[woodcote]

Worthing HO Racing members race in the EAHORC national series one Sunday per month from September to July. Our club will host the final round of the 2012-13 season on Sunday 30 June, at the Heene Community Centre.

Eleven WHO racers took part in EAHORC events last season, and there were plenty of WHO successes, including a record eight race wins for John, Robin, Andy and Mike and the Main Grade championship for Mike. We came third in the club championship.

The new season kicks off at Yelling near Cambridge on Sunday 2 September, with the second round in Ipswich on Sunday 30 September. We club together to run a car up to each round, so let us know asap if you're interested in coming along (full calendar below).

An EAHORC meeting is like two WHO Racing events back-to-back. Practice starts at 9.30am and racing at 10am with the Open Wheel heats and finals. After a break for lunch, racers decide which one out of 4 classes - Nascar, LMP, Modified or Pro-modified - they will race in during the afternoon. The classes run in mixed heats and then separate out for the finals. The day usually finishes around 4-4.30pm. You can always choose to race in one session or both.

WHO Racing F1 Mega-G cars will be competitive in the morning. If you don't have your own car, club cars are available. In the afternoon, a WHO F1 Mega-G with a LMP body (loaners available) can be run in LMP and a WHO Nascar can run in the Nascar class. WHO Mod cars are not eligible in Eahorc Mod but can run in pro-mod.

This thread will be where we report back on club members' exploits in the national series. EAHORC has a page on this forum too, click here to read more.

The 2012-13 EAHORC calendar:

02/09/2012 - Yelling, Cambs
30/09/2012 - Ipswich
28/10/2012 - Chatham, Kent
02/12/2012 - King's Lynn
24/02/2013 - Chatham, Kent
24/03/2013 - Marlborough, Wilts
21/04/2013 - Ipswich
19/05/2013 - Norwich
Saturday 08/06/2013 - Edmonton North London
30/06/2013 - Worthing (Heene Centre)

 

[LeeH]

WHO's most long distance racer will be there

Hope the McCann's, Darren/Callum and Andrew/Hannah could make a few Nationals this year be awesome. Plus of course Gareth hopefully returning soon. If they do need to hire a mini bus though but be well worth it.

 

[Gareth]

I just emailed Deane asking for the HONK date. The plan is that one plus the Worthing round and possibly Edmo if I can manage it.

So I'll start work now on Emily!!

 

[woodcote]

All the dates are in the first post, so we're at HONK on 28 October and 24 February. I suspect the Edmo date is the one to be confirmed

We have had a couple of cars going to a few events in the past. I think the biggest 'away' attendances by WHO racers were the HONK race last October (six) and the Gaydon Slot Car Festival race last May (five). It would be great to regularly get four people in the car and add to that for HONK and Edmo.

 

[woodcote]

Round 1 - Yelling

Mike and Andy travelled up to Cambridgeshire for the first round of the new Eahorc season. It was an unusual day - Eahorc head-honcho Deane staying home in Essex, suffering badly with tooth problems. The local SCHORC boys did us proud and put on a slick and enjoyable day.

The morning Open Wheel looked promising with the heats leaving Andy second and Mike fourth. Instead of both improving in the finals, they both slid down a place. A solid start to the season though.

The afternoon saw Mike race in the LMP1 class and Andy return to Nascar for the first time since 2010. Andy took a fine second place with his trusty Super-G, never quite threatening two-time champion Dave, but having a lot of fun. Mike always looked good in LMP, but had a battle in the final. He ended up taking the win - an excellent start to a possible championship run?

Next stop is Ipswich on Sunday 30 September - there are seats in the WHO bus, so let us know if you fancy a taste of national racing.

The following round is on Sunday 28 October at the fabulous 230 foot permanent track at HONK in Chatham, Kent. It's the closest 'away' fixture, so no excuse to miss out

We've had some excellent WHO results at HONK - Darren taking an Open Wheel pole position and Robin, Mike and Andy all taking home afternoon silverware.

Let us know asap if you're coming along to HONK. So far we have 3 East Sussex racers on the list and only one from West Sussex...

 

[woodcote]

Round 2 - Kesgrave

Again it was Mike and Andy representing WHO at the home of ECHO, near Ipswich.

The morning heats were promising with Andy qualifying 4th and Mike 5th, but the 'B' final is best forgotten for both.

The afternoon was far more satisfying with Mike making a guest appearance in Nascar and taking home the winner's trophy.

Andy grabbed the silverware in Pro-Mod with his new Wizzard Storm.

So it was a happy trip home, despite an unplanned trip to Cambridge...

Next stop is HONK, near Chatham on Sunday 28 October. Check those diaries, cancel whatever might be there already and let us know you're coming

 

[Gareth]

Not long to go now till Chatham. I'm looking forward to my first EAHORC race in a whole year!

Who else is going from the club? I could do with organising a lift!

Cheers

Gareth

 

[diesel]

I'll be there in the afternoon so not much use for a lift! Interesting to see if I get classed as a WHO or HONK racer...

 

[Gareth]

I'd say you were a WHO racer! You've raced with us longest and developed the race screen system.

 

[woodcote]

Round 3 - Chatham

Darren kindly drove Mike, Gareth, Callum and Andy up to the brilliant HONK track for a great day's racing.

The morning / early afternoon Open Wheel session saw 24 on the grid and some close racing over the six lanes. Mike finished an excellent third, Andy sixth, Darren eighth, just ahead of Gareth in ninth and Callum 18th.

Andrew joined us in the afternoon, having spent the early hours hanging out with rock stars in Oxford. And he was glad he did make the journey up from Hastings. In a massively competitive Nascar race, he came out on top, securing his first ever national win.

Mike was tempted by his win last time to race Nascar, but he accepted it was the wrong the decision. With LMP running, he missed out on championship points. Darren took second in LMP and Gareth third in Nascar. Callum did well to step up to the Nascar A final.

Andy won again in Pro-Mod, shaving 0.07 seconds off his lap record at HONK.

Next up is the traditional pre-Christmas trip to King's Lynn, this year on Sunday 2nd December. I am definitely going. If you're interested, let me know asap. If there's more than me, I'll borrow a car and drive us. If not, it's train + hotel

 

[Gareth]

Actually I was 3rd (out of three) in Closed Wheel.

So pleased for Andy and Andrew. Andy was completely dominant in Pro-Mod. Very much Martin's heir apparent and it would almost be worth the long drive to Kings Lynn to see the battle between them. Almost.

And Andrew's win was great. I've never seen that bodyshell go so fast!

 

[woodcote]

Round 4 - King's Lynn

Mike, Andy, Darren and Callum made the long trip up to King's Lynn for an excellent day's racing at the traditional pre-Christmas Mussel Bay get-together.

Mike was the stand-out WHO performer in the morning's Open Wheel race, taking second place behind HO racing legend Martin Hill.

The afternoon saw four trophies up for grabs and WHO racers landed three of them!

Mike took another LMP1 win and moved into first place in the championship. Andy made it three out of three this season in Pro-Mod.

However, the highlight of the day was Callum taking pole position and a composed win in Nascar for his first national victory.

Not surprisingly, we took the win in the club championship.

After a long Christmas break, national racing was supposed to resume in Norwich on Sunday 20 January...

The snow intervened* - so it's now Chatham on 24 February. Who's coming?

*The re-arranged dates are in post #1.

 

[woodcote]

We're back at the amazing 230 foot, six-lane permanent track in Chatham, Kent for the 2013 HO Grand Prix on Sunday 24 February - less than a month away. The EAHORC event thread is here.

So far, Andrew, Gareth, Mike and Andy are confirmed on the grid, with Hannah and Gareth's brother Tim on the 'probable' list and we hope Darren and Callum will be there too.

If you want to join us, look at those diaries and let us know, so we can get transport sorted

To tempt you, here's the video from the autumn meeting at HONK

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/z1wXOdNfTKI?rel=0

 

[woodcote]

Round 5 - Chatham

It wasn't just round 5 of the Eahorc season, but also the HO Grand Prix - the most prestigious race on the Eahorc calendar.

Only two people have won the HO:GP - Martin Hill and Andy Whorton - but after an excellent drive, under a lot of pressure, Mike Dadson can add his name to that illustrious group

As for the other WHO racers, Andy just sneaked into the A final and picked up a trophy for sixth place, Gareth battled hard in the B final and his brother Tim - on his Eahorc debut - managed an impressive double step up from the E and D finals.

In the afternoon, Mike took second in LMP, Tim beat Gareth in Closed Wheel and Andy picked up another win in Pro-Mod.

Overall a great day's racing and a truly memorable one for Mike.

The next race is in Marlborough, Wiltshire on Sunday 24 March. There is an event thread over on the Eahorc forum. Do let us know if you're joining us and would like a lift.

 

[woodcote]

Round 6 - Marlborough

It was Andy and Mike who headed west to Wiltshire for another unseasonally freezing Eahorc meeting.

Both were right on the pace in Open Wheel, qualifying third and fourth. Andy made a balls up of the B final and missed the step-up, but Mike was on cracking form and won his second Open Wheel trophy in a row. Awesome stuff

It was a frustrating afternoon for both WHO racers. Mike was beaten by his championship rival in LMP1 and Andy just lost out in an epic Pro-Mod final. Nonetheless, Andy does look odds-on for the Pro-Mod title with four rounds to go.

There are some very close championship battles developing - with Mike well in contention for the Eahorc Cup, Open Wheel and LMP1. Plus WHO Racing are just 13 point behind Four Lane Blacktop in the battle for the Club Challenge. More at eahorc.com.

Next up is a trip to Ipswich on Sunday 21 April. Andy and Mike will again be travelling up. Can't remember if Gareth is joining us? So that leaves at least two seats available in the WHO bus...

 

[Gareth]

I will be joining you for all four of the rounds on the run in to the championship gold and hoping to bring a couple of pots back to WHO myself. Fingers crossed.

 

[montoya1]

That is excelent. Could even energise the main grade championship, one of five fronts your club is fighting on...

 

[Gareth]

Maingrade is my main goal actually. I've outscored Dave H in both mornings I've raced in. Enough to make me think I could overtake him. Which will be one better than my minor maingrade pot from a couple of years ago.

I'm also aiming for CW minor which will be much much tougher. In fact I have to prepare the cars this weekend.

 

[woodcote]

I make it that we're seriously in the hunt for seven full championships this year:

Eahorc Cup: Mike
OW Premier: Mike
OW Main Grade: Gareth
LMP1: Mike
Pro-Mod: Andy
Club Challenge
Pairs: Dadson / Player

The most full championships we've ever won in a year was two in 2010 - Main Grade (Andy) and Rookie of the Year (John).

Already this season we've had 11 WHO wins (Mike 5; Andy 4; Andrew 1; Callum 1), beating 8 last season (Andy 3; Mike 2; John 2; Robin 1), two the season before that (John and Robin) and just one in 2010 (Andy). So six WHO racers have had 22 wins at the nationals so far, half of them this season...

 

[woodcote]

Round 7 - Kesgrave, near Ipswich

Mike and Andy made a return visit to the scout hut in Kesgrave where Round 2 took place back last autumn. This time they were joined by Gareth, who chauffeured up from Brighton.

Mike was on for a third straight Open Wheel win. He did everything right in the heats, taking pole. Unfortunately, things unraveled after that, with a uncharacteristically crashy start and middle of the race. He recovered to take third.

Andy qualified fourth and finally managed to turn that into a B final win and only his second 4-lane A final appearance of the season. He finished fourth. Gareth's Mega-Gs seemed a bit rusty and he ended up in the D final, won that and finished fourth in the C - tenth place?

The afternoon saw Mike finish second in LMP1 and Gareth a rather more combative second in Closed Wheel. That left Andy with the final remaining chance for WHO silverware - which he took with a win in Pro-Mod.

It was a great day's racing on an excellent track - as it always is at Kesgrave. A few dropped points for WHO racers and in the Club Challenge, but everything is still to play for with three rounds to go.

Next up is a trip to Norwich on Sunday 19 May. The HO track will be laid over the top of the Norwich Slot Racing 1/32 track.

There's more details on the EAHORC NSR thread and on the EAHORC website.

So far Mike, Gareth and Andy will be heading up to Norfolk - that leaves room for at least one more in the car