Racing – Page 3 – Table Top Racing Club

June 6, 2021January 16, 2023

Race Report – Speed Circuit 2021 Kyalami

The 11th Season of Speed Circuit is Underway!

Seven teams showed for the 11th season inaugural race at Kyalami using the 1971 teams. After nearly 18-months of downtime, the unexpected was expected. But, once again strong downforce cars dominated the field of 14 cars.

Ferrari held positions one and two on the start grid with Ickx on the pole. Lovely shared the the first row and hoped to better the second place finish he had last year at Kyalami. The other teams had undergone extensive management changes during the off season.

Ickx and Regazzoni bolted off the start line. Would Ferrari own the day? Confidence was at an all time high in the Prancing Pony’s pits.

Hulme and Stewart catch up to Team Ferrari on the back strait on lap 1.

The high downforce cars flew through the Jukskei Sweep and began pulling away from pack. Biden’s low downforce car began to exhibit stability problems.

Ickx and Hulme battle for the lead on lap 2.

Ickx was first to complete lap 1, but he was challenged by Hulme, the McLaren driver. The gap between the strong downforce cars and the rest of the field was extraordinary. Biden continue to fall back.

Hulme drove at a blistering pace and passed Ickx just before entering Sunset Bend.

The field spread out at the beginning of the 3rd and final lap.

Hulme crossed the finish line before Ickx to take the second bonus point. The field was spread thin at the beginning of the third and final lap, but battles raged. Stewart, Regazzoni, and Lovely fought for third place. Cervert, the Elf Tyrell driver, spared with the Brabhams while Team Lotus was in hot pursuit. Meanwhile, the Marches reeled in Lovely BMW driver Biden.

McLaren driver Hulme maintains his lead on the third lap.

Final lap was marked by daring feats and catastrophe. Hulme continue his relentless pace pushing his car to its limits and beyond. Stewart caught and passed Regazzoni on the front straight and threatened Ickx.

As they completed the second lap, the Backfield Battled continued. Cevert passed the Brabhams. Team March blew by Biden. Team Lotus set Brabham in their sites. The third lap would prove to be the most challenging for the back-markers as their wear points depleted.

Hulme prepares to shoot down the front straight to win the race.

Hulme was in perfect position to blast out of the corner while Ickx speed was locked. Stewart prepared to execute a final charge. Then…

Regazzoni spunout in Leeukop Bend spoiling his chance for a place on the podium as Lovely passed him.

McLaren driver Hulme crosses the finish line for the win!

Hulme flew across the start finish line for the win, but the race continued for the other drivers. Stewart pushed past Ickx on the front straight to take second place for Tyrell. McLaren’s Gethin slipped by Regazzoni and Lovely to secure fourth place.

Cevert spunout in the Leeukop Bend and Brabham’s Charlton tried to catch him, but crashed in the Esses. Then the two Lotus drivers spunout in the Esses followed by Hill who promptly spun. After all the dust settled, here are the final results:

1st Travis (D.Hulme) 60/60/40/160/4S
2nd Den (J. Stewart) 80/60/20/180/4 S
3rd Steve (J. Ickx) 80/40/20/160/5 S
4th Travis (P. Gethin) 60/60/40/160/4S
5th Ray G. (P. Lovely) 60/40/40/160/5 S
6th Steve (C. Regazzoni) 80/40/20/160/5 S
7th Den (F. Cevert) 40/60/20/180/4 S
8th John H. (R. Wisell) 60/40/40/160/5
9th John H. (E. Fittapaldi) 60/40/40/160/5
10th Terry (G. Hill) 60/40/40/160/5
11th Ray R. (N. Galli) 40/40/40/160/6
12th Ray R. (R. Peterson) 40/40/40/160/6
13th Ray G. (J. Biden) 60/40/40/160/5 W
CR1 Terry (D. Charlton) 60/40/40/160/5

The next race is scheduled for 7 July 2021 at Steve’s new Monaco course.

November 5, 2020November 5, 2020

2021 Speed Circuit Car Design Complete

I completed design on and started 3D printing the cars for our 2021 Speed Circuit season. The cars are inspired by the vehicles raced in the 1971 Formula 1 season including the Brabham BT34, BRM P160, Ferrari 312B2, Lotus 72C, March 711, Matra MS120B, McLaren M19A, Surtees TS9B, Tyrrell.

I designed the cars in Blender v2.83.4, a free program, and sliced them in Cura v4.7. I’m printing the cars on a Creality Ender 3 with a .2mm nozzle set at .08mm layer height. You may find photos of the completed prints in a later article.

Blender screenshots of the 1971 F1 Cars:

February 2, 2020January 17, 2022

Race Report – Speed Circuit 2020 Kyalami

First Race of the new decade! Strong Down-Force Cars Dominate Kyalami.

Because of the incredible turn-out, teams were allowed only one car in Kyalami race. The new down-force rules were introduced. Four out of eight teams opted for normal down-force settings. On the other hand, Tyrell used weak down-force and Ferrari, Volkswagen, and Lotus opted for strong.

The eight cars that lined up on the starting grid were managed by veteran players and there were no rookies in the field.

Tyrell’s Jackie Stewart and Owen BRM’s Jacky Oliver lined up on the front row. With its acceleration and speed advantage the Tyrell car looked like a sure winner, but the car would be plagued by instability in the corner sections throughout the race.

During the first lap, Oliver began to pull away while the pack bunched up in The Esses.

Lotus driver Jochem Rindt took advantage of his car’s superior down-force setup to charge through the corners and catch Oliver on the front straight, but Oliver crossed the line first to earn a bonus point.

During lap 2, Rindt took the lead and Volkswagen’s Pete Lovely slipped by the field of competitors. Ferrari also dodged through the pack. The strong down-force cars set a blistering pace.

At the beginning of lap 3 Rindt, Lovely, and Ickx sprinted away from a wear depleted field.

During the last lap, many players ran out of wear and luck. Oliver and Beltoise battled for fourth place and then Beltoise spun at Sunset Bend.

Meanwhile, Rindt took the lead through the Esses with Lovely and Ickx in hot pursuit.

Kyalmi Lap 3: Battle for 1st Through the Esses

Lovely made a daring move in Leeukop Bend and passed Rindt.

Kyalami Lap 3: Lovely make a lovely move.

Lovely and Rindt ended up dead even after the kink and heading toward the finish line. The Ferrari was the only car near the the leaders.

Kyalami Lap 3: Leaders head to head through the Kink.

Rindt powered his Lotus ahead of Lovely to win the race.

Final race results follow:

1st Den (J. Rindt) 60/60/20/180/4* S
2nd Ray G. P. Lovely) 60/40/40/160/5 S
3rd Steve (J. Ickx) 80/40/20/160/5 S
4th Terry (J. Oliver) 80/40/40/140/5
5th John H. (D. Gurney) 80/20/40/140/6
6th Dan (Beltoise) 80/40/20/160/5
7th Ray R. (Amon) 60/20/20/180/6
8th Travis (J. Stewart) 80/20/60/140/5 W

The race was completed in 27 turns with an average speed of 128.148 mph.

Thanks for the turn out and a fun night of racing.

Special kudos to Steve for painting the new cars and providing a new printing of the classic Kyalami track.

Next race is planned for Monaco in February 2020.

June 5, 2017January 17, 2022

Race Report – Speed Circuit 2017 Indy Oval

Racing at Indy is like playing a chess game while moving at 220 miles per hour. Fuel strategy played a key role in this years race. Three drivers (Gavin, Copper, and Mchaven) started the race with two fuel while the rest started with three. Gavin pulled ahead of the pack and picked up a bonus point for lap 1, but pitted before crossing the start/finish line during lap 2. The pack raced by the three cars that pitted at the end of lap-2 and continued a positional battle. During the race, Surtees, Bell and Beltoise gained bonus points for leading laps.

At the end of lap-3, seven cars pitted. Gavin, Copper, and Mchaven pushed to pass the pitted cars but could not catch them in time. Their “start the race low on fuel” strategy did not payoff.

Six of the Seven cars that pitted on lap-3 took on two fuel except Beltoise who took one. Beltoise lead going down the back strait on lap-4 with McLaren on his heels. McLaren spun going into the fourth corner. Beltoise spent his remaining fuel, but was able to finish lap-5 and garner the win.

As a result of the win, Beltoise gained a considerable lead in the drivers championship. McLaren and Andretti are tied for second while Gavin and Surtees are tied for third. Hahne is fourth just a point behind the third place drivers.

Matra extended its lead in the constructors championship. Lotus was not represented at Indy, but was able to remain in second. McLaren passed Owen for third place.

Click here for detailed race results and here for season standings.