CML's RC8T Truggy Crew on a Role again at Round 4 of the Frankley Winter Series

Sunday the 22nd February 2015 and a very cold -1 degrees saw the CML/AE RC8T Jon Howells, and myself (Peter Hedley) arrive at Frankley Model Car Club for the fourth round of the Frankley Winter Series.

The track was frozen over and ice was even in place on a couple of corners. The track had had a number of features altered, and these again are testament to the crew at Frankley wishing to push the club on and upwards.

The threat of heavy rain on the cards from 12.30 onward and the preceding wet weather had put drivers off I am sure. Lucky enough there were enough to ensure at a push we could try and finish before the bad weather hit.

We hit the track for round one qualifying and the ice caused a few problems.
A missed timed jump caused my wing mount to break and after that the truggy was jumping stranger every time. Jon Howells pushed on and all finished on 6 laps (missing 7 laps by 2.7 seconds) and much the same for all.
Round two was similar and with the track thawing a tad the conditions were still tricky.
Round three and Jon hit the track a little harder managed to get to his 7 lap target, a feat only managed in all classes by a member of the CML/AE truggy crew.

With a quick break for dinner, charging of batteries and some maintenance we were on to finals, with both Jon and I lending a hand to other members pitting. Matt Lawrence deserves a mention for his Boots esc driving and finishing second with his AE 8.2 buggy in the A final stopping twice for fuel, maybe result would have been number one if electric were forced to lose as much time in the pits (E8 buggies ran with Nitro to attempt to shorten proceedings). During the buggy A final the rain started to fall. The truggy was reduced from 20 minutes to 10 minutes and we were off. Then heavens opened and hell broke loose, with wind, rain, sleet, and even snow at one point. Jon broke free at the start and was gone in wet master style, myself getting caught in the pack. The trick was to keep the truggy on its wheels, and get round wishing for the 10 minute final to end, as our thumbs slowly froze. Jon Howells crossed the line in first place, and Peter Hedley second.

The truggies again were shod with the trusty Fastrax Twister tyres – medium / soft compound. The Twisters were run with Pro-Line VTR ‘closed cell’ inserts & Pro-Line VTR wheels and they as always perform well. Jon Howells also used the new Pro-Line Trifecta wing again which I noted other club members running and commenting ‘how stable the truggy is when jumping’, a sure ‘must have’ for your pit bag; I know one is soon to go in mine. 

Normally I would end with “All in all a great day out at the track with the Associated RC8T, fun for the diehard racer & the family”, but this was a day for the diehard racer. Full respect goes out to all attendees and also all those out racing around the country on what was a harsh winter’s day.

Thanks to Peter Hedley for the race report.