|
(click to enlarge) |
| The RC Pro Series is 4 rounds and is divided into 4 divisions. The top 20 from each division qualifies for the RC Pro Finals in California this November. The best 2 of 4 round points count towards your final points. |
|
(click to enlarge) |
| I had bad luck at round 1 and only ended up with a DNF in the B-main. I was not able to attend round 2 and 3, so I had no chance of taking the overall championships. But since you get 2 throw outs, I needed a strong A-main finish to finish in the overall top 20 in order to attend the Finals. |
|
(click to enlarge) |
| Round 4 was changed at the last minute from Orlando, Florida to Sumter, South Carolina. I decided to make the 9 hour trip on Thursday morning. Practice was on Friday, and since it rained all night Thursday, the track was very wet and loamy. As the track dried out and started to groove, it also became very bumpy. |
|
|
Saturday was 4 rounds of qualifying. In round 1, I decided to go with Pro-line M2 Crimefighters since they are the best all around tire and work on every track and condition. Brian Burnett took the early TQ with a 10 lap run in heat 1. I was in heat 2 and the track was going to get faster with each heat as the track grooved up more. I got the whole shot off the gate start and was on a new TQ pace on the last lap. But I crashed on the huge back triple jump and had to settle for a 5th for the round. No one else was able to go 10 laps. In round 2, I decided to switch to Pro-line Cell Bocks, which work excellent on blue groove tracks. I took the hole shot again and followed closely by Xray teammate Chris crews, I set a new TQ with a fast 10 lap run. Crews also got 10 laps, while no one else was able to. In round 3, the heats were resorted so that the 10 fastest drivers were in the last heat together. I again took the hole shot. After a good battle with Bobby Moore and Paul Lemieux, I passed for the lead on the last lap. But again, I crashed on the triple jump just several feet before the finish line and Lemieux took the win and TQ. For round 4, the overall TQ was up for grabs between Lemieux, Moore, and Hickerson, all with a 0 point best finish. I again took the hole shot and stretched out a 15 second lead. I decided to slow down and protect the overall TQ. Again, I was the only person to do 10 laps and took the overall TQ with 0 points. Lemieux was 2nd and Moore was 3rd.
Sunday was the main events. The temp was 98' with near 100% humidity. Cell Blocks were not going to last 45 minutes, so I decided to go back to M2 Crimefigheters for the main. Lemieux also went with Crimefighters, but used the harder XTR compound. Moore used Panther K2 MS. At the start, Moore took the hole shot, while I was involved in the first turn pile up and was 10th after the 1st lap. I battled with my Xray XB8 until I was in 2nd place. Moore had a big lead. I slowly caught him and over took the lead at the half way mark. But since I was pitting every 5 minutes and Moore was going 7 minutes, he regained the lead. Lemieux was gaining on 1st and 2nd fast since his tires were still great, while mine and Moore's softer tires were wearing fast and getting very loose. right near the end, Lemieux passed Moore and took the lead and the win. Only 5 seconds behind was Moore in 2nd and I in 3rd just 2 seconds behind Moore. Robin Nelson finished 4th, the only other car on the lead lap. |
|
(click to enlarge) |
Having taken the TQ and a 3rd in round 4, that moved me up from near last to 10th overall in the points series. Glen Harrison took the overall championship.
1/8th Expert
TQ - Gene Hickerson 10/5:28.858
1. Paul Lemieux
2. Bobby Moore
3. Gene Hickerson Xray XB8
4. Robin Nelson
5. Brain Burnett
6. Cris Crew Xray XB8
7. Jay Halsey
8. Lance Norick
9. Bobby Phillips
10. Glen Harrison
11. Daniel Aycoth
Overall East points standings:
1 Glen Harrison
2 Daniel Aycoth
3 Brian Burnett
4 Chris Crews Xray XB8
5 Lance Norick
6 Robin Nelson
7 Bobby Moore
8 Ralph Walters
9 Alan Burton
10 Gene Hickerson Xray XB8
http://www.rcproseries.com
|
|
