Post by superstock23v on Nov 24, 2008 15:19:20 GMT 12
Wanganui Opening Night - 23rd November
well.... chaffing at the bit we finally got our speedway season underway. The car was ready a few weeks prior however we decided against travelling out of town for meetings such as placemakers shoot out and taranaki superstock champs as we wanted to first turn wheels on home soil.
Race One:
Nerves were high heading into the first heat, unsure exactly how the car would handle around the tight southern bend as we had made many adjustments to the front torsions and replaced the entire front end links, swapping from worn tractor links to new chrome molly rod ends, as well as a couple of other shiny bits.
Griding up was "interesting" as it was a case of first come first served, and as i was unfamiliar with the car setup i wanted to start off the back, however one driver seemed VERY set on starting right behind me. So with just 6 cars present for the first race i set off grid 3. Half expecting to go straight off the first corner i got round with no dramas and ran midpack. The car was sitting very tightly around the southern bend, and i was pleased, glad to finally be rid of the mid corner push. i still ran pretty cautious as it was a lil slick. The only event worth mentioning in my race was craig humphreys, 98p, giving me a decent shove to push me wide entering the southern bend, which ended with us both rattling around the fence, allowing watkins, 99v, up the inside, before we both got up speed again on the straight. finished 4th.
Race two:
morris, 15v, and ogle, 282s, both topped up the field to 8 cars and with more confidence in the car and first to grid up i chose the outside of the front row as this is where i usually find better traction off the start opposed to starting off the inside, after the water truck has been round. Off the start i got in front, leading the first lap. but heading into the bottom corner with the rest of the field following i went in a lil and half spun, with craig humphreys and dion both pushing me around and i was facing the wrong way, and at the back, half a lap behind. i recovered quickly, but the car seemed unsettled for the rest of the race, however held good pace to finish 4th. once in the pits i saw that the front of the guard rail was folded in half, ripping the bolt out, so i was hanging on by only the back bolt. the car felt unsettled, as the guard rail had dug into the left rear rim, distorting it. tyre stayed up
Race three - Feature:
after repairs and a new guard rail i was back out for the feature, starting near the back. i worked through a couple of cars to find myself running forth right behind watkins in 2nd and ogle in 3rd. Steve guilford had a small gap up front. the car was sitting very well and tight, showing very good pace. With a lap to go dion took guilford into the concrete moving me up, coming past the chequered flag in 3rd. close behind watkins and ogle.
Race four - Grand Slam:
Stockcars and superstocks were joined for this, and i looked around to see a number of the supers parked on their trailers, due to various mechanical problems sustained through the night. so i was out and grided up 5th. behind Shonn Black, 82v, with Gerry, 2nzv, on pole. As the flag dropped Gerry put his foot on the brakes. and shonn and i started pushing. Gerry pulled out of the way and i continued pushing shonn. i started spinning him half way round the first corner but found myself stuck on the back straight, with shonn sitting crossed up in front of me. by the time i untangled i found myself at the back.... again.. i started to get up to speed, deciding i wanted to get some decent seat time under my belt, as i had a clear track. However halfway through 7v spun infront of me, and i attempted to avoid him, lossing alot of ground and scrubing alot of speed off. A lap or two later i found the same car JUST starting to spin in the same place RIGHT in front of me again. Knowing there was no way to avoid him as i was right behind him, and frustrated i kept my foot hard down, hoping to power through, and let off some steam. Hit him reasonably solidly, and slid under my belts a fraction, just catching myself on the crotch belt, something which now needs immidiate attention. the belt adjustment, not the other bit heh ;D. so as the flag fell i found myself finishing 5th.
So all in all i was extremely happy with the pace and handling of the car throughout the meeting, and was pleased to be up on the pace and find the car competitive. We're excited to see what else we can get out of the car once dads decent quick change diff is installed in the car, which will make the car ALOT lighter, and in addition give it better traction. PLUS it was a big bonus NOT to scratch my new front chrome rims heh ;D ;D
Finally would like to say well done to the track preparer, the track held up well and was awesome to drive on during the night.
hope you enjoy reading about the meeting through my eyes.
till next time
Scotty Duncan 23v
well.... chaffing at the bit we finally got our speedway season underway. The car was ready a few weeks prior however we decided against travelling out of town for meetings such as placemakers shoot out and taranaki superstock champs as we wanted to first turn wheels on home soil.
Race One:
Nerves were high heading into the first heat, unsure exactly how the car would handle around the tight southern bend as we had made many adjustments to the front torsions and replaced the entire front end links, swapping from worn tractor links to new chrome molly rod ends, as well as a couple of other shiny bits.
Griding up was "interesting" as it was a case of first come first served, and as i was unfamiliar with the car setup i wanted to start off the back, however one driver seemed VERY set on starting right behind me. So with just 6 cars present for the first race i set off grid 3. Half expecting to go straight off the first corner i got round with no dramas and ran midpack. The car was sitting very tightly around the southern bend, and i was pleased, glad to finally be rid of the mid corner push. i still ran pretty cautious as it was a lil slick. The only event worth mentioning in my race was craig humphreys, 98p, giving me a decent shove to push me wide entering the southern bend, which ended with us both rattling around the fence, allowing watkins, 99v, up the inside, before we both got up speed again on the straight. finished 4th.
Race two:
morris, 15v, and ogle, 282s, both topped up the field to 8 cars and with more confidence in the car and first to grid up i chose the outside of the front row as this is where i usually find better traction off the start opposed to starting off the inside, after the water truck has been round. Off the start i got in front, leading the first lap. but heading into the bottom corner with the rest of the field following i went in a lil and half spun, with craig humphreys and dion both pushing me around and i was facing the wrong way, and at the back, half a lap behind. i recovered quickly, but the car seemed unsettled for the rest of the race, however held good pace to finish 4th. once in the pits i saw that the front of the guard rail was folded in half, ripping the bolt out, so i was hanging on by only the back bolt. the car felt unsettled, as the guard rail had dug into the left rear rim, distorting it. tyre stayed up
Race three - Feature:
after repairs and a new guard rail i was back out for the feature, starting near the back. i worked through a couple of cars to find myself running forth right behind watkins in 2nd and ogle in 3rd. Steve guilford had a small gap up front. the car was sitting very well and tight, showing very good pace. With a lap to go dion took guilford into the concrete moving me up, coming past the chequered flag in 3rd. close behind watkins and ogle.
Race four - Grand Slam:
Stockcars and superstocks were joined for this, and i looked around to see a number of the supers parked on their trailers, due to various mechanical problems sustained through the night. so i was out and grided up 5th. behind Shonn Black, 82v, with Gerry, 2nzv, on pole. As the flag dropped Gerry put his foot on the brakes. and shonn and i started pushing. Gerry pulled out of the way and i continued pushing shonn. i started spinning him half way round the first corner but found myself stuck on the back straight, with shonn sitting crossed up in front of me. by the time i untangled i found myself at the back.... again.. i started to get up to speed, deciding i wanted to get some decent seat time under my belt, as i had a clear track. However halfway through 7v spun infront of me, and i attempted to avoid him, lossing alot of ground and scrubing alot of speed off. A lap or two later i found the same car JUST starting to spin in the same place RIGHT in front of me again. Knowing there was no way to avoid him as i was right behind him, and frustrated i kept my foot hard down, hoping to power through, and let off some steam. Hit him reasonably solidly, and slid under my belts a fraction, just catching myself on the crotch belt, something which now needs immidiate attention. the belt adjustment, not the other bit heh ;D. so as the flag fell i found myself finishing 5th.
So all in all i was extremely happy with the pace and handling of the car throughout the meeting, and was pleased to be up on the pace and find the car competitive. We're excited to see what else we can get out of the car once dads decent quick change diff is installed in the car, which will make the car ALOT lighter, and in addition give it better traction. PLUS it was a big bonus NOT to scratch my new front chrome rims heh ;D ;D
Finally would like to say well done to the track preparer, the track held up well and was awesome to drive on during the night.
hope you enjoy reading about the meeting through my eyes.
till next time
Scotty Duncan 23v
