IMCA WORLDS: JOSEF KOREC AND POLEDNA EVEN TOO STRONG FOR NOVIELLO

Splendid view of the NSR Future Model Car track, fitting in a space of 9 x 5 m, and being a nearly perfect track for model car racing. The track allows good competition, whilst the straight is short enough to avoid deadly crashes with fragile resin or hard plastic cars. But even for Production cars and Open G-12 cars the track allows fair competition. By using metal strips instead of braids the clearance of the cars can be low and 132 plastic cars (style Ninco, Fly, Scalextric, Slot-It, Pro-Track, etc.) can be raced under the best conditions. It took Noviello and Cie nearly one year to finish the track. The IMCA will order at least two in the years to come.

September 2, 2002 - The consolation race had to unveil the names of the four last racers allowed to join the 32 others already classified after the EuroNats. Since this last race finished at 3 a.m. and that the start of the consolation race was scheduled at 7.30 a.m. several racers preferred to sleep instead of trying a last (minor) chance to enter the Worlds. Eventually 22 racers showed. Of them several famous racers failed to reach the top-4. Among them some big surprises: Chris Radisich (last year's finalist at the Worlds), Piero Castricone (I), wing car world champion Juha Yli-Sipola (SF), Russell Sheldon (RSA), Stefan Törnfeldt (S), JPVR (B-1), Jozef Lapcak (CZ) and Anthony Bithrey (RSA). The four last named finished from 8th to 5th with Bithrey coming less than two laps short to make the move. One racer was eliminated by bad luck: America's Neal Stewart (who eventually could enter when Bob Demeyer decided not to start). Among the 36 qualified racers we found 5 Italians, the 4 Czechs, the 3 Americans, 3 racers of Belgium I, 3 racers of Belgium II, 3 Britons, 3 Dutchmen, 2 Swedes, 2 Slovaks, 2 Germans,  2 Finnish racers, 2 Brazilians, 1 Australian and 1 South-African.  That means that, except for Portugal (having lost its 3 entrants at the consolation race, in the case of Ulysses Relvas after bad luck) all nations had at least one racer at the start.
Only the 16 first after 5 consis of 8 x 2 minutes were allowed to move to the Semis, so that 20 racers were to be eliminated after the consis. Two racers had to start with a handicap. Indeed, the scrutineers could not accept that "Piki" van Rossem had sanded the front wheel fenders of his car and decided that he had to start with 20 gram ballast; Cédric Gridelet, who walked around as he had already won the Worlds, and who showed with his personal claque, was penalised with 10 grams of ballast since he didn't show at the handout of the tires. He was furious about it and was shouting that he came only to beat all others, not to finish at a stupid 10th place. Two hours before the start the defending world champion Salvatore Noviello decided to build a complete new car, body included. Although he had to manage the lap counter he succeeded in doing so and showed at the start with a white n°29 Chevrolet Goodwrench instead of his n°24 Chevrolet Dupont.  Yannick Demeyer, having finished at a fine 6th place at the Mello Yello decided not to start.  At the consis 15 racers realised more than 170 laps, with in that order: 1.  Poledna (CZ) 177.4; 2. Malangone (I) 176.4; 3. Josef Korec (CZ) 176.2; 4. Van Oppen (B-2) 174.6; 5. Mertens (B-1) 174.3; 6. Gridelet (B-1) 174.2; 7. John van Hoornaar (NL) 173.6; 8. Montiglio (I) 173.3; 9. Zenovitch (USA) 172.4; 10. Schöne 172.3; 11. Jan Korec (CZ) 172.2; 12. Niccolai (I) 171.7; 13. Horky (CZ) 171.0; 14. Noviello 170.3 and 15. "Piki" (B-1) 170.1. Last qualified racer was Matti Fyhr (SF), coming via the consolation race. He finished one segment ahead over poor Lasse Äberg (S) and four segments over Gustav Heymann (RSA), last year still 3rd at the Worlds. Among other eliminated racers we found the three Britons (Aynsley, Brown, Kimber), two Americans (Stewart and Kassens), the two Brazilians ("Gugu" and Clythio, in 2001 still vice-world champion), the two Slovaks (Miskolci and Okali), two Dutchmen (De Kok and Robert van Hoornaar), Youri van Rossem and Yannick Demeyer of Belgium II, Klose from Germany, Rudilosso from Italy, Einari Fyhr (!) from Finland and Joel Mallary from Australia. But greatest wanboffer was (again) Anders Gustafson (S), who had a very fast car, but who ran once more in technical problems. Of the 16 racers selected for the Semis 4 came from Czechia, 4 from Italy, 3 from Belgium I, the remaining 5 being Zenovitch from the States, Van Oppen from Belgium II, Matti Fyhr from Finland, Mario Schöne from Germany and John van Hoornaar from Holland: all but one European racers.

Splendid image of close racing, so typical for IMCA races. Here we find the cars of Matti Fyhr (71), John van Hoornaar (12), Lasse Äberg (77) and Jan Korec (52) wheel in wheel at the Consis for the Worlds. Of them only Äberg missed the move, be it only for one race segment behind Matti. Fyhr's n°71 car shows signs of the burnt roof having been superbly repaired by the Finnish racer.
At the Worlds Cédric Gridelet, undoubtedly a gifted racer, lost all what he realised one day earlier. If you shout that a stupid race as the Mello Yello is not big enough for your talent, that you didn't come to finish 10th, but to beat them all, you are ridiculising yourself by finishing as low as 15th, especially if you was even passed by a humble rookie as Stefan van Oppen, who felt uncomfortable by finishing so good as 6th. Gridelet cannot control his nerves and will never win an important races. Winners are extremely cool racers, style Jon Laster, Paul Pfeiffer, Jan Limpach, Vladimir Horky, Josef Korec, "Piki", Frankie Poledna, never racers shouting that they'll beat up a marshall being considered too slow. If this happens before a grandstand with plenty public you should be not surprised that other racers, shocked by the bestial shouts of a racer, ask the IMCA officials to suspend such racer at any further IMCA meeting. That is e.g. what was asked by ex-world champ Geert Mertens, who asks the same for Patrick Savio after his mad behaviour at the EuroNats, where he destroyed his proper car with both hands, since a marshall didn't react when he was shouting; "Sur la six". Slot-racing is an international sport where English is the universal language. You have not to blame a Philipino marshall for not understanding your French. Gridelet and Savio are perhaps good racers, but too amateurish and too short-tempered at international events. At Ostend they were the perfect anti-publicity for slot-racing. No wonder that nobody wishes to race any longer with them. At the left pic Gridelet with the n°1 of slotracing, Vladimir Horky. At the left the handout of rear tires at the EuroNats. Since Gridelet didn't show in time at the Worlds handout he was sanctioned with 10 grams of ballast.

Semi B went among Mario Schöne (D, IOC-4), Josef Korec (CZ, IOC-12), Giovanni Montiglio (I, IOC-17), "Piki" van Rossem (B, IOC-32), Matti Fyhr (SF, IOC-44), John van Hoornaar (NL, IOC-134),  Jan Korec (CZ, IOC-179) and Daniele Malangone (I, IOC-205). Initially it was dominated by Josef Korec and Schöne, pulling away from the rest of the field. Then followed Matti Fyhr, "Piki" and Jan Korec, followed by the trio John van Hoornaar, Daniele Malangone and Giovanni Montiglio. Josef Korec and Schöne switched places, Matti and "Piki" either, but then several times. Shortly before mid-race Schöne had to retire with a broken chassis, so that Matti Fyhr moved to the second place, always closely followed by "Piki" and Jan Korec. Further down Malangone and Van Hoornaar battled for the 5th place, while Montiglio samed definitively out. During the second half "Piki" ensured himself by taking definitively the second place behind Josef Korec. He let him go, trying to save his motor being more sollicitated due to the 20 gram extra ballast. Matti Fyhr and Jan Korec struggled for the 4th place. With 2 segments to go positions seemed to be aquired, since the trio Van Hoornaar-Malangone-Montiglio followed already at more than 5 laps. But then, at once, Matti ran in problems and dropped to rank 7 behind Montiglio and Van Hoornaar. The struggle for rank 4 was now on between Malangone, Montiglio and Van Hoornaar. When the winner of the BNL Festival deslotted twice in a row, shortly after followed by two mistakes of Montiglio it was for sure that the four racers to make the move were Josef Korec (266.6 laps), "Piki" (259.4 laps), Malangone (258 laps) and Jan Korec (255.1 laps). Montiglio came two laps short to make the move, Van Hoornaar three and the unfortunate Matti Fyhr four.

Semi B: Einari Fyhr (44), "Piki" (32), Jan Korec (179), MSP Schöne (4), Montiglio (17), John van Hoornaar (134), Josef Korec (12) and Malangone (205).

Semi A saw at the start Horky (CZ, IOC-1), Poledna (CZ, IOC-30), Noviello (I, IOC-35), Mertens (B, IOC-43), Niccolai (I, IOC-82), Zenovitch (USA, IOC-13) and the two Belgian amateurs (Gridelet and Van Oppen). As pure professionals Horky and Poledna took a hyper fast start, well knowing that the bragging Cédric Gridelet should make driving errors on trying to follow them. It lucks him only during the first half segment. Gonflé à bloc he even asks the for him total inane Geert Mertens to make place when he chases behind the two Czechs. Mertens, a much more experienced racer lets him pass, and sees how Cédric deslots at the first curb. He's passed by three racers in a row: Zenovitch, Van Oppen and Mertens and is at once no longer 3rd but 7th. The following segment Van Oppen is ordened to make room for the future world champ. Although being a rookie the humble Stefan obeys, seeing how one curb further Gridelet deslots again and is now even passed by the oldest of all entrants, a man eligible for pension: granddad Niccolai. Despite the fact that he's now real last of the Semi he continues to believe that he's unbeatable. When his car deslots for the umteenth time and when marshalling Montiglio is not quick enough to put the red lantern-bearer in the slot, Cédric cries "Track" and storms to the race direction, menacing that he'll beat Montiglio into pieces if the race direction refuses to replace him as marshall. Under normal circumstances a racer with such bestial behaviour should be disqualified immediately, but since Cédric is merely an amateur, who has still anything to learn, the race director lets him continue, convinced that he'll receive the lesson of his life. Anxious for the health of the multiple Italian champion, JPVR decides that Montiglio should be replaced. Up from now Cédric races as a five years old kid, making mistake after mistake. Even his claque is ashamed by his behaviour and starts a series of reprimades against their local star. Instead of being concentrated on his race, Cédric is now shouting at the public. Any other racer should immediately been put at the door, but JPVR feels that the received lesson cannot be severe enough. By continuing Cédric is ridiculising himself before all the public on the grandstands. Eventually our self-declared future world champion will finish ...31 laps down to the leader - that's more than a complete segment! - at the real last place. Or how a big tallent is spilled by pure pride. Meanwhile Horky continues to set the pace, with Poledna and Noviello  immediately behind and America's Matt Zenovitch on a solid fourth place. Struggle for rank 5 is on between Van Oppen, Mertens and Niccolai. During the third segment Noviello, on his brand new car, passes Horky to hold the second place until the finish. Zenovitch is riding away from Mertens and Van Oppen and it seems that the 2000 world champion Mertens will miss the move. Two segments before the end Zenovitch tries to lap Van Oppen, but when the rookie increases speed, he forces the American youngster to crash against the wall. At once Zenovitch drops from rank 4 to rank 7 and Mertens can take the safe place behind Noviello, Poledna and Horky. But now Mertens is on the slow lane 8 and Zenovitch is chasing at the fast lane 4 like a devil to undo the lost three laps from the crash. Van Oppen plays the game following the rules and can hold off the American to pass from 6 to 5. When the segment is over Mertens - who lost a lap by lap counter failure during the first segment and another lap by a marshalling error of MSP Schöne - is always 4th. Zenovitch has to wait the real last minute to pass Van Oppen, but now it is too late to menace Mertens. He will finish 4th. Poledna wins easily Semi A, nearly four laps ahead of Noviello and Horky and seven of Mertens. Zenovitch is 5th and eliminated. Then follow Niccolai, Van Oppen and the self declared world champion Gridelet. He's so furious by the defeat of his life that he'll be absent at the protocol ceremonial, where his trophy (2nd at the EuroNats) goes to a kid among the spectators.

Semi A: Noviello (35), Horky (1), Niccolai (82), Zenovitch (139), Mertens (43), Van Oppen (610), Gridelet (588) and Poledna (30).

Eventually we found the four Czechs (Josef Korec, Jan Korec, Vladimir Horky and Frankie Polena), two Italians (Salvatore Noviello and Daniele Malangone) and two Belgians ("Piki" and Geert Mertens) at the start of the main final. The two Belgians were on PlaFit: "Piki" since his MoMo SW2 was bent after a violent crash, Mertens since he believed that his too narrow Ford should behave better with a PlaFit). All others, except Malangone, were on the new MoMo SW2 chassis. Four racers started on Dodges, three on Chevrolets, one on Ford. The main final went over 8 x 5 minutes. Immediately after the start Josef Korec and Poledna were setting the pace, closely followed by Noviello. Mertens came as fourth but was quickly passed by "Piki" and Malangone. Already at the end of the first segment it was obvious that the old PlaFits had no chance against the much better MoMos. During the second segment Noviello, defending his title as world champion, could pass the two Czechs. Until the last segment he could hold them off, but the difference was never a complete lap. Meanwhile "Piki" - despite his old PlaFit and 20 grams of ballast - was a strong fourth, one lap ahead over Geert Mertens, who had all the time problems with the road holding of his too narrow Ford. Horky was found until mid-race in 6th position, with Malangone and Jan Korec involved in a close battle for place 7. With one last segment to go Noviello is still leader.

However, for Noviello the last segment is full of drama. He has to race on lane 1, the slowest and the most difficult, where quick accelarations are a real must. Unfortunately Noviello could find no 43T gear on mounting his new car, and with his 42T he lacks acceleration. He does what he can to hold off  Korec, but eventually he must let him go. Shortly after he's passed by Poledna who chases after Josef Korec. Positions are with 3 seconds to go: 1. Josef Korec, 2. Poledna at 2 laps, 3. Noviello at 3 laps, 4. "Piki" at 13 laps, 5. Mertens at 17 laps, 6. Horky at 18 laps, 7. Jan Korec at 20 laps, 8. Malangone at 21 laps. Then there is a track call and the racers make such a noise that race director JPVR accords the call, despite the fact that the risk exists that on a restart the segment will go beyond the 5 minutes level. That's what happens. With lap counter specialist Noviello racing himself it takes 48 seconds before JPVR finds the way to stop the counter. Meanwhile Horky passes Mertens and Piki's car - having shown signs of fatigue - is nearly standing still, so that Horky and Mertens can pass the car during that last 48 seconds. At the same time Malangone can pass Jan Korec for rank 7, but also during the exceeding time. When the power is eventually off Horky is given as 4th, Mertens as 5th, "Piki" as 6th, Malangone as 7th and Jan Korec as 8th. However, that are not the standings after 40 minutes, but after 40 minutes and 48 seconds. JPVR asks the Czech team leader if Horky will be offended if the official result is the one after 40 minutes, not the one after 40 minutes and 48 seconds. Sportmanslike as he is, the n°1 slot-racer in the world has no problems with it, so that the officially accepted final result of the 2002 IMCA Model Car Worlds is: 1. Josef Horky, 2. Poledna at 2 laps, 3. Noviello at 3 laps, 4. "Piki" van Rossem at 13 laps, 5. Geert Mertens at 17 laps, 6. Horky at 18 laps, 7. Jan Korec at 20 laps, 8. Malangone at 21 laps. Although Noviello didn't win the admiration for his performance - to finish third with a car assembled in less than 2 hours ) was much greater than last year, when he won the Worlds. Noviello is a hell of a driver and Josef Korec is the first to admit that if Noviello should have mounted a 43T gear instead of a 42T he could have won the race. [Jean Pierre van Rossem]