IMCA 124 MODEL CAR WORLDS

Line-up of the cars for the main final with f.l.t.r. Pontiac Interstate ('Piki' van Rossem), Pontiac M&M's(Yannick Demeyer) Chevrolet Kellogg's (Youri van Rossem), Pontiac Home Depot (Josef Korec), Pontiac Conseco (Frantisek Poledna), Dodge Dodge Dealers (Salvatore Noviello), Chev-rolet Budweiser (Einari Fyhr) and Dodge STP Cheerios (Yves Welter jr). With 4 Pontiacs, 2 Dodges and 2 Chevrolets, only the Fords missed the main final. First Fords were the ones entered by the Spanish National Team, finishing res. 11th (Jordi Borras), 15th (Francesc Reyes), 17th (Juanma de Torres Perez) and 18th (Daniel Gonzalez). Among the 16 cars qualified for the Semis we found 5 Pontiacs, 5 Dodges, 4 Chevrolets and 2 Fords. One of the Fords (Reyes') was the fastest at the Consis, but missed a certain main final with an overheated motor. Of the 8 finalists, 4 were driving a PlaFit Springsteel (finishing 1st, 3rd, 6th and 8th), and 4 a MoMo. The MoMos had all problems with the cooling of their motors. Of the 4 Schoelers at the start 3 finished lower than 30th. The fastest one (John Brown's) came home as low as 14th. The too heavy Schoelers all missed speed. (pic Bob Demeyer)

The eight finalists with f.l.t.r. Salvatore Noviello, Youri van Rossem, Josef Korec, Einari Fyhr, Yannick Demeyer, Frantisek Poledna, 'Piki' van Rossem and Yves Welter jr. Of the 8 finalists only Noviello and Fyhr are older than 25. Youngest finalist was Youri van Rossem. Never in the long history of slot-racing a so young kid could reach a main final in a world championship. Youri is only 11 years old. The racers with the blue t-shirts were also entrants at the Mello Yello Junior World Championship for racers under 25. Josef Korec and Frantisek Poledna just passed 25 and could no longer enter the Mello Yello.  Next year also 'Piki' van Rossem will no longer be allowed to enter the Mello Yello.  With Yves Welter jr, Yannick Demeyer, Youri van Rossem and Gilles Dohogne Belgium has at least 4 wonderful drivers being able to be the successor of double Mello Yello world champion 'Piki'. Another country with excellent young racers is Spain, where Jordi Borras and Daniel Gonzalez proved to be among the best youngsters of the moment. (pic Bob Demeyer)

IMCA 124 MODEL CAR WORLDS

Again the 8 finalists of the IMCA 124 Model Car Worlds, with f.l.t.r. Yves Welter jr, 'Piki' van Rossem, Frantisek Poledna, Yannick Demeyer, Einari Fyhr, Josef Korec and young Youri van Rossem. In the world ranking of slot-racers Josef Korec is always #1, 'Piki' van Rossem #2, Yannick Demeyer #4, Einari Fyhr #6, Frantisek Poledna #12, Yves Welter jr #15 (despite the fact that he entered international racing as late as this year!) and Youri van Rossem #19. Missing on the picture is Italy's Salvatore Noviello, who struggled with an almost undrivable car. Noviello already announced that next year he'll change his MoMo (with a serious cooling problem on difficult tracks) for a PlaFit Springsteel with better cooling. (pic Bob Demeyer)

IMCA 124 MODEL CAR WORLDS

Picture of NSR's new world champion-ship track, with the 8 finalists: f.l.t.r. Salvatore Noviello, Youri van Rossem, Josef Korec, Einari Fyhr, Yannick Demeyer, Frantisek Poledna, 'Piki' van Rossem and Yves Welter jr. It was a very technical track where only the real best racers had chances to win. The track was brand new and is destinated for commercial use in Italy. Major shortcoming for high level racing is that the braids are too close to each other. The result was a high consumption of jet flags. That was the main reason why the duration of the Semis was reduced from 4 to 3 minutes and why the duration of the main was shortened from 5 to 3 minutes. The advantage of the track was that the highest driving skill was remunerated, just as was asked to NSR. Next year the IMCA Nats will be contested on a Blue King, since 3 wing car races will be added to the program, nl. G12 Wing, G12 Cobalt and Open G7. (pic Bob Demeyer)

IMCA 124 MODEL CAR WORLDS

The podium with winner 'Piki' van Rossem, runner-up Josef Korec, Yannick Demeyer (3rd) and Frantisek Poledna (4th). We recognise also miss IMCA. Absent was the mayor, despite strong promises that he should show. His absence was not appreciated by the local public.

The third place of Yannick Demeyer was a very strong performance, especially since he made a bad start and had to fight back from sixth to third position. Towards the end Yannick was even closing up Josef Korec struggling on the inner lane with the very difficult short curbs. Until the sixth segment Korec and 'Piki' were always found together in the same lap. 'Piki' made the difference during the two last segments achieving laps of 5"7, pretty close to the track record (realised by young Gilles Dohogne during the Mello Yello qualifications: 5"6433!)

Normally Yves Welter jr - the best rookie this year - should have finished 4th, but shortly before mid-race he lost the rear part of his jet flag, obliging him to slow down. Youri van Rossem had braids problems during the main final, making him loosing some 25 laps in the pits. He finished eighth overall. (pic Bob Demeyer)

Again the main podium. (pic Bob Demeyer)

IMCA 124 MODEL CAR WORLDS

Other picture of the main podium, before the handout of the rainbow shirt. Meanwhile Frantisek Poledna tries to seduce miss IMCA.

Right we see also Yves Welter jr. At the X-Mas Races (with Nascar 2002 cars, not with oldtimers!) he and Gilles Dohogne will fight for the title of Rookie of the Year.  At the IOC-ranking Dohogne has already 45.5 points, which is more than the total realised by Cédric Gridelet, the 2002 Rookie of the Year. Welter jr. has 39.5 points. At the X-Mas races both they will drive the fantastic cars prepared by the Dutch wizard Philippe de Vries. Gridelet seems to be a one day fly. This year he was no longer seen in international competition.  (pic: Bob Demeyer)

The #18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac Grand Prix of 'Piki' van Rossem, having won the 124 Model Car Worlds, the Mello Yello Worlds and the European Model Car Championship. With a body assembled by Tamar Nelwan and a chassis built by Philippe de Vries, the car was perfect for a perfect racer.

Picture: Yves Welter sr.

Last year Czechia pulverised the rest of the entrants. This year Belgium's JPVR opted for new tactics to beat the unbeatable Czechs. He opted for two teams with in total five youngsters. He let prepare four nearly perfect model cars by the Dutch wizard Philippe de Vries, a former wing car racer, being unbeatable at the LMS Series. For the rest JPVR counted on the great set-up talent of Geert Mertens for the fifth Belgian car. That was a miscalculation, since Geert never succeeded to find the correct set-up of his car for such technical track. Eventually the Belgian racers collected res. 141 points for the A Team and 80 points for the B Team. They finished res. first (with 'Piki' van Rossem, Geert Mertens and Yannick Demeyer) and third (with JPVR himself, absent on the podium, Gilles Dohogne, Youri van Rossem and Yves Welter jr). The Czechs with Frantisek Poledna, Josef Korec, Antónin Vojtik and Jan Korec finished second with 92 points. In the background we see miss IMCA and organiser JPVR.  The man behind the Belgian success, Philippe de Vries, is not on the pic. (pic Bob Demeyer)

Czechia was handicapped by the absence of Vladimir Horky. Shortly after returning from the USRA Nats he was victim of a viral infection, keeping him on bed. At the very last minute he was replaced by Jan Korec, last year already finalist at the 124 IMCA Model Car Worlds. But even with Horky in place the Belgian A Team was so strong that Czechia should also have been beaten. Major handicap for the Czechs - who collected always a maximum of points at the Mello Yello - is that they have no racers of the same calibre as Josef Korec and Frantisek Poledna to collect points at the Mello Yello. Young Antónin Vojtik misses experience with model cars and could collect no points at the Mello Yello. (pic Bob Demeyer)

Main final with f.l.t.r. Yannick Demeyer (B), Gilles Dohogne (B), Jordi Borras (E), 'Piki' van Rossem (B), Daniele Malangone (I), Daniel Gonzalez (E) and Matti Fyhr (SF). Not on the picture is the eighth finalist: John Brown (GB). At this year's IMCA Nats all youngsters under 25 years had sky-blue shirts. Contrary to last year Andrew Aynsley (GB), Kieran Dale (NZ) and Desmond Dekker (NL) missed the main. Both young Spanish racers, Borras and Gonzalez, were a fine surprise.  (pic: Bob Demeyer)

Main Final, early in the morning on Sunday. We recognise from left to right 'Piki' van Rossem (B), Daniel Gonzalez (E), Gilles Dohogne (GB), Yannick Demeyer (B), Matti Fyhr (SF), Jordi Borras (E) and Daniele Malangone (I). The race was dominated by 'Piki' van Rossem. At the Qualifications young Gilles Dohogne caused a stir by setting the pole in 5"6433. The new star among the Belgian youngsters, Yves Welter jr, missed the move to the main, since his #32 Ford Taurus Tide was not prepared in function of the extremely difficult track. It should be noted that this year the Belgian youngsters came from the three Belgian communities. Flanders was present with 'Piki' van Rossem, Youri van Rossem and Yannick Demeyer; Wallonia had Gilles Dohogne and German Belgium had Yves Welter jr.  Having nearly not slept the night before the race, young Youri missed completely his move to the main. At the 124 Worlds he took revenge by reaching the main, something nobody, except himself, had expected! (pic: Bob Demeyer)

Podium with 'Piki' van Rossem as winner, Gilles Dohogne as runner-up and Matti Fyhr as third. Driving JPVR's #43 Dodge Intrepid STP Cheerios, Gilles Dohogne made a fantastic race, letting all others, except 'Piki', not the smallest chance to pass. Actually Gilles Dohogne is the best ranked rookie on the IOC-list. Curious if he can beat at the X-Mas races the famous 56 IOC-points realised by the 1994 Rookie of the Year: ...a certain 'Piki' van Rossem. His most dangerous opponent will be Yves Welter jr, following at 6 points.  (pic Bob Demeyer)

Gilles Dohogne, 'Piki' van Rossem and Matti Fyhr are much more familiar with handling the controller than with opening champaign bottles. Eventually they'll need the help of Geert Mertens, opening the bottles with his teeth. We see race director Bob Demeyer waiting that Geert comes to help the three youngswters.

The Open G12 Race on Saturday was the first race on the NSR track. Here the main final with from left to right Matti Fyhr (SF), George Kimber (GB), Brian Saunders (GB), Daniele Malangone (I), Salvatore Noviello (I), Josef Korec (CZ), Einari Fyhr (SF) and Frantisek Poledna (CZ). Add to this Mikail Radkovic and Paolo Trigilio and you have the 10 best G12 racers in the world. One racer should have been in this main final: New Zealand's Chris Radisich. Already last year he caused a stir by leading the G12 race during 7 of the 8 segments. This year he was dominating the Semi B and was on his way to a confirmation, when shortly after mid-race his jet flag was broken. He tried to continue with half a guide, but the car was beyond control. The American racers, Fred Hood and Herman James, reached the Semis, but could not defend their chances like they wished: indeed, they prepared Kelly motors. However, under BSCRA rules, such motors are not allowed in Open G12. Next year, at the IMCA Nats, the BSCRA rules will be replaced by the more liberal USRA rules for Open G12 cars.  Two racers, finishing at ranks 9 and 10, Robert Stassen (RSA) and Kai Kivekäs (SF) caused a serious surprise by finishing that high in the overall standings. (pic: Bob Demeyer)

Other picture of the main final with from left to right Matti Fyhr (SF), George Kimber (GB), Daniele Malangone (I), Salvatore Noviello (I), Josef Korec (CZ), Einari Fyhr (SF) and Frantisek Poledna (CZ). Of them Matti Fyhr was the fastest qualifier in 3"4787, ahead of his older brother Einari (3"5214), super favourite Frantisek Poledna (3"5310) and Brian Saunders (hidden on the photo by Josef Korec, 3"5615). Intelligent as always Josef Korec refused to qualify among the top-4.  Indeed, top-4 racers were immediately qualified for the Semis, whilst Korec preferred to recognise the track at the Consis. Already after five laps he clocked 3"6782, then asked if this was lower than fourth, and then stopped his qualification. The main final was a gruelling combat between two duos: Korec and Poledna battled for the two first places, with positions switching at least a dozen of times. Eventually Poledna won, but only three segments ahead of Korec; the other combat went between Einari Fyhr and his brother. Towards the end Matti lost several laps, so that Brian Saunders - having been victim of "braids up" - could catch rank four. (pic: Bob Demeyer)

Close-up of Frantisek Poledna and Josef Korec in full action. They finished res. first and second. (pics: Bob Demeyer)

Close-up of Einari Fyhr and Brian Saunders in full action. They finished res. third and fourth. (pics: Bob Demeyer)

Close-up of Matti Fyhr and Salvatore Noviello in full action. They finished res. fifth and sixth. (pics: Bob Demeyer)

Close-up of George Kimber and Daniele Malangone in full action. They finished res. seventh and eight. (pics: Bob Demeyer)

LEFT UP: Close-up of Frantisek Poledna and Josef Korec during the last stages of the race, when Korec was closing up to Poledna. They finished res. first and second.
LEFT UNDER: Kai Kivekäs, marshalling a deslotted car during the main final (pics: Bob Demeyer)
RIGHT: Podium at the Open G12 Benelux Cup with Poledna as winner, Josef Korec as runner-up and Einari Fyhr as third. (pic: Yves Welter sr)

On Friday evening the European Model Car Championship was contested at the Grimbergen short track. The four cars prepared by Philippe de Vries, and driven by res. Youri van Rossem, JPVR, 'Piki' van Rossem and Yannick Demeyer, reached easily the main final. The two non-Belgian finalists were Josef Korec and Frantisek Poledna. Of them Yannick Demeyer TQ-ed in 3"618, a new Nascar track record. On the pic we recognise also Jozef Miskolci (SVK) who finished tenth overall. At a given moment we found the three Van Rossems at the three first places. This was due to the fact that Yannick Demeyer's car refused to start. We got away four full laps after the others. Coming back from the last place he could pass Poledna and Korec, and late in the race also Youri van Rossem. He came one lap short to hold JPVR off from the second place. Without his difficult start he should have finished second. Winner was 'Piki' van Rossem, having a five laps lead over JPVR. (pic: Bob Demeyer)

Again the six finalists with from left to right Youri van Rossem, JPVR, 'Piki' van Rossem, Josef Korec and Yannick Demeyer. On the short track the chicane is the place where one wins or looses the race. The village in the infield is a copy of Susch in Switerland. JPVR used the decor for his last novel. The locomotive at the foreground was built in the USA at a unique copy. For the decor buildings by Pola G and by Piko were used. The station (left) is an exact copy of the Susch station. (pic Bob Demeyer)

Final stage of the race, just before the start of the last segment, with on the outer lane the Pontiac Grand Prix Home Depot of Josef Korec (CZ), and on the inner lane the sister car of 'Piki' van Rossem. (pic Bob Demeyer)

Combat between father and son. JPVR (Dodge Intrepid Cheerios) avoids that 'Piki' (Pontiac Interstate Batteries) can pass him before the straight. (pic: Bob Demeyer)

Podium with 'Piki' van Rossem as winner, Jean Pierre van Rossem as second and Yannick Demeyer as third. Next to his dad Youri van Rossem, who finished fourth. Prizegiving for the European Model Car Championship was done at Lede.

WORLD CUP TEAM RACE
Although Geert Mertens and 'Piki' van Rossem - two short track specialists - were tipped as the unbeatable winners of the team race, things went not as expected. The Dodge Caterpillar of Mertens/'Piki' failed to qualify for the fastest heat. The car missed speed and was not ready. Eventually the team of Jean Pierre van Rossem, Yves Welter jr and Gilles Dohogne won easily the race. Twice JPVR could broke the segment record with 111 laps. Yannick Demeyer and Youri van Rossem finished second, 10 laps down to the winners. Tamar Nelwan finished third. He had no team mate since John van Hoornaar, Hugo Dekker and Desmond Dekker were all three absent on Friday. Van Hoornaar should even not show during the whole meeting. Earlier this year he also did not show at the Gasking Nascar Speedweek in Porto. Having seriously failed as team coach of the Dutch team, Hugo Dekker will be replaced by Tamar Nelwan as head of the Dutch team. Absent too was the German team. Of the German racers only Bernd Möbus entered once (at the Open G12 race). The German team was victim of the family problems of Ralph Klose who shortly showed before returning to the hospital where his spouse was operated. In the German team Achim Zanders refused to race if he could not use the chassis and the body of his own choice. Germany scored not one single point and will no longer be invited if things change not drastically. (pic: Bob Demeyer)

As usual 1/24th scale cars were used at the IMCA Nats for the model car races. IMCA works since 1985 with Nascar sponsors under the clause that all important WCS cars will be at the start of the model car version of the Winston Cup. This year America's Philip Helmuth was supposed to race the #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont, whilst John van Hoornaar was supposed to drive the #6 Mark Martin Ford. Helmuth, having already received his $ 1,250 US plane ticket, didn't show since he didn't find his ...passport (sic). Van Hoornaar didn't show for business reasons. None of them sent an e-mail to IMCA nor gave a phone call to tell that they couldn't come. For IMCA the absence of both racers risks to cost $ 15,000 US, since the sponsoring contract was not respected. Should we have at least warned that both racers had no intention to show, we could have assembled both cars and let them race by others. If IMCA looses again lots of money, due to irresponsible behaviour of racers, it will be the end of all further efforts to promote our sport. (pics: Yves Welter sr)

Year after year we find more beautiful cars at the start of Concourse. The new points system allows an objective approach where the 10 best cars (after voting by racers AND jury) are evaluated following objective criteri-ons with a maximum of 300 points. Winner was the #71 Dave Marcis Chevrolet by George Kimber, obtaining 250 on 300 (83.33 per cent). The #97 Kurt Bush Sharpie Ford obtained 90.67 per cent and finished as second. Nelwan's #90 Duke's Sauer Ford was fourth with 71.33 per cent. Mertens's #22 Caterpillzr Dodge should have won if the steering wheel should have been mounted in a realistic way; the diorama was splendid. Other top-10 cars were Kieran Dale's #17 and Chris Radisich's #28. Yves Welter's #32 Ford Tide missed the top-10 due to no wheel inserts and a not allowed sponsor at the bonnet. (pics: Stéphane Martin)

MODELLER'S WORLDS
Having presented a splendid #71 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Realtree at concourse, the grandfather of British slot-racing, George Kimber, was the meriting winner of IMCA's 2003 Modeller's World Championship. For Kimber, since 40 years active in slot-racing, it was certainly the crowning of his long career. Runner-up was Finland's Einari Fyhr, having entered a wonderful #97 Ford Taurus Sharpie Rubbermaid. The difference in points between the winner (250 points) and his runner-up (242 points) was very small. Kimber and Fyhr presented at concourse other cars than the one they had to race. Third was Slovakia's Jozef Miskolci, last year winner of the Modeller's Worlds. His #29 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Goodwrench GM was another car than last year's #29.
There were no entries of non-racers, even not the expected entry by Australia's Mykael Mallary or by Belgium's Wim Eekelers. Another top modeller, Matthias Parke, was absent, due to a long conflict between his club and the IMCA. (pic: Yves Welter sr)

IMCA 132 MODEL CAR WORLDS
Contested for the first time, the 132 Worlds correspond 100 per cent with the original idea to compete with perfect similar cars. Bodies were 132 DTM, chassis the TSRF-NSR. Having been informed about the poor road holding of the car NSR let make special tires for the race at Dison, called "magnetic tires". They were so perfect that there were no problems to race the cars without weight and without magnets. Here the cars which made the main: one Opel Astra V8, two Audis TTR and three Mercedes CLK-DTM. From left to right the cars of Daniel Gonzalez (E), 'Piki' van Rossem (B), Einari Fyhr (SF), Jozef Miskolci (SVK), Josef Korec (CZ) and Jordi Borras (E). Of them Borras - who lost his rear spoiler - lost valuable time at the start, since he had to replace his rear spoiler during racing time. (pic: Stéphane Martin)

IMCA 132 MODEL CAR WORLDS
Before the start all racers received a TSRF-NSR chassis in separate parts. The cars were equipped with very special tires ensuring a wonderful road holding. It was allowed to solder the motor to the lead wires, also to solder the lead wires to the braids. Any other modification on the received chassis was forbidden (except for cutting the braids, in order to avoid short cuts). On the difficult track of Dison - a 42 metre Carrera 6-laner - the racing abilities of the entrants were decisive for the results. Normally Frantisek Poledna should have been one of the finalists. However, race director Bob Demeyer - strict and integer as always - found that the Czech had added a piece of led to his chassis. He was immediately disqualified. That 'Piki', Josef Korec, Einari Fyhr and Jozef Miskolci reached the main was no surprise. It's known since long time that they are excellent racers. But that two Spanish youngsters - Jordi Borras and Daniel Gonzalez - reached the main was really a stir. (pic: Stéphane Martin)

IMCA 132 MODEL CAR WORLDS
The six finalists shortly before the start with from left to right Jordi Borras (E), Jozef Miskolci (SVK), Josef Korec (CZ), 'Piki' van Rossem (B) and Daniel Gonzalez (E). Salvatore Noviello (I) and Kieran Dale (NZ) missed both the main final for a couple of inches. For the local public it was a big deception that their three local races - ex-world champion Georges Baikry, Yves Welter jr and Gilles Dohogne - missed the main. Baikry and Welter jr had no problems to move to the Semis (they finished res. 10th and 12th), but Gilles Dohogne, struggling with a car where the body was not mounted in a correct way, was nowhere and finished as low as 31st. The day after the race the local newspaper published a complete page on the event with pictures of the track and of several racers. There was even a complete column on Josef Korec, the #1 slot-racer in the world. The organisation, in hands of Patrice Dohogne and his fellows, was perfect. Thanks to a severe race director, the race was perfectly fair, with no possibilities to cheat. (pic: Stéphane Martin) 

IMCA 132 MODEL CAR WORLDS
The start of the main final. We see that Miskolci's grey Mercedes CLK-DTM is the first away, followed by the yellow and blue Opel Astra V8 of Daniel Gonzalez. The two Audis TT-R of Einari Fyhr and Josef Korec are side by side. The blue Mercedes of Jordi Borras has to stop before the end of the first lap into the pits in order to add the lost rear spoiler. One sees Francesc Reyes and Juanma de Torres Perez waiting the car in the corner, next to Jordi Borras. Slowest starter, as always, is 'Piki' van Rossem. It's well known that at each race (except on short tracks) he lets go the others, in order to avoid a crash shortly after the start. During the whole race, 115 laps long, the cars of Josef Korec, Daniel Gonzalez and Jozef Miskolci will be in the very same lap, at the end less than 5 metres apart from each other. 'Piki' van Rossem was the only racer to succeed in lapping this trio twice. He deslotted not once and proved that it's no co-incidence that at the IOC-list he is the best all-time model car racer. (pic: Stéphane Martin).

IMCA 132 MODEL CAR WORLDS
Podium of the 132 Model Car World Championship with from left to right Daniel Gonzalez (E), 'Piki' van Rossem (B) and Josef Korec (CZ). Having won three World Championships (IMCA 124, IMCA 132 and Mello Yello Junior Worlds), and also IMCA's European Championship, 'Piki' will now make the move to wing car racing, where one day he hopes to beat the Ciccarellos, Schönes, Beufs, Siléns and other stars. Careful as always he will start with Open G12 scale cars, to move later to G12 Wing and Cobalt G12. Only a couple of years later Open G7 will follow. 'Piki' races since 1985. That year, only 7 years old, he succeeded to qualify at the Benelux Cup within the top-8, ahead of such stars like Paul Pfeiffer, Jon Laster, P-A Watson, Csaba Szelelyhidi, John Strachan and Sergio Maresca. Nobody believed that the counter was correct, so he had to do over his qualification run. When he did so, he realised nearly exactly the same time as during his first run. The same day America's Jon Laster predicted that one day 'Piki' should be the best racer on earth. This year he proved to be pretty close to it. Having raced during years nothing but shit cars, he had this year the help of wizard Philippe de Vries, having assembled a wonderful 124 Nascar car. (pic: Yves Welter sr)
 

IMCA 132 MODEL CAR WORLDS
The podium as seen by slot-racing #1 photographer Stéphane Martin with from left to right Daniel Gonzalez (E), 'Piki' van Rossem (B) and Josef Korec (CZ). After his four wins at the IMCA Nats 'Piki' moves in second position at the continuous world ranking of slo-racers. His direct opponent, Josef Korec, remains the #1. Next confrontation between this two racers will be at the Brussels X-Mas Races. Intitially scheduled to be contested with old-timers, this two races will be contested with Nascar WCS cars, since the proposed sponsoring money by a classic car magazine is lower than the one proposed by some Nascar sponsors. After the X-Mas races we'll know who of Gilles Dohogne and Yves Welter jr will be the 2003 Rookie of the Year.

THE WIZARD BEHIND THE BELGIAN SUCCESS
Holland's Philippe de Vries is the wizard behind the Belgian success. He built four perfect 124 Nascar Model Cars, having been driven by 'Piki' van Rossem, Yannick Demeyer, JPVR and Youri van Rossem. At the Team Race, at the Mello Yello and the 124 Worlds the youngsters Gilles Dohogne and Yves Welter jr had the chance to drive at least two times a Philippe de Vries car. De Vries swears by the PlaFit Springsteel chassis having two advantages over the MoMo: (1) a better cooling of the motor if driven at 18 Volts on tracks where continuous accelerations are necessary, and (2) a better protection after crashes. Indeed, it's well-known that the most fragile part of the MoMo is its front suspension. After a serious crash one of the front wheels touches no longer the track, contributing to a disequilibrium of the car.  (pic: Bob Demeyer)

THE WIZARD BEHIND THE BELGIAN SUCCESS
At the prizegiving ceremonial Philippe de Vries received a special trophyout hands of Éline. (pic: Bob Demeyer)

THE WIZARD BEHIND THE BELGIAN SUCCESS
Another Dutchman, Tamar Nelwan - here with Éline at the prizegiving ceremonial - had a hand in the Belgian success. He assisted Philippe de Vries on building the cars. (pic: Bob Demeyer)

BEHIND THE MIKE AS ALWAYS...
...JPVR. It's uncertain if we'll find him back at next year's IMCA Nats. It is not impossible that his successor will be Tamar Nelwan, having a large experience as organiser of model car races. (pic: Bob Demeyer)