A new Gold Winner this week!
Tonights race drew a great turnout! We had a few new faces appear and unfortunately a few tried to race, but were suffering from issues. Maestro, if you can email me some specifics on your system and problem, I'll look around for info. CapN'Dondo made a brief appearance and only got in a few laps in Heat 1B. SM77 made a brief showing, the victim of time lag. He is from Copenhagen, Denmark. Hope you can make it into some races, buddy! After we flew some hot laps, which featured some absolutely horrible laps by your reporter, Heat1A was announced. Flatline, WTR*755 and myself were called to the line. 755 is the newest member to race, and a long time flying buddy of mine(along with SM77). While Baron flew pace, we took off. GOferBROKE was having problems and trailed the field, others weren't quite familiar on tracking the pace plane and the start was waved off. Xasher tried to start 1A and having a glitch(Auto-Follow inop), he aborted and was granted a spot in 1B. Another attempt was made and the sight of Flatline being closely pursued by 755 was a mystery to this pilot, as they were a quarter lap ahead of me and going away! Then, I realized my gear was down! DOH!!!There was a great race between Flatline and 755, with them finishing 1st and 2nd respectively. They were moved into the Gold heat, GOferBROKE had to race in the Silver.

Heat 2B was interesting as Sryth, Baron, GriffonJET, Black Rider, Xasher and CapN'Dondo all made a start. CapN'Dondo arrived as the racers were preparing to begin 1B. He was lost due to a connection issue, I'm guessing? Black Rider was getting in some good laps, and fell victim to a ground encounter. Sorry you guys didn't make it back... Sryth fell victim to a lag glitch and fell back early as GriffonJET, Baron and Xasher had a great race for the lead. After the 5 laps GJ and Baron were advanced to the Gold with Xasher and Sryth filling out the Silver.

We were keeping a good pace to the events, and the Silver Race entrants were called to the runway. Baron again flew pace as Sryth, Xasher and GOferBROKE all made a close start. Sryth was again on the receiving end of the bad luck, as another glitch made him unable to compete. Xasher was pressing hard to gain, when he clipped the ground with his wingtip. Ouch! GOferBROKE was awarded the Silver win, as Sryth proposed a Consolation Heat between Xasher and himself for the final spot in the Gold Race.

A five lap, standing start was agreed on to expedite matters. Sryth was holding a slim lead with Xasher not giving an inch! And, to complete the hat trick on bad luck, Sryth ran out of fuel on short final and crashed, giving away the right to race in the Gold to Xasher.

It had been quite an evening and the Gold Race was announced. Twelve laps for the final. Flatline, Baron, 755, GriffonJET, Xasher and GOferBROKE all paced behind Sryth. Yours truly wasn't getting very good FR and was having a heck of a time tracking the pace plane as we rounded the scatter pylon. Confidence wasn't real high in my cockpit, due to poor flying earlier. We were given the countdown and the action began. I was trying to focus on my line and didn't see other racers. I knew there could still be a plane close to me, if not leading. Confidence still kinda low, but the view clear! We flew three laps before I could clearly hear, "Race#19 is leading!" Baron was running a real close second, Flatline and 755 dueled for third and fourth with a battle brewing between GriffonJET and Xasher! 755 made the pass stick for third and Baron was pushing his bird to the limit when he called in that he'd cut a pylon. 755 gave this perspective, ".....I had a pretty good start when I saw you(#19) and Baron diving for the front stretch. I just tried to follow you guys and focus on a good line." When asked just how close the racing was, he replied, "I could see Flatline every now and then and knew we were real close, forcing me to concentrate on the course and(#6 & #19) you guys." He was also able to see Baron go inside the pylon, just to give you an idea how close the racing gets! Jeff(755) is real easy going and tough to get excited, also having had worked all day! He ended by saying he had fun!

Baron called again with worse news, he had a Mayday! Mechanical gremlins forced him down and he was the victim of a crash. Xasher soon called Mayday due to lack of fuel. The race continued with GOferBROKE winning the Gold with 755 getting second in his very first event. Congradulations, 755! Flatline and GriffonJET were close behind in what was possibly the closest finish ever for a four plane group. Did I mention the racing is close at VARO?

As everyone gathered after the race for some pix, we unwound and traded stories. There were some drained pilots after the events of the evening. It was agreed that a good time was had and this writer, personally, was in stunned silence. I was shocked and worn out from the intense 12 laps of concentration. Somebody pinch me to see if I'm awake! I think I won the Gold Race! Gotta check the news tomorrow to see if it's true!