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Slot-Racing 2010 A move by the Arena-Essex (or Arena) Slotstox
Club to Cheshunt and closer to Stevenage (although later in the season I moved to Hitchin) saw me become a regular at this
club combined with the odd appearance at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club.
Parmastox
A non-points meeting on 23rd March at the Arena
Slotstox Club was my first of the season. Having not raced Parmastox for just over two years and on a six lane track on which
I had not previously raced I approached the first heat with the intention of gaining experience and consistent finishes. Starting
towards the rear in red grade this worked well - I won the heat scoring 31 points (heats consist of two races in each lane)
despite failing to finish the first two races in the inside lane! Heat 2 did not go quite so well and I finished 6th (out
of 6!) with 14 points. Heat 3 I was able to combine more speed with more finishes scoring 26 points to finish 2nd. On 30th March I again raced in a non-points meeting at the Arena Slotstox Club, this time
on a four lane track on which I had not previously raced Parmastox (although it was the track on which I won the Arena Slotstox
Driver of the day at the Brentwood show in 2004 racing Parma-Bangers). Due to train delays leaving London I missed the first
heat but finished 2nd in my next two heats scoring 21 points in each - this was despite recording no races wins in my first
heat and only one race win in my second heat. I qualified for the final based on finishing positions. Using a different 'quicker'
borrowed hand-controller in my second heat I was more on the pace and this continued into the final. My Parmastox still needed
work to correct some handling issues but my racing strategy helped me score 41 points (final consisted of three races in each
lane) and win the final.
I raced in the first points meeting of the season
at the Arena Slotstox Club on 6th April on the six lane track. Heat 1 I finished 4th (out of 4!) and heat 2 3rd (17 points
in each). I did not qualify for the final and so raced in the Grand National which I won (17 points again!) Qualification
for finals and points for the points chart are based on finishing positions in the best heat plus best final or grand national
/ consolation whilst Grand National points are based on finishing positions in the Grand National and if not held consolation
or worst heat. For the points chart I scored 8 points (best heat 3 + Grand National 5) including 5 Grand National points.
My remaining results in April were: 13th April - four lane track - 3rd in each
heat (10 and 16 points) and won the Grand National for the second week running (22) on count back of number of race wins.
For the points chart I scored 8 points (best heat 3 + Grand National 5) including 5 Grand National points. 20th April - six
lane track - heats 4th (14) and 3rd (26 - winner 29) and consolation 4th (15). For the points chart I scored 5 points (best
heat 3 + consolation 2) including 2 Grand National points from the consolation. 27th April with my Parmastox fully repainted
into the John Gray replica paint scheme - six lane track - heats 2nd (22) and 3rd (16). All five drivers racing qualified
for the final: 4th (19). For the points chart I scored 9 points (best heat 4 + final 5) plus 3 Grand National points from
my worst heat. During April I scored 30 points and was 6th in the Parmastox
Arena Points Championship chart. With the 9th highest average of 7.5 points I was in yellow grade. I was top of the Parmastox
Arena Grand National Championship points chart with 15 points.
4th
May (Gold Top Qualifying round 1) - six-lane track - heats 5th (9) and 5th (18)plus final 1st (28). For the points chart and
the Gold Top Qualifying chart I scored 9 points (best heat 1 + final 8) plus 1 Grand National point from my worst heat. 11th
May - four-lane track and my Parmastox suffering from severe handling problems - heats 2nd (13) and 1st (23) plus Final 2nd
(20). For the points chart I scored 12 points (best heat 5 + final 7). 18th May - six-lane track - heats 4th (19) and 4th
(16) plus final 1st (47 won by 15 points despite deliberately crashing on the last bend of the final race otherwise it would
have been 50 points!) For the points chart I scored 10 points (best heat 2 + final 8) plus 2 Grand National points from my
worst heat. During May I was 5th highest points scorer with 31 points,
the 3rd highest average of 10.3 points and was up to red grade. I was 5th in the Parmastox Arena Points Championship chart
with a total of 61 points and the 7th highest season average of 8.7 points. I remained top of the Parmastox Arena Grand National
Championship points chart with 18 points. I was joint 3rd in the Parmastox Arena Gold Top Qualifying points chart.
1st June (Gold Top
Qualifying round 2) - six-lane track and my Parmastox having a few handling issues - heats 4th (15) and 4th (16) plus consolation
4th (14). For the points chart and the Gold Top Qualifying chart I scored 4 points (best heat 2 + consolation 2) including
2 Grand National points from the consolation. On 8th June - six-lane track - heats 1st (25) and 3rd (31) plus final 2nd (23).
For the points chart I scored 12 points (best heat 5 + final 7). 15th June - six-lane track - heats 2nd (25 - 1 points behind
1st) and 3rd (20 - same points as 2nd but fewer race wins) plus final 3rd (21). For the points chart I scored 10 points (best
heat 4 + final 6) plus 3 Grand National points from my worst heat. 22nd June - four-lane track - heats 2nd (17) and 2nd (32
- same points as 1st but fewer race wins and with the Parmastox raced the other way around the track!) plus final 1st (28).
For the points chart I scored 12 points (best heat 4 + final 8) plus 4 Grand National points from my worst heat. During June I scored was the 3rd highest points scorer with 38 points, the 3rd highest
average of 11.0 points and retained red grade. I was up to 4th in the Parmastox Arena Points Championship chart with a total
of 99 points and the 5th highest season average of 9.0 points. I remained top of the Parmastox Arena Grand National Championship
points chart with 27 points. I was down to 5th in the Parmastox Arena Gold Top Qualifying points chart with 13 points.
6th July (Gold Top Qualifying round 3) - six-lane track
- heats 4th (14) and 1st (25) plus final 5th (19). For the points chart and the Gold Top Qualifying chart I scored 9 points
(best heat 5 + final 4). 13th July - six-lane track - heats 2nd of five drivers (23 - 1st 24 and 3rd 22) and 2nd of four drivers
(18 - 1st 19), consolation 2nd of four drivers and last qualifying place (25 and same as 1st but fewer race wins) plus final
1st of five drivers (26 with all drivers separated by only 6 points and all with a chance of winning going into the final
race!) For the points chart I scored 12 points (best heat/consolation 4 + final 8). 20th July - six-lane track and with my
Parmastox going much better following some helpful tweeking by a fellow driver - heats 4th of five drivers (16 same as 3rd
but fewer race wins) and 3rd of four drivers (11), consolation 1st of five drivers (33) plus final 4th of five drivers (15).
For the points chart I scored 10 points (best heat/consolation 5 + final 5). 27th July - four-lane track - heats 2nd (30 same
as 1st but fewer race wins) and 1st (26 - with the Parmastox raced the other way around the track) plus final 1st for the
second four-lane track meeting in-a-row (39 with three races in each lane). For the points chart I scored a maximum 13 points
(best heat 5 + final 8) plus 4 Grand National points from my worst heat. During July I was the 2nd highest points scorer
with 44 points, the joint 2nd highest average of 11.0 points and retained red grade. I was up to 3rd in the Parmastox Arena
Points Championship chart with a total of 143 points and the 5th highest season average of 9.5 points. I remained top of the
Parmastox Arena Grand National Championship points chart with 31 points. I remained 5th in the Parmastox Arena Gold Top Qualifying
points chart with 22 points.
3rd August (Gold Top Qualifying round 4) - six-lane track - heats 1st of six drivers (37) and 3rd of five drivers
(25) plus final 4th of five drivers (22). For the points chart and the Gold Top Qualifying chart I scored 10 points (best
heat 5 + final 5). 10th August - six-lane track - first heat missed due to arriving late following a prior appointment and
1st of five drivers (26 ahead of 2nd 24 and 3rd and 4th 23 each!) plus final 3rd of five drivers (23 1 point behind 2nd) and
Grand National 2nd of five drivers with the final winner starting with their back bumper on the white grade line a lap down
(30 same as 1st but fewer race wins i.e. the winner either won or crashed!) For the points chart I scored 11 points (best
heat 5 + final 6) plus 4 Grand National points. 17th August - six-lane track - heats 2nd of five drivers (24) and 1st of five
drivers (26 by 1 point) plus final 3rd of six drivers (27). For the points chart, again for the second week running, I scored
11 points (best heat 5 + final 6). 31st August - six-lane track - heats 2nd of five drivers (32) and 4th of four drivers (15
- same as 3rd but fewer race wins including my Parmastox crashing onto the floor during and then not running well after this
or during the early part of the consolation), consolation 2nd of five drivers as top three qualiied for the final and came
down to the last race (25 - 1st 26, 3rd 23 and 4th 21) plus final final 3rd of five drivers (23). For the points chart I scored
10 points (best heat/consolation 4 + final 6). During
August I was the 2nd highest points scorer with 42 points, the 4th highest average of 10.5 points and retained red grade.
I remained 3rd in the Parmastox Arena Points Championship chart with a total of 185 points and the 5th highest season average
of 9.7 points. I remained top of the Parmastox Arena Grand National Championship points chart with 35 points. I remained 5th
in the Parmastox Arena Gold Top Qualifying points chart with 32 points.
8th September (Gold Top Qualifying round 5) the Arena Slotstox Club
began what would be alternate weeks racing between two venues 'Comrades' and 'St Mary's' in the Cheshunt area. This week on
a Wednesday at a new venue 'St Mary's' before the following week on a Tuesday at the 'Comrades' venue. The six-lane track
at 'St Mary's' was new to all drivers with long straights and tight bends and had been recently relaid. Heat 1 1st of five
drivers (30) and heat 2 1st of four drivers (23) plus final featuring several big high speed crashes 4th of five drivers (18
1 point behind 3rd). For the points chart and the Gold Top Qualifying chart I scored 10 points (best heat 5 + final 5). 14th
September - six lane track at the 'Comrades' with my Parmastox not running particularly well due to worn tyres - heat 1 3rd
of five drivers (19) and heat 2 joint 2nd of four drivers (10 and the same record), consolation 1st of five drivers (33) plus
final 3rd of five drivers (17). For the points chart I scored 11 points (best heat / consolation 5 + final 6). 22nd September
- six-lane track at 'St Mary's' suffering from a heavy cold I could have done without my Parmastox needing to run in new tyres
and then the rear bumper falling off my Parmastox a few times during the meeting which saw a switch to a club Parmastox (including
most of heat 1 - heat 1 3rd of five drivers (16), consolation joint 2nd of six drivers (10 including numerous track blockages,
my Parmastox racing at times without a rear bumper and on the end of some erratic driving but I did manage to two race wins!)
plus final (extended to seven drivers due to the tie in the consolation) 5th (9 1 point behind 4th - low scoring with again
numerous track blockages). For the points chart I scored 8 points (best heat / consolation 4 + final 4). 28th September -
six-lane track at 'Comrades' with my Parmastox running much better with a fully fixed rear bumper - heat 1 2nd of six drivers
(29 2 points behind 1st and might have been better without a crash in my last race) and heat 2 2nd of six drivers (31 - same
as third but more race wins) plus final 1st (36). For the points chart I scored 12 points (best heat 4 + final 8). During September I was 2nd highest points scorer with 41 points, the 3rd highest average of 10.3 points
and retained red grade. I remained 3rd in the Parmastox Arena Points Championship chart with a total of 226 points, just 10
points behind joint 1st, and the joint 4th highest season average of 9.8 points. I remained top of the Parmastox Arena Grand
National Championship points chart with 35 points. I was up to joint 4th in the Parmastox Arena Gold Top Qualifying points
chart with 42 points as 3 points separated joint 2nd and joint 4th.
6th October (final Gold Top Qualifying round) - six-lane
track at 'St Mary's' - heat 1 3rd of six drivers (15 1 point behind 2nd) and heat 2 3rd of six drivers (15) plus final (final
qualifier as best non 1st or 2nd place heat finisher) 5th (14 - same points as 4th but fewer race wins). For the points chart
and the Gold Top Qualifying chart I scored 7 points (best heat 3 + final 4). 12th October - six-lane track at 'Comrades' borrowing
a Parmastox for the heats as another driver who had taken my Parmastox the previous week to do some repairs was running late
- heat 1 2nd of five drivers (26) and 2nd of four drivers (17 - same points as 3rd but more race wins) plus final with my
Parmastox but not running well with a twisted chassis 4th of six drivers (19 - 1 point behind 3rd). For the points chart I
scored 9 points (best heat 4 + final 5). 20th October - six-lane track at 'St Mary's' - heat 1 6th of six drivers
(10) and heat 2 6th of six drivers (6) plus final, partly raced with no front bumper after this fell off and strangely my
Parmastox went better and this was the only time I was able to hit other Parmastox without my Parmastox de-slotting, with
all six drivers 6th (6). For the points chart I scored 4 points (heat 1 + final 3). 26th October - six-lane track at 'Comrades'
and with my Parmastox was running much better with a fully fixed front bumper - heat 1 2nd of six drivers (24) and heat 2
4th of five drivers (12), consolation 1st (27 1 point ahead of 2nd) plus final 5th of six drivers (18). For the points chart
I scored 9 points (best heat/consolation 5 + final 4). During October I was 5th highest points scorer with 29 points,
the 6th highest average of 7.3 points and was down to blue grade.
17th November - Arena Slotstox Club Team Race Open - six-lane track at St Mary's. There were four teams of two
with each team facing each other twice over the four middle lanes with three races in each lane scored 4 points, 3, 2,1. The
two teams with the most heat match wins qualified for the final with any tie being settled by raw points. I was teamed with
33 Jack Branch. First match (close and were leading going into the final race) lost 12-15 (racing tactically I scored 2 points),
second match won 11-0 (7), third match lost 13-23 (4), fourth match won 19-11 (12) and fifth match lost 3-12 (0). We then
needed to win our last match with a big score to qualify for the final but we lost 11-18 (3). On match wins we finished joint
3rd but with 69 raw points (28) taken into consideration we finished 4th. We qualified for the 3rd/4th place play-off which
we lost 4-15 (4).
I finished 3rd in the Parmastox Arena Points Championship with a total of 255 points and the 5th highest season
average of 9.4 points. I won the Parmastox Arena Grand National Points Championship with 35 points. I finished 5th in the
Parmastox Arena Gold Top Qualifying points chart with 49 points and qualified for the six driver Gold Top Championship final.
23rd November - six-lane track at 'Comrades' - Arena Gold Top Championship Final. I qualified 5th of the six drivers
and the starting lanes for each driver were drawn in qualifying order. I started in the Black lane (lane 5) with drivers having
three races in each lane all starting from the Blue grade. I scored 31 points and finished 4th.
Slotstox The Arena Slotstox Club's four lane track used for racing on 30th March
proved ideal for Slotstox racing - albeit the wrong way due to the alignment of the track. With all four drivers starting
from White grade and using four of my Slotstox (including my Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club rules Slotstox) and for fairness
a set Slotstox allocated in each lane I scored 26 points and finished runner-up 2 points behind the heat winner. The winner
of the heat was due to also line-up in the second heat but as they were required to leave I took their place having been runner-up.
This time I won five of the eight races to score 32 points and win the heat.
I raced in the Slotstox Suffolk Championship at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox
Club on 16th July. Starting from red grade on the six lane small track, I scored 9 points in my first heat, 10 points in my
second heat and 4 points in my third heat. Overall in the heats I scored 23 points, finished as 18th highest points scorer
and did not qualify for the semi-finals.
With the Arena Slotstox Club's four lane track corrected to be used for
Slotstox racing the correct way round and the six lane tracks at both it's venues being good for Slotstox, a Winter Series
Championship was introduced for Slotstox. Round 1 was on 7th December and all drivers started from White grade except for
me starting from my Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club grade of Red. I scored 52 points in my four heats - heat 1, 15 points; heat
2, 11 points, heat 3, 14 points and heat 4, 12 points. I finished as 4th highest points scorer in the heats and qualified
for the final. I scored 12 points and finished as runner-up (only beaten by a driver borrowing another of my Slotstox!) adding
another 4 points to my points chart total of 56 points. I was third in the Arena Slotstox 2010/2011 Winter Series Championship
points chart. I missed round 2 on 21st December and was down to fifth in the Arena Slotstox 2010/2011 Winter Series Championship
points chart.
Parma-Saloons
My debut meeting of the season at the Arena Slotstox
Club on 23rd March also featured non-points Parma-Saloons (although in reality this was a mixture of Parma-Saloons and Parma-Bangers).
These use the inter-changeable chassis of the Parmastox with a Saloon bodyshell. I borrowed a bodyshell and with an
Arena driver already using my current Slot-Saloons number of 515 I reverted back to my previous Slot-Saloons number
of 39. I was more on the pace straight away in these helped by starting in my Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club Slot-Saloons
grade of Blue and 3rd in the heat (20 points - two races in each lane).
Parma-Bangers (including Parma-Bangers and caravans, Parma-Big
Van Bangers and Parma-Small Van Bangers)
The 6th April
meeting at the Arena Slotstox Club also featured the first points meeting of the season for the Parma-Bangers (although for
April and as for the Parma-Saloons on 23rd March this was a mixture of Parma-Saloons and Parma-Bangers). As for the Parma-Saloons
these use the inter-changeable chassis of the Parmastox. Parma-Bangers also include a plastic insert to the metal chassis
and for the early meetings I borrowed bodyshells. Starting from my Parmastox grade of red I won each of my two heats (consisting
of two races in each lane) scoring 22 points and 19 points respectively. With the points chart based on finishing positions
in the heats/finals I scored 10 points (5+5). 13th April heat 1st (26) plus final 3rd (10) - 11 (5+6) points chart points.
20th April heat 1 3rd (14) and heat 2 2nd (22) - 7 (3+4) points chart points. 27th April heat 1 1st (32) and heat 2 2nd (18)
- 9 (5+4) points chart points. During April I scored 37 points and was top of the Parma-Bangers Arena Points Championship
chart. With the highest average of 9.3 points I was in red grade.
4th May heat
1 4th (12) and heat 2 3rd (19) plus final 3rd (12) - 9 (best heat 3 + final 6) points chart points. 18th May I raced Parma-Bangers
and caravans with my own Parma-Banger and borrowing a caravan. I had finished painting the Parma-Banger the previous day and
as had become traditional for my Slot-Bangers it was painted as a replica of 'The Warriors' Carl Gallagher. With the points
counting towards the Parma-Bangers points chart. Heat 1 joint 1st (14 and idential record) and heat 2 2nd (12) - 9 (5+4) points
chart points. During May I was 2nd highest points scorer with 18 points, the 3rd highest average of 9 points and remained
red grade. I remained top of the Parma-Bangers Arena Points Championship chart with a total of 55 points and the 2nd highest
season average of 9.2 points.
1st June I raced
my own Parma-Banger for the first time without a caravan - heat 1 2nd (16) and heat 2 2nd (27) - 8 (4+4) points chart points.
8th June I again borrowed a caravan and raced Parma-Bangers and caravans - heat 1 3rd (9 - joint winners each scoring 10)
- 3 Parma-Bangers points chart points. 15th June I made my Parma-Big Van Bangers debut having completed it on 10th May painted
in the colours of 'The Warriors' Carl Gallagher - heat 1 3rd (26) and heat 2 3rd (20) - 6 (3+3) Parma-Bangers points chart
points. During June I was joint 2nd highest points scorer with 17 points, the joint 2nd highest average of 5.7 points and
remained red grade. I remained top of the Parma-Bangers Arena Points Championship chart with a total of 72 points and the
joint 2nd highest season average of 8.0 points.
6th July the
Parma-Bangers were non-points due to fellow drivers needing to leave early on Club business - heat 3rd (13). 13th July I made
my debut racing Parma-Small Van Bangers with the points counting towards the Parma-Bangers points chart. For this meeting
they were provided by the Club and for fairness a set Parma-Small Van Banger allocated in each lane - heat 1st (34) and for
the points chart scored 5 points. 27th July - four-lane track - heat 1 joint 2nd (21 and same record) and heat 2 3rd (7 raced
with the Parma-bangers going the other way around the track). I started well in the final but this was abandoned due to a
problem with the track - 7 (4+3) points chart points. During July I was the joint highest points scorer with 12 points, the
joint highest average of 6.0 points and remained red grade. I remained top of the Parma-Bangers Arena Points Championship
chart with a total of 84 points and the 3rd highest season average of 7.6 points.
3rd August -
Parma-Big Van Bangers - heat 2nd of four drivers (15) plus final 1st of five drivers (33) - 12 (heat 4 + final 8) Parma-Bangers
points chart points. 17th August - Parma-Bangers and caravans - I debuted my caravan in which was finished being painted on
5th July and then had the floor and wheels fitted before the meeting. Due to time the races were reduced to four laps - heat
1 2nd of four drivers (15 edging out 3rd by 1 point) and heat 2 1st of four drivers (13) - 9 (4+5) Parma-Bangers points chart
points. During August I was the highest points scorer with 21 points, the 2nd highest average of 10.5 points and remained
red grade. I remained top of the Parma-Bangers Arena Points Championship chart with a total of 105 points and the 2nd highest
season average of 8.1 points.
14th September
- heat 1 4th of seven drivers (24) and heat 2 3rd (25 competitive - same points as 2nd but less race wins whilst 4th scored
24) - 5 (2+3) Parma-Bangers points chart points. 22nd September - Parma-Bangers and caravans for the first time at 'St Mary's'
on the six-lane track with long straights and tight bends. Heat 2nd of four drivers (11 - 4 Parma-Bangers points chart points.
During September I was the 2nd highest points scorer with 9 points, the 3rd highest average of 4.5 points and remained red
grade. I remained top of the Parma-Bangers Arena Points Championship chart with a total of 114 points and the 3rd highest
season average of 7.6 points.
6th October
the drivers were split into two heats of metal base Parma-Bangers and plastic base Parma-Bangers. Plastic base heat 1st of
five drivers (9) - 5 Parma-Bangers points chart points. 12th October - Parma-Big Van Bangers - heat 1st of four drivers (23)
- 5 Parma-Bangers points chart points. 20th October - Parma-Bangers and caravans - heat 2nd of three drivers (37) plus final
5th of all six drivers racing (6) - 8 (heat 4 + final 4) Parma-Bangers points chart points. During October I was the joint
3rd highest points scorer with 18 points, the joint 3rd highest average of 6.0 points and remained red grade.
I won the Parma-Bangers
Arena Points Championship with a total of 132 points and the 3rd highest season average of 7.3 points.
Parma-Minis
The 11th May meeting at the Arena Slotstox Club also featured round 1 of the non-contact Parma-Minis. These
use the inter-changeable chassis / plastic insert combination of the Parma-Bangers. My mini was painted in the Parmastox
/ Slotstox style John Gray paint scheme which was only finished three days before what was my debut meeting
in this formula! With all drivers starting from White grade - heat 1st (23 consisting of two races in
each lane and my first ever heat in this formula!) plus final 2nd (24) - 12 (heat 5 + final 7) points chart points and was joint top of the Parma-Minis Arena Points
Championship chart.
20th July I debuted my Parma-Mini on the six-lane track on which all drivers all starting from
blue grade - heat 1 3rd of seven drivers (28) and heat 2 1st of seven drivers (31) - 8 (3+5) points
chart points (3+5) and was down to 2nd in the Parma-Minis Arena Points Championship chart with 20 points.
31st August - six-lane track - heat 2nd of seven drivers (29) - 4 points chart points and
was top of the Parma-Minis Arena Points Championship chart with 24 points.
28th September - six-lane track - heat 4th of five drivers (11) - 2 points chart points and down
to second in the Parma-Minis Arena Points Championship chart with 26 points.
26th October - six-lane track with all seven drivers in one heat 4th (20 with 3rd
scoring 21 and 2nd 22) - 2 points chart points.
I finished as runner-up in the Parma-Minis Arena Points Championship with 28 points. Parma-Libre
The 22nd June meeting at the Arena
Slotstox Club also featured round 2 of the Parma-Libre. These are basically anything goes other than what
is raced in another formula and use the inter-changeable chassis / plastic insert combination of the Parma-Bangers. I
missed round 1 on 25th May so this was my first Parma-Libre meeting. My Parma-Libre was a stretch Jag replica of our
wedding car but no extendable chassis was available so I was given special dispensation to race my Parma-Big Van
Banger - heat 5th (8 with all drivers starting from White grade and two races in each lane) - 1 Parma-Libre Arena Points Championship points and 6th. 10th August
- extendable chassis again not available for my stretch Jag so given special dispensation to race a borrowed Mark
3 cortina banger - heat 2nd of five drivers (23) - 4 points chart points.
I finished 5th in the Parma-Libre
Arena Points Championship with 5 points.
Multi-formula
The 29th June meeting at the Arena
Slotstox Club was the traditional Mid-Summer Madness Championship meeting which takes place on the nearest race date
to Mid-Summer but this season was postponed for one week. The championship format consists of a multi-formula event
with total points from all races (two in each lane) in each formula counting. Racing on the six-lane
track - Parma-Minis (31 points) joint 2nd - 5 points behind 1st, debut racing Parma-Legends provided
by the Club and for fairness a set Parma-Legend allocated in each lane (19) 2nd overall with 50 points
- 8 points behind 1st, Parma-Libre debuting my wedding car replica stretch Jag which had been completed since 24th May
but I had to date been unable to race which although struggling around the tight lane one it was very quick but was easily
de-sloted when hit or hitting (21) remained 2nd overall with 71 points - 29 points behind 1st, debut racing Parma-Robin
Reliants provided by the Club and for fairness a set Parma-Robin Reliant allocated in each lane (29 and won
the heat but due to time races were cut from the usual 8 laps to 4 laps) remained 2nd overall with 100 points - 23 points
behind 1st and finally Bangers and caravans over 4 laps per race (4 and borrowing a caravan and deciding that
it was all or nothing to try and win - I led several races but was undone by getting stuck or de-slotting by a few too
many crashes). Overall I finished as runner-up in the Arena Mid-Summer Madness Championship with 104
points - 34 points behind 1st.
The
3rd November meeting at Arena 'St Mary's' was the traditional Halloween Havoc Championship meeting which takes place
on the nearest race date to Halloween. Total points from all races (two in each lane) count towards this multi-formula
championship format with all drivers starting from the start/finish line. Racing on the six-lane track -
Parma-Bangers and caravans over 4 laps per race (15), Parma-Minis (11) - I was 5th out of six drivers and way
behind the lead, Parma-Libre (25 even though I spent most of the races trying to stop the overall leader who was way
ahead in an attempt to make a contest of the championship) up to 4th overall with 51 points, finally Parma-Big
Van Bangers (3). Overall I finished 6th out of six drivers in the Arena Halloween Havoc Championship with 54 points.
On 23rd November I raced in the
Arena Firecracker meeting. Traditionally this meeting has required drivers to race something never raced before or at
least something in a different paint scheme. An exception was made this year for a few drivers including me and I was
able to raise my formula Libre stretch Jag - heat 5th of five drivers (5 points - although it was quick I got involved
in a few too many crashes...especially when I knew I could not qualify for the final) and consolation 4th of six drivers
(12). I did not qualify for the final.
Slot-Saloons
I raced at round 4 of the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship at
the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 28th May. I scored 37 points in my three heats - heat 1 20 points
and top scorer in the first set of heats with four race wins (including my first race) and one non-finish, heat
2 2 points having got involved in a few too many crashes and heat 3 15 points with races wins
in lanes 1,2 and 3 being my only finishes. I finished as 8th highest points scorer in the heats and qualified
for the semi-finals. I scored 15 points in my semi-final and finished in a three-way tie for 2nd.
In the run-off, with two qualifying for the final, I finished 1st with 11 points. In the final I scored 6
points and finished 5th.
I was
28th (and White grade status - although retaining Yellow grade status) in the Slot-Saloons Foxhall
Points Championship chart with 42 points. Having not raced again, I finished the season in 31st.
PARMASTOX ARENA POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD - 255 POINTS
PARMASTOX ARENA GRAND NATIONAL POINTS CHAMPION - 35 points
PARMASTOX ARENA GOLD TOP CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH
PARMA-BANGERS ARENA POINTS CHAMPION - 132 POINTS
PARMA-MINIS ARENA POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNER-UP - 28 POINTS
PARMA-LIBRE ARENA POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 5TH - 5 POINTS
ARENA MID-SUMMER MADNESS CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNER-UP ARENA HALLOWEEN HAVOC CHAMPIONSHIP: 6TH
SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 31ST - 42 points
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