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Gm Josh Githens sported a Honda racing
team shirt for the occasion. |
Githens, Houde, Emery, Yaure and Maly
enjoy a tight turn. |
Long on background, short on details
The 2009 WBC Formula 1 season saw another year of strong attendance.
Once again the tournament brought drivers from across the
globe to the racing mecca of the world; Lancaster Pennsylvania.
In the quiet countryside of hand churned butter, barn raising,
and finely crafted furniture; the excitement that is Formula
1 racing took over for three glorious days. Again utilizing a
two-heat format with the top ten qualifiers advancing directly
to the Final gave racers a chance to play, have fun, and not
need to race for days on end to maybe make the semi-final if
they produced enough trade goods.
Each of the two heats had enough entrants to run boards with
between six and eight drivers. Players were allowed to sit at
any table of their choosing, eliminating lengthy randomization,
while also allowing players to sit with their friends and have
fun at 200 MPH.
The Heat tracks were chosen at each table, many people saw
the action of Melbourne this year; a quick moving track that
rewards good rolling, and makes you try to keep pace with the
leader. A missed turn can take you from near victory to the back
of the pack in a hurry. Another track used on several tables
was Monaco. Some technical portions are favorable to good planning,
but ground can easily be made up if you have a miscue.
The 2009 Final was not played on the large scale track as
it was in 2008, however expect a return to large format racing
in 2010. The track preparation crew is hard at work to provide
a worthy venue for WBC finalists.
Suzuka was the venue for the 2009 Final. I chose this track
since the circuit closed for a year in order for the renovation
to make it Formula 1 compliant for 2009. The track held a re-opening
day on April 12, 2009. Designed as a Honda test track in 1962
by John Hugenholtz, Suzuka is one of few circuits in the
world to have a figure 8 layout. Obviously, due to
the danger of an intersecting track, the track doesn't actually
intersect with itself; instead, the back straight passes over
the front section by means of an overpass.
The starting grid was filled with nine unique heat winners
and the top placing alternate. Everyone was present for the start
time. Pit boxes were chosen, gear boxes were thrashed, tires
were shredded, brakes were burning red, there could be only one
winner.
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Although the big 1:64 scale track
didn't make an appearance this year, the basic game still offered
good tactile and visual sensations. |
Even a toothache couldn't stop John
Emery from enjoying the race from his corner of the big Suzuka
track. |
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