LUCIARACE IN OREBRO, SWEDEN  10 - 11 DECEMBER, 2004

This winter event featured social events on Friday with Go-Cart Race in afternoon and dinner in evening and on Saturday racing at Orebro track and more partying in evening. Four Estonians came and had problems with influenza. Four Swedes outside Orebro also came, the rest were local club Caster members. The other Swedes were probably home sleeping with snow-fobia. The wicked scribe is surprized that not more people came to this stimulating winter event.

Carting took place in Thed Bjork´s Racingcenter Hall Friday afternoon.

www.racingcenter.se Örebro

Everybody drove themselves sore, perspiring, exhausted and happy. Two heats for everybody, then A-final and B-final. Jan-Erik Falk was champion in this class also.

Race Winners - Karl Gardh (2nd), Jan-Erik Falk (1st) and Nils Björk (3rd)

After that we staggered to a Mongolian Buffe for food, drink and discussions about next racing season, regulations and new projects.

The board of FEMA is concerned about the safety with safety barriers and the very high speeds in 10 cc. More strict regulations are needed for barriers that really are able stop an attacking 10 cc. car at 350 km/h. Also to take speeds and G-forces down a bit with smaller engine sizes where most engines are available. The diminishing numbers of cars points towards not so many classes. Maybe 7,5 cc. - 3,5 cc both free class and class with spur gears - 2,1 cc. free class and beginners class. The wicked scribe thinks this is a very good compromise; existing 10 and 5 cc. cars could easily be converted to 7,5 cc - existing 5 and 2,5 cc cars converted to 3,5 cc. - existing 1,5 cc. cars converted up to 2,1 cc.

In Estonia where they really know how to work with beginners they have regulations for a new beginners class starting May 2005. 2,1 cc. ( size with many cheap engines ) spur gears or wheel direct on crankshaft, no pipe and age limit 25 years. They had to do this because the supply of cheap Russian diesels has dried up. Might be something for FEMA and WMCR also. If we could muster the strength to offer beginners a simple kit also it should be a success.

We talked about new projects; some turned around NovaRossi 28 engines will be made for 5 cc. class. The new NovaRossi 28 is 4,66 cc. and has the same engine bearer and hole dimension as the fantastic 3,5. and can be bought in hobby shops. Extremely high quality. Should be a world beater. It is very small for a 5 cc. and can be installed in 2,5 - 3,5 - 5 cc. designs. In Orebro NR cars 2,5 - 3,5 - 5 cc. cars will be built. Some new 10 cc. cars also coming. More gossip; the boys from Finland will stop racing.

Saturday morning was playtime at track. Radiantly beautiful spring weather; no snow, plus 6 Centigrade, sun from a clear blue sky and no wind. If this is result of dreaded global warming, the wicked scribe is starting to like it. The track was newly cleaned, the grass combed and Helge had gluh-wein, gingerbread biscuits, sweets, Lucia cakes, warm soup and drink ready. The pits were in warm clubhouse very near gluh-wein and then you went out in the sun to run car. Engine and car collectors were present and there were lots of beautiful things to see.

Jan Öberg was there and showed us the Swedish Yearbook. Thick as a brick.

This is a race not to be taken lightly, many ran old-timers, others tested new things. See result list.

Jan-Erik Falk - 1.5 cc winner

Diesel smoke, not to mention the smell, was thick.

Gardh brothers + Tonu Sepp

Hannes Virunurm, Estonia - 2nd in 2.5cc with personal best!

The scribe tested a new wider rear tyre version three for more grip. Made in Estonia in old Orebro forms. But it is still not right, one tyre exploded.

Helge Eriksson and Richard Helander - 3rd place in 10cc class

Helge and Lembit Vaher - 2.5 cc winner from Estonia

In the evening more partying with discussions, gossip, old tether car films. Drawings of new engines and gearboxes were presented. Sunday morning we from Octan went home to our milling machines and the Estonians to new luxury ferry Victoria for more partying.

Nils Bjork                                                               Photos - Nils Bjork and Mart Sepp