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SCHÖNE
REALISES 1"588 WR & 1110 LAPS |
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Set-up Qualification - W.R. 1"588 |
| Set-up |
B52-Koford mags, Six .350x.450; Cahoza Can; Endbell B52 |
| Armatures |
PK .480 64 |
| Chassis |
ZAP G27 |
| Body |
Koford Peugeot |
| Axle |
Hollow
Koford |
| Tires |
Jet P.A. Watson Black |
| Gear |
Cahoza
38T |
| Pinion |
Cahoza Black GT1 8T |
| Wire |
TQ Ralph
Morella |
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Set-up Main Final - W.R. 1,110 laps |
| Set-up |
B52-Voki
mags, Six; Cahoza Can & Endbell B52 |
| Armatures |
PK .480 84.5 (except for
last segment) |
| Chassis |
ZAP G27
(Craig Landry) |
| Body |
Koford Peugeot |
| Axle |
Koford
Full |
| Tires |
Koford WX-SS |
| Gear |
Cahoza
39T (new black with rim) |
| Pinion |
Cahoza Black GT1 8T |
| Wire |
TQ Ralph
Morella |
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The
secret of Mario's two world records on winning the 2003 USRA
Div 1 G7 Pro Nats - At my knowledge it is the first time in history that
a wing car racer improves and the lap record and the 40 minutes record in
one and the same race. I asked Josef Korec if there was any secret behind
it. He sees one major difference, nl. on qualifying, where Mario had
superior tires from P-A Watson on advise of Mike Swiss. But sportmanslike as
Mario is, he immediately proposed that Horky and Korec can have the same
tires at the USRA Nats (if IMCA cannot find sponsoring for Horky and Korec,
IMCA's Frans Fransen will forward $ 3,000 to both Czech racers). Secret for
the 1,110 laps was perhaps the B52 endbell prepared by Jose Mario Serra for
Mario. Also the use of the Cahoza 39T with rim (by Josef Hajek) seemed to be
an advantage. But Super Mario is an unbelievable sportmanslike guy: instead
of keeping the components of his car secretly - as happened several times in
the past with other racers - Mario sent more than 500 racers a simple
e-mail, explaining which components he used. One finds them in the left
column. All those who are dreaming they can beat Mario MSP at the upcoming
USRA Nats (Antti Immonen?) know what to use. No doubt, the 2003 USRA Nats
will be a super race where Ciccarello, Beuf, Swiss and P-A Watson will find
on their way not only a Super Mario, but also Horky and Korec, who'll show
with the strong intention to beat them all. |
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WHY
THE CZECHS FAILED TO WIN USRA G7 |
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Czech explanation of the
Horky tire accident - Without trying to minimize the super performance
of Mario at the 2003 G7 Worlds, Josef Korec (right on the pic) explains why
Horky (left on the pic) lost. Korec writes:
"Beat Mario wasn't as big a problem as it
looks like. When Vladimir was on lane blue, there was some pinion into his
slot and his car went a few times out of the track in the middle of the
straight. He lost there about 13 laps. Then came the last segment where
Horky had to undo a small 8-lap arrear. He had a problem with a wheel when
the hub blew out so that Vladimir lost more then 20 laps. During the last
segment he was faster than on yellow where he collected 147. Without those
two problems Horky should have done even better than Mario's fantastic 1,110
laps." That invalidates an
analysis by Mike Swiss. The American ace wrote: "J.P.,
Deducting what Horky lost and leaving Mario's total at 137 isn't fully
looking into your Crystal Ball. Although not there, I'm pretty sure
Mario put it on cruise control once Horky lost his tire. Mario had run 140
on red and 147 on green so if pressed he probably could of went 142-145.
Again you have "spun" things to make a more interesting story. But at least
you're telling a story and giving the top guys "press"and credit for being
extremely talented in our little sport. You should be commended for that.
The Americans have become spoiled that the most of the top non-U.S. racers
come to our Nats so we can have our annual "pissing" match among the best.
With the Worlds next year again at Port Jeff, we can have two. Horky may
walk in this year and win the Nats but until he does so, you cannot include
him in the current Beuf, Chicky, Mario, "Holy Trinity."
Meanwhile IMCA is still looking to find a decent budget so that Horky and
Korec can come to the 2003 USRA Nats. |
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MARIO MSP
SCHÖNE FIRED BY PK! |
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November 13, 2003 - We
received following mail by Potential Kinetic's Dan Miller, the
Canadian wizard manufacturing top armatures for G7 wing cars: "It
is with regret that P K Armatures must brake off any direct association
with G7 World record holder and current G7 World Champion Mario
Schone. Lack of communication and not fulfilling his obligations as
a team driver are some the major reasons. Also, Mr. Schone has
broken his trust with P K Armatures and is therefore not welcome, as
a team driver, anymore. This action
has not been taken to open the door for any other driver in
particular. The the present P K drivers, that keep in
communication with me, are certainly more than capable of helping to keep
the name Potential Kinetics alive and well."
After his splendid world record at the NPRA Wing Car Worlds (which
he easily won) Schöne declared that nobody else than him should win
the 2003 G7 USRA Nats. Here, however, he was dominated by Mikael
Silén (S), Josef Korec (CZ) and Paul Ciccarello (US). He failed to
take his revenge at the ESROC G7 EuroNats where he was preceeded by
Jozef Korec, Juha Yli-Sipola and Vladimir Horky. Since the
relationship among PK's Dan Miller and Mario MSP Schöne seriously
worsened. Now that he has no longer access to top arms, Schöne is no
longer feared by his direct opponents. Chances are seriously small
that we'll find MSP Schöne at the $ 15,000 US Ultimate G7 Race of
August 20, 2004. As one nows part of the sponsor money has been paid
by a historical car magazine, obliging racers to score at least once
5 on 10 at one of their six quiz rounds. By November 13 Schöne
didn't enter any decent quiz form, whilst only 2 places are left
open. So we may expect an Ultimate G7 Race with the best all-time
wing car racer of the world. Said one top racer: "Without top arms
Schöne will never start, since he knows he has no chance at all to
win that race with all top guns in place".
Meanwhile its nearly
sure that the Ultimate G7 Race will go without the Aussies. Here
Charles Rickards decided that Peter Dight, Gary Fry and Peter
Dimmers stay better down under. Rickards wrote: "Dight hasn't
raced since April 2003, and Fry has other commitments. Dimmers works
for me at HSC and acquits himself well and is an expert in
Australian non-wing classes. I don't think he has the ambition to
race G7 here or O/S.
In the future it might be better to call or email me for an update
of Aussie wing car racing. At least I can give you an accurate
picture of who is racing and might be interested in attending,
rather than you drawing the conclusion that no one is interested."
A really missed opportunity, since many top racers should have loved
to compete against Peter Dight, since years the best Australian wing
car racer. [PdC] |
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2003 Tulsa Spring Fling at the USRA Nats Blue King
RON HERRERA 1"599 WORLD RECORD
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April 4, 2003 - In my
editorial of Monday I suggested that 2003 should be a record year. Three
days later, America's Ron Herrera was the first
racer in history to go under 1"6. At the 2003 Tulsa Spring Fling, on the
same fast and smooth Blue King which will be used at the USRA Nats, he
realised 1"599. That is better than the former
1"613 realised by Paul Ciccarello at the 2003 Barnburner, and than the 1"608
being the unofficial record realised by Edoardo "Dracula" Gazoni in June
2000 under uncertain power conditions.
Ron used a Beuf Express with some full boat 26 hardness Jet Wonder Rubbers.
Body was a Koford Peugeot built by P.A. Watson. Motor was a two year old
.459 Koford 75 qualifier in a high timed setup with some 400 square quads.
It was originally built by Paul 'Beuf' Pedersen. At the OWH Slotracer 152
wrote: "I bought it from a guy who never ran it for $100 before the 2002
Nats. It held the track record here of 1.650 but had been knocked down to my
backup qualifier so I loaned it to Ron. Still can't believe that motor went
that fast...I'm happy for Ron. He's a great guy." |
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Chris Vittucci (USA)
was the first racer to go under the 5 seconds on Blue King exactly 34 years
before Ron Herrera's new record, on April 4, 1969.In 1971 Earl Campbell
(USA) was the first to go under 4 seconds. We had to wait October 1982 to
see Justin Thomas (USA) going under the 3 seconds. In October 1990
Andy Wasserman (USA) was the first to go under the 2 seconds, but his
time was object of a controversy up to today. The same month Mike Swiss
(USA) realised 1"970. At the 1993 USRA Nats Craig Landry (USA) went
as first under the 1"9 in 1"850. On March 3, 1996 Don Perko (USA)
went as first officially under the 1"8 [One year earlier Paul Ciccarello
(USA) realised a 1"787 at Port Jefferson, but the record was not official,
due to power conditions]. On March 7, 1997 John "Torre" Andersson (S)
was the first to go under 1"7, realising 1"673. And now Ron Herrera
went as first under the 1"6. A new mile stone - going under the 1"5 - is
expected before the end of the year at the USRA Nats. The Tulsa Blue King is
the fastest in the world. Here a 1,125 40 minutes lap record was realised.
The 2003 Tulsa Spring Fling was won by good old Mike Swiss who survived the
Crashfest at the third segment. He reached a total of 1,062 laps, letting
Les Wright (1,058 laps) and Benny Justice (1,016 laps) behind. Fourth was
Canada's youngster Greg Mills (982 laps), followed by Chilli (977 laps),
Paul "Beuf" Pedersen (976 laps), Boyt Johnson (825 laps) and Tony Hobart
(590 laps). Pictures are courtesy the same Tony Hobart, who published them
at the OWH. Top is the new world record holder Ron Herrera. Right and bottom
we see the world record holding car. Bottom right are the top-3 of the Tulsa
Spring Fling. For a list with all world records
click here. [JPVR] |
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