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#Post#: 4423--------------------------------------------------
The Corona Speed Challenge 2021 - Entries here
DIR By: Carlos Carneiro
Date: August 9, 2021, 6:40 pm
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The first 2021 Corona Speed Challenge entry video is in !!
Just like in 2020, Team VKC takes the first shot and puts the
first cyclekart on the board.
It was an unorthodox Corona speed run, done at night (around
8:30pm).
Diego Morales (driver) who drove the car at the Huntsville GP
took the wheel again for this Challenge. Diego had a few hours
layover in Phoenix this week during a flight from California to
Florida and we decided to meet and go out to record the #23
VKC's video entry for "The Corona 2021".
But his layover was in the evening... a dark evening...
The road chosen was one I had had stumbled onto a few days
earlier: a nearly deserted dead-end road in North Scottsdale,
which I thought looked to be ideal. It was not a residential
area, only a water treatment place and some kind of city works
lot on the road.
Barely any cars go there at all, and at night should be
completely deserted.
I had been there at night prior and although it was dark, the
few lights seemed enough.
Still, a flashlight was installed at the front of the cyclekart
to light up the road.
Once we arrived, we quickly got going. We did a drive of the
road with the full size car so Diego could get acquainted with
it, see how far it went and where it ends.
This was supposed to be a quick in-and-out thing, as even if
this road looked deserted, we were still racing on a public
road. The #23 started on 1st pull, but did not want to idle. It
kept stalling like it had done at the Huntsville GP, and stalled
at the start of both runs.
Aside from that, it was running very well.
But there were other issues:
The flashlight turned out not to be bright enough as the light
emitting from the speedometer app towards the driver's face was
making it difficult to see the road.
Although it was a paved asphalt road, it turned out to be very
bumpy at speed. The #23 was at a high tire pressure set up for
less friction, but that made it bounce all over the place at
high speed. It was hard to control.
If that wasn't tricky enough, at the end of the 1st run Diego
was surprised to find out he "had no brakes!!!" as he said it,
and "almost crashed!!". Luckily he had given himself enough room
to come to a stop with what little brake there was. But was
scared enough to let out a sigh of relief in the video, in the
form of a popular 4 letter word. Even with the brake issue and
stalling the engine at the turn-around, Diego was able to
complete the return run.
After a quick check to see if the video captured the speed
clearly (which it did), we were surprised to see the top speeds
were 47mph (75.64kmh) on the GO and 46mph (74.03kmh) on the
return, as Diego had initially said he had seen a Top of 45mph
while he was driving.
Awesome!! Even better than we thought!!!
We loaded the cyclekart back on the trailer and we were
in-and-out of there in about 20 minutes.
As we pulled out on to the main road, a police car turns right
into the area we had just been racing at!!!
We laughed at the perfect timing, and assumed someone must have
called in the cops as the #23 is very loud.
Why else would a cop be at that dark deserted dead-end road?
The good news was that Diego was able to take the #23 VKC up to
47mph on the GO run, and 46mph on the BACK run, for an average
of 46.5mph. That is a new personal maximum and average speed
record for the #23 VKC Italiano. Job done.
The bad news is that after review of the video at home, I
realized the darkness of the road caused the video to not be in
compliance with one of the rules:
* The road driven must be visible on screen*
The video was so dark not much other than the speedometer could
be seen.
The darkness also snagged the entry on another issue, which is
"possible editing".
Although I know this video clip has no cuts, the complete
darkness and silence between the runs does not allow one to see
if there was editing or not.
Therefore as the "Race Director" for The Corona race, if anyone
had submitted this video to me, I'd have to point out the same
shortcomings and... penalize it.
So this entry will receive the infamous 10mph penalty, the same
penalty applied last year to the videos that fell short of
compliance to the rules.
First entry, 1st penalty. Good start... LOL!!
Consequently, the top average speed for this entry will be
officially entered as 36.5mph (58.74kmh).
Still good enough to take the Top Speed spot for now, as it is
the only entry so far!!!
Looking back at 2020, most entries come in Sept. and October.
But there's now less than 3 months left in the race!!
If you're somewhere up north you may want to get a run in soon
before the cold sets in!!
Give yourself time for at least 2 entries. If there is a problem
with the 1st, there is time to go do another!!
The 2021 Corona Speed Challenge finish line is November 1.
Get you entry posted by that date!!
But wait!!! The story of this night speed run did not end there.
Two days later (during the day) I happen to be at a traffic
light at an intersection one block away from the road we did
this Corona run, and to my surprise I see a police car turn into
the road. What??? What are the chances? Why does the police keep
going there? I had to find out. So when my light turned green I
went looking to see where he could have gone.
Well... I found him exactly on the road we were racing at,
halfway down it, parked and fueling his police vehicle at a
nondescript gas pump located by the water treatment center.
(!!!)
Apparently our perfect Corona Speed Challenge racetrack has a
police car fueling station right in the middle of it.
Needless to say, this was the first and last cyclekart race on
that road!!!
So the target speed is currently at 36.5 mph.
Easy.
Who is next??
(Reminder 1: Darkness is much darker in video than in real life.
Don't do it at night as you may end up with the same penalty!!)
(Reminder 2: TEST YOUR BRAKES BEFORE THE SPEED RUN !!!)
HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJvuSMZI5aQ
[emoji106] [emoji106]
#Post#: 4425--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Corona Speed Challenge 2021 - Entries here
DIR By: Graham Hill
Date: August 10, 2021, 5:20 am
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Thanks Carlos. I'm sure we have a few UK drivers who are up for
the Challenge! We struggled to find a suitable location last
year. It's not something that I personally intend to promote so
if anybody can locate a strait-ish track this year then please
set something up. Grimsthorpe is not suitable, we have already
checked.
#Post#: 4426--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Corona Speed Challenge 2021 - Entries here
DIR By: M.Z.Nahajski
Date: August 10, 2021, 6:39 am
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Cant wait to see more videos this year.
#Post#: 4430--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Corona Speed Challenge 2021 - Entries here
DIR By: StefanN
Date: August 10, 2021, 10:50 am
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I’m investigating Bicester and will let folks know. I reckon
you need about 400m plus run off at each end.
#Post#: 4432--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Corona Speed Challenge 2021 - Entries here
DIR By: TheGiantTribble
Date: August 10, 2021, 11:20 am
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Really , really, really want to have a go at this!
#Post#: 4433--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Corona Speed Challenge 2021 - Entries here
DIR By: Andy_B
Date: August 10, 2021, 12:35 pm
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Is it worth asking Jim to speak to his buddies at Santa Pod?
#Post#: 4435--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Corona Speed Challenge 2021 - Entries here
DIR By: Adrian
Date: August 10, 2021, 4:10 pm
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Santa Pod is a great idea.
We can support Jim in his dragster too!
#Post#: 4437--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Corona Speed Challenge 2021 - Entries here
DIR By: jim
Date: August 11, 2021, 1:11 am
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I am going to Harrington Aviation Museum today. I think they
have a long straight private rd next to the A14. I will let
y'all know whether its a go or not later.
#Post#: 4438--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Corona Speed Challenge 2021 - Entries here
DIR By: jim
Date: August 11, 2021, 6:35 am
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400m is a 1/4 of a mile so that would be more than enough run
off. I had a look at the road at Harrington and it is straight
and smooth but it is a byway.
#Post#: 4443--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Corona Speed Challenge 2021 - Entries here
DIR By: Andy_B
Date: August 12, 2021, 5:43 am
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Hello Chaps
I have spoken with Owain Johns who runs the Heritage skills
academy at Bicester Heritage as they have purchased one of my
Karts so the lads can build scale bodies and learn the
techniques of body forming etc - all good stuff
Anyway, he has put me in contact with the estate manager and we
can have the circuit at Bicester on a hourly basis for testing
and Owain has kindly offered their workshops for any tweaking
required and a cuppa!!
I believe it is £150 per hour plus vat but let me know who is
interested and I will look at booking either an hour or two and
work out some dates. Myself, my son and Jim are game so any more
are welcome to bring the cost down. I can claim the vat back
through my company.
I was thinking we can put some cones out, have a spin and have a
go at this speed challenge as well in one go!! plus the usual
slalom stuff
What does everyone think?
cheers
Andy
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