Schumacher Winter Series Round 5 – Report

Chris Lovely has won the fifth & penultimate round of the Schumacher Indoor Winter Series at the Louth Radio Control Car Club in the Contact RC 17.5 stock class.  In qualifying it was outgoing champion Alex Brocklebank with his Schumacher who got out the blocks first as he topped the opening qualifier.  Chris Lovely got himself up to speed taking a close encounter in q2, q3 would have the 3rd different driver and chassis at the top as Paul Sleight and his Awesoamtix. Q4 would see another change at the top and the A final positions sorted with Daniel Burks and his Destiny taking the top spot, and after four qualifying rounds and four different round winners Daniel would take the TQ honours with the top four covered by 1.5 seconds.  Dave Sedgewick would line up 5th for the A final, and Daniel Leonard with his Awesomatix would line up 6th.

The final was much anticipated and all got away cleanly. Burks would keep it neat and tidy as Lovely would follow closely in his track. A quick start from Brocklebank would see him up to third and closing in on the front two, before a mistake would see him drop back. Lovely would keep in the wheel tracks until two minutes in when Burks would take a corner too tight, giving his opponent the opportunity. Lovely would then create a small gap and manage to the end with his Nosram powered Xray.  Burks would fend of the chasing pack to bring home 2nd, the race for the final podium place went down to the final lap between the two Awesomatix drivers.  With Paul Sleight using his experience to make a late move on Leonard with Sedgewick keeping a watching brief with Brocklebank rounding out the final.

Result
1. Chris Lovely – Xray
2. Daniel Burks- Destiny
3. Paul Sleight- Awesomatix
4. Daniel Leonard- Awesomatix
5. Dave Sedgewick – Awesomatix
6. Alex Brocklebank – Schumacher

In the Mardave sponsored class Harvey Greenfield would be the fastest in the opening two rounds setting the standard, but would face fierce competition from Josh Carlton who would take q3 and q4 and set the important fastest time. Lee Ward would start well in Q1, and consistently qualify P3, with Dave Greenfield and Simon Babb doing much the same in their respective places of P5 and P6. The final would see a clean getaway with Harvey looking the faster of the front runners in the early stages. Setting the hot lap of the race, but he would rue mistakes as Carlton would soak up pressure and come the end of the race have a comfortable drive to 1st. Harvey Greenfield would rue mistakes to come home in 2nd, Ward would keep a watching brief but not be able to do anything about the leading pair to come home in 3rd. Greenfield senior and Babb would have their own battle for p4, with Greenfield coming out on top of this encounter with Babb finishing in P5.

Result
1. Josh carlton – Mardave
2. Harvey Greenfield – Mardave
3.Lee Ward – Mardave
4. Dave Greenfield – Mardave
5. Simon Babb – Mardave

In the TTP next generation cup had only one competitor for this race meeting. James Colebrook would show a mature head on some young shoulders as he made his away up the standings throughout the day. Mixing it up with many of the more senior racers, showing some great driving, etiquette and attitude. Making it out of his starting group in the final above, he showed some clean and precise driving to finish in the mid pack.

The Schumacher Indoor Winter Series has one more round to go taking place on February 18th.

Thanks to Chris Lovely for the report.