EOS Finals F2/Vets/Juniors at TORCH

I travelled the well worn path to TORCH again at the weekend, but this time for one of the more important meetings of the year, the BRCA End Of Season Finals for F2s Juniors and the old boys, the Vets, amongst whom I reluctantly count myself.

This was an important meeting for the TORCH boys as it was a chance to prove they are capable of hosting a National level meeting, with all that this entails.

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Despite the online whinging from some of the more northern drivers the turnout was excellent with what appeared to be a full entry, so full that I didn't make it in to the 2wd race on the Saturday and had to settle for a place in one of the ten 4wd heats on Sunday.  

It makes a nice change for one of these big events to be held 'darn sarf'.

I arrived early Sunday morning to a campsite full of bleary eyed Saturday racers emerging from their tents recovering from the previous evenings shenanigans, looks like I missed out on a goodun!  

Surrey & Hants . . . The Revamp.

The Farnborough based club run by the inimitable Neil 'Dudders' Dudman has undergone something of a transformation.

I had heard about all this hard work and, being a nosey so and so, decided to pack up the hauler and pop along to take a gander.   

Turns out the hype was all true.

Dudders has put to work his band of merry men in the creation of new features and the laying of new astro and collectively they've made massive strides forward with their venue.

It took just a handful of laps to realise that all the hard work was well worthwhile.

Gone is the patchy astro full of pinion killing sand, Frankenstein joins and unpredictable grip levels.

Replaced by a clean, predictable and grippy surface that is a pleasure to drive on.

The track has a nice flow to it and the fact that one isn't likely to get caught out by a dodgy track join or have a chassis like a beach at the end of a heat is a joy.

Clearly I am not the only one to have heard the good news as nearly 40 people turned out to give it a try.

In preparation for the upcoming Apex GP Dudders decided to run a Reedy race style event whereby every round was a race in which racers accrued points that counted towards their overall result.

This was a fun format and bodes well for the main event next month.

It's a 50 mile drive to SHRCCC but I'm glad I made the trip, as I think anyone would be.

If you've never visited SHRCCC, or if you have and thought it wasn't for you, then now is the time to give it another go.
It's moved up a notch, I think you'll enjoy it.

And if that recommendation isn't worth a free race entry I don't know what is!

TORCH 2wd Regional Rnd5 . . . The decider!

Last weekend I made the familiar trip to TORCH for the final round of the BRCA Mid South Regional Series.

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As we have come to expect from TORCH the track was in great order.
Dan and the lads had come up with yet another layout, more technical than the one it replaces and sure to be a test for even the best drivers. 

I have to admit I didn't take to it, I found the jump difficult and  had to be careful not to get caught out by a couple of track joints. 

As they say though, it was the same for everybody.

SHRCCC . . . The Thursday gang!

I haven't raced at SHRCCC for a while so as I was in the area Thursday evening I decided drop by and take a look.

I had my camera with me so took a few pics.

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I am pleased to report that the club appears to be in rude health and is attracting 20 plus drivers for their regular Thursday evening sessions.

Vega Gen3 Shell

The Vega has always had quite a reputation for sporting a somewhat eccentric shell design.
From the interesting fluted 'rocket launcher' 1st Gen to the 'ugly bug' 2nd Gen, which I like but many don't, they have always been a bit like Marmite.

Love 'em or hate 'em though they always turn heads, and the latest 3rd Gen incarnation is no different.

This time however Team Xtreme have come up with something a little more conventional.

I say Team Xtreme but the new design appears to be a very close cousin of the 'Finnisher' shell for which JConcepts are well known.

Actually 'slightly deformed twin' would be more accurate as this shell is pretty much identical apart from the bulge covering the spur gear.

This made it an essential purchase for me as I love the Finnisher shell.

This is how it looks 'finnished' (get it?) in PipskiRacing colours, I think it looks kinda smart.

It's still my RB5 Gen2 lurking underneath,

I am told by better drivers than myself that this cab forward design is likely to be a better performer on track as well.

Let's hope so, I need all the help I can get!

Looking forward to the weekend so I can find out.  

Durango DEX410V3 . . . A new car in my garage.

I loosened the strings on the Pipski purse this week.

Durango have reduced the price of the DEX410V3, probably because a new car is imminent.
Of course that doesn't make the current model a bad one, so I treated myself.

The V3 is a bargain at its current price and comes loaded with a raft of desirable features that can usually only be dreamed of at this price point.

I published a full build report on the DEX410R a while back, which can be found HERE, so I won't be doing another for this model as the build is essentially identical bar a few notable improvements.

TORCH Summer Series Round 3

All roads led to TORCH last weekend for Round 3 of their great summer series.
The weatherman said it was going to be a scorcher so t-shirts and high factor sun cream were essential to ensure a full days fun without lobster tinged regret on Monday morning.

It must be have been warm as sandal wearing Clarkie had even removed his socks.

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The good weather ensured a decent turnout with most of the usual suspects in attendance as well as a few faces that hadn't been seen in a while blowing away the RC cobwebs,.

Stotfold 2wd Mid South Regional . . . Round 4

When the alarm sounded at stupid-o-clock on Sunday morning my woe was tempered by the fact that my destination for the day was to be Stotfold for the latest round of the BRCA Mid South Regional series.

I have read a lot recently about the improvements the club have made to the venue so was excited to visit and see for myself.
On arrival it was clear that all the hard work had been worthwhile as the track looked great.
The layout had been tweaked since my previous visit and much of the astro has been replaced with some nice new bright green stuff giving the whole place a fresh new feel.

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It might look nice but don't be fooled into thinking this is an easy track, it's very '3D' and tricky to learn, it took me both of the practice heats just to remember where to turn left and right let alone where the bumps were! I knew it would be a tough day for me.