February 9, 2024 | Jim Colligan January 20, 2024 “ New Year Challenge” On Saturday January 20 we had another great turnout as 20 Outlaws arrived at Lenjet Raceway for the New Year Challenge. After practice, Dave conducted the driver’s meeting and it was decided to conduct the first 2 races simultaneously with half running Hobby Stock on the Tub and half running E-fray with Nascar bodies on the Champion. Then we would all race Jalopies on the Tri-Oval. Big Greg’s matte black #8 Jalopy was voted best appearing. Hobby Stock on the Tub The question everyone asked was “what happened to Pitstop?” A Master of the Tub, Pitstop struggled this weekend. Flash didn’t, taking a 5 lap victory over Dave with Peter 2 laps back taking the final step on the podium. Big Greg, Joe Rinn, Paul, Cody, Steve, Pitstop and Matt rounded out the top half of the field. E-fray on the Champion Racing was tight at the sharp end of the field as 2 laps covered Dave. Peter and Big Greg. Dave’s consistency in the gutter lanes outdid Peter’s 29 laps in both the blue and white lanes. Racing was also fierce mid pack as 5 racers scored between 105 and 107 laps. Pitstop, Jimmy, Flash, Terry, Matt, Paul and Joe Rinn rounded out the top half of the field. Jalopies on the Tri-Oval On Ovals it really pays to keep it in the slot as you not only lose time when go go off but you also lose a lap at the end of the race for each off. And as if that wasn’t enough of a penalty, if you have more than 3 offs in a heat, you sit out the rest of the heat. Flash scored 2 more laps than Paul Ryer 368 laps to 366 laps but had 4 offs (which is a great job) but Paul only had 1 and so Paul took the win with a net of 365 laps to 364 laps. Dave took third with 7 offs and a net of 353 laps. Did I say it really pays to keep it in the slot! Big Greg, Joe Rinn, Bob Farnsworth with no offs and Terry tied, Hal and Matt rounded out the top half of the field. A final data point since we raced Indy with roadster bodies on the Doval and Indy with Jalopy bodies on the Tri-Oval. We had 143 offs on 6 lanes at 20 volts on the Doval for an average of 23.8 offs per lane. On the Tri-Oval on 5 lanes at 18 volts we averaged 17.6 offs per lane. Off by lane on the Doval wasn’t available, but on the Tri-Oval Red had the most offs with 30 offs with 11 racers having 2 or more offs in their heat on red.White had 19 offs, Blue had 14 offs, Green had 13 offs and Orange the fewest with 12 offs. With 18 racers doing the Jalopy race, Blue, Green and orange averaged fewer than 1 off per racer Thank you, Peter as always for a great day of racing Next Race is at Lenjet on Feb 10 with Hobby Stock on the Shamrock Glen, Magnatraction with IMSA bodies on the Nuvolari and SS on the Bear.