran, but not for Reflex Series points, was GT modified. F1 was attempted, but aborted after everyone suffered significant glitching in the 1st round.

The first round of the Ferrari Challenge saw Mike Keely run away from the field, setting the early mark at a 41/5:10 (a few mistakes led to a long last lap). Behind him were first round winner Matt Ward, Remnant Club racer Gary JR, on 39 laps, and Joe Tran on 38. Fast lap was Keely with a 7.1.

Action picked up in the 2nd round. Keely once again got off to a good start, but Matt got a groove after 2 minutes in, and for the last 2 minutes of the heat, their paces were never more than 3 seconds apart, and they traded the lead on the clock multiple times. In the end, the battling slowed them both down. Matt ended up with 40/5:02, and Keely with 40/5:05. Keely's 1st round kept him in TQ, but the field was catching up. Matt improved the hotlap by .2, bringing it down to a 6.9! This would be the only dip into the 6's for stock all day however.

The 3rd round wasnt nearly as close as then 2nd, but still close nonetheless. From the 1st lap, Matt set the pace and never looked back. The car wasnt quite as quick over a single lap (7.0 hotlap), but much quicker over the run, and it ended with Matt resetting TQ with a 41 5:02. Keely was on Matt's heels at first, but a few mistakes slowed him up just enough to let Matt take away TQ. Keely ended up with a 41 5:05, setting the stage for a good looking A main battle. Rounding out the A main would be Gary JR with a 40 laps run in Q3, and Joe with a 39, also in Q3.

B main-
The B main featured Ray from hobbyworks (arch2b) starting 1st, Remnant founder Gary Sr, and 2 locals from the Track, trying their hand in Mini-Z. The 15 minute length proved to be a significant factor as we shall see. Ray got off to a quick start, with Gary breathing down his neck, until just a few minutes in, his window came out, requiring some repair work, causing him to fall back 7 laps. Ray pushed early, gaining a 3 lap lead on the field, but with about 6 minutes to go contact caused his body to pop, letting local Jim onto the lead lap. Jim's pace had been off in qualifying, but Mike Keely gave him a set of loaner batteries for the main, giving him the HP needed to be competitive (dry cells dont cut it!). Ray's car was faster, but looked to be on edge, whereas Jim's was smoother, letting him stay in his groove. Ray made a few mistakes and saw his lead shrink down until with about 3 minutes to go, he caught the chicane coming onto the straight and Jim got by, and never looked back. Gary charged back after his window pop, coming back up to 3rd to round of the B main podium. Jim said afterwords he had a lot of fun, and was looking forward to next month's event.

A main-
The stage was set for a good battle between the top 2. It was a clean start off the line, but a first lap mistake out of Matt let by Mike for the lead, but a mistake on the next lap brought Matt right to him. But for Matt, disaster struck on lap 4. His shock over-extended and the shaft came out of the ball end, causing the whole unit to fall apart. He would continue on and finish the race, but his car was not the same, chattering a lot from the induced lack of damping. He would fall as far back as 3rd place and a lap down from 2nd. Gary Jr seized the opportunity, moving up into 2nd, and staying on the lead lap for about half of the race. Matt would eventually settle in, and figure out how to get the car around the track without getting it too upset. With about 5 minutes left, he got back on the same lap as Jr, and continued to close the gap. At the 3 to go mark, the battle began. They traded mistakes every few laps, it seemed as nobody wanted the spot! But with about 30 seconds to go, Gary made a few mistakes in a row and gave Matt about half the track, enough cushion for Matt to cruise to a 2nd place finish. Keely was never challenged after the first few laps. Gary Jr took 3rd, and Joe in 4th rounded of the main.

[Mike Keely]

Thanks for the write up Gee. I think the 15 minute main really plays into the results. Gary Jr's car looked much better in the first half and seamed to change the second half. Not sure if it is from tire temps or from the batteries dropping off?