USRA Division 3

Seventh Nostalgia Can-Am 1/24 Scale  November 11, 2006

Buena Park, CA

Sweden back on top!

Anderson drives his rocket to a fine win. All others ran in the B-class.

Text by Eduardo Lumpasheet. Photos by Bob Scott

The seventh Nostalgia "Retro" Can-Am Race was once again hosted by Chris and Lenore Gallegos at their fine raceway in Buena Park. No less than twenty eight entries in this one, the class constantly getting larger. Lots of brand new chassis including two from the Checkpoint stable, one featuring a floating and removable weight!

Adam Friedman was busy preparing his secret weapon: a FK motor fitted with a single-24 vintage Steube armature. Unfortunately Adam had to leave before the plot to dominate was discovered by the competent tech inspector. (Bob Scott picture)

Qualifying:

Swedish ace Anderson found another rocket motor loaned by Barry Obler, put it in his excellent chassis and set another low time with a blistering 5.066". Everyone else appeared to be somewhat in another league. Sterrett was best of the rest, only 6/100th behind, but Mike Steube had major motor problems before qualifying and did an outstanding driving job with a car lacking speed at 5.20". Dennis Hill and both Matthes, father and son (not necessarily in this order but constantly improving) followed in the 5.2-5.3" range. De Lespinay was next with a good-handling car built by Mike Steube but lacking top speed from a mediocre motor and was lucky to get a 5.3", barely edging Boemker and Kravitz. Samson showed great improvement from previous races and was right in there are 5.38". Brannian, Kallas and Akiyama were all into the 5.39", incredibly tight qualifying. Bob Scott used a machine borrowed from Allen Low to set a 5.48", Allen just ahead of him with his own car. The 5.50" brigade began with Jeff Easterly, with wing-car racer Adam K. breathing on his neck while learning how to deal with a trigger having a full range of options. Bryan Warmack was also short of caballos and was disappointed by his 5.6" time, but much less that John Emmons unhappy with the general performance of his car. Young Ray Loutley could not keep the car long enough in its slot to record a single fast lap but eventually cut the first 10-second qualifying time in a Retro Can-Am race.

Qualifying Order:

*  Fastest lap

Anderson's Lola is still an unbeatable rocket. The motor was a Falcon 5 prepared by Barry Obler, who selected and broke-in the magic mill. It was fast and held its speed throughout the race despite a few minor issues.

The chassis is still the same as run in the last race, and is ungodly fast around corners. The car weighs nearly 130 grams.

Rick Salvino and Mike Aguirre have cornered one of the Retro Can-Am guilty party: Paul Sterrett. No doubt that Paul and Mike Steube made this class the way it is through their perseverance and clear vision of what limits should be posted for maximum fun.

 "C" RACE

This was simply a walk away for former Team Riggen star Bryan Warmack. He took off and never looked back, with a comfortable 12 laps lead at the end. Behind him was a fierce battle between Steve Walker, Craig Williamson and Keith Tanaka (Team Rolling Hills), and Walker barely edged Williamson after a torrid battle. Tanaka lost the single lap needed to get on the podium.

John Javier in great progress drove a cautious race 3 laps behind, while poor Roger Uusitalo ran into some troubel with young Ray Coutley using him as shooting target for his errand car.

Larry Shepard had another one of those miserable days and for the second time in a row on this track, had a bad crash that locked up his rear axle, requiring a long pit stop. Terry de los Santos was not even that lucky as he blew his motor early on and packed up after setting the fastest lap of the race..

"C" RACE RESULTS

*  Fastest lap

** DNF

"B" RACE

Pre-race preparation with Paul, Mike, Rick, Jim Cunningham and Barry Obler, supervising. Barry does not race much to the chagrin of this writer, but spends countless hours helping others to perform. Barry selected and broke-in the winning Falcon motor in the main event.

Raceway owner extraordinaire Chris Gallegos and Barry Obler having a metaphysic discussion about the latest astronomic influence on motor brushes material. Whatever was discussed, it worked as Barry's motor, in the hands of Anderson, won the day.

Dennis Hill preparing his rocket for the main event. Dennis has been driving really well lately and remains a threat on the day when Anderson will, for a change, get the same horsepower as everyone else... OK, I admit, I am jealous, I WANT one of them' miracle motors!

Adam K changed his motor for the event and had a torrid battle with John Emmons who also found some miracle cure to his qualifying woes. The two finished in the same lap. Mike Brannian took the third podium spot with Bryan Warmack close behind. Behind them, the team of Low and Scott coasted ahead of Yoshio Akiyama not in his usual form. Easterly, Kallas and Cunningham wished that this race would never have happened as they had plenty of trouble.

"B" RACE RESULTS

*  Fastest lap

"A" RACE

The main event racers before the flag dropped: Sterrett, Brannian, de Lespinay, Kyle Matthes in dire need of sleep, Samson, Hill and the great pair of Steube and Anderson, waving.

The field ready to jet into the sunset.

De Lespinay took an early lead but as soon as Anderson got in through the rotation, the game was over. When the de Lespinay motor slowed, he was passed by Hill and Samson, crawling to a 4th place finish with his Steube car. Anderson dominated but not without some trouble as indicated by the 3-lap lead over Hill. Anderson's car slowed down dramatically twice, losing him several laps in the process. Hill was best of the rest, edging Samson who drove beautifully with a very fast car. Mike Brannian also drove a great race and edged the younger of the Matthes family, closely followed by his daddy. Paul Sterrett had horsepower trouble and just crawled for most of the race. Mike Steube had even more trouble, blowing his second motor of the day and packing it up after only 14 laps.

But on this day, no one could really dispute Anderson's domination, as his car was the class of the field and he did not have to work that hard at it.

"A" RACE RESULTS

*  Fastest lap

*  DNF

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