- 1,375
- Warwick/UK
- Nemesis-Reaper
Marmite...
You either Love it, or Hate it... at least so the stigma goes! And this also appears to be the case with the Streets of Willow Springs. A low turn out for this week's event, appears to be a direct impact of the chosen course. an almost 50/50 split between the grid, in attendance or boycott would leave those Racing a lot of empty space to fill!!! However in spite of this weeks venue we see, and welcome, newcomers LuxuryQueen & blueninjacivic to the fray.
A very challenging, unforgiving and technical circuit, further complicated by Mother Nature. This will prove to be the toughest circuit on the calendar for the Rocket SR series.
I can only hope, those that favored watching a stuffed bag of air, were in support of the Seattle Seahawks, as the scoreline suggest a trouncing over the Denver pony club...!
Now, back to the action taking place on the hot asphalt of Willow Springs.
ROUND 4
A confusing qualifying session would put MC-Chase in pole position, after stealing it away From Nemesis-Reaper in the closing moments... with no time left to make a counter-attack, Nemesis would line up in 2nd spot with Matheus in 3rd Brutaka 4th. …. 5th. Blueninjacivic 6th. and …..7th. 5th and 7th positions, appear to running in an alternate universe somewhere deep within the internet… or is it the Matrix!!!
Considering the open nature of landscape around the circuit, one key factor here is Sand!!! until the racing line is scrubbed in, and cleaned off by the tyres, good traction is hard to find.
In the driver's pre-race safety debrief, caution is advised. A tempered approach to the opening laps will pay off, as not only is there a familiar fight to hold position, and warm tyres, but also in bringing the track up to speed, and avoid time sapping excursions.
This would be a lesson learned very quickly!
Another good, clean get away from all for the long drag to the tight and somewhat blind turn 2. Nemesis and Brutaka have an equally bad start, getting bogged down on the line. Up to turn 2 and it would now be MC-Chase losing out, as he leaves a barn sized door open for Math to slot into…
its clear there is distant lack of grip, as just behind them Nemesis's attempt to run around the outside and cut back, is washed out by the loss of traction. After taking a salt bath, he slots back in last! It's good for the skin apparently, but not when its Chromed :s
the pack scramble for grip as they head down and then back up the hill to turn 4
Math now comfortably in first place has not learned anything by his fellow racers mistakes, and equally runs out of talent coming to hard into the turn, subsequently running wide onto the dirt bank.
As he rejoins the track, to hasty on the throttle, smokes up the rears and sends him spinning back in the wrong direction, Brutaka now has to take to the dirt to avoid the spinning Rocket! Next up in a “days of thunder” moment, Nem heads for the uninviting cloud of tyre smoke, going wide hoping to avoid further carnage….but the emerging green rocket, heading backwards across the track requires immediate correction and the two narrowly miss each other.
Brutaka, having to make a gamble with the setup of his rocket, is struggling with grip and by the end of lap 1 Nemesis is already lining up for a pass.
Chase is comfortably pulling out a lead ahead of newcomer Blue, although its not without the odd moment of opposite lock here and there!
Meanwhile, Math is having a task just keeping the rocket on the asphalt, as he once again exfoliates the skin of his rocket out on the flats…
he is not the only one, as now Nemesis makes another error, leaving to beach the already soiled rocket before turn 7.
Fortunately there is enough momentum left to avoid an early shower, and he gets back on the track… albeit behind Brutaka once again, and now nearly 12 secs down on the lead car after only 4 laps.
A mistake for Brutaka through the fast ease’s see’s him heading out into the desert at speed, allowing Nemesis back into third spot. The sequence of mistakes has now allowed Math to re-aquire sight of a target!
Eager to gain ground back on 2nd place, Nemesis overshoots into Turn 11 and decides to go bowling instead!!!
Fortunately, all the cones here today at Willow, have signed a waiver agreeing that Motor Racing IS dangerous, and if you spend all day by the edge of the track, the law of averages will catch up with you…. Chase’s fine still stands however!
Math now able to capitalise on a wide exit out of t11 for Brutaka, gets past going into the ease’s.
Nemesis gets a good toe of Blue down the back straight, and just manages to stop the rocket before contact going into 11. But a compromised line here see the hard work go to waste yet again.
Blue hangs it out to much coming out of T2, with the drag of sand and sudden loss of grip his Rocket ends up pointed back off circuit, Nemesis just close enough is able to get by unchallenged.
Now in a comfortable rhythm, its not long before Math is challenging blue for position, but not without taking his frustration with Willow out on a few cones!!!
L9. An unusually early Pit stop by MC-Chase, would mean a long run to the finish, but a consistant approach with very few fights should easily secure a victory!!!
In traditional Superbowl fashion, we now take a “short” commercial break and rejoin the action when we return.
We rejoin at Lap 35 of 36!
Unfortunately the abrasive nature of the track here, has destroyed the grip left in Chase's tyres, and he will now have to manage them carefully to avoid dropping over the "Cliff" altogether!
Despite all odds of finishing ahead of position, needing a comeback from 16 secs down on 1st place, the unimaginable is now presented right in front of Nemesis... Yellow Target acquired. Just 1.8secs left to find on the start of the last lap!
From what should have been a dismal race, after the early offs and low numbers, the excitement was saved right until the end. After 35 Laps of Time attacking, it has all come down to the last one for the decider on who will win!
Not only the last lap, but the last corner... Nemesis has been slowly chipping away at the lead of Chase, it was not without error from both, but the stratergy of a later pit stop has given Nemesis that all important advantage in grip in the remaining laps . The gap is now tumbling as Nemesis finds himself right behind the very skitish rocket of MC-Chase, it looks like he has banana skins for tyres! Even still, Chase manages to keep it pointed in the right direction (albeit sideways), and a difficult target to pass. The right decision needs to be made, as any contact would surely see both cars lost to the desert!
Its a decision that is saved for the last corner... Seeing the yellow rocket dancing side ways through the last set of corners and switch backs, a good exit out T14, would surely allow Nemesis to out drag Chase to the line, even from behind....
The moment approaches, Nemesis closes the gap, holding the revs and keeping his Rocket stable he lines it up and shoots for the outside,
the gap left by Chase is diminishing with every passing tenth, its looks as though they will clash, but sensing the gaining rocket to his left,
Chase pulls across, and Nemesis carries his momentum to the line to take First place.
Team Reaper Racing secures its First Win in the Rocket SR Series, after a hot & gritty 36 laps of Racing at Streets of Willow Springs.
1st Nemesis Reaper
2nd MC-Chase
3rd Matheus-007
Apologies for not being able to cover the others racing, but hopefully we will have found a cure to this "Phatom" issue.... and hopefully put the Ghost's of Willow to rest!!!
Well done to everyone in attendance, if we see a return to our usual turnout, and with the new additions to the Series, a full grid for Trial Mountain is a very distinct possibility.
See you all online soon.
You either Love it, or Hate it... at least so the stigma goes! And this also appears to be the case with the Streets of Willow Springs. A low turn out for this week's event, appears to be a direct impact of the chosen course. an almost 50/50 split between the grid, in attendance or boycott would leave those Racing a lot of empty space to fill!!! However in spite of this weeks venue we see, and welcome, newcomers LuxuryQueen & blueninjacivic to the fray.
A very challenging, unforgiving and technical circuit, further complicated by Mother Nature. This will prove to be the toughest circuit on the calendar for the Rocket SR series.
I can only hope, those that favored watching a stuffed bag of air, were in support of the Seattle Seahawks, as the scoreline suggest a trouncing over the Denver pony club...!
Now, back to the action taking place on the hot asphalt of Willow Springs.
ROUND 4
A confusing qualifying session would put MC-Chase in pole position, after stealing it away From Nemesis-Reaper in the closing moments... with no time left to make a counter-attack, Nemesis would line up in 2nd spot with Matheus in 3rd Brutaka 4th. …. 5th. Blueninjacivic 6th. and …..7th. 5th and 7th positions, appear to running in an alternate universe somewhere deep within the internet… or is it the Matrix!!!
Considering the open nature of landscape around the circuit, one key factor here is Sand!!! until the racing line is scrubbed in, and cleaned off by the tyres, good traction is hard to find.
In the driver's pre-race safety debrief, caution is advised. A tempered approach to the opening laps will pay off, as not only is there a familiar fight to hold position, and warm tyres, but also in bringing the track up to speed, and avoid time sapping excursions.
This would be a lesson learned very quickly!
Another good, clean get away from all for the long drag to the tight and somewhat blind turn 2. Nemesis and Brutaka have an equally bad start, getting bogged down on the line. Up to turn 2 and it would now be MC-Chase losing out, as he leaves a barn sized door open for Math to slot into…
its clear there is distant lack of grip, as just behind them Nemesis's attempt to run around the outside and cut back, is washed out by the loss of traction. After taking a salt bath, he slots back in last! It's good for the skin apparently, but not when its Chromed :s
the pack scramble for grip as they head down and then back up the hill to turn 4
Math now comfortably in first place has not learned anything by his fellow racers mistakes, and equally runs out of talent coming to hard into the turn, subsequently running wide onto the dirt bank.
As he rejoins the track, to hasty on the throttle, smokes up the rears and sends him spinning back in the wrong direction, Brutaka now has to take to the dirt to avoid the spinning Rocket! Next up in a “days of thunder” moment, Nem heads for the uninviting cloud of tyre smoke, going wide hoping to avoid further carnage….but the emerging green rocket, heading backwards across the track requires immediate correction and the two narrowly miss each other.
Brutaka, having to make a gamble with the setup of his rocket, is struggling with grip and by the end of lap 1 Nemesis is already lining up for a pass.
Chase is comfortably pulling out a lead ahead of newcomer Blue, although its not without the odd moment of opposite lock here and there!
Meanwhile, Math is having a task just keeping the rocket on the asphalt, as he once again exfoliates the skin of his rocket out on the flats…
he is not the only one, as now Nemesis makes another error, leaving to beach the already soiled rocket before turn 7.
Fortunately there is enough momentum left to avoid an early shower, and he gets back on the track… albeit behind Brutaka once again, and now nearly 12 secs down on the lead car after only 4 laps.
A mistake for Brutaka through the fast ease’s see’s him heading out into the desert at speed, allowing Nemesis back into third spot. The sequence of mistakes has now allowed Math to re-aquire sight of a target!
Eager to gain ground back on 2nd place, Nemesis overshoots into Turn 11 and decides to go bowling instead!!!
Fortunately, all the cones here today at Willow, have signed a waiver agreeing that Motor Racing IS dangerous, and if you spend all day by the edge of the track, the law of averages will catch up with you…. Chase’s fine still stands however!
Math now able to capitalise on a wide exit out of t11 for Brutaka, gets past going into the ease’s.
Nemesis gets a good toe of Blue down the back straight, and just manages to stop the rocket before contact going into 11. But a compromised line here see the hard work go to waste yet again.
Blue hangs it out to much coming out of T2, with the drag of sand and sudden loss of grip his Rocket ends up pointed back off circuit, Nemesis just close enough is able to get by unchallenged.
Now in a comfortable rhythm, its not long before Math is challenging blue for position, but not without taking his frustration with Willow out on a few cones!!!
L9. An unusually early Pit stop by MC-Chase, would mean a long run to the finish, but a consistant approach with very few fights should easily secure a victory!!!
In traditional Superbowl fashion, we now take a “short” commercial break and rejoin the action when we return.
We rejoin at Lap 35 of 36!
Unfortunately the abrasive nature of the track here, has destroyed the grip left in Chase's tyres, and he will now have to manage them carefully to avoid dropping over the "Cliff" altogether!
Despite all odds of finishing ahead of position, needing a comeback from 16 secs down on 1st place, the unimaginable is now presented right in front of Nemesis... Yellow Target acquired. Just 1.8secs left to find on the start of the last lap!
From what should have been a dismal race, after the early offs and low numbers, the excitement was saved right until the end. After 35 Laps of Time attacking, it has all come down to the last one for the decider on who will win!
Not only the last lap, but the last corner... Nemesis has been slowly chipping away at the lead of Chase, it was not without error from both, but the stratergy of a later pit stop has given Nemesis that all important advantage in grip in the remaining laps . The gap is now tumbling as Nemesis finds himself right behind the very skitish rocket of MC-Chase, it looks like he has banana skins for tyres! Even still, Chase manages to keep it pointed in the right direction (albeit sideways), and a difficult target to pass. The right decision needs to be made, as any contact would surely see both cars lost to the desert!
Its a decision that is saved for the last corner... Seeing the yellow rocket dancing side ways through the last set of corners and switch backs, a good exit out T14, would surely allow Nemesis to out drag Chase to the line, even from behind....
The moment approaches, Nemesis closes the gap, holding the revs and keeping his Rocket stable he lines it up and shoots for the outside,
the gap left by Chase is diminishing with every passing tenth, its looks as though they will clash, but sensing the gaining rocket to his left,
Chase pulls across, and Nemesis carries his momentum to the line to take First place.
Team Reaper Racing secures its First Win in the Rocket SR Series, after a hot & gritty 36 laps of Racing at Streets of Willow Springs.
1st Nemesis Reaper
2nd MC-Chase
3rd Matheus-007
Apologies for not being able to cover the others racing, but hopefully we will have found a cure to this "Phatom" issue.... and hopefully put the Ghost's of Willow to rest!!!
Well done to everyone in attendance, if we see a return to our usual turnout, and with the new additions to the Series, a full grid for Trial Mountain is a very distinct possibility.
See you all online soon.
Attachments
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Willow Springs International Raceway_ Streets of Willow Springs_5.jpg -
Willow Springs International Raceway_ Streets of Willow Springs_45.jpg -
Willow Springs International Raceway_ Streets of Willow Springs_46.jpg -
Willow Springs International Raceway_ Streets of Willow Springs_48.jpg -
Willow Springs International Raceway_ Streets of Willow Springs_60.jpg
? Superb stuff as ever, just epic.
...
.
Lol
.
. Should be a practice room open tonight, normally happens Wednesdays so drop me an add on PSN when you're next on 👍.
, I will double check later (for my own sanity)
and play with!
first thing I checked when i got home.
