King of the Coast 2011 (Read 1,697 times)

[The Observer]

A big thanks to our sponsors for the year - without you guys we wouldn't be out there doing it. Its been a decent year for our team, and your support keeps us out there.

Kevin Lynch Builders
McLay Tooling
Fat MAxs Gym
Gillys Transport Refinishers
Olivers Shoe Store
Hahn Logging
OAS - Olivers Automotive Specialists

Top teams all of them, and have helped us get to another level this year. THanks to you all. On to the days racing!

King of the Coast – take 2

After a rain out this meeting was delayed two weeks, to its traditional time a week after Easter, which was late this year. It also meant we lost some drivers who had prior commitments unfortunately, and canceled two groups of stockcars into one group of 24. My Crew Chief (wife) pulled grid 3, which I was pretty happy with as I was short on tear-offs, and with the wettest track of the day always up first, I had the fingers crossed that I might be able to avoid getting caned by the rooster tails of all the other drivers. Nice photo of olly and jonny old school below, thats jonny old school in the cab adjusting the mirrors so he can see how cool he looks "didn't use those in my day" haha





Race1

We were out in race 3, with the water truck dumping some of the wet stuff on top while we did some wheel packing. The water truck got stuck in the middle of the track at the exit of turn 4 where there looked to be a real soft spot, potentially suggesting we didn’t need any water on, and requiring some evasive moves from the guys following the water truck. Fortunately collisions were avoided ( it was close ha-ha) and we did a few more laps to pack in the track.





Olly and the another new car to the coast – good to have the Doc back.

Lined up, Clevo in the tank was off grid one. The revs rose and the flag dropped, and we stayed where we were spinning the wheels, as the tank had kept the brakes well and truly on.



We pushed him a few meters, and the tank started to move in the direction of the wall, so Clevo eased off the brakes, and He shot out wide to where the drive was, and I headed for the pole line were I thought some drive was. Though a heap had passed us, most ended up in the wet boggy stuff in the middle of the track, and we both came out of turn two in 5th and 6th. Olly was on Grid 4, and had done the Harold Holt (the bolt) and disappeared into the sunset, starting to lap the stragglers on lap two I think.



With the moisture it really felt like I had no drive, and despite my best attempts to stay low, the frustration of no drive meant I stayed on the load peddle for too long, and drifted up to the middle of the track and wheel spun, while people drove under me. Which led to more frustration, too long on the go peddle, and crashing into the turn 1 and 2 wall. On the way in I thought I may as well keep it up it since i’m definitely going in, and managed to make some positions back – turned out that way out wide there was a little bit of drive in the corners, for the first few laps anyway. i'VE ALSO found once you;ve hit that wall once its like a magnet, so went back a few more times in this race to say gidday. THanks for reminding me after the meeting brownie ahah



After hitting the wall a few more times lost most of the brakes, and of course we got a red light for clevo rolling himself over the front of another car when dive bombing. Don’t worry about that one Clevo, Beatle told me when he came down here and was rolled in the tank that it doesn’t count when your attacking someone else.

Passed a heap of cars on the red lights due to no brakes. Jason Smith sorted me out after the lights changed, and got me spun out to teach me a lesson – that will teach me for not moving back far enough haha. After looking on the infeild on the reds and seeing most of the visitors there that probably started the gm on gm, as I see most of the other locals started having a play with each other in an effort to give the crowd some entertainment.



That was about the sum of the race, pretty frustrated with little drive, had to get out of the gas a heap, and that lead to hitting the wall a few times more than I would have liked and driving the poor lines. Cam home in 6th. Olly dominated on a track the tri rail normally struggles with, and came home 1st. Well done mate.

[The Observer]

Race 2

Some more water on the track on this one, and some more wheel packing gave us a pretty nice surface in race two.



Off grid 14 for this one. Took off into turn one, and got spun by Noel Edgeworth in the x Andrew McPherson car, no doubt payback for when we had a bingle a couple of years back. Clutched it and couldn’t quite find a gear in time, and got cleaned up by the pack coming through. Was almost straightened up, so tried to gas it again, but only managed to drive into the front of the winner of the first race 38gm - shocker.



Held us both up, Olly couldn’t get reverse so had to drive backwards to push him out of the way. Got going this time, and the track felt a lot better, had some nice drive and a bit of a burm had developed and got up to speed. If you got over the burm in the shade from the wall there was still a damp patch – check out the rooster tail below. Took me a while to work that out unfortunately. Gill Simpson in the 21gm flat chassis thats for sale for a steal lead this race for about 5 laps I think, it was hauling and a few were asking if the Nitrous bottle had been used. GOod on ya mate, great to see it doing the bizo, seemed to be handling beaut too.



Only managed to hit the turn 2 wall once or twice this time, geez, its like going back in time doing that again. Olly was hauling after getting held up at the start, looks like he was on 3 wheels they way it was hooking up on the berm in this photo. Those boys have done some great work on getting that car were it needs to be, and it’s really starting to show.



Did some laps with the tanker after the red light. 5 gm had stalled and a flag man was still waving the flags as the race went green. I stayed still, but they left the lights on so finally got away, and was luycky enough not to get drilled by “Larry”.





Gave a couple of nudges out, and watched 38gm drive away from me, and came home in 6th. I think Olly was either 4th or 3rd in this one, and Jason Tasker took away a good win. There are some fast cars round here now.

[The Observer]

Race 3

Took the wing off for this race, and replaced with the nelson wing - the crew chief was a little concerned about the new wing lasting in its first meeting back.



I’m not sure why, I’ve only ever been rolled in the first race of the night in nelson in the past (twice). Had a look at the points and Olly was in 2nd , a point back, with Tony Stanton, Jase Tasker, and Towbar all there abouts, and Dodgy Brent in 51gm from Westport flying right up there in 2nd equal as well.

The top of the falcon steering box had broken in about 7 places in heat 2, which spewed fluid out all over the show when we turned the wheel. Cable tied a rag to the top to try and keep some in there, but basically had no power steering or fluid in the steering box in this one. Had only just replaced the last steering box which had had a decent leak in it, so considering my options in that department. ANy advice on what works well in other cars?

Had no plans for heat 3 really, and wasn’t sure what to do since there were no visitors with any chance of getting near the podium, so thought I might as well go out there and see what happens, and try and get Olly home by getting in the way of a few locals, without causing too much trouble (nice guy stockcars – never works). Hadn’t said a word to him, but thought given the points if he finished 1st he should take it away. Always tough when its the rest of your mates on points, so was definitly wait and see what happened as the race progressed.



Took off on the pace, with all those guys ahead of Olly on the grid except for 51gm. Got a good start up the inside, with Olly taking the outside line and getting a little held up, but popping out on the pace. Had a couple of rubs, and let olly through to suss out what the race order was. Check out his photo of 38gm - looks like a superstock under full load, roaring in the air getting all that drive.



Slowed down to wait for the leaders to come through. Jase Tasker came along, and was pretty cautious – took the slow safe option and followed for a a lap while a couple of cars passed. Since he was already down the back of the feild, waved him through – which lasted one corner, he spun in front of me after passing.



Wobbled around him, and a Westport car, think it was 51gm came up behind, so slowed further for a look – he slowed down, and I could see why, something had broken, steamed or smoked in the rear, so let him trundle on past- he was obviously out of the running.

Olly was in 3rd now, with Towbar leading, and Tony Stanton in 2nd. Hahno in the new car came up with towbar while I was cruising the back straight, and while Hahno hesitated, towbar went three wide – he has to be the most cunning driver out there.



He probably didn;t think anything would happen, but still went three wide just to be safe. Thankfully Hahno finally got a wiggle on and I had a wee dive at Towbar and spun him up. 11gm came through,and Olly moved into 2nd. Towbar knocked the key, so was stationary for a bit, which worked out well – gave me time to look around and see Olly go through into second, and see the new leader, Tony Stanton 11gm come around.



Towbar took off, and i waited and pulled out in front of Hahno in the 7g again, who had Tony Stanton behind. Hahno must have seen what happened, or being working in Team Smack Attack, as he latched onto the bumper, and sent us both of the end. I ended up spun on the bumper.



Lucky hes a nice guy,as he didn’t have shot at bending it by putting us both in the wall haha. Tried to gas it off the bumper while Tony was driving underneath us, but he got away. Got going again, and waited for 11 gm again.



He latched onto me in the middle of turn 1 and 2, then went wide and did the big dive that spun me out. While heading backwards had a look for Olly, who was now not anywhere near the leaders, having blown the gearbox that lap. Got going again, went around under the chequered flag, and came around again in 1st as they were unlocking the pitgate. Got the big KABOOM in the backside as I was looking around, and was spun into the wall by some red rocket, think it had a GM on the door. Think that was a streetstock style payback lol cause the real Towbar one would have been a run off special I reckon. Tried a little left hand down and clutch while we were heading into the wall, but couldn;t quite get it into gear.



I think the 17c Tanka was the only chch car to finish the 3rd race in a good effort. In the end the GM cars took out the top 9 places, with olly in 9th despite only finishing two races.

Was an awesome day weather ways, was a little disappointed in my own performance. Need to get the drive line sorted earlier in races, and get a bit cooler and try a little less hard at the start I think. Disengage the heart, and engage the brain a little more I think. Black Doug (towbar dave) has the right idea – he just cruises the first few laps of the first race, then seems to turn it up a notch in the last half of the race and sneak through for a top 6 placing from the back. Its all about doing laps they tell me, so hopefully I can learn from the experience.

There might be one more meeting at Queens Birthday this year, but will have to see how the finances go for that one. Looking foward to the first real off season with the car, and hope to tidy up all those little things that have been on the list for a while, and with any luck loose a little weight out of the car. Weighed 1470 at the NZs in Blenheim, so will have a look at what we can do for a diet for the offseason.

[ross56y]

awesome report there !!!
would be awesome to see you on the westport track ..... have you raced at westport before
bring cold weather gear and a drinking arm as i owe you guys a few drinks for your help over the season
RnR racing

[17c stocky]

Gee Obby, you must have to much time on ya hands. Great write up tho mate. Got the Tank all sorted out by the last race which was too late but I still enjoyed the day. Also good to hear your ok Ross, didnt see the hit but must have been a goodie. Looking forward to catching up with you all Queens Birthday weekend. Might be only CHCH car there but im sure you will all make me feel welcome . Hey Ross are you guys going to have a ladies race on the Sunday? I have 1 thats keen...

[ross56y]

we are looking at that sort of racing as my wife is very keen to get out and have a go too
our track is small just leave the earth bank alone as it will roll you very easy
been there done that

[The Observer]

May 6, 2011 8:18:30 GMT 12 ross56y said:

we are looking at that sort of racing as my wife is very keen to get out and have a go too
our track is small just leave the earth bank alone as it will roll you very easy
been there done that

Hi Ross,

THanks for the invite, never raced there and definitly on the to do list. Will see how things pan out, but keen to give it a crack.

Very nervous about the bank, you can see my propensity above for hitting the turn 1 and 2 wall here in greymouth! FIngers crossed we can get up there for a spin, there has been plenty of keen talk from the greymouth stockcars keen to get up and show there appreciation for the travelling down here you guys have done.

cheers

[17c stocky]

Hey there Obby, ya got to have ago there (Westport). the track is short and fast, turn 1 and 2 ya got to be a bit careful but 3 and 4 are awesome. Have raced the ministock there a few times and took my old stocky there last year which went well, but its not all about horsepower with the track being so short even a old standard engine ya can keep up with the fast cars. So theres hope for Larry yet ;D

[bomba]

i wont be going to make westport anymore iv got a jetboat rally on.but for all those flag chasers in gm i look foward to seeing you on the track in the new season and as for you mr pace maker towbar i hope those batterys are charged coz hads is very upset and rons dosnt want that new wing bent so KA BOOOOOM is the word haha p.s i think you need sum crc on that trottle cable and some new contact lenceses. ;D ;D ;D chow

[The Observer]

ahhahhaha

THanks bomba.

Have to track down the entry form for Queens Birthday, looks like we should be in line to make our debut up at Westport, introduce ourselves to the bank and delay the off season rebuild a little longer.

Just need to repare/replace another bloomin falcon steering box, nut bolt check etc and see how the fluids are all looking and load her up.

Olly has probably got over his gearbox blues now, so will have to get a another video of the big fella done since he has been flying solo with the wee man for the last week, and has had even less time to update anything.