raffaelli
11-09-2004, 01:58 AM
RACE RESULTS : ROAR Region 1 Carpet Onroad Regional Championships
South Shore Hobby hosted the 2004 ROAR Region 1 Carpet On road Regional Championships. This was the first time that South Shore hosted a ROAR sanctioned event. South Shore is the largest carpet track in Region 1. South Shore is known for their ‘show’ during trophy races drawing large crowds; including some of the best talent in the area. Check www.southshorehobby.com (http://www.shouthshorehobby.com/) for more information about the facility.
My son and I arrived at the track on Friday night about midway through the program for the pre-regional club race. The pits were packed with racers trying to figure out the best setup for the track. You can tell that the regional was near as you can hear the sounds of dyno’s running all night for just a regular club race.
Leading up to the event, South Shore was bombarded with concerns about the race fees. To adjust to the racers requests, the race fee was lowered and the handout motor was eliminated. However, South Shore was still able to manage to fund T Shirts. South Shore acted promptly to racer concerns in evidence of there dedication to the customer.
Since the track layout was down several weeks before the event, the traction was high in the driving lane. The track was flowing but without the typical long straight. There was a deadly chicane in front of the drivers stand that claimed many rear arms during the weekend. The groove was high enough that getting the car to rotate had become a setup issue for many drivers in the later rounds of qualifying.
Saturday morning brought a packed house with 106 entries! I can’t remember the last time there was a regional with that many entries! There were two rounds of qualifying plus practice time. The program started a bit later than planned but Alex Valdez, race director, was still able to get done around diner time. Each car received a pre and post heat tech of car weight and ride height. The rules were deviated for only weight to allow the house rule of 3.2 lbs in sedan. No other rule deviations were granted. For those that hung around Saturday night, they were able to see the reshuffled heat listing.
Sunday brought even more racers and spectators along with the last round of qualifying and the main events.
In the sedan stock A main, Mike Haynes TQ and Mark Smyka, put on a great race. The two of them followed each other around the track just inches of each others bumper. But around lap 7 there was contact between Mark and Mike in the chicane in front of the driver’s stand which allowed Mark to slip past and take the lead. Mark drove a perfect line; making is way through traffic for the balance of the race. Mike was not as fortunate with traffic. He did make a big push at the 4 minute mark, but it was not enough. Mike finished less that 1 second behind. Carissa Figelski finished strong, improving her positions 2 spots over her qualifying position. Mark Smyka is the 2004 ROAR Region 1 Stock Sedan Carpet Regional Champion. Mike Haynes took second and Bill Hamlin in 3rd. The crowd cheering for this race was intense and spilled over to the next A Main.
South Shore Hobby hosted the 2004 ROAR Region 1 Carpet On road Regional Championships. This was the first time that South Shore hosted a ROAR sanctioned event. South Shore is the largest carpet track in Region 1. South Shore is known for their ‘show’ during trophy races drawing large crowds; including some of the best talent in the area. Check www.southshorehobby.com (http://www.shouthshorehobby.com/) for more information about the facility.
My son and I arrived at the track on Friday night about midway through the program for the pre-regional club race. The pits were packed with racers trying to figure out the best setup for the track. You can tell that the regional was near as you can hear the sounds of dyno’s running all night for just a regular club race.
Leading up to the event, South Shore was bombarded with concerns about the race fees. To adjust to the racers requests, the race fee was lowered and the handout motor was eliminated. However, South Shore was still able to manage to fund T Shirts. South Shore acted promptly to racer concerns in evidence of there dedication to the customer.
Since the track layout was down several weeks before the event, the traction was high in the driving lane. The track was flowing but without the typical long straight. There was a deadly chicane in front of the drivers stand that claimed many rear arms during the weekend. The groove was high enough that getting the car to rotate had become a setup issue for many drivers in the later rounds of qualifying.
Saturday morning brought a packed house with 106 entries! I can’t remember the last time there was a regional with that many entries! There were two rounds of qualifying plus practice time. The program started a bit later than planned but Alex Valdez, race director, was still able to get done around diner time. Each car received a pre and post heat tech of car weight and ride height. The rules were deviated for only weight to allow the house rule of 3.2 lbs in sedan. No other rule deviations were granted. For those that hung around Saturday night, they were able to see the reshuffled heat listing.
Sunday brought even more racers and spectators along with the last round of qualifying and the main events.
In the sedan stock A main, Mike Haynes TQ and Mark Smyka, put on a great race. The two of them followed each other around the track just inches of each others bumper. But around lap 7 there was contact between Mark and Mike in the chicane in front of the driver’s stand which allowed Mark to slip past and take the lead. Mark drove a perfect line; making is way through traffic for the balance of the race. Mike was not as fortunate with traffic. He did make a big push at the 4 minute mark, but it was not enough. Mike finished less that 1 second behind. Carissa Figelski finished strong, improving her positions 2 spots over her qualifying position. Mark Smyka is the 2004 ROAR Region 1 Stock Sedan Carpet Regional Champion. Mike Haynes took second and Bill Hamlin in 3rd. The crowd cheering for this race was intense and spilled over to the next A Main.