Coming.. DECEMBER 10th to Thunder Road, in Gordonsville, VA. Ernie has done some major improvements to the track, like mad it bigger and NEW CARPET! I hear lighting and heat is better and even though the track is bigger there is also more pit room. This is a one day race and for most it can be done in one day, with no motel to worry about. Entry fee is $35 on race day..$25 for pre-entires.

On Decenber 10th, Thunder Road will be the only place to be, for Oval racers. Our new oval is waiting; and there are records to be set. Will you be the one to set them? Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

What is the track like. Carpet type, size and so on?

Doug P

There are some pics on the "OVAL TRACK DISCUSSION" forum. The track is roughly 80" X 40'; with 15' lanes on the straights, and 11' in the turns. The carpet is high bite Ozite; and it's smooth. We run Stock and Spec weekly; adding 19-turn Open and Modified for big events. If you need directions or a map, check out thunderroadrc.com. We haven't yet updated the front page; but there are some more pics in the discussion forum. Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

The Thunder Road weekly Oval race on November 26th proved to be a runaway for Steve Downs. Jesse Bean and Steve Nelson (Seven) chased him hard; but Steve had every one covered all night long. He won every heat, and led all the way in the A Main for an apparently easy victory. But it may not have been as easy as it looked...

Steve Downs ran right on the track record in every heat; setting a new record in the second round. Jesse and Seven were both under the old record in that race; but both well back from Steve. A fast race indeed!

Lin Vaughan was still putting his car together when the racing started, and he ran well off his normal pace; but he kept wrenching on the car all night long, and wound up leading the pack home to take the B main.

In the A Main, Steve Downs set off at the outset and was never headed. Jesse and Seven chased hard, both running at a record pace. Downs simply pulled slowly away, and again broke his own, just set, track record!

When last seen, Steve Downs was smiling broadly and muttering under his breath about something he was going to give to some hot shot drivers on the 10th. I wonder what he meant? Jesse and Seven both had that "Just wait 'till next week" look.

Three cars running under the track record; not once, but twice; in the same evening! It looks as though the competition at the ARCOR State Race on December 10th is going to tough indeed. The race should be a barnburner! See you there! Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

Ernie,

How many laps did Mr. Steve (Soon to be "B" Main) Downs go?

What time will racing start and what time will the track open?
Doug P

What will the hours be Friday the 9th?

I'm trying to work out something that will allow Thunder Road to open most of the day on the 9th; so folks can get in plenty of practice for the ARCOR State Race on the 10th. We will be open on the 9th; just not sure yet how early. I'll keep you posted. Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

Ernie,

Thanks for the update. Still have 3 Questions:

When will the doors open SATURDAY the 10th?

What time will racing start SATURDAY the 10th?

How many laps did Mr. Downs go?

thanks,

Peter Coll

The doors will open at 09:00 on the 10th of December. Racing will start at 15:00 (that's when Mickeys little hand is on the 3, and his big hand is on the 12; for those not into 24 hour timekeeping). <G>

Steve Downs ran (if memory is correct) 64 laps in 4:00:11. He was hooked; so you'd better have your stuff together, if you plan on staying with him. Steve says I'm putting a target on his back; but you won't see it unless you're behind him. Steve works very hard at going fast.

In all seriousness, I'm looking forward to a great race. There are a few locals who want another shot at Steve; and were only a tick slower last week. And there are plenty of others who will be fast on the 10th. This one should be a real four alarm burner. Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

Correction Downs ran 54 laps. Lets not frighten everyone. LOL

Also If Ernie wants me to. I can open the track on the 9th at 10hundred hours(thats 10:00 am on Mickeys watch).

Thanks Ernie and Larry....

We are flying in from California to show Mr. Downs his rightful place. (Not really, we are driving from PA)

See Ya Saturday,

Peter Coll
Doug Parisano "Mr. Slowman"........lol

What is the race runline?

Doug P

Run line... run line... I used to know that. Let me check. I just can't remember right now. Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

The schedule for both Oval and Road Course for Thunder Road is set through February. The ARCOR State Race is December 10th; and January will see the best Oval and Road Course races seen in many a moon. Check out the JACO/SMC Snowflake Classic twin races. They are going to be HOT!!! Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

thunderroadrc.com

December 3: Oval

December 9: Oval practice
December 10: ARCOR State Race (Oval)

December 17: Road Course

January 1: Oval (Sunday)

January 6: Oval Practice
January 7: JACO/SMC Snowflake Oval Classic
January 8: JACO/SMC Snowflake Oval Classic (if necessary)

January 14: Oval

January 15: Road Course (Sunday)

January 20: Road Course Practice
January 21: JACO/SMC Snowflake Road Course Classic
January 22: JACO/SMC Snowflake Road Course Classic

January 28: Oval

February 4: Birthday Bash (Oval)

February 11: Road Course

February 18: Oval

February 25: Oval

February 26: Road Course (Sunday)

Thanks Ernie

My pleasure, Sir. We'll be running the oval this weekend, so the racers can start getting setups for next weekends ARCOR State Race. I have a hunch this race is going to get intense. Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

Yep, IT's GOING TO BE A GOOD'UN. Butch can't wait to try out that new carpet. Track looks awesome. Looking forward to seeing all again.


JB

JB; it will be good to have you teching for us. And we're all looking forward to seeing you and Butch again. Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

Any decision yet on what time you will be opening Friday?

Could you post the classes that will be offered.
Thanks,

Doug P

http://www.arcor-rc.com/arcor2003/flyers/vastdec10.jpg

P.S. 158Ft

Thanks Peter.

Your welcome, Now get back to the workshop and make me some Horsepower!!!!

We will be open at 10:00. Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

Your welcome, Now get back to the workshop and make me some Horsepower!!!!

Monday - Chassis + Tires
Tuesday - Horsepower

Monday - Chassis + Tires
Tuesday - Horsepower

So Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are reserved for kissing up to the wife so she'll let you go out and play on Saturday?

Yup!!

Ernie,

How are you guys on the pit table & chair situation? We are trying to take one car and would like to leave em home.

Thanks,

Peter

I have enough chairs to seat half of Gordonsville. Tables will be adequate; leave your's home, Peter. It may get tight; but you'll have a table. Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

Thanks!

Peter; since you had the transport issue, and I said to leave the table at home, I owe you a pit spot. If necessary, remind me! Thanks; Ernie P. :cool:

Time to start puttin' 'em down and countin' for real! Lets race! Practice today and racin' tomorrow. Thanks; Enrie P. :cool:

Ernie,

Gettin in the car now. Be there in 250 miles (4.5 hrs) Please have 2 pit spaces (tables) for us.

Thanks,

Peter & Doug

Okay, say you're Steve Downs. You set a new track record two weeks before the big race. You set not one, but two, new lap records in one evening, the week before the big race. So, what do you do for an encore?

Well, if you're Steve "Dominator" Downs, the answer is obvious. You show up on the night of the big race; break your own track record the first time out; and then proceed to break that new record the next time out; and then break it yet again. All the while dusting off a very fast crowd of very fast racers; all of whom want a piece of your bumper. I think it was "bumper" they said, it was pretty noisy.

Mother Nature dropped enough snow, ice and cold on Virginia to produce a disappointing turnout for the ARCOR State Race at Thunder Road RC Speedway on December 10th. All of the out-of-staters came from the hardier climes North of Virginia. To them a couple of inches of snow probably just made the drive to Gordonsville a bit more scenic. But none of those further South than the North Carolina border, made the trip. They were missed; but it certainly didn't hurt the racing action.

Although the Dominator was never headed in a night of furious racing action, he was also never very far in front of a snarling pack of Stock Class Racers; all of whom were pushing and shoving to get a crack at the Grey number 8. In the end, less than three seconds separated the first three cars in the Stock A Main. Bill Auchterlonie and Doug Parisano came ready to race; but were just a tick slower. No bobbles, no mistakes; Steve Downs was simply a tiny hair faster. For most of the night, it was like watching a freight train storm 'round Thunder Road's huge new carpet.

The B Main produced a win from a name that has been missing from the winner's circle lately. But McLin the elder had to do the wrenching, and leave the driving to his son, Steve Vaughan. Steve stuck it to a scrappy bunch of drivers, to garner his first win in a long time. Actually, Vaughan the elder looked pretty good doing the wrenching thing. A trend maybe?

In Spec Nastruck, Jesse Bean turned an otherwise exciting night of racing into a yawner. Jesse dominated all night; and no one else, including your highly esteemed author, ever got a look at the lead. Most of the time it was a replay of things in the Stock Class, a slow steady drawing away of the lead car; except that Jesse was lapping the field often enough it was getting embarrassing. Charlie and I rubbed on each other a few times; but then he would get tired of it, and would simply check out on me.

Few racers have ever worked harder than Steve Downs worked for this one. In the end, it produced a truly masterful performance; one that brought repeated applause from an appreciative crowd of racer onlookers; who knew exactly what it took to produce the dominant performance they witnessed. Good job, Steve.

Thanks to all who attended; and we hope to see you back for the JACO/SMC Snowflake Classis Oval Race in January. That race will be *huge*. Thanks; Ernie P. 8)

4 Cell Stock A Main
Steve Downs - 54 4:00.65 New Track record 55 4:01.38 - Also TQ'ed :)
Bill Auchterlonie - 54 4:02.56
Doug Parisano - 54 4:03.52
Harold Ruckle - 52 4:01.70
Steve Nelson - 51 - 4:02.36
Jesse Bean - 51 - 4:02.36
Clayton Anderson - 29 - 2:11.73
Matt Tyson 26 - 1:57.17

B Main
Steve Vaughan - 52 - 4:00.02
Peter Coll - 51 - 4:00.74
Higgy - 48 4:03.57
John Pritchett - 46 4:00.11
Quinn Frazier - 21 - 1:42.49
Kevin Colburn - 19 - 1:29.36
Larry Boyd - DNS

Spec Truck
Jesse Bean - 51 - 4:02:49 - Track record and TQ'ed
Charlie - 47 - 4:03.15
Ernie Padgette - 46 - 4:02.28
Kevin Colburn - 15 - 1:32.42

My diff still hasn't defrosted. LOL
Had a good time.

By the time you come back in January, the radiant heating system should be ready to go. I spoke to the landlord today; and he said two weeks. We really enjoyed having you guys visit us; and hope to see you again soon. Thanks; Ernie P. :cool: