Do these guys look like they’re stressed out?

Over the winter, the city of Laurel had used the former track area to store snow removal equipment.  The resulting diesel fuel and oil stains on the asphalt made that section of the parking lot impossible to use for racing, so the track was moved to the area formerly utilized for pit space.  This resulted in a slightly larger track layout that was also more level.  Casey was unable to set up any downhill off-camber high-speed turns, and much to the delight of many racers they no longer looked downhill onto the back stretch!  The shade provided by the trees on the former back stretch also provided welcome relief to those without a large umbrella.  With Washington’s typical late summer heat and humidity, shade was necessary for survival.

Joe didn’t have his best day of racing, but he enjoyed the event.

The cars had a hard time of it too, as motors and batteries were coming off the track almost too hot to touch.  Stock and modified sedan tires got greasy and slippery on the hot pavement, and many racers were scrambling to find consistent rear traction.  This was particularly vexing for the F1 drivers, especially those without extensive experience using this year’s rubber tires.  This was the inaugural year for the foam replacements, and people were finding it difficult to adjust their driving style.  The open-wheel guys were frantically mounting and remounting A and B compound fronts and rears, all in an effort to find the elusive balance that would mean a fast run for the checkered flag.

It was bright and sunny during qualifying, and Bruce and Steve Hickman really got their F1 cars dialed in. 

Concours

Following a practice session that was extended somewhat due to computer glitches, all of the participants placed their cars on the grid for concours judging.  As in previous years, the competition was tough.  It was obvious that many of the entrants had put a significant amount of time and effort into their painting and detail work.  In the end, though, only one car from each class can win.

A ground-level view of the grid

You know the competition is fierce when you do a car like this and it doesn’t win...

The Concours Winners:
Formula 1 - Julian Campbell, Rothmans Williams
GTP - Julian Campbell, Jaguar XJ-12
Mini - John Brown, Big K #66 Honda S800
GT2 - James Moore, Opel Calibra Cliff
GT1 - Adam Mouradian, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
TL-01 - Zach Rohe, Volkswagen New Beetle

The proud concours winners

Goin’ Racin’

After a brief drivers' meeting hosted by Tamiya’s Gary Demory, the qualifying heats began.  Since Tamiya has adopted the more common ‘2 heats and a Main’ format of most other race organizations, it was necessary to explain to the drivers that there would be no reshuffle after the first qualifier.  That made each qualifying heat even more critical than in past years, since the class winners would be decided in a single, final main race.  As the weather deteriorated, however, the heat results would eventually decide many of the class winners. 

Gary Demory from Tamiya leads the drivers meeting

Once again, the Laurel TCS race was one of the nation’s best-attended.

It was evident from the outset that everyone had come prepared to slap down some fast laps, with early qualifying times in GT-2 being as fast as the A Main times on the same track layout the previous week.  Matt Jarrett got punted in the first turn of the first lap of the first qualifier, but by round two it was obvious that he would be the man to beat in stock sedan.  GTP was an all Chris Shaffer show in the first heat, but Sanford Bradby really started to pick up the pace in round two, with Julian Campbell not far behind.  There’s been a lot of talk about the future of the F1 class in this series, but the combatants in Laurel put down some of the prettiest racing of the day.  Former National Champion and many-time Regional winner Bruce Hickman qualified almost a full lap up on the field for the second year in a row, with Sanford Bradby again nabbing second place from Bruce’s brother Steve.  Bruce comes all the way from Texas to run in our TCS race, and he and Steve are always fierce competitors.

Two cars went into turn one, but only one came out...

The Formula 1 class guys had a hard time with tires all day.

GT-1 action saw Chris Lunsford leading the field by a full twelve seconds, with Mark Tiamson and Isaac Wilson in hot pursuit.  This modified sedan class had fewer entrants than previous years, with many drivers feeling that the cars have become just too fast to be considered fun.  Everyone enjoys watching the TL-01 drivers, as these novice racers often come with their own cheering section.  This year was no different, as Chris Haldeman edged out Ryan Sprenkle by less than a second to take the top spot.  Zack Rohe was six seconds behind in third, but hardly out of contention.  If either Chris or Ryan had made a mistake, Zack would have taken over in a heartbeat. 

It’s hard to believe that John Brown actually ran this body in qualifying.  He finished third overall.

Even limited to two events, Keith still brought an impressive array of equipment!

Every year the Mini class just gets more and more competitive.  How close was it this year?  Well, all 10 cars in the A Main qualified with the same number of laps with a nine second spread from top to bottom.  That alone would signify pretty good racing...but the top four drivers were separated by less than a second.   Want more? The difference between Mark Tiamson’s TQ time and my own second place effort was 1/100 of a second, with Casey Young just a whisker behind my back bumper.  Now, that’s close racing!

Billy Junior thought he had a chance at the overall Mini win, but it was not to be.

During a short lunch break and track practice, a lucky spectator won a complete Tamtech R/C setup from Tamiya.  However, Mike, Casey, Gary, and the racers were casting an anxious eye to the Southeast, where dark clouds were gathering.  Word came in from some friends in farther south in Prince George’s County that this was a real soaker of a rainstorm, and it was decided to run the Mains as quickly as possible.

The Mains and the Goodies

The GT-1 A Main was taken by Matt Jarrett, with William Jacobs several seconds back and Tim Smith well behind in third.  However, those were the last overall class results decided by Main racing, as the heavens opened up midway through the GTP final.  The remaining class winners were determined by best qualifying times, and everyone headed for the Hobby Works store as the rain pelted down.

Matt Jarrett’s winning GT-2 car used hard front tires to cut down steering response.

The laurel TCS race always attracts a large crowd of spectators.

The skies got darker and darker, and then the rain finally arrived.

At a Tamiya Championship race, the winners aren’t the only ones who take home the loot!  All entrants receive a numbered raffle ticket at the beginning of the day, and the Tamiya reps bring along a huge box of goodies to give away.  They set everything up in the back of the store and almost everyone got to pick a part for their favorite ride as their number was called.  TCS isn’t all about winning, however, as every participant met new friends, renewed old acquaintances, and got to spend the day bench racing. Winners of the regional races are qualified to run in the Nationals in early September, at Tamiya’s incredible California corporate track.  The winners of the US National event receive an all-expenses paid trip to the World Championship event held in Japan in November.  Talk about bragging rights!  All in all, it was a great day of racing, topped off with some of the nicest trophy medals you’ll ever see, free kits and T shirts for the winners, a spectator drawing for a Tamtech kit, and lots of fun!

Prizes for almost everyone!

Matt Jarrett won GT2 this year.  Last year it was Mini!

Sanford Bradby took second in F1 and second in GTP.  He’s going to the Nationals!

This year's racing and concours results are listed below and on Tamiya America's website, where archived results of past races are also available.

Tamiya TCS Race - Sunday July 30th, 2000 RESULTS:

CONCOURS

Formula 1 - Julian Campbell, Rothmans Williams
  GTP - Julian Campbell, Jaguar XJ-12
  Mini - John Brown, Big K #66 Honda S800
  GT2 - James Moore, Opel Calibra Cliff
  GT1 - Adam Mouradian, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
  TL-01 - Zach Rohe, Volkswagen New Beetle

 GT2 -- A MAIN --
  Pos Laps Time  Name
  1  18  5.06.73 Matt Jarrett
  2  18  5.09.47 William Jacobs
  3 17  5.00.53 Tim Smith
  4  17  5.07.29 Chris Shaffer
  5  17  5.10.65 Avi Guzman
  6  17  5.14.65 Sean McDevitt
  7  16  5.02.94 Doug Mertes
  8  16  5.05.57 Brian Cianfrone
  9  16  5.12.63 Bryan Fung  
  0  16 5.14.68 Percival McArthy

 GT2 -- B MAIN --
  Pos Laps Time  Name
  1  16  5.04.03 Angelo Koutrass
  2  15  5.05.38 Nick Nagle
  3  15  5.14.83 Rodney Davis
  4  15  5.21.91 Tom Unger
  5  14  5.08.44 Jose Guzman
  6  13  5.09.95 Peter Lem
  7  13  5.16.10 James More
  8  9  3.39.24 Brian Adams
  9  7  2.05.15 Robert Pham
  0 --DNS--   Steve Hammer

 GT2 -- C MAIN --
  Pos Laps Time  Name
  1  12  5.03.51 Alex Sibal
  2  11  5.12.12 Edwin Rodriquez
  3  1  5.35.34 Marcus Sale
  4 --DNS--   Adrian Hood
  5 --DNS--   Andre Wander
  6 --DNS--   Bill Vacek

 LEMANS -- A MAIN --
  Pos Laps Time  Name
  1  17  5.05.93 Chris Shaffer
  2  17  5.08.54 Sanford Bradby
  3  16  5.01.73 Julian Campbell
  4  15  5.01.70 Ryan Martin
  5  15  5.06.57 Steve Hammer
  6  15  5.06.71 Josh Robinson
  7  15  5.07.27 Jesse Thomas
  8  15  5.17.02 Keith Chalmers
  9  10  5.16.75 Joe McKenney

   GT1 -- A MAIN --
  Pos Laps Time  Name
  1  18  5.08.33 Chris Lunsford
  2  18  5.20.51 Mark Tiamson
  3  17  5.05.70 Isaac Wilson
  4  17  5.06.66 Bob Kaczmorek
  5  17  5.16.25 Adam Mouradian
  6  16  5.00.74 Jones Kim
  7  16  5.05.49 Nigel Chong
  8  15  5.44.03 Kevin Ingham Jr
  9  15  5.01.15 Nelson Lee
  0  14  5.02.39 Dan Fulford

 TL01 SPEC -- B MAIN --
  Pos Laps Time  Name
  1  14  5.21.29 Randy Mulhern
  2  14  5.26.92 James More
  3  13  5.01.47 Monti Jones
  4  13  5.11.85 Inessa Volfson

 TL01 SPEC -- A MAIN --
  Pos  Laps Time  Name
  1  15  5.05.87 Chris Haldeman
  2  15 5.06.92 Ryan Sprenkle
  3  15  5.13.63 Zack Rohe
  4  15  5.18.48 Eric Dunn
  5  15  5.18.63 Keith Lynch
  6  14  5.00.70 Allison Shaffer
  7  14  5.00.86 Nick Nagle
  8  14  5.04.47 Todd Plass
  9  14  5.12.77 Ray Eldredge
  0  14  5.14.26 Tyson Lee

 F-1 -- B MAIN --
  Pos  Laps Time  Name
  1  14  5.20.35 Mark Evry
  2  13  5.17.31 Andre Wander
  3  13  5.33.35 Andre Kopington
  4  11  5.07.44 Delshawn Grabish
  5  10  4.27.67 Keith Chalmers

 F-1 -- A MAIN --
  Pos  Laps Time  Name
  1  18  5.16.49 Bruce Hickman
  2  17  5.10.05 Sanford Bradby
  3  16  5.06.13 Steve Hickman
  4  16  5.08.84 Bill Vacek
  5  16  5.11.00 Todd Plass
  6  16  5.11.34 Greg Kloten
  7  16  5.14.72 Julian Campbell
  8  15  5.01.26 Michael Gray
  9  15  5.13.33 Freddie Chapman
  0  14  5.08.08 Alex Kikel

 MINI -- C MAIN --
  Pos Laps Time  Name
  1  13  5.08.87 Aaron Strous
  2  13  5.16.06 Tammy Mason
  3  11  5.00.53 Michael Gray
  4  11  5.28.23 Inessa Volfson
  5  1  5.44.39 Charles Martin
  6  --DNS--   Ryan Martin
   
   MINI -- B MAIN --
  Pos Laps Time  Name
  1  16  5.18.33 William Jacobs
  2  16  5.21.95 Craig Santry
  3  15  5.00.71 Tony Little
  4  15  5.03.40 Steve Vacek
  5  15  5.06.37 Bob Kaczmorek
  6  15  5.14.21 Greg Kloten
  7  15  5.19.50 Ray Eldredge
  8  14  5.21.90 Michael Vaughn
  9  13  5.03.02 Tom Unger
  0  13  5.03.83 Zack Jarrett

 MINI -- A MAIN --
  Pos  Laps Time Name
  1  16  5.04.49 Mark Tiamson
  2  16  5.04.50 Doug Mertes
  3  16  5.05.08 Casey Young
  4  16  5.05.24 Adam Mouradian
  5  16  5.07.74 John Brown
  6  16  5.08.36 Billy Vacek Jr.
  7  16  5.10.28 Brian Cianfrone
  8  16  5.11.33 Keith Lynch
  9  16  5.12.82 Sean McDevitt
  0  16  5.14.99 Art Nagle