USSCA Mid-South Div1 2001-02 Series Race #2
10/6/ 01
18entries this month at Archdale Slot Car Raceway (phone=336-431-4391/ fax=248-4875/ e-mail= Archslotnc@aol.com), 3407-G Archdale Rd., Archdale NC 27263, to drive “Production C” and Restricted “World 12” USSCA wing cars on the “Beast”. Mr. Joe Lyons calls ASCR his home track now. Joe’s moved up from Florida with his wife & kids, to be nearer family members. We know a bunch of top name slot racers + manufacturers in common and I’m sure he’ll be a great contribution to the Series + slots in general in this region. Joe has a Tri-Oval set up in Randleman and has gotten “Bear’s” Kingleman that was in Randlemanan +Mid-South circuit for many years. If you know of an inexpensive home for the track let Joe know. By the way Joe’s the one that’s put together all Rudy’s Slick 7 Restricted Cobalt 12/15 “Spec” car chassis donated by Slick 7.
Having gone w/9 Mid-South Div 2 racers to Anderson SC’s USSCA Oval & Group 10 Nats the weekend before, I waited until Sat. a.m. to make the 3 hr.+ Trek to Archdale knowing Garland + the gang would have the track ready and it was. I pulled in just in time for Production C Tech-in!
About 12the race got under way with local racer Chad McNiel Race Directing and his bud Steve helping out marshalling. Thanx to both! And to Iris Brown for making the last minute supply Store Run for the day’s coffee , soda + treats.
Dennis Strickland, who we hadn’t raced with in a while, took Concourse. “JR” had to do his EMS thing today so couldn’t attend and give Dennis some competition.
This week it was the Owner, Garland Brown who beat up on the rest of us. Tom D. wasn’t present, but Dennis and Tommy gave him a go. Final results were Garland Brown 483 laps, Dennis Strickland 2 nd w/459 laps, Tommy McDowell 3rd w/428 laps (NICE RUN TOMMY!) yours truly, Rip Barnes 4th with 416,Micharl Hilton 408 in 5th, Joe Lyons 375 in 6th, and rounding out the field Jeff "BoBo" Hilton 356 in 7th.
POINT OF INFORMATION = the OVERLAP once a month of USSCA & the weekly ASCR Production C races counts towards the points race for ASCR’s Series.
We took a quick FOOD BREAK and then started Tech for World 12/Restricted 72 gram min weight limit/non aluminum chassis cars. Dennis Strickland had an even more beautiful body for this class and it was a NO CONTEST situation. Dennis, if you don’t know, is the painter of the interiors you can get thru ASCR any time. There are many different class interiors rtr available to match most any car. Dennis was a key figure @ Mader’s Model Car Raceway in Mooresville NC and since Dave closed, Dennis now races pretty regularly @ ASCR. He indicated to me he’ll be posting allot of our info + race results, etc., on his Website @ “__________________.com”.
Seven folks signed up for World 12 and we proceeded to let Garland whip us again! We accused him of cheating(kidding of course) and even started collecting the $ required for an ARM BURNING CEREMONY. You should’ve seen his face! I think he thought we were serious. He does know though, that I was the only other racer there w/ torch and tools to do such an inspection. Ha!
And for the Record, “Jimmy” Johnson (with the rebuilt steel + wire chassis Garland BUSTED IN HALF @ Pre-Season Race), Garland w/ gp12 motor in a Turboflex and myself w/a Slick 7 chassis still have not settled our joint BET. Hopefully “Jimmy” will have chassis done for 11/3/01 race and we’ll settle this.
The results were Garland Brown w/469 laps, Greg Baker 2 nd w/453 laps, Jeff Hilton 3rd w/430 laps, Joe Lyons 404 in 4th, Tommy Mcdowell 393 in 5th , Dennis Strickland 382 in 6th, and me H 'Rip' Barnes 381 in 7th. Jeff might not have won Concourse but he drove the daylights out of that JK RTR Gp12 car he got last month/ off the shelf! It’s going to need a rebuild this time though……he had a pretty major wreck but Garland helped him get it back into the race….good move. Stayed high in the points as a result.
We were done @ about 3 again and ate more energy food as we finished the 3rd + 4th Restricted C12 cars. We were going to have a C12 Race today! No “ands”, “ifs” or “buts”! Joe Lyons was finishing chassis, I was putting a “Spec” motor together Garland and Dennis were running getting us pcs. we needed. Joe had a BBQ hot date @ 6 so time was of the essence. We received more donations for the 8 “Spec” C12/15 loaner cars. Rick Bernardo has more 15A arms coming; Rudy @ Slick 7 has sent tons of 37 t Prototype gears (must think we’re rough on gears……sent a bag full!). Thanx Rudy! Those USSCA Mid-South Div 1 race series T-shirts are about done. They’ll sport my tribute to “Big Daddy” Ed Roth w/ the Rat Fink in a Wing Car, controller in his hand, controlling his own destiny! S7 logo front right and on the pocket ASCR Series info.
We’ve asked Alpha and Koford to help us finish these rockets. Roman K’s sent some more misc. parts…..we’ll have 7 racing next week. I left one “Spec” car for “JR” to finish and myself & son Joel should have our C12 cars done next month. Now, just with 4 of these flying around like bumble bees, we were ripping up braid left + right. Joe and Garland spent some time under + on top of the track replacing braid. Have to say though, we found every weak point there was! HA! Good job guys! Ya, ya , ya- Garland Won this too. It was our INAGURAL C12 RACE, and we had no idea what to expect so we created a Pool -$5 to enter, Winner take all. A FUN RACE. 2 minute heats with Gman getting 326 laps, 2nd was Joe Lyons w/ 229 laps, 3rd Dennis Strickland w/221 laps and me "Rip" w/200 laps(mind you, I was the only one driving a True “Spec” car). We accused Garland of inserting some laps w/the keyboard when we weren’t looking! Scoring to be separate for C12 cars vs. “Spec” cars.
Oh ya, Garland didn’t want to burn down his house, so has set up the ZAPPER @ ASCR! IT’S ALIVE! IT’S ALIVE! He can do everthing to Blueprint a slot motor now, except balance them…….give him a try.
Special thanks to Chad, who did the photography as well. And to Steve + other ASCR racers who marshaled and to Showcase Trophies and Designs, Inc. for the fine Plaques. Rick B. suggested we have a Pic Nic @ last race in April. Awards we’ve decided will be the 8 Spec cars we’re all working so hard on. Pretty nice prizes for time well spent.
For information on USSCA Mid-South Div1 Racing contact H “Rip” Barnes @ hbarnes1@email.unc.edu and Rick Bernardo @ USSCA1@aol.com, for Rules see USSCA.org on the Web.