Neo April 2014

This is my first time at the Neo race and I am certainly looking forward to the experience. Turned up on the Thursday for registration. Already so may drivers here and it didn’t matter which I turned, there was some sort of champion there. Past and present UK champions, past and present European and past and present and world champions. The talent here could be argued is more than an actual world championship. I was beginning to get the idea why everyone wants to compete at this event. Phil from Neo Buggy must be well proud of the organisation and the prestige this event now has.

The track
You see the pictures on the net and you hear that its good. You see the videos and the top drivers in the world sort of make it look easy but let me tell you the track has a wow factor to it.  The DXR guys have done an amazing job.  It just looks great!

Practice 1
I am in heat 2 so the track is raw to say the least. I went out jumped a few of the jumps and was faced with probably the biggest jump in my 30 plus years of racing. I opened up the throttle and wow, does it feel great.  My car felt as if it was in the air for a life time. Now I know there is another attraction to driving at Neo. More soon…..time to change my clutch!! Mayfield looking hot in first practice.  Half way through 2 so back soon

Practice 2
Well I had a bit of bad luck.  I adjusted my end points on my transmitter and unfortunately didn’t think of flex.  Consequently my throttle linkage gave up.  A little bit of a school boy error but this 1/8th stuff is all new to me. Lee Martin showed us how smooth driving is very fast.  Some of the Europeans were very fast too.

Practice 3 Well I decided to make some adjustments similar to my 1/10th car and that was a good choice.  My car felt even more solid but with added traction and steering.  I was going round OK till it stopped (LOL).  I had a burst fuel pipe so the re-build has begun!! The last round saw all the fast guys really show why they are so good. Every manufacturer had their drivers perform so tomorrows qualifying is going to be tight to say the least Early night I feel but not before a good curry (says David Burton) 🙂

Saturday
Round 1
I am in a low heat and had a fairly clean run.
I did a lot of work over night and my car is loads better after some loving 🙂

The quick guys make it look so easy
This is the top heat which is the very fast guys.
Impressive runs from Ryan, Darren and others…
Faster single lap to the defending champion Jared Tebo
Round 2
Well I had a run to forget.  I started the 2nd qualifier with my quickest lap of the meeting thus far.  Followed it up with another quick lap.  The car felt spot on.  Caught traffic real early so wanted to make sure I got through safe rather than making an error.  Came over the big jump (I am calling it the mamma jump) and came up a little short trying to land the down ramp. Opps!! I then couldn’t get up the jump and lost a bundle of time.  It all went wrong from there.  I learned that as much as you can love a jump like mamma, you can also hate it too……lol
Just waiting for the quick boys to take the stage.
Boy oh boy are these guys quick.  6 sec slitting the top 9 in the top heat with Savoya coming up on top from Tebo and Martin…..very close racing indeed and certainly a spectacle of pure talent as the best in the world go at it……just getting ready for round 3 so catch up soon 🙂

Ryan Maifield’s new Associated prototype

Race Control looks more like NASA

Round 3
I will not make many comments about my run apart from racing in a low heat has its disadvantages. End off!!
The top heat again was a tight affair with the Kyosho boys of Tebo and Boots driving together round the track and not hurting each other.  The Associated boys didn’t have a good qualifier with a flame out and I think a breakage.  Mugen factory driver Lee Martin (Brit 🙂 may I add) had a masterclass of a drive to go top of  round 3 qualification.  Fastest single lap goes to Elliott Boots this time round. Here is the round 3 top heat results.

 

End of day one 
Its the French driver, Reno Savoya that tops the list from our own Brit Lee Martin.  Defending Jared Tebo from the States is now sitting in 3rd.
Top of the qualification after the first day

Catch up tomorrow all.
Time for a bit of Lamb 🙂

Good morning
A cold start to the day and early too.
Greetings from our smiling host and organiser Phil

Round 4
I have already been out and set my best time of the weekend and that was with a silly error too.  The track is a little raw this morning as its been watered and rolled.  We have just completed round 4 and the results are here from the top heat
 

Ernest Woods having a hair do!!!

Race Control
Suzanne runs a tight ship in race control even if the smiles are BBKs  Rob Nelson.  Great job, thank you.

Last round – 5
The boys have been telling me another clean run and I can get the car into a high enough final for the next day……LOL

Well I did OK but had a last lap disaster and managed a 40 plus sec lap…..in the lap of the Gods now.
The top boys heat is going to be interesting as there are about 4 that can actually TQ the meeting.  Here are the top 2 heats

Finals
Well the feast of finals started on the Sunday and go through to Sunday.  All leading up to the climax of the main event and the very best in the world going at it for this prestigious win. WOW, what a great final….this is the result

Conclusion
For anyone that hasn’t experienced this event, its a must.  For me it was great even if i am an electric man at heart.  The DXR guys  designed an amazing track that could be raced on at all levels.  Even mine LOL

Lee Martin
Lee had a great event with a TQ in one of the rounds too

Neil Cragg
Neil was very unfortunate not to make the main event but drove awesome as usual

Taro Cradock
Taro is getting better and better and with the backing of probably the best Kyosho mechanic he has a great chance in become a very fast driver

MP9 chassis engraved by Kyosho Champions
These guys engraved my chassis and now its going in a frame.  Thanks guys….