Euro Grand Prix, October 20 on RLD home track
Here's the bracket and team IDs.
#87 - Nightstalker
#2 - Smitty
#39 - Clifford Shaw
#74 - Dadvball
#21 - Clayfeat
#47 - Stroller
#27 - JDC442
#14 - Fast Fred
#44 - Traction Event
#30 - GSpeedR
#38 - McJiggles
Here's to getting trounced, good stuff regardless. Congrats JDC, and the rest of the race winners....
Thanks for hosting Brian.
This is one SWEET Victory!!! I knew that GsR would be sending in some raw speed -I experienced his prowess in Pennsylvania during the Redline National League tournament. Looks like his BMW definitely made things interesting! Funny thing is my runner up car for this race was a green BMW M1 (fte mod however)
What happened to TEam HAlf FAst???
GGGREAT SHOW BRIAN!! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE VIDEO!!! HOPE WE'LL BE SEEING MORE OF THESE RDR HOME VENUES!!
good show "B"... congrats 442 and a nod to gspeedr... "fast" fred's stroller prepped audi showed the sloppy the door!
The runner-up from the lower bracket was GSpeedR and his BMW:
Is that BMW sporting Ultra Hots wheels?!!
Nice job JDC442!
First off, a HUGE thanks to everyone that sent in cars. This was a lot of fun to organize and race, I had forgotten how much fun the custom races can be. Lots of really cool mods today under somewhat tight restrictions in the Euro bodies. Well done, all of you. Enjoy the photos below and I hope to have video some time this week. There's a lot to cut together so it may day me a bit but it'll get done.
I would also like to thank Tom's Diecast Cars for once again sponsoring our tournaments. Tom's been a great partner over the past year providing prizes for both mail-in and Fantasy League races. Can't thank him enough. Make sure you stop by his web site - http://www.tomsdiecastcars.com - and let him know you appreciate his support.
This was a double elimination tournament so every car raced twice, and after all was said and done...
A full recap from the day...
It was a brisk day in Ohio but the sun was shining and everyone was happy to see the Redline Derby track stretched out in all its glory.
The Euro Grand Prix sponsored by Tom's Diecast Cars kicked off early with car check-in, track setup and video prep. Eleven race teams entered this double-elimination contest. Cars from came from both coasts and everywhere in between. Everyone brought their best game and their best cars to race on the standard 20-foot track.
Seeding was random so things kicked off with Dadvball's VW Beetle. The first time down, the taxi crashed and burned seemingly due to its weight but a redo saw it stick...but it was all for not, as the VW got the flag, sending Clifford's cab to the loser's bracket.
GSpeedR's sleek BMW but talk is cheap as GSR's Beamer took the flag.
Finishing out the first round in the top bracket, Smitty's jacked up Anglia gasser, proudly named "Moglia." It was a pretty close race but The Thing proved that Euro cars might not be Smitty's bag after all.
The second round kicked off with a VW showdown as Dadvball's Beetle went head-to-head with Clayfeat's sporty Sirocco. The Sirocco had the luxury of watching Dadvball race in the first round and she took advantage of it, as the Sirocco zoomed passed the Beetle in what would kick off a small streak for the GT car.
Next saw Stroller's Aston Martin come to the line against JDC442's Jaguar D-Type that had already made quick work of Fast Fred. Maybe it was nerves or maybe the sun got in his eyes, but the Aston just couldn't keep up and little everyone know that from this point on, JDC's Jag wouldn't be looking back.
Wrapping up the round was GSR's BMW and McJiggles' stock Ferrari Modena...yes, you heard correctly, stock. Putting faith in your stock car against a bunch of custom racers is quite a leap but it's a leap that worked out because the little Ferrari took the victory in what was a wonderful match-up. The BMW might have lost but he had his eye on revenge...
The Loser's Bracket then got off to an incredible start...a tie! Fast Fred and Smitty butted heads and saw their first race split the flags in a two. A rematch quickly followed that saw Fast Fred edge out Smitty's tough gasser.
Meanwhile, GSR's white BMV was taking names in the lower bracket. After three victories over Clifford Shaw, Stroller and Nightstalker he sat waiting, hoping his nemesis McJiggles would join him. But he would have to wait until McJiggles squared off against the rampaging JDC442. The first match-up was too close to call...another tie! But the follow-up saw the Jaguar win by an eyelash sending McJiggles to the lower bracket. Would GSpeedR redeem himself?
McJiggles first had to overcome the VW Beetle of Dadvball first which almost didn't happen. Yet another impossible race to predict but the stock Ferrari out-paced the Volkswagen and finally the rematch was here. Revenge was within GSpeedR's grasp...
But they had to wait until JDC's Jag was done dealing with Clayfeat's VW GT. The Sirocco had gone undefeated thus far, surprising many in the crowd. It was a good showing by the German but the British build good cars too and the Jaguar once again chalked up another win. The Sirocco was sent to the lower bracket to face the winner of The Rematch.
The crowd was roaring as the two cars pulled up to the line. One half of the grand stand was squarely behind the GSR's BMW while the other half was cheering on the Ferrari of McJiggles. The winner of this would continue in the lower bracket with a chance to be in the championship round to face the dreaded Jaguar D-Type.
Could a stock car beat out a tuned one? The tree lit, tires squeeled, babies cried and eagles soared...it was neck and neck but after 20-feet of hard rolling the BMW captured the line. This might be the loser's bracket but redemption is redemption, and GSpeedR didn't really care what happened next.
Lucky enough for him, the BMW out-ran the Sirocco and then found himself at the starting line next the #27 of JDC442's Jaguar. The Jag had gone undefeated all day to make it this far. Could JDC keep his streak or would GSpeedR come back with a vengeance? The starting gate rose and they both rolled down the hill...it was a tight race until the final inch! Both cars pulled around to find out who had won and when the judges raised GSpeedR's hand in victory the crowd went ape. Babies cried, eagles soared...but wait! This was a double elimination tournament, which meant JDC got an immediate rematch. After all, this was his first loss and everyone races twice. Could the BMW hold up through one more race?
Engines revved, babies cried...okay, you know the rest...down the hill they went into the stretch only to see the JDC442 Jag hit the finish line first. Your Euro Grand Prix champion, JDC442 and his Jaguar D-Type.
And that's the story, full of highs and lows, smiles and frowns. Everyone brought the A-game but we all know there are winners and there are losers. Surprisingly enough, today, everyone lost at some point but in the end all that matters is who gets to the finish line first in the last race, and today that was JDC442.
Congratulations to JDC442 on being the Euro Grand Prix champion. He will receive a prize package from Tom's Diecast Cars and Redline Derby Racing.
~~~
I'll be sending back cars over the next weekend or so. If anyone needs their car back sooner than later, PM me and I'll be sure to get it out next day or so. Otherwise, thanks again to everyone that entered and thanks to those of you that included some donor cars with your entries - they will be put to good use once the Fantasy League boots up again next year.
Happy racing!!