9-8-09
On my way home from Cambridge Minnesota home of the 2009 R/C X-Fest event (Formerly known as the R/C X-Games)
It was a great event again this year, a layed back atmosphere, a big rough track, and some good competition led to an exciting weekend of racing! Cody King and Ryan Maifield made the treck this year along with the best that the upper Midwest has to offer!
In Qualifying my Tamiya vehicles were on point! My 801Xt was working great but I was having some engine issues and was either running to rich or to lean all week it seemed. I was able to take 2nd behind Cody King in both of the first two rounds even with these troubles. In round 3 I broke an upper shock screw so overall I qualified 3rd behind King and Maifield. In the main King Maifield and I took off from the pack and separated ourselves from everyone. We had some great battles and swaped positions consistently as we did our best to navigate this blown out track that was like a minefield. My truck was pretty good but I made a mistake on Fisk Mountain (HUGE Wood Jump) and I got stuck in the middle of it and by the time the marshall got to me it flamed out. I ended up getting back out there but had a couple more crashes and my engine wasn't happy as I flamed out a few more times and popped a ball cup off as well. Ended up about 9th. The truck however was very good and I know it had the potential to compete for the win!
My Buggy was dominant this weekend! My 801X blew through the rough track like it wasn't even there! I TQ'd the first 2 qualifiers by 15 seconds each over King. I decided not to run the 3rd qualifier and opted to work on my car for the main instead. As main time came around King, Maifield, and I battled for the first few minutes. Eventually they began to make mistakes and I extended out to about a 13 second lead. We were 38 minutes down and 7 to go when I crossed by pit lane and my pit guys called me in for the next lap. Not knowing the time until I passed pit lane I didn't know any different but had I know there was only 7 to go I would have came in then to be safe. Unfortunately I ran out of gas that lap and lost the lead to Maifield. I ended up getting back on the track and finishing the race in 2nd behind Maifield. It was a bit dissapointing because my buggy had been so good all weekend and I really wanted the win, but I know there will be a next time and well get that one!
On Monday after the event we had a team race. I ran with Tony Slutton and Mike O. One person runs gas truck, one runs buggy, and one runs truggy. I chose the run Buggy with my 801X. Our team battled with the Associated team of Maifield, Rhode, and Skare for the first hour. During the second leg of the hour there gas truck had a couple flame outs and we got over a one lap lead. We held on to take victory by over a lap! So my 801X was part of the winning endurance team!
Off to the next race! To everyone out there keep in Tamiyaing and enjoy those great machines!
