Odiham Centralised Event – April 21st 2002

The second centralised racing event of the year was held at RAF Odiham on April 21^st. Weather was near perfect with a steady but fairly constant and cool breeze.

British Goodyear had also been schedule but no teams turned up yet again ! - if we cannot get teams along on an excellent day like this at a relatively easy venue to get to we don't stand much chance anywhere else !

The site was actually shared with Free Flight and C/L Speed giving flyers a chance to meet up for a chat again - something we very seldom have a chance to do except once a year at the Nationals

The first round was supposed to start at 12:00 but was delayed as teams were not ready. When it finally began the first heat was between Ross/Turner, Fry/Whorton and Tribe/Bollen. In the warm up T/B discovered that the setting problems they had been having in practice were caused by a venturi vibrating out and Taffy withdrew their model. The other two teams had a clean race with Ross/Turner storming home in 3:09.9 - Fry/Whorton, overheating on the first tank, removed a piece of tape from the front duct at the first stop (using a screwdriver) and ran cold for the rest of the race coming home in 3:35.2. Brian Turner admitted that their setting may not have held up with three teams in the middle but this is a sign of exactly what their equipment is capable of. The only other time of note in round one was a 3:32.4 from Smith/Brown. Fitzgerald/Thomason were Dq'd for catching lines on landing.

In round 2 Smith/Brown improved to 3:25.8, Fitzgerald/Thomason put in a clean 3:28.8 and Fry/Whorton a 3:32.2. Tribe/Bollen put in there first time of the season - a 3:41.4 and Ross/Turner a 3:20.8. It seemed a slow time for them but it was still 5 seconds faster than anyone else can do at the time. This round became a bit of a mess when teams did not turn up for the races - Dave Rudd announced the draw and times, the first race was held successfully and then two teams went into the circle have warmed the gear up ready only to be told that the third team were not ready and needed another 10 minutes or so. No names mentioned but please can we try to be there for the races and not just treat it as a practice day folks ?

Round 3 saw Tribe/Bollen run in after 15 laps - blamed on a bent undercarriage. Ross turner put in a nice clean 3:18.0, Miles/Yeldham retired on 72 laps, Fitzgerald/Thomason put in a 3:30.3 and Smith/Brown suffered serious overheating problems and had to make a couple of comp adjustments - finally coming home in 3:59.5

In the 4^th round Ross/Turner came back on song with a 3:15.5, Smith/Brown put in a 3:40.2 and Fitzgerald/Thomason a very consistent 3:30.8

So the three teams for the final were Ross/Turner with 3:09.9, Smith/Brown with 3:25.8 and Fitzgerald/Thomason with 3:28.8 (the latter team electing to use the trusted BP gear in preference to the still experimental Yugov units)

All three teams were off ok at the start with Ross/Turner clearly steaming ahead of the other teams. As Smith/Brown had been having trouble overheating when going for 33 laps they opened the needle and allowed for an extra stop. This was successful in that they did not need to make any adjustments during the race but a slower time resulted due to the extra stop. Fitzgerald/Thomason had to make a number of comp adjustments finally coming home in 7:41.6 with Ross/Turner finishing easily in 6:50.5 and Smith/Brown coming in second with a 7:22.0. All teams had one warning for whipping and Smith/Brown picked up a second for holding the centre.

Prizes of household and hobby goods were presented to the finalists by Dave Rudd - CD for the day.

League Points were awarded as follows :-