Category: Speed Circuit

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Race Report – Speed Circuit 2018 Monza

Full house as Monza, but only 2 of 3 Laps Completed.

We had planned on racing on Steve’s Monza track, but he called saying he was stuck in traffic.  We delayed the start, but then he called again saying he would be really late and to start without him.  We setup the old Monza circuit and were about to begin racing when Steve showed up.  Instead of starting  at 1800 we started after 1900.  Monza is usually a quick race so we thought we had enough time to complete the scheduled 3 lap race–we were wrong.

A record 7 teams showed up for the race and 14 cars lined up on the starting grid.    Dan Gurney held the pole position sharing the front row with A.J. Foyt and Watson.  Gurney pushed his car to the limit, even hitting 200mph, and lead the first lap.  A battle was happening behind him with multiple position changes.  Hakkinen and P. Hill dueled for second.  P. Hill held position behind Gurney going down the front, but slowed to conserve wear through the Curva Grande and was passed by Hakkinen.

During the second lap, Gurney continued to push and maintained his lead

Speed Circuit, Monza 2018 Finish!

while burning though all his wear and skill points.  The pack was gaining on him.  He cleared the last corner and entered the front straight with Hakkinen

right behind him followed by team McLaren and Ferrari.  Both McLaren cars had a full laps worth of wear remaining.  Then we ran out of time and had to end the race at the conclusion of lap 2.  Gurney took the checkered flag in team Eagle’s first race of the season–congratulations John!

Here are the final results:

1st John H. (D. Gurney)* 80/60/20/180/4
2nd Ray G. (M. Hakkinen)** 80/60/40/160/4 (started 6th)
3rd Den (P. Hill) 60/40/20/160/6 (started 5th)
4th Den (J. Hunt) 60/40/20/160/6 (started 12th)
5th Steve (J. Villeneuve) 60/40/20/160/6 (started 9th)
6th Steve (C. Regazonni) 60/40/20/160/6 (started 14th)
7th Terry (J. Watson) 60/40/40/160/5 (started 3rd)
8th Bill (J. Hurtibise) 40/60/40/180/4 (started 4th)
9th Terry (D. Hill) 80/40/40/160/4 (started 11th)
10th Bill (B. Marshman) 60/60/40/160/4 (started 10th)
11th John H. (J. Fangio) 40/40/40/160/5 (started 13)
12th Ray (K. Raikkonen) 60/40/40/140/5 (started 8th)
13th Ray R. (AJ Foyt) 60/40/20/180/5 (started 2nd)
14th Ray R. (J. Stewart) 80/20/20/160/6 (started 9th)

On September 5th we plan to run a racing using the Rallyman game.

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Race Report – Speed Circuit 2017 Mexico

The season’s finale at Mexico include several lead changes and daring competitive racing through out the field.

Team BMW’s top driver Hahne started strong and lead the first lap, but then faded.  Owen driver Surtees completed the second lap ahead of the pack, but lost the lead to Matra’s Gavin.  Ferrari driver Amon finished in third place.

Matra driver Beltoise earned the 2017 Championship trophy finishing with 69 points.  Beltoise team mate Gavin took second with 43 points.  BMW’s Hahne finished third with 32 points and was closely followed by Lotus driver Andretti (30 points).

Team Matra received the constructors trophy and was followed by Lotus and Owen.

Race results follow:

1st Den (J. Gavin) 60/40/40/160/5
2nd Terry (J. Surtees) 60/40/40/160/5*
3rd Steve (C. Amon) 60/40/20/160/6
4th Den (J. Beltoise) 40/60/40/160/5
5th Terry (G. Eaton) 60/40/40/160/5
6th Steve (Rodriguez) 60/40/20/160/6
7th Ray (H. Hahne) 80/40/40/160/5
8th John (B. McLaren) 80/40/60/140/5
9th Ray (J. Biden) 60/40/40/160/4
DNF John (D. Bell) 40/40/40/160/5

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Race Report – Speed Circuit 2017 Watkins Glen

Team Matra dominated The Glen.  Matra’s Gavin started on pole and lead the race from start to finish.  His teammate, Beltoise, finished second followed by Lotus driver Andretti.

Gavin’s first win of the season catapulted him to second place in the drivers’ championship.  Andretti and Hahne are tied for 3rd place, only 4 points behind Gavin.  Click here for season standings.

A summary of the race results follow:

1st Den (J. Gavin) 60/40/20/160/6
2nd Den (J. Beltoise) 60/40/40/160/5
3rd Steve (M. Andretti) 60/40/20/160/6
4th Terry (G. Eaton) 60/40/40/160/5
5th Steve (J. Rindt) 60/40/20/160/6
6th Terry (J. Surtees) 60/40/40/160/5

The final race of the season is scheduled for 11 Oct 2017 at the Mexico city circuit.

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Race Report – Speed Circuit 2017 Monza

For the first time in the Tabletop Racing Club’s history, 12 Drivers started on the grid at Monza!

Bruce McLaren held pole position ahead of this year’s crowded field.  He lead through two intensive laps.  Once again Beltoise challenged McLaren on the final lap.  This time, Beltiose achieved victory in a photo finish.  Rindt finished close behind in third place.

Two rookie drivers participated in the race.  Eric took charge of the Bonnier racing team and his drivers finished in fifth and sixth place.  Unfortunately, Joshua was not able to finish the race and his drivers were forced to retire.

Race results follow:

1st Den (J. Beltoise) 60/40/20/160/6
2nd John (B. McLaren) 80/40/40/160/5**
3rd Steve (J. Rindt) 60/40/20/160/6
4th Den (J. Gavin) 60/40/20/160/6
5th Eric H. (J. Bonnier) 40/40/40/180/5
6th Eric H. (Tresham) 40/40/60/180/4
7th Terry (J. Surtees) 80/60/40/160/4
8th Terry (G. Eaton) 80/40/40/160/4
9th Steve (M. Andretti) 60/40/20/160/6
DNF John (D. Bell) 60/60/60/200/5*
DNF Joshua (DeKlerk) 60/40/20/180/5
DNF Jashua (Hague) 60/40/40/160/5

With his win at Monza, Beltoise reached 60 points and secured the Championship.   With only two races to go, second and third places are still hotly contested.  Follow this link for the  season’s standings.

Note:  The race was held on the original 3M version of the track.  Due to the glossy vinyl service, the race photos were not usable.

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Race Report – Speed Circuit 2016 Watkins Glen

watkinsglen1968

10 drivers lined up 3 wide at the start of this year’s race a Watkins Glen.  Brian Redman held pole position in his Cooper T86B.  He attempted to hold off Mclaren, Attwood, and Hahne, but Hahne gained the upper-hand and passed the finish line in the lead on the first lap.

Hulme worked his way through the pack from 8th place and linked-up with his team-mate.  The Mclaren’s worked together using slip streaming to minimize wear use and maximize speed.  Hulme completed the second lap ahead of Hahne taking the lead.

The fierce battles for position occurring throughout the race began to take its toll on the final lap.  In an attempt to take the lead, Scarfiotti made a daring move, but his rear axle gave way and he crashed leaving one Cooper in the race.  Unser pushed his car too hard and his transmission failed in the last corner.

Hulme held the lead during final lap winning the race.  Graham Hill started in 7th position and finished in 3rd place retaining his lead in the championship.  Securing 1st and 2nd place allowed McLaren to move to the top of the constructor’s competition for the first time this season.  Race results follow:

1st (8) Den (D. Hulme) 80/40/40/160/5*
2nd (3) Den (B. McLaren) 40/40/40/160/5
3rd (7) Steve (G. Hill) 80/40/20/160/5
4th (5) Ray (H. Hahne) 80/40/40/160/5*
5th (2) Terry (Attwood) 60/40/40/160/5
6th (1) John H. (Redman) 80/40/20/180/5
7th (10) Steve (J. Clark) 60/40/20/160/6
8th (4) Ray (J. Biden) 40/40/40/160/5
DNF Terry (B. Unser) 60/40/40/160/5
CR1 (6) John H. (Scarfiotti) 40/40/20/160/6

Click here for SEASON STANDINGS.

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3M Speed Circuit vs Avalon Hill Speed Circuit

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3M Sports Game Speed Circuit

Just got hold of the 1971 3M version of Speed Circuit.  Like the Avalon Hill version, the 3M game comes with three tracks (Monza, Monaco, and Watkins Glen) and six metal cars.  Unlike Avalon Hill’s version of the game, the tracks are not printed on map boards, instead they are integrated into the plastic/vinyl box cover.   The cover is wrapped around an internal box that holds the other game components.  Monza and Monaco are on one side of the map and Watkins Glen is on the other.  The map looks fantastic.

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3M Speed Circuit’s Watkins Glen

The game also includes thin cardboard dials to track speed, cards with per-generated cars, a laminated sheet to track cars and a grease pencil.  Although the dials are a bit flimsy, the game has an over all deluxe feel.

20160917-img_3414The basic rules use pre-generated cars printed on the cards.  Players pick cards randomly.  It is a good way to get new players into the game.  The rest of the rules are similar to Avalon Hill’s version except for one key factor.

3M’s Speed Circuit does not use dice.  That’s right!  Surpass a corner’s speed limit you pay wear (no option to roll on the chance table).  Exceeding a car’s top speed or start speed is not possible.  Nothing is left to chance.  The game focuses on skill.

Which is a better game?  The 3M game’s production value is better than Avalon Hill’s.  The addition of chance in the Avalon Hill rules adds an element excitement to the game while maintaining a fine balance between luck and skill.  Highly recommend both versions of the game, they are classics.

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Race Report – Speed Circuit 2016 Monza!

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Denny Hulme Wins at Monza

Eight drivers lined up on the grid for this year’s Monza race.  Mclaren stalled at the start and was left far behind by the other racers.  Hahne, Hill, and Hulme quickly pulled away from the pack and conducted an epic three way battle.  Hulme slip-streamed Hahne to take the first lap and just barely held off Hill to secure the second.  Hahne fell back during the last lap and Hulme fought Hill tooth and nail for the lead position.    During the last lap, drivers began running out of wear and skill points.  Hill went into the last two corners with no wear.  He failed chance rolls in both corners and burned six skill points, but it was not enough.  Hulme got through the last corner first and accelerated away for the win.

Clark maneuvered his way through the throng advancing from 7th to 4th position.

Unser, still healing injuries he received at Indy, drove into the next to last corner too fast and his suspension broke; he was not able to finish the race.

On the last lap, Attwood, Biden and McLaren lined up on the front straight.  Attwood damaged his engine and Biden flew by him.  McLaren slip-streamed Biden and passed him to secure 5th place.

Race results follow:

1st (3) Den (D. Hulme) 80/40/20/160/6**
2nd (2) Steve (G. Hill) 80/40/20/160/6
3rd (1) Ray G. (H. Hahne) 80/40/40/160/5
4th (7) Steve (J. Clark) 60/40/20/160/5
5th (4) Den (B. McLaren) 40/40/20/160/6
6th (5) Ray G. (J. Biden) 40/40/40/160/5
7th (6) Terry (Attwood) 60/60/40/160/4
DNF (8) Terry (B. Unser) 60/60/40/160/4

Graham Hill maintained his position as championship points leader.  Check out the 2016 season standings here.

Note:  Denny Hulme actually won the Monza F1 race in 1968.