OWH's "Almost Live" USRA Div 1 Nats Coverage

[oldweirdherald]

Sorry for the delay - I could not get online for a while.

I have updated the Semi results up a few posts, the main has began...

Back to "Almost Live" coverage - it is now 8:25 PM Pacific Time

Semi Pro Main

red - Mike Graversen
white - Osvaldo Vaccari
green - Keith Bauer
orange - Reggie Coram
blue - Wendell Smith
yellow - Tommy Flyth
purple - Richard Curnutte
black - Chuck Frederick

After Heat 1:

1 - Mike Graversen - 132
2 - Wendell Smith - 129
3 - Richard Curnutte - 128
4 - Reggie Coram - 126
5 - Osvaldo Vaccari - 123
6 - Tommy Flyth - 118
7 - Keith Bauer - 113
8 - Chuck Frederick - 108

After Heat 2:

1 - Reggie Coram - 254
2 - Richard Curnutte - 247
3 - Mike Graversen - 245
4 - Osvaldo Vaccari - 239
5 - Tommy Flyth - 229
6 - Keith Bauer - 208 (spun pinion)
7 - Chuck Frederick - 197 - (crash fest)
8 - Wendell Smith - 194 - (crash fest)

After Heat 3:

1 - Richard Curnutte - 380
2 - Reggie Coram - 369
3 - Mike Graversen - 363
4 - Tommy Flyth - 358 (in pits)
5 - Keith Bauer - 334
6 - Chuck Frederick - 330
7 - Osvaldo Vaccari - 318 (in pits)
8 - Wendell Smith - 241 (broke motor out)

After Heat 4:

1 - Richard Curnutte - 492
2 - Reggie Coram - 488
3 - Mike Graversen - 484
4 - Tommy Flyth - 480
5 - Chuck Frederick - 462
6 - Keith Bauer - 443
7 - Osvaldo Vaccari - 393
8 - Wendell Smith - 333

(Total crash fest - several multi-car crashes in bank!)

After Heat 5:

1 - Richard Curnutte - 623
2 - Tommy Flyth - 591
3 - Mike Graversen - 585
4 - Reggie Coram - 583
5 - Chuck Frederick - 574
6 - Keith Bauer - 557
7 - Wendell Smith - 449
8 - Osvaldo Vaccari - 442

Another crash fest - too many to describe. Osvaldo & Reggie in pits, big crash at end put a few more in pits at end of heat.

After Heat 6:

1 - Richard Curnutte - 754
2 - Mike Graversen - 718
3 - Chuck Frederick - 682
4 - Reggie Coram - 664 (in pits)
5 - Keith Bauer - 662
6 - Tommy Flyth - 654 (dropped from 2nd - motor change)
7 - Wendell Smith - 480
8 - Osvaldo Vaccari - 442 (out)

Down to 4 cars during part of heat 6... busy in the pits

After Heat 7:

1 - Richard Curnutte - 880
2 - Mike Graversen - 843
3 - Keith Bauer - 777
4 - Tommy Flyth - 758 (still some problems)
5 - Chuck Frederick - 748 (dropped from 3rd with body pin problems)
6 - Reggie Coram - 713 (smoked motor)
7 - Wendell Smith - 520
8 - Osvaldo Vaccari - 442 (out)

Down to 4 cars during part of heat 7 also... busy in the pits

Semi-Pro Final Results

1 - Richard Curnutte - 1011
2 - Mike Graversen - 968
3 - Keith Bauer - 879 (munched spur gear, but plenty of time to change)
4 - Reggie Coram - 832
5 - Chuck Frederick - 827
6 - Tommy Flyth - 806
7 - Wendell Smith - 520 (out)
8 - Osvaldo Vaccari - 442 (out)

The crash fest continued, and the survivors (barely) made the podium. Keith was in the pits getting a gear change, but had plenty of cushion to hang on to 3rd. What a race!!!! Mass destruction!

[1SLOWHAND]

Best of luck to Roman K. All of us back in Richmond are pullin for ya in x-pert open. Go purple !

- Glenn

[Bent rim]

Keith you are having a great Nats. I am very proud of you! I would like to thank Skinner and Erkle for taken care of Keith in my absence. See you boys when you get home!

[weedracer]

Rich really checked out in that one!

Great job Keith for another great comeback podium finish for the "Thugs".

My vote for MVP of this year's Nats has to go to local nice guy Chuck Frederick for his numerous wins, poles and podium finishes.

Happy Birthday too Chuck, it was great to meet you.

[Chubby]

Charlie i woud have to agree with you 100%...Chuck Frederick would be my choice of mvr(MOST VALUABLE RACER) of this years NATS...GOOD JOB CHUCK..KEEP IT UP

[oldweirdherald]

Sunday - August 4, 2002

Pro Group 7 - The final day, and the Big Show...

Qualifying for the Pro Group 7 event is unlike anything else in slot car racing. It's not like the old days, where you would run lap after lap, hoping to get that "rhythm" or muster your reflexes for that "hair lap"... but now it is even more. It is a drama to be watched, and a precise combination of finding that "rocket" motor, perfect glue conditions, and exact timing. These babies are cruising around a 155' track in under 2 seconds, and the difference gets down to the thousanths of a second. The blink of an eye is slow in comparison.

In the first round it was Paul Ciccarello - the last Pro to arrive on the scene on Saturday morning, and perhaps the one with the least time invested (at least here) to "dial in" and prepare. Neverless, it was "Chicky" who had the time to beat in the first round - a 1.634 second lap.

It was not enough to eclipse the World Record lap set by P.A. Watson on Wednesday night of 1.624 - but it was enough to keep everyone on the edge of their chair, wondering if the record would again fall. Every camera in the building was ready, in anticipation of the next possible world record. Chicky was now the man to beat - and there was a record there for the breaking.

For the second round, several of the top dogs got into the 1.6's - Jose Mario Serra from Brazil cut a 1.665, then Gugu stepped up and turned in a 1.653. Very fast - but not fast enough.

Buena Park local, and last year's "Geezer" Group 7 winner was next up, and without much fanfare woke everyone up with an awesome 1.630 second lap! Further attempts to better the time were to no avail, but now all Forrest could do is watch nervously, to see if it held up.

Beuf stepped up to the panel, and the anticipation was there, but that perfect lap was not. He ripped off a 1.640 lap, and then was unable to improve upon it, coming off in the deadman.

Also up were "Sedrick Johnson" (aka Les Wright), Greg Mills, and Chicky... who all fell short.

So - 2002 USRA Nats Pro Group 7 TQ went to Forrest Watchers!
An impressive and awesome 1.630 second lap!

Now we break for a half hour, when the quarter finals will begin...

[weedracer]

[oldweirdherald]

Hi JPVR

There was a long break before the quarter finals for the Pros to get their cars ready. It was a great time to get some breakfast, where I also listened to some fascinating stories of slot car racing's past from Bob Green. I wish I had my tape recorder at the restaraunt....

I will be posting with increasing frequency as the race progresses, in the next post, so keep checking back or hitting "refresh" for updates to the post.

Keep in mind that track calls can turn a 5 minute heat into a virtual marathon, so hang in there for updated posts.

(Next year - we already have plans in the works for LIVE coverage!)

They have a big screen TV here where several racers are watching the Brickyard 400 - so please - no updates or discussion about NASCAR in this thread. Let's leave that for NASCAR web sites, TV, or another thread, so that this one stays focussed on the USRA Nats.

Fred Hood, Gugu, Chris Radisich and I are all here at Buena Park, and need to talk to you about the upcoming IMCA Worlds - parts availability, transportation, etc. I hope to have time to email you questions from all of us sometime during the day, and any updates from you via email I'll relay to them.

Now.... back to the Pro Group 7 "Almost Live" coverage of the 2002 USRA Div 1 Nats!

[ArturLuis (BR)]

Paul

you showed the photo to Brazilian to make the relax ?

[oldweirdherald]

Pro Group 7

D Quarter Final

1 - Gugu - 420 (Brazil)
2 - Paul "Beuf" Pederson - 417
3 - Vlado Okali - 417 (Slovakia)
4 - Mikael Silen - 388 (Sweden)
5 - Jeremy Kranes - 352
6 - Gil Gunderson - 331 (Swedish decent...)
7 - Frank Sarkela - 322
8 - Pat Ularte - 215


C Quarter Final

After heat 4 - PA, Carlos, Emerson, Greg, Tore, Larry, Connie, Jose

After heat 6 - Carlos, PA, Connie, Greg, Larry, Tore, Jose, Emerson

C Quarter Final - Final Results

1 - P.A. Watson - 435
2 - Carlos Aloise - 421
3 - Connie Aloise - 411
4 - Larry Blanton - 411
5 - Greg Mills - 409 (Canada / USA)
6 - Jose Mario Serra - 357 (Brazil)
7 - John Tore Anderson - 338 (Sweden / USA)
8 - Emerson Fischler - 252 (Brazil)

B Quarter Final

After heat 3 - MSP, Swiss, Swofford, Chicky, Benny, Spove, Krebs

After heat 4 - Swiss, Swofford, Chicky, Benny, MSP (motor), Krebs, Spove

After heat 6 - Swiss, Chicky, Swofford, MSP, Benny (motor), Krebs, Spove

After heat 7 - Chicky, Swiss, Swofford, MSP, Krebs, Spove, Benny (crashed - out)

B Quarter Final - Final Results

1 - Paul Ciccarello - 423
2 - Mike Swiss - 418
3 - Jim Swofford - 406
4 - Mario "MSP" Schone - 372
5 - Mike Krebs - 327
6 - Spove - 324
7 - Benny Justice - 263

A Quarter Final

After heat 1 - Sedric, Forrest, RPM, Gary, Bob, Skinner, Scott

After heat 3 - Forrest, Sedric, Gary, RPM, Bob & Skinner (tied), Scott

After heat 4 - Sedric, Gary, RPM, Forrest (gear), Skinner, Bob, Scott

After heat 5 - Sedric, Forrest, Gary, Skinner, RPM, Bob, Scott

After heat 6 - Sedric, Forrest, Gary, Skinner, Bob, Scott, RPM (out - bank shot)

After heat 7 - Sedric, Forrest, Skinner, Bob, Gary (pinion?), Scott, RPM (out)

A Quarter Final - Final Results
1 - Sedric Tolaisomn (aka Les Wright) - 410
2 - Forrest Watchers - 410
3 - Bill Skinner - 397
4 - "Sponge Bob" Everett - 390
5 - Gary Puetz - 365
6 - Scott Fisher - 348
7 - Randall "RPM" Marshall - 275


B Semi Final

red - P.A. Watson
white - Larry Blanton
green - Mikael Silen
orange - Vlado Okali
blue - Paul "Beuf" Pederson
yellow - Connie Aloise
purple - Louis "Gugu" Bernadino
black - Carlos Aloise

After heat 1 - Beuf, Connie, PA, Larry, Gugu, Mikael, Vlado (axle), Carlos (bad glue black)

After heat 2 - Beuf, PA, Gugu, Larry, Mikael, Vlado, Carlos, Connie (broke body mount)

After heat 3 - PA, Gugu, Beuf (bad glue black), Vlado, Larry, Mikael, Carlos, Connie

After heat 4 - PA, Beuf, Vlado, Carlos, Mikael, Larry, Gugu (axle), Connie

After heat 5 - PA, Beuf, Vlado, Carlos, Mikael, Gugu, Larry, Connie

After heat 6 - PA, Beuf, Vlado, Carlos, Mikael, Gugu, Connie, Larry

B Semi Final - Final Results

1 - Paul "Beuf" Pederson - 645
2 - Carlos Aloise - 639
3 - Vlado Okali - 637
4 - Mikael Silen - 631
5 - P.A. Watson - 630 (bent chassis)
6 - Connie Aloise - 591
7 - Larry Blanton - 536
8 - Gugu Bernadino - 495

Pro Group 7 A Semi Final

Red - Jim Swofford
White - Bill Skinner
Green - Paul Ciccarello
Orange - Mike Swiss
Blue - Forrest Watchers
Yellow - Bob Everett
Purple - Sedric Tolaisomn (aka Les Wright)
Black - Mario "MSP" Schone

After heat 1 - Forrest, Chicky, Swiss, Sedric, MSP, Swofford, Skinner, Everett

After heat 2 - Chicky, Forrest, Swiss, MSP, Sedric, Swofford, Skinner, Everett

After heat 3 - Chicky, MSP, Forrest, Swiss, Sedric, Swofford (Pinion), Skinner, Everett

After heat 4 - Chicky, MSP, Forrest, Sedric, Swiss, Skinner, Swofford, Everett

After heat 5 - MSP, Chicky, Forrest, Sedric, Swiss, Swofford, Skinner, Everett

After heat 6 - Forrest, Chicky, Swiss, Sedric, MSP(Pinion/Motor), Skinner, Everett, Swofford(Motor)

After heat 7 - MSP, Forrest(pin), Chicky, Sedric, Swiss, Skinner, Everett, Swofford(Motor again)

A Semi Final - Final Results

1 - Forrest Watchers - 625
2 - Paul Ciccarello - 624
3 - Mario "MSP" Schone - 623
4 - Mike Swiss - 604
5 - Sedric Tolaisomn (aka Les Wright) - 597 (Motor)
6 - Bill Skinner - 579
7 - Jim Swofford - 513
8 - Bob Everett - 509

Pro Group 7 Main

Red - Mikael Silen
White - Mario "MSP" Schone
Green - Paul Ciccarello
Orange - Vlado Okali
Blue - Paul "Beuf" Pederson
Yellow - Mike Swiss
Purple - Forrest Watchers
Black - Carlos Aloise

The Pro Group 7 Main Event will begin at 8:30 PM Pacific Time
Be sure to log on for OWH's "Almost Live" coverage heat-by-heat!

Go to the New Post for Group 7 results. It is on the next page. ->

[berylliumlugnut]

Hey Paul,
If I hit refresh every one or two seconds, over and over, will I get the nats coverage any faster? Seriously though, everyone needs to thank "Mom" for his "Almost Live Nats Coverage". The guy is working his butt off, running back and forth between the lap counter monitors and the nats media center to post the latest results for all the folks that couldn't make it or had to leave early (like me). Kudos, Paul. I am already starting to plan for next years "Really Live Nats Coverage". Thanks again. GO PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bobhardt]

How about Chicky walking in the door and winning his quarter. dadada Way to go Paul. Thanks Mom this is great.

[Chubby]

Paul,

Can u tell us the lap totals?

Thanx, JOESSSSSS

[oldweirdherald]

Check out the 2002 USRA Div 1 Nats Photo Gallery!
NATS PHOTO GALLERY - CLICK HERE

Pro Group 7 Main

Red - Mikael Silen (Sweden)
White - Mario "MSP" Schone (Germany)
Green - Paul Ciccarello (USA)
Orange - Vlado Okali (Slovakia)
Blue - Paul "Beuf" Pederson (USA)
Yellow - Mike Swiss (USA)
Purple - Forrest Watchers (USA)
Black - Carlos Aloise (USA)

After heat 1:
1 - Beuf - 141
2 - Chicky - 136
3 - MSP - 135
4 - Vlado Okali - 132
5 - Forrest Watchers- 130
6 - Carlos Aloise- 129
7 - Mike Swiss - 123 (bank shot, body problems)
8 - Mikael Silen - 95 (pinion)

After heat 2:
1 - Beuf - 277
2 - MSP - 272
3 - Vlado Okali -268
4 - Carlos Aloise-262
5 - Chicky - 260
6 - Forrest Watchers- 259
7 - Mike Swiss - 249
8 - Mikael Silen - 165 (motor)

After heat 3:
1 - Paul "Beuf" Pederson - 409
2 - Mario "MSP" Schone - 404
3 - Vlado Okali - 405
4 - Carlos Aloise - 393
5 - Paul "Chicky" Ciccarello- 389
6 - Forrest Watchers - 385
7 - Mike Swiss - 335 (bent chassis)
8 - Mikael Silen - 245

After heat 4:
1 - Paul "Beuf" Pederson - 548
2 - Mario "MSP" Schone - 543
3 - Vlado Okali - 541
4 - Carlos Aloise - 528
5 - Forrest Watchers - 526
6 - Paul "Chicky" Ciccarello- 507
7 - Mike Swiss - 467
8 - Mikael Silen - 367

After heat 5:
1 - Paul "Beuf" Pederson - 680
2 - Vlado Okali - 675
3 - Mario "MSP" Schone - 665
4 - Carlos Aloise - 664
5 - Forrest Watchers - 662
6 - Paul "Chicky" Ciccarello - 626 (gear blew)
7 - Mike Swiss - 590
8 - Mikael Silen - 405 (out)

After heat 6:
1 - Paul "Beuf" Pederson - 818
2 - Vlado Okali - 809
3 - Carlos Aloise - 792
4 - Forrest Watchers - 792(spun pinion)
5 - Mario "MSP" Schone - 789 (lane trouble)
6 - Paul "Chicky" Ciccarello - 757
7 - Mike Swiss - 676 (blew motor)
8 - Mikael Silen - 405 (out)

After heat 7:
1 - Paul "Beuf" Pederson - 958
2 - Forrest Watchers - 929
3 - Vlado Okali - 926 (gear)
4 - Paul "Chicky" Ciccarello - 898
5 - Carlos Aloise - 878 (Gear, then motor)
6 - Mario "MSP" Schone - 876 (gear)
7 - Mike Swiss - 776
8 - Mikael Silen - 405 (out)
DQ - Jeremy Kranes - duct taped to a chair, picture in album:
CLICK HERE

Pro Group 7 Main - Final Results

1 - Paul "Beuf" Pederson - 1100
2 - Forrest Watchers - 1067
3 - Vlado Okali - 1064
4 - Carlos Aloise - 1017
5 - Mario "MSP" Schone - 1008
6 - Paul "Chicky" Ciccarello - 1003 (body problem)
7 - Mike Swiss - 776
8 - Mikael Silen - 405 (out)


Check out the 2002 USRA Div 1 Nats Photo Gallery!
NATS PHOTO GALLERY - CLICK HERE

[DDDDDDerek]

ALLRIGHT BEUF CONGRATS ON THE WIN.

That race looked like it was a tough one. Man I wish I was there to see it myself. Looks like I have to wait for the video to see it.