Todd Putnam
October 5th, 2007, 1:19 PM
I have had a lot of conversations, PM's and emails with many of you regarding the prototype 2008 Putnam Pro-Cars that I and some of my team guys have been seen testing throughout 2007. The production chassis was released about a month ago, and the first run sold out immeadiately-in fact, I had to wait until the second run arrived before I could build one for myself!!
I completed the new '08 car and got to try it out last weekend was the first time. I took it to the 2 WDRA Series Events here locally, (Short Track Smackdown) and the results were outstanding!
Saturday WDRA Series Race @ Competition Hobbies:
EDM Big Block Stock: I TQ'd EDM Big Block Stock by 2 or 3 seconds, putting over a lap on my own track record set by my prototype car! I gave up my pole starting position to start dead last in an attempt to claim a $100 bonus. I drove all the way from last to the leader and winner Dan Gill's back bumper, but would've had to wreck him for the win. After a few failed attempts to pass him, (the last one resulting in me driving off the inside of the track) I dropped back about 5 car lengths, and that's where we finished.
EDM Modified: I TQ'd EDM Mod in the first round, then experimented with another set of tires in round 2, losing TQ in the process. I put the original set back on for the feature, and won by 2 laps over the competition. Local driver Bob Hollner finished 2nd to me with an original Putnam-chassis car, in his first ever attempt to run Modified, with 2 laps over the competition as well!
SundayWDRA Series Race @ Pinebowl Speedway:
EDM Stock: Another TQ and Track Record in EDM Stock for the 2008 Pro-Car! My final TQ run was pretty neat- Terry Schmitt was in race 4, I was in race 5. Terry accidentally hooked his pack up backwards, smoking his speed control. Since my car was ready for the next race, I told him to run my car. He did, and was on a TQ pace until getting into a wreckin the final stages of his heat-but still fast enough to put him in the show. Now, here's the cool part: He came off the track from race 4, we quickly swapped out the battery and I ran the car in race 5-laying down a new TQ and Track record!!! The motor was EXTREMELY hot, but it was good enough to get the job done!!!
At the start of the main, I got collected from behind in turn 1, dropped to the rear then raced back to third. I freed the car up too much and it wasn't as quick as it was in the heats-but the notes are valuable just the same.
EDM MOD: In the last round, I was on a TQ run that was 2 laps faster than the eventual TQ time of Dan Gill, until driver error occurred. I was attempting to pass a car that was laps down, and instead of being patient, drove through him...my bad. It was driver error on my part, even though the other driver blamed himself. I assured him that it was mine-stating that racing Mod on a 107' track is like flying jets in a gymnasium, and I ran out of talent!!! Fast lap for the TQ car was a 4.6, and I had many 4.3's...well, until I ran over the lap car. The run still finished strong with 4.4's at the end of the run...
In the main I was riding in third behind Dan Gill and Jeff Hotaling, and we were the only cars on the lead lap. As the three of us were making our way thru lap traffic, a lap car spun, collecting me in the process. Once I got turned around facing the right way, I couldn't blend back onto the track due to traffic. Once there was an opening, I got going again but the leaders were on my back bumper to put me a lap down. Not wanting to jeopardize the run they had going, I pulled off. I looked at the times after the race, and even though I had turned the fastest lap times, I didn't have the runs or results the car was capable of, or deserved.
Captial District R/C Racers / WDRA Short Track Smackdown Wrap Up:
-With the first weekend with the production car behind me, I'm thrilled with the results:
-TQ Saturday EDM Big Block Stock, Set Fast Lap and New Track Record.
-Won EDM Mod on Saturday, Set Fast Lap and New Track Record
-TQ Sunday EDM Big Block Stock, Set Fast Lap and New Track Record
-Sunday EDM Mod Set Fast Lap
The first weekend on the final production car was a solid performance for the new 2008 Putnam Pro-Car. The car was easier to drive than my previous cars including the prototype, and yet was a ton faster... :thumbsup:
I completed the new '08 car and got to try it out last weekend was the first time. I took it to the 2 WDRA Series Events here locally, (Short Track Smackdown) and the results were outstanding!
Saturday WDRA Series Race @ Competition Hobbies:
EDM Big Block Stock: I TQ'd EDM Big Block Stock by 2 or 3 seconds, putting over a lap on my own track record set by my prototype car! I gave up my pole starting position to start dead last in an attempt to claim a $100 bonus. I drove all the way from last to the leader and winner Dan Gill's back bumper, but would've had to wreck him for the win. After a few failed attempts to pass him, (the last one resulting in me driving off the inside of the track) I dropped back about 5 car lengths, and that's where we finished.
EDM Modified: I TQ'd EDM Mod in the first round, then experimented with another set of tires in round 2, losing TQ in the process. I put the original set back on for the feature, and won by 2 laps over the competition. Local driver Bob Hollner finished 2nd to me with an original Putnam-chassis car, in his first ever attempt to run Modified, with 2 laps over the competition as well!
SundayWDRA Series Race @ Pinebowl Speedway:
EDM Stock: Another TQ and Track Record in EDM Stock for the 2008 Pro-Car! My final TQ run was pretty neat- Terry Schmitt was in race 4, I was in race 5. Terry accidentally hooked his pack up backwards, smoking his speed control. Since my car was ready for the next race, I told him to run my car. He did, and was on a TQ pace until getting into a wreckin the final stages of his heat-but still fast enough to put him in the show. Now, here's the cool part: He came off the track from race 4, we quickly swapped out the battery and I ran the car in race 5-laying down a new TQ and Track record!!! The motor was EXTREMELY hot, but it was good enough to get the job done!!!
At the start of the main, I got collected from behind in turn 1, dropped to the rear then raced back to third. I freed the car up too much and it wasn't as quick as it was in the heats-but the notes are valuable just the same.
EDM MOD: In the last round, I was on a TQ run that was 2 laps faster than the eventual TQ time of Dan Gill, until driver error occurred. I was attempting to pass a car that was laps down, and instead of being patient, drove through him...my bad. It was driver error on my part, even though the other driver blamed himself. I assured him that it was mine-stating that racing Mod on a 107' track is like flying jets in a gymnasium, and I ran out of talent!!! Fast lap for the TQ car was a 4.6, and I had many 4.3's...well, until I ran over the lap car. The run still finished strong with 4.4's at the end of the run...
In the main I was riding in third behind Dan Gill and Jeff Hotaling, and we were the only cars on the lead lap. As the three of us were making our way thru lap traffic, a lap car spun, collecting me in the process. Once I got turned around facing the right way, I couldn't blend back onto the track due to traffic. Once there was an opening, I got going again but the leaders were on my back bumper to put me a lap down. Not wanting to jeopardize the run they had going, I pulled off. I looked at the times after the race, and even though I had turned the fastest lap times, I didn't have the runs or results the car was capable of, or deserved.
Captial District R/C Racers / WDRA Short Track Smackdown Wrap Up:
-With the first weekend with the production car behind me, I'm thrilled with the results:
-TQ Saturday EDM Big Block Stock, Set Fast Lap and New Track Record.
-Won EDM Mod on Saturday, Set Fast Lap and New Track Record
-TQ Sunday EDM Big Block Stock, Set Fast Lap and New Track Record
-Sunday EDM Mod Set Fast Lap
The first weekend on the final production car was a solid performance for the new 2008 Putnam Pro-Car. The car was easier to drive than my previous cars including the prototype, and yet was a ton faster... :thumbsup: