T-Jet Race - VHORS, FRAY & JL

By Randy Ramat

On Saturday August 16th, 2003, 22 racers lined up to race their VHORS, FRAY and JL T-jet cars at SJI. There was a good mixture of pure T-Jet racers and magnet/run anything racers on hand vying to tame the downhill chicane of the SJI short track. After tech, James Kennedy running a Bat Jet body on Fray set-up took the pole running a whopping 9.884 seconds on one minute qualifying rounds. He was followed by Hiram Durant of Players and Tom Bowman of MASCAR. After all 22 racers gave it their best in qualifying there were five mains to be run at five minute heats. The qualifying format and length of the mains proved different from the norm.

There was a good amount of racing from all the mains. John “JB” Balson running a cool looking Windmill body would post a valiant 100 laps from the “E” main running alongside John Forlino and Chris Khol among others. The “D” main consisted of Dorwell, Dougie B., Kevin Chesney and Randy Ramat which saw some heated racing as Dougie B. would take the main by running 96 laps. I heard there was one MM Camaro Pace Car running on two tires and popping tricks form time to time. I guess hardcore T-Jet racers would call that “racing on the edge.” On to the “C” Main pitted against each other were J.C. Smith, Mike Briggs, Joe Hopkins and Josh Bowman with the fastest of all being J.C. at 104 laps. In the “B” main Craig Gray, Craig Washington, Donnie U. and Jason Zawacky (Three core magnet racers and one rookie) would go on to run the fastest of the heats averaging 102.75 laps. Clearly the highest total for the day, combined. The race would eventually be decided on the “A” main which gave way to Hiram Durant, Jeff H., Tom Bowman and James Kennedy. Running a Fandango body (sweet looking car) Hiram would run 110 laps but it would not be enough as he would eventually loose by one lap to race winner Tom Bowman.

In conclusion, the racing for the day was close given the difference from first place to fifth would be a close 6 laps. There were some great looking cars on the track and some odd shaped ones. From Love Bugs to Chrysler Crossfire’s, PLAYERS and VHORS CLUBS, SJI not only exemplified the type of diversity in its manufacturing and style, but also the drivers.


FINAL LAPS
1st Tom Bowman, 111, VHORS
2nd Hiram Durant, 110, FRAY
3rd Craig Washington, 107, FRAY
4th James Kennedy, 106, FRAY
5th Jason Zawacky, 105, FRAY
6th 104, J.C. Smith, 104 FRAY
7th Donnie U., 102 FRAY
8th JB, 100, VHORS
9th Josh Bowman, 98 Sec 58, FRAY
10th Mike Briggs, 98 Sec 40, VHORS
11th Craig Gray, 97 FRAY
12th Dougie B., 96 FRAY
13th Kevin Chesney, 94 VHORS
14th Joe Hopkins, 94, FRAY
15th Randy Ramat 93, VHORS

16th Chris Kohl, 90 Sec. 30, VHORS
17th Greg, 90 Sec. 30, FRAY
18th Dorwell, 88 Sec. 44, VHORS
19th Jeff H., 88 Sec. 14, VHORS
20th Steven, 81, JL
21th Patrick Showalter, 80, FRAY
22st John Forlino, 79, VHORS (Blew a tire…)

For the 3rd Annual SJI GP we need to come to a consensus and make the race cars alike by outlining some rules on the set up. Any ideas are welcome. We look forward to a great meet next year. ALL RACERS WELCOME

Randy explaining the rules of the competition