D1RC Drift Series Round 6 - Colchester

^{Championship Podium}

Going back to Colchester gave me a good feeling. We had a great day back in July, possibly the best of the circuits visited all season…..or Snetterton? A close call, but good anyway and on this occasion we were going to be using their timing systems for the Time Attack. We also had the biggest entry all season with a full 16 car final, all experienced drivers by now. Add to that a good weather forecast and what could go wrong?

Absolutely nothing! It was the best event of the season by far, so lets see if I can remember the highlights? Well, the first highlight was Paul’s Citruin getting him there!

We kicked off the first Drift practice session on time, this time using two start lanes to keep the leading car queue separate from the chasing car queue. Those using their loaves were practicing starts from both lanes. Those favouring just the outside lane, with easier entry to the first corner, would realise their mistake later! The circuit used was exactly the same as that used in round 3, this by popular demand, and Eddie and I were only too happy to oblige as we knew that one worked fine last time. For those not there, the start line was the club painted start line about 2/3 the way down the long pit straight in front of the big, high rostrum which was on top of the club’s timing/race control/scrutineering facility. From the line you ran around 40feet to the first righthanded 180 'easy' hairpin (anything but easy to get right though), then back along a right/left slightly kinked 40 foot straight, then left through a sweeping 90 degree curve and straight into a sweeping 180+ right curve and across the finishing line. The circuit continued through a very wide and easy 45 degree left sweeper to a 135 degree right, a short straight leading into a fast 90 right back onto the start straight, this circuit giving the drivers a return route to the start line and the Time Attack drivers a full circuit for their continuous timed laps using the club transponders and timing equipment.

The first practice session was followed by a Time Attack practice and then the second Drift practice. The cars were then assembled on the start straight for the Chassis ‘n Shell competitions. With so many to choose from this should have been difficult but the field was narrowed by the ruling that no car may win these competitions twice. Even so, many remained in contention but it was clear from the crowd forming around Steve Davies’ claret red Skyline that a clear winner had emerged. The drivers were then asked to strip for the best chassis competition and, once again, Steve’s very blue TT01 (well, there may have been some original kit bits left but not many!) easily took the win – not because the competition was easy, far from it, but it really did stand out.

^{Steve's Chassis 'n Shell winning Skyline}

^{And again..... world's first steam power drifter? She's about to blow!!!!}

^{It earnt him two trophies and two prizes - not bad, huh?}

^{The big line up...again! This series is getting popular!}

After a short lunch break it was time for the serious business of qualifying to begin. As I was last up to the rostrum and had managed to avoid judging this round I was in a position to watch everyone’s efforts. What struck me as the drivers took their 1x practice, 3 judged runs was that the general standard was down on previous rounds, this reflected by the judges scores. What was going on? The weather was perfect. All the cars were behaving with minimal breakages, if any. There had been ample practice! Then it became clear. Nerves! For the first time in the series, everyone was under pressure to beat the guy who was ahead of them in the results tables and stay ahead of the guys just behind - this being the last round there was no opportunity to do better next round!

I should explain, maybe, the final points scoring system as some are not familiar with the official D1 system. The best of the three runs counts, your second and third scores only serve to split a tie. The qualifying order determines your competition partner in the finals – 1st goes against 16th and so on. The finals determine the top four round results but 5th place onwards defaults to your position in qualifying, so a top place in qualifying guarantees you a top 5 placing even if you get eliminated in the first round of the finals. This makes qualifying far more important than some realise!

Eddie Turner did, nevertheless, manage to raise the standard with a 99/98/91 run but there were no 100 scores and second placed Brad Hurr could only raise a 97.5. Maybe the judges were being a little harsh! Stu Cave, Ritchie Hood and John Turner completed the top 5.

The Time Attack drivers were bringing some new cars to the track for this round, an LCG from Brad Hurr, a Pro 4 from John Turner and ‘something new’ from Adam McEwen and, as expected, speeds were noticeably quicker but there was no holding Eddie Turner back as he set a blinding 11.80sec fastest lap, and that without even taking his Pro 4 out in the practice! John Turner just took 2nd with a 12.50 best ahead of Adam on 12.67, Brad Hurr on a 12.80 and Peter Savage on 15.62 completing the top 5.

^{Eddie Turner's Time Attack Cusco Scooby}

^{Which gave him 1st place Round 6}

As the finals began it was interesting to note just how many people were watching, not only other drivers but also friends and family who had tagged along, some future potential competitors, as well as a few of the Colchester club members. The tension was high – Eddie and Jimmy had fought for the lead of the championship all season and, with nothing in it, it could still go either way. What’s more, John, Stu and Brad were just points apart for 3rd place and with a 16 driver final anything could happen! The scan of the actual judges results sheet below tells you how it went – far too much for words – but I’ll just cover a few of the closest and best. In the first round we had a cliff hanger with John Turner and Adam McEwen stretching a 7-3, 3-7 / 5-5, 6-4 win going to JT. The next round of knockouts saw the best battle of the year and one that was important in the championship standings. Stu Cave and Jimmy Lam took a full eight runs to decide the winner, 4-6, 6-4 / 6-4, 4-6 / 6-4, 4-6 / 3-7, 4-6 finally going to Stu (Jimmy thought his trannie batteries were about to drain!). After such close battles, the 3/4th place final went to Brad Hurr who took a solid 10-0, 10-0 from Ritchie Hood and Eddie Turner took the overall win from Stu Cave with a clear 7-3, 7-3 result, extending his narrow lead over Jimmy Lam for the final championship standings. John Turner made up the top 5 for the round by dint of his qualifying position.

^{Eddie Turner and Stu Cave battle for the silverware!}

^{Eddie picks up 1st place}

^{Stu collects 2nd place}

^{And Brad takes 3rd}

^{The finals score sheet}

^{Eddie Turner's round and Drift Series winning 180SX / Yokomo SSG}

^{And together with Ritchie Hood's 4th place 350Z / Drift Package}

^{John Turner's 5th place 350Z / Pro4, 4th place in Series.}

At the end of a very exciting day we then had the pleasure of applauding the winners, both of the round and the Series winners, the six round winners receiving cell packs from CML, trophies from Radio Race Car International and applause from the other drivers and spectators. For top 3 Series winners, CML had provided new Drift Body Sets and the D1RC Drift Series coffers managed to scrape up enough surplus to present the top three Drifters Eddie Turner, Jimmy Lam and Stu Cave and the top Time Attack driver, Eddie Turner, splendid Cups and trophies. D1RC would like to thank Colchester MCC's Paul Bellinger for doing the honours and handing out the goodies - thanks Paul.

^{2006 D1RC Drift Series winner, Eddie Turner takes the big one!}

^{Series runner up, Jimmy Lam}

^{Series 3rd place, Stu Cave}

^{Series Time Attack winner, Eddie Turner}

...and following the distinguished awards session the fight for who got what body set started.

But in the end, it wasn’t the prizes or the cups that made it all worth while – it was just being there, taking part in the first ever UK National Drift Series for 1/10 electric radio controlled cars. We’ll all have out memories to treasure….until it all begins again next year! Watch this space, or better still, go to D1RC.co.uk and get ready to compete in the even bigger, even better, D1RC 2007 Drift Series National Cahampionship.

D1RC would like to thank Radio Race Car International, CML Distribution and D1GB GT Battle for sponsoring the 2006 D1RC Drift Series and Colchester MCC, Snetterton Park MCC and Bedworth RCC for the use of their club facilities. Without your help D1RC wouldn’t have been able to do it! Our special thanks also go out to all in the Sumo Power team, Ralph Crampton of SVA, Abbey Motor Sports and last, but not least, our good friends from D1GP, Messrs Nomura, Kazama, Ueno and Okamura.

Thank You.

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Results

Drift Competition

• 1^st - Eddie Turner
• 2^nd - Stuart Cave
• 3^rd - Brad Hurr
• 4^th - Ritchie Hood
• 5^th - John Turner
• 6^th - Jimmy Lam
• 7^th - Paul Edwards
• 8^th - Adrian Simon

Concours

• Best Bodyshell - Steve Davies
• Best Chassis - Steve Davies

Overall Championship Results

• 1^st - Eddie Turner
• 2^th - Jimmy Lam
• 3^nd - Stuart Cave
• 4^rd - John Turner
• 5^th - Brad Hurr
• 6^th - Adrian Simon
• 7^th - Paul Edwards
• 8^th - Ritchie Hood