Wolcott Hobbies hosted the 2004 ROAR Region 1 Electric Off-road Regional Championships on September 18 and 19. For the week leading up to the event, we were all watching the weather forecast as the tail end of Hurricane Ivan stretched out over the east coast tossing heavy down pours our way. Saturday morning, with the track underwater and washing away, the racers stuck it out, waiting, patiently for the rain to pass. Finally, mid day, there was a break in the weather. But the track was under water. On any regular race day, everyone would have packed it in and gone home. But under the guidance of Lester of Wolcott Hobbies www.wolcotthobbies and Chris Marcy of RC Madness www.rcmadness.com and Todd Anderson of RC Excitement www.rcexictement.com , the racers started working on the track. With the help of three competing businesses and teams, the track was brought back to racing condition in no time. They were able to run off two rounds of qualifying with the help of the Wolcott Hobby's 'sun like' lighting system. The raffles and door prizes were handout out on Saturday night in appreciation to those dedicated racers that weathered the storm and worked to help get the event on its feet.
Some notable racers trackside were Mike Dumas, Todd Anderson, Chris Marcy, Mark Smyka, Lester Bastenbeck, Mark Westerfield, Nick Leone, Mike Valentine and Todd Putnam.
I arrived on Sunday for two rounds of qualifying and the mains which included double A Mains in official ROAR classes. Officially, Regional Championships were awarded in modified truck, modified buggy, stock truck, stock buggy and modified 4wd. Additionally, for demonstration and testing purposes, open brushless truck and open E-Maxx were also awarded Provisional Championships.
Sunday was a typical early autumn New England type day with a slight chill in the air and a brisk wind with beautiful blue sky, no humidity and about 60 degrees. There was no evidence of the torrential rain from the day before on the track. The traction was high, the jumps were nicely spaced and constructed to require timing but not disruptive to the flow of the track. Wolcott typically has a huge track where 1/8th buggies pull only 35 second laps. Wolcott reduced the size of the track for the electrics to give a nice balance of speed, set-up and skill.
The qualifiers were run with the IFMAR starting system. For the most part drivers were able to negotiate the track without interfering with other drivers. There were a few instances of vehicle landing on each other and such, but then again, racing is a contact sport. The mains were run from a standing start with a nice spacing between starting positions. The grid was placed on the longest straight in the layout which was in the middle of the track. Most mains had the typical first turn pile up as they tried to manage the 180 degree hair pin at the end of the straight. In most mains, the leaders walked away from the pack as the pack was sorted out by the corner workers. Typical evidence that you can't win the race in the first turn but you can certainly lose it.
Some notable racers trackside were Mike Dumas, Todd Anderson, Chris Marcy, Mark Smyka, Lester Bastenbeck, Mark Westerfield, Nick Leone, Mike Valentine and Todd Putnam.
I arrived on Sunday for two rounds of qualifying and the mains which included double A Mains in official ROAR classes. Officially, Regional Championships were awarded in modified truck, modified buggy, stock truck, stock buggy and modified 4wd. Additionally, for demonstration and testing purposes, open brushless truck and open E-Maxx were also awarded Provisional Championships.
Sunday was a typical early autumn New England type day with a slight chill in the air and a brisk wind with beautiful blue sky, no humidity and about 60 degrees. There was no evidence of the torrential rain from the day before on the track. The traction was high, the jumps were nicely spaced and constructed to require timing but not disruptive to the flow of the track. Wolcott typically has a huge track where 1/8th buggies pull only 35 second laps. Wolcott reduced the size of the track for the electrics to give a nice balance of speed, set-up and skill.
The qualifiers were run with the IFMAR starting system. For the most part drivers were able to negotiate the track without interfering with other drivers. There were a few instances of vehicle landing on each other and such, but then again, racing is a contact sport. The mains were run from a standing start with a nice spacing between starting positions. The grid was placed on the longest straight in the layout which was in the middle of the track. Most mains had the typical first turn pile up as they tried to manage the 180 degree hair pin at the end of the straight. In most mains, the leaders walked away from the pack as the pack was sorted out by the corner workers. Typical evidence that you can't win the race in the first turn but you can certainly lose it.
