Compete With Me!: R.I.R. Mini Cooper race @ Dover Speedway

A new track is always an event. A new track with a race going on it is a dream. A new track with lots of newcomers racing is a sensation!

There, in R.I.R., Badguy and Doobeedoo definitely know that. That's why, due to the fact there were no scheduled races, they made a fun Mini Cooper race at the new track, beautiful Dover Speedway, that looks even better than on the promo picture Doobeedoo passed on in the group notice.

Dover Speedway. Practice

Racers were racing not just for the prize pot, as usually - the winner was going to be rewarded with the full version modifiable Mini Cooper and a racing suit, plus additional L$100. Of course, the track was full of newcomers, most of whom have just started their racing career today. Please remember the new names you'll see here names - you'll never know where and in what circumstances you'll meet them.

View from the stands. Practice

Some of R.I.R. veterans joined the race too, but it was stated that only the new racers are counted, so they were there just to join the fun. But when Doobeedoo reminded that it's a race mainly for newcomers, a couple of racers decided to withdraw - that were Saphyre Cyberstar and Mr Sweets. Very honorable decision, racers!

Other veterans decided to race with new ones. Why not indeed? If it doesn't count anyway.

Well, since new racers are just about to get to know all the twists and turns of the art of the race, the start was a little messed up. Everybody got their grid position in a random order generated by the queuer. But Eagle and Grosmanteau were going to start from the end of the grid regardless - Grosmanteau made it even "harder" for himself on the other side of the oval to start a half-lap down (why I say "harder", not harder? Because this wasn't a real challenge for him anyway, with his driving skills - rephrasing what Saphyre said, he is a winner of the race by default, unless he starts 3 laps down). But some newcomers hardly could line up. One of them even had started the race by accident. Well, could happen with anyone!

Lining up. Notice Grosmanteau on
the other side of the track

After a while, the race has been finally started. Some of new racers got confused and didn't start immediately after the signal, one of them even started a lap down, some - a quarter or a half a lap down. Not everybody got along with the track and the car right away, some were bumping the walls or each other continuously, some were going on the lower gears, there was even a racer who dropped out just because realised that can't handle the car good enough. We all know: even a try brings an experience!

The race. Find Doobeedoo

Of course, newcomers came short of the veterans. Grosmanteau and Eagle caught up quickly, along with Sharon Densmith.But there were a couple of new racers who proved that even if you're new in something, this doesn't mean you can't show a good result. I take my hat off for Zalex Rajal, who started from the gate 9 (probably was 8 after a few changes, but doesn't make a big difference anyway) and firmly kept up with the veterans, even made the fastest lap of all, also Astrid Blackadder (Astrid Kaufmat) with her amazing laps. I think each of them has a big future in racing. Other newcomers, please prove me wrong and keep on racing!

And yes, they were the first 3 finishers amongst newcomers! That's obvious that the actual first 3 was taken by R.I.R. regular racers - Grosmanteau DeCuir, Sharon Densmith and Eagle Clawtooth - but obviously that is not a big accomplishment. What Zalex, Astrid and Christo done, that is a real achievement!

The winners. No, Compete With Me! doesn't have her phone number

That was definitely fun to watch, and I bet it was fun to race as well for everyone who took part. I wish each of newcomers a lot of success in their racing future, and would like to remind that it doesn't matter how long have you been racing - but it matters how serious you are in what you're doing.

Thanks everyone!

Also, here's an announcement: Badguy and Doobeedoo are going to arrange another fun run - for new racers only, no R.I.R. regular racers will be allowed to participate. So, pretty soon we'll have an opportunity to witness the start of the prospective new racing stars careers. Don't know how about you, but I'm already excited! What can be more unpredictable than this? (Yes, yes, I'm taking my words about the racers with the pit-stops back, at least you can assume there who will be on the winners podium there.) So I'm looking forward for it!

As always, some stats and pictures. Oh yea, you noticed I'm placing pictures right in the text? I've found this feature on Blogspot not a long time ago and I myself like it very much, but I'd like to know your opinion, my awesome readers. If you don't like it, don't hesitate to let me know!

Race director: badguy Boozehound

Starting positions:

Random, generated by the queuer. All mixed up in the end, but at first it was something like this:

Pole Position. Snake Eyes (Lulu69 Miles)

P 2. Devlin 'Wolf' Delwood

P 3. Saphyre Cyberstar <=dropped out of the race

P 4. Astrid Blackadder (Astrid Kaufmat)

P 5. Kalonia (Discotraxx)

P 6. Christo Follet

P 7. Sharon Densmith

P 8. Clifford Market

P 9. Zalex Rajal

P 10. M尺 ŠωЄЄƬŠ (SweetTooth Firehawk) <=dropped out of the race

P 11. Eagle Clawtooth

P 12 (but actually half-track away). Grosmanteau DeCuir

Race beginning time: 3:46 PM SLT

Number of laps: 55

Race overview (new racers only):

Lap 1: 4. Astrid Blackadder, TBL -2.023 * 5. Zalex Rajal, TBL -4.695 * 7. Kalonia, TBL -8.514

Lap 2: 2. Astrid Blackadder, TBL -3.358 * 5. Zalex Rajal, TBL -6.177 * 7. Christo Follet, TBL -12.043

Lap 3: 2. Astrid Blackadder, TBL -3.821 * 3. Zalex Rajal, TBL -4.640 * 7. Christo Follet, -1 laps

Lap 5: 3. Zalex Rajal, TBL -7.332 * 5. Astrid Blackadder, TBL -10.845 * 7. Christo Follet, -1 laps

Lap 10: 4. Zalex Rajal, TBL -8.399 * 5. Astrid Blackadder, -1 laps * 7. Christo Follet, -1 laps
Lap 20: 4. Zalex Rajal, TBL -10.911 * 5. Astrid Blackadder, -2 laps * 7. Christo Follet, -3 laps
Lap 30: 4. Zalex Rajal, -1 laps * 5. Astrid Blackadder, -3 laps * 6. Christo Follet, -4 laps
Lap 37: 4. Zalex Rajal, -1 laps * 5. Astrid Blackadder, -3 laps * 6. Christo Follet, -5 laps
Lap 46: 4. Zalex Rajal, -1 laps * 5. Astrid Blackadder, -5 laps * 6. Christo Follet, -6 laps
Lap 54: 4. Zalex Rajal, -1 laps * 5. - * 6. -

Final Results (R.I.R. veterans, newcomers):

1st. Grosmanteau DeCuir, 55 laps. Total Time : 753.643

2nd. Sharon Densmith, -6.161 seconds.

3rd. Eagle Clawtooth, -1 laps.

4th. Zalex Rajal, -1 laps.

5th. Astrid Kaufmat, -5 laps.

6th. Christo Follet, -6 laps.

7th. Clifford Market, -7 laps.

8th. Discotraxx Resident, -19 laps.

9th. Calliope Ahren, -27 laps.

10th. Lulu69 Miles, -46 laps.

Fastest race lap: Zalex Rajal, 11.934