In the world of remote-controlled racing, where tiny tires screech and electric motors hum like caffeinated bees, sometimes the best days aren’t the ones packed with roaring crowds and fierce rivalries. Nope – they’re the sneaky underdogs, like yesterday’s supposed “race day” at the Heart of America Series, which morphed into an epic test and tune extravaganza due to unexpectedly low turnout. What could have been a ghost town on the track turned into a playground for precision tweaking, lap-crushing experiments, and pure, unadulterated RC fun. Buckle up, folks – here’s how a quiet February 8th became the stuff of mini-motorsport legend!
Picture this: It’s a warm sunny winter morning, the Midwest Racers Organization’s track is all set for a full-throttle race day at Hobby Town Hobby Plex. But as the clock ticks past 10:17 AM CST, only a handful of die-hard drivers show up – six in total, including local heroes like Chris Tyler, Gerry Burr, and the hilariously named “More And More Its Beardmore”. With the expected throngs of competitors staying home – perhaps glued to their screens for Super Bowl LX – organizers flipped the script. “Race day? Nah, let’s make it Test and Tune !
The result? Over 2,500 laps of glorious experimentation across four classes: 2500 Lipo Stock, 2500 Open Pan, 3500 Super Stock, and the ever-quirky Kyosho Cup. Sessions stretched into the afternoon, wrapping up around 2:56 PM, giving these RC wizards ample time to dial in their setups, chase personal bests, and turn potential disappointment into a tuning triumph.
Let’s zoom in on the action, class by class, where the low-key vibe allowed for some seriously impressive stats:
2500 Lipo Stock: This stock-setup showdown saw just 48 laps, but they were gold. Gerry Burr led the charge with a blistering best lap of 8.075 seconds over 42 laps, proving that sometimes less is more – especially when you’re tweaking batteries and not battling a full field. Beardmore snuck in a solid 8.163 seconds, hinting at bigger things to come. It was like a zen garden of RC racing: calm, focused, and all about that perfect balance.
2500 Open Pan: The star of the show, racking up a whopping 938 laps! This open-mod class let drivers go wild with custom tweaks, and boy, did they. Burr again stole the spotlight with a 7.537-second scorcher across 226 laps, while Beardmore (7.605s), Tyler (8.010s), and Mike Soltau (8.345s) kept the energy electric. Averages danced from 9 to 15 seconds, showing how these pros were pushing limits – testing tires, adjusting suspensions, and laughing off the occasional wall-bounce.
3500 Super Stock: Power meets precision here, with 235 laps of sub-8-second magic. Chris Tyler owned it, clocking 7.517 seconds over 151 laps, edging out Beardmore’s 7.531s. Times improved as the day wore on, a clear sign of those mid-session pit stops paying off. If RC cars could talk, they’d be bragging about their glow-up from morning sluggishness to afternoon speed demons.
Kyosho Cup: The wildcard class, perfect for spec fun and a bit of chaos, tallied 149 laps. Joel Schlegelmilch dominated with an 8.656-second best over 76 laps, while August brought the endurance with 13.375s across 73. Averages swung wildly from 21 to 44 seconds – think of it as the “anything goes” zone, where beginners and vets alike could experiment without the pressure of a packed podium.
By the end of the day, what started as a potential dud had transformed into a testament to the RC community’s resilience. Drivers like Tyler and Beardmore, who hopped between classes, showcased versatility that would make full-size racers jealous. Total track time? Over hours of non-stop action, with trends showing speeds sharpening as tweaks took hold. Low turnout? High spirits! Stay tuned for the next Heart of America Series event – who knows, maybe it’ll be standing room only. Or, better yet, another surprise tune-up party.