Club  News  2017

Copyright © 2017  British Slot Car Racing Association, includes photographs copyright R.Hills ,All rights reserved

History repeats itself in BSCRA Classics at Fosse Raceway

A twice Nationals-winning F1 car was amongst the winners at Leicester Electricity SCC on Sunday 20th August.

Best presented

A close call but the judges opted for Steve Rhodes' 1970s class F1 car, with paint by Mick Metcalfe, that won last year too.

Pre-'94 Saloons

The day started with Saloons. Paul Harwood had borrowed Richard Mack's 9' wheelbase Dodge Daytona that won in Richard's hands a couple of years back. This proved the class of the field, Paul qualifying top in the heats from Rob Smith with Richard Hills - who'd also blagged a car, Nick Thrower's Tim Ryan chassis – third.

On to the step-up finals; from the 'C' Cliff Bicknell and host Andy Smith moved up to join John Ovens and Richard in the 'B'. Richard finished a lap clear with the other three on 25 and bits, John just losing out.

Paul won the title as expected but only went a lap clear of Richard late on, with Rob and Cliff separated by a further lap apiece in third and fourth.

Formula 32

Two notable names cropped up in this class. Andy Smith's Chuck Palmer-chassis car was given to him by John Goldsmith and Richard's similar rent-a-racer came from Nick Thrower's car box, ex-Ant Hawkes.  Nick and John competed in the very first F32 Nationals in 1971.

With eligible cars limited in number some racers used LESCC's club cars. Brothers Rob and Sam Smith thus top qualified, with Paul (3rd), Richard (5th) and Andy (6th) the top F32 runners.

The club car final was a great race with the brothers Smith and Steve Rhodes all finishing on 26 laps, Sam taking it from Steve with Rob within half a lap.

With three to move up from the F32 'B' final to join Paul in the 'A', Cliff lost out with a car lacking in handling qualities, not that many in this class are much better! Paul and Andy had their own duel in the middle lanes in the 'A', Paul taking the title by less than a lap with Richard and John split by a similar margin.

Formula 1

John Ovens ran probably the most significant car of the day. His Class III (pre-'94) entry was the Richard Cryer-built car that won in '92 in Brian Church's hands, rebuilt for '97 by Bob Hallums who also triumphed. The 1970s class had entries from both ends of the decade; Andy Smith's P34 easily outpacing Richard's Champion Black Power from '70/'71 who diced with Steve Rhodes' similarly- aged concours winner. North Londoners John and Cliff finish close together in Class III as Paul's Class II 13UO hit problems.

After a substantial barbecue kindly cooked by the Smith family and spent watching the cricket, racers convened for a shortened Team Race ( 4 x 10 minutes). Significant Car would have gone to Paul's Peter Hore Nationals Saloon winner (1980?) Paul and Richard were made to fight for the race with the brothers Smith peddalling a well-sorted Parma International 32 impossibly well. Until the can bearing cried enough at halfway there wasn't more than a lap or two in it.

Fosse Raceway at Leicester Electricity Slot Car Club is a very smooth, technical Lee Parsons-built track in the former Leicester County Cricket Club pavilion complex. With ample free parking and great hospitality from Andy Smith and family the Club deserves wider recognition from the slot racing community.

Fully-illustrated report to follow in SCRN.

Richard Hills.

This ex-Pete Hore Nats Saloon winner won the Team Race

The F32 Final

Host Andy Smith with Team Race winners Harwood Racing

Paul's winning Saloon by Richard Mack

Concours paint by Mick Metcalfe

1970s F1s

Twice Nats winner now in Ovens' hands

Steve Rhodes (R) won Concours