Anderson, SC, April 12 - Thursday was the decisive day at the USRA Division II Nats, with the two main events (ES32 and ES24) on the purple Flat Scorpion Track. Already on Wednesday evening the racers had a first chance to test the Flat Scorpion at the G-12 race. Biggest news of the day was the arrival of Paul Gawronski, since years the best American scale racer, unbeaten in ES32 and ES24 at the USRA Division II Nats since 1998 (then he lost ES24 from Paul Ciccarello). The same evening serveral other big guns arrived, among them the American finalist at the 2001 Worlds Tracy Chin, the triple American vice-champion ES24 Greg Gilbert, the slot-racing legend Fred Hood, etc. Also Mark Manion was there, but not as a racer. Missing were Chris Radisich, the Kiwi living next to LA, Philip Helmuth who stopped slot-racing and wishes to swift to real car racing, and especially America's biggest talent, young Matt Zenovitch from Oregon. But the venue was good, much better than in former years. Everybody was waiting on the great clash between Fast One's Paul Gawronski and Parma's ¨Paul Ciccarello. But on Wednesday evening Ciccarello preferred not to start in the G-12 race, so that the Battle among Titans was postponed.
G-12 TO SPLENDID ALAN OHREN AFTER GUIDE FLAG PROBLEMS FOR GAWRONSKI
Eventually 17 racers showed for the 124 G-12 event, but no Fred Hood, no Tracy Chin, no Lee Gilbert, all preparing their cars for the two main events. Semi B was easily won by the young Alan Ohren, earlier winner of the IOC Nascar 4.5" race, ahead of the astonishing New Yorker Tim Weigand. Third was Mike Kelly, realising his fourth main on five entries, fourth Brazil's Luis "Gugu" Bernardino. Poor Greg Gilbert was eliminated on technical problems, together with Mitch Pelan, Joe Carr and Jonathan Forsyth. Semi A was a race full of thrill, with Paul Gawronski and Herman James (in 2001 third at the USRA Nats ES24!) following each other like two wagons of a train. Eventually Gawronski won with only 5 track segments ahead over James. Roy Hood and Bob Foster were the other racers, realising the move, whilst Chris Barnes came 2 laps short to do the same. Also eliminated were Terry Kelly, Rick Rechonie, Steve Forsyth and Anthony Chan.
Without Greg Gilbert at the main, it was hard to see who could beat Gawronski at his first Nats entry. Yes, there was all-rounder "Gugu" Bernardino, the IOC #8 in the world; but it was obvious that he was only interested in recognising the track in view of the ES24 race. Already after the first segment it became clear that the very consistent racing 19-year old Alan Ohren was the only one who could follow Gawronski. After 3 minutes their advance over the third (Herman James) was already up to …5 laps! Setting the pace was Alan Ohren, with Gawronski one lap behind after two segments. Both they were followed by the trio Herman James, Brian Foster and Roy Hood, all three in the same lap. During the third segment Gawronski could undo his arrears and came now only six inches short to go out on the lead. During the fourth segment, Gawronski was on a slower lane and felt two laps back on the very impressive Alan Ohren. Everybody expected that he should pass Ohren during the fifth segment, but big panic at Fast One when all at once Gawronski had to come in with a broken guide flag after a violent crash in the donut. Repairs were at the cost of almost 20 laps, so that Herman James was now second, be it at 9 laps from the leader. When Gawronski came back in the race he was fourth, in the same lap as Bob Foster. During the remaining 10 minutes he chased as a devil to come back on Herman James, but he died two laps behind the black man. For Alan Ohren it was already his second win at the Nats.
ES32 EASILY WON BY GAWRONSKI, BUT NO IOC-POINTS
On Thursday morning everybody was waiting the big clash between Gawronski and Ciccarello, but just as he did last year Chicky didn't enter. With Mark Manion, Lee Gilbert, "Gugu" Bernardino, Tim King, Duran Trujillo, Terry and Mike Kelly, R.C. and even Alan Ohren having no ES32 car ready, number of entrants dropped under the 15 necessary to win IOC-points. Eventually only 12 racers started, among them 7 IOC-ranked experts, res. IOC #32 Paul Gawronski, IOC #63 Greg Gilbert, IOC #74 Fred Hood, IOC #222 Alan Ohren, IOC #262 Tracy Chin, IOC #293 Herman James, IOC #494 Jay Kisling and IOC # 515 Roy Hood. Among the five others only Bob Foster (4^th in G-12) and Chris Barnes (5^th in G-10 and 5^th in GTP) earlier made a main. The three remaining entrants were rather amateurs than experts, among them the slot-racing reporter Paul Meiers, already present in 2001. So the composition of the main was predictable: the 7 IOC-experts plus Barnes or Foster. However, for Bob Foster, great at the G-12 race, this was not the case. Already at the qualifications his car seemed to lack power, since he realised only the 9^th time. Six first places were for the six IOC-ranked experts with a 3"657 TQ for Paul Gawronski, being faster than Greg Gilbert (3"696) and Herman James (3"878). Then followed Roy Hood, Fred Hood and Tracy Chin. On the grid Chris Barnes (8^th) was preceded by Joe Carr, realising in 4"181 the 7^th best time. IOC-expert Jay Kisling and amateur Paul Meiers didn't qualify since their cars were not ready in time.
Semi B was easily won by Greg Gilbert, 14 complete laps ahead over Roy Hood, 16 over Tracy Chin. Of the trio Barnes-Rechonie-Meiers, only the first named could make the move, being with his 289 laps (41 less than the winner) 12 laps faster than Rick Rechonie. Paul Meiers was nowhere since he finished last at …100 laps from Greg Gilbert. It seems he's a better journalist than a racer. Winner of Semi A was an outstanding Paul Gawronski, going even 9 complete laps faster than what Greg Gilbert did in Semi B. Second, 21 laps down was good old Fred Hood, beating Herman James with one lap. Fourth was not Bob Foster, whose car didn't work properly, but Joe Carr, being 55 laps slower than the winner. Poor Jay Kisling couldn't make the move since his car was to be retired with problems before mid-race.
There was not the smallest doubt that the 6 IOC-ranked experts should take the 6 first places at the main, with Gawronski as top favourite and Greg Gilbert as most dangerous opponent. During the two first segments Greg Gilbert and Gawronski pulled away from the rest of the field, with Roy Hood, Tracy Chin and Fred Hood following within 2 laps. For Greg Gilbert all things went wrong at the start of the third segment, when at once his motor was smoking. Lee Gilbert signed a frantic replacement of Greg's motor, but when he came back some 38 laps were lost and he had to come back from the 7^th place. Meantime Fred Hood had passed Tracy Chin and Roy Hood and was now second, be it 11 laps down to the leader. During the fourth segment Greg Gilbert flew over the track, realising the fastest race lap in 3"839. Fred Hood was now 9 laps behind Gawronski and had increased the gap with Tracy Chin and Roy Hood having been joined by Herman James. During the fifth heat Tracy Chin was the fastest man on the Purple Scorpion, taking over the second place from Fred Hood. Both followed now at 8 laps from the leader, while Herman James and Roy Hood were struggling for the 4^th place. During segment 6 Tracy Chin reduced his arrears on Gawronski with a new lap. Now he was at 7 laps from the leader with Fred Hood one lap behind. Herman James, flying over the track passed Roy Hood for place 4.
With still two segments to go Tracy Chin's motor was seriously slowing down, making him loosing 7 laps, so that Fred Hood was now a solid second, be it 9 laps down to Gawronski. Herman James was now third at 15 laps, with unlucky Tracy Chin just behind. During the last segment big panic at Fast One's when Gawronski's motor showed signs of fatigue. Fred "Flash" Hood smelt his chance and was now going like seven devils together. However he could only undo 4 laps of his arrears and Gawronski was the winner, just as in 1998, 1999 and 2001 (in 2000 he didn't show). Fred Hood finished second, with Tracy Chin 13 laps down and Herman James 14. Poor Greg Gilbert finished sixth, 42 laps down to the winner.
ES24: PAUL GAWRONSKI IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST
Tension was growing to a summit before the start of the main event, the ES24 race. Should Ciccarello do what he did last year, by refusing to start? But at the technical control things became clear: Chicky accepted the gruelling combat on life or death with Gawronski, being unbeaten in ES24 after 1998. No less than 22 racers showed, among them no less than 14 IOC-ranked experts: IOC #8 Luis "Gugu" Bernardino, IOC #10 Paul Ciccarello, IOC #32 Paul Gawronski, IOC #63 Greg Gilbert, IOC #74 Fred Hood, IOC #111 Lee Gilbert, IOC #262 Tracy Chin, IOC #293 Herman James, IOC #417 Lou Pirro, IOC #494 Jay Kisling, IOC # 515 Roy Hood, IOC #501 Terry Kelly and IOC #574 Mike Kelly. There was not the smallest doubt that the 8 finalists were to be found within those 11. But already at the qualifications there was a tremendous surprise, since the no-IOC-ranked New Yorker Tim Weigand clocked the 5^th best time in 3"1357. Eventually he was with Bob Foster (10^th in 3"2711) the only amateur within the top-12. Disappointing were Mike Kelly and Terry Kelly, realising res. the 14^th and 19^th time. Not ready were Steve Forsyth and Paul Meiers. The thrill was growing until the moment that the four top guns had to start. Of them "Gugu" Bernardino came no further than 3"1698 (7^th time). Greg Gilbert realised a very sharp time with 3"0203, but not enough to pass the astonishing Alan Ohren having clocked an unbelievable 2"966. Now it was only waiting if Gawronski and Chicky could do any better. Just before Tracy Chin clocked a sharp 3"0323. Big disappointment at Parma when Ciccarello came no further than 3"1460, only the 6^th best time. Last starter was Paul Gawronski. Could he improve the 2"966 by Alan Ohren? No! With 3"0230 he was third behind Alan Ohren and Greg Gilbert.
The B-Semi saw 7 IOC-experts at the start: Ciccarello, Greg Gilbert, Tracy Chin, Herman James, Roy Hood and Mike Kelly. They took the 6 first places, letting not the smallest chance to the amateurs Bob Foster, Joe Carr, Anthony Chan and Paul Meiers, finishing from 7^th to last. Of the 7 IOC-experts Roy Hood, Mike Kelly and Lou Pirro were unable to follow the pace, set by Greg Gilbert and Tracy Chin, pulling away from all others immediately after the start. It became obvious that Ciccarello was not in his best shape, since he had to let go Herman James for the third place. After 8 segments Tracy Chin was the unexpected winner with 383 laps, one more than Greg Gilbert. Herman James was third on 10 laps, Chicky fourth on 12 laps. Up from now it was beyond all doubts: La guerre d'Anderson n'aura pas lieu. Roy Hood and Mike Kelly finished among the top-6, but not high enough to make the move. Lou Pirro was never a contender for top-4, since he finished among the amateurs and came no further than 8^th.
Semi B saw again 7 IOC-experts at the start, with "Gugu', Gawronski, Fred Hood and Lee Gilbert even four ranked among the famous top-100. So everybody was curious to see how New Yorker amateur Tim Weigand should manage his race to reach an impossible top-4. Now the duo Alan Ohren and Paul Gawronski was pulling away from the rest of the field after the start. "Gugu", Fred Hood and Lee Gilbert followed as three wagons of a train. But then it was time for the big dramas. Lee Gilbert ran in technical problems and dropped to the last place with not the smallest hope on a return. Shortly after it was Fred Hood's turn to be among the loosers. All at once Weigand had his chance to make the move: he was now 5^th, just behind expert Jay Kisling, struggling for the fourth place behind Alan Ohren, Paul Gawronski and "Gugu". But after mid-race Kisling had to let go the astonishing Weigand, who was now even a menace for Gugu's third place. Eventually he finished 4^th, letting poor Jay Kisling 16 laps down. Winner of Semi A was Alan Ohren, 21 lap sections faster than Gawronski. As compared to Semi B, Ohren and Gawronski went 6 laps faster than Greg Gilbert.
At the start of the main we found 7-IOC experts and the unexpected Tim Weigand, now being sure to collect his first IOC-points. With Ciccarello being out of shape "Gugu" Bernardino, young Alan Ohren and Greg Gilbert seemed to be the most dangerous opponents for super star Paul Gawronski. Especially "Gugu" was to be feared, since he's a hell of a racer when he smells victory lane. And today "Gugu" smelt! He started as a canon ball and was leading the whole first segment until the last second, when Gawronski snatched his first place. One lap behind Paul and "Gugu" came Greg Gilbert. Ciccarello had an unbelievable weak first segment and dropped to the last place, without the smallest hope to win. During the second segment a nervous "Gugu" - how is it possible, we were not aware Gugu had any nerf? - was spilling his second place, loosing no less than 10 laps. Canon ball on the track was now Paul Gawronski taking 6 new laps on Greg Gilbert, passed on his turn by Alan Ohren, who was now second at 6 laps. Tracy Chin was fourth, in the same lap as Greg. During the third heat "Gugu" at once realised that he had no nerfs, so, how could he have been nervous? In overdrive he lapped the whole field to come back from sixth to third place. At the end of the segment he was third, in the same lap with Alan Ohren (2^nd) and Greg Gilbert (4^th). All three they were 8 laps down to Gawronski. Tracy Chin was now 5^th, with Tim Weigand just behind and an unrecognizable Ciccarello as 7^th. During the fourth segment Gawronski increased his advance with two new laps. Gugu was now second at 10 laps, followed in the same lap buy Alan Ohren. One lap further came Greg Gilbert. Weigand moved to rank 5 when Tracy Chin had to come into the pits with a body pin problem, costing him 8 laps.
But "Gugu" is a hell of a fighter, and during the fifth segment he could reduce his arrears from 10 to 6 laps. Alan Ohren and Greg Gilbert were now tied up at rank 3, 10 laps behind the leader. Meantime Ciccarello at once remembered what a champion he is, so he realised a sharp 89 laps and a race lap record in 3"069. So he moved to rank 6. Herman James dropped to the last place with motor problems.
During the sixth segment "Gugu" reduced again his arrears on Gawronski by 3 laps. It was obvious, he went for it, and Paul realised that the two last segments could be extremely difficult for him. However, immediately after the start of the seventh segment, when Gugu followed Gawronski already within two laps, the song was over, since Gugu's car was eating the gear. He changed it in an unbelievable 60 seconds, but victory was gone. Now Greg Gilbert was charging very hard and at the end of the segment he was second, only …two laps down from Paul Gawronski. Alan Ohren, struggling with a slowing down motor, was third at 19 laps, Gugu fourth at 22 laps.
With Gawronski on the much slower white lane and Greg Gilbert on the fast red lane, everything remained possible. The South-Californian clan was convinced that Greg could make it, and Gawronski was sweating bled and tears. However, his a real champion, and in an ultimate concentration, he could prevent Greg to win. At the finish he had always one lap over Greg Gilbert. "Gugu" finished third at 22 laps and succeeded to pass Alan Ohren. An unbelievable fifth, four laps ahead over Ciccarello, was Tim Weigand. He won 3 IOC-points and is now the best placed rookie on the all-time ranking of slot-racers, the famous IOC-list. The list will be updated later today.
If one applies the 20-15-12-9-6-3-2-1 point system on the 7 races, then we have to conclude that Alan Ohren was the most consistent racer at this year's USRA Division II Nats. Indeed, final standings are: 1. Alan Ohren 67 pts, 2. Paul Gawronski 52 pts, 3. Paul Ciccarello 47 pts, 4. Greg Gilbert 38 pts, 5. R.C. 30 pts, 6. Tim Weigand 24 pts, 7. Herman James 24 pts, 8. John Martin 24 pts, 9. Roy Hood 20 pts, 10. Tim King 17 pts, 11. Mike Kelly 17 pts, 12. Mitch Pelan 16 pts, 13. Gugu Bernardino 15 pts, 14. Fred Hood 15 pts, 15. Terry Kelly 15 pts, 16. Tracy Chin 14 pts, 17. Chris Barnes 14 pts, 18. Duran Trjillo 10 pts, 19. Bob Foster 9 pts, 20. Joe Pelan 9 pts, etc.

Please note that without the presence of "Cheater", reporter on behalf of OWH Paul Kassens, this report should have been impossible. Once more the Old Weird Herald web site proves to be a necessity in reporting American races. It is true that the site needs to be reconstructed, that there are better ways to inform readers than a forum, but say me, what could we have said on the USRA Division II Nats without the OWH? Thanks, Paul! Thanks, Cheater!