New Rule Changes To Take Effect Immediately at Litespeed …

11/9/2008

With the huge number of racers turning out at Litespeed Raceway, certain issues are needing to be addressed.  These new standards should allow races to be completed in a more timely and accurate  fashion.  As of late, races have gone on deep into the midnight hours, sometimes lasting up to 12 hours!  In order to reduce this time, qualifying will now be cut to 2 qualifying passes, with each driver swapping lanes for each qualifying attempt.  If a racer can not make the qualifying rounds, a substitute driver will be allowed to make one qualifying pass with their vehicle.  There will be no driver substitutions allowed during elimination rounds.  These changes should greatly decrease the overall time.  With more racers come more distractions and with distractions come errors.  We are striving to improved the data acquisition process at Litespeed Raceway and keep the races flowing smoothly.  With this said, the timing trailer will be locked down during all rounds of eliminations.  This will help minimize distractions, allow for better communications between racers and timing officials and hopefully limit mistakes made during the entry of elimination information in the timing computer.  Dial in changes will be requested before each round of eliminations.  Any communications regarding track safety or a race dispute can be handled at the timing trailer at all times.  We are requesting that drivers limit their visits to the timing trailer in order for the staff to quickly and concisely, turn around each round of eliminations.  Up til now, we've allowed racers that have been

eliminated, the opportunity to make test and tune passes in between rounds.  In order to speed up the overall process, we will be discontinuing this practice.  This will also help keep racers still in competition from accidentally being allowed to make passes while they are still in competition.  Time will be allotted after the event for racers to make passes.  If tools or equipment are needed from the timing trailer,  we will ask that you contact Assistant Track Manager Richard Garcia for such equipment.  If Richard is not at the track that day, another individual will be named to assist with this.  All of these changes should help make racing at Litespeed Raceway a more pleasurable and enjoyable experience, all the while not taking away from the ambiance and excitement that is R/C drag racing at Litespeed Raceway.  If you have any ideas or concerns regarding anything that pertains to racing at Litespeed Raceway, please do not hesitate to inform us, as this is your track.  Your ideas and inspirations have made it what it has become.  With nearly 50 cars in competition nightly, we think we're heading in the right direction!  Here's to seeing even more racers in the near future and thank you to everyone that has made Litespeed Raceway such a success!

Local Racer Named 2008 IMDRA Bracket Class World Champ !!!

11/4/2008

Donnie Legnon was on a mission from the beginning of the 2008 IMDRA Division 4 Points Series.  His mission:  to claim the Bracket Class Championship World Title.  After watching his cousin Darron just miss the title in 2007, he was determined to make it happen.  As would have it, the local battle was between these two, with all others watching to see what would happen.  Donnie convincingly won 3 of the 4 races he attended, keeping Darron at bay and ultimately taking the local title by a mere 10 points!  Donnie then proceeded to hammer everyone who got in his way at the 2008 IMDRA World Finals, taking that class in convincing fashion.  Darron qualified number 1 for the event with a perfect .400 reaction but Donnie was not having any of that.  The two met up in round 2 where Donnie's better reaction time sealed the deal for him.  Number 2 in the World points chase, Blair Kittrell of Tennessee, went out in the first round and then lost in the following round to end his hopes of taking the title.  Donnie won the series by 35.3 points.  Congratulations Donnie on a job well done!

Third Points Series of the 2008 SAMDRL Season Gets Underway With A Double-Up…

10/15/2008

Darron Legnon came out with both barrels blazing as he sets the pace for the 3rd and final points series of the 2008 SAMDRL racing season.  Darron proceeded to mow down all those who attempted to stand in his way this past weekend and took home wins in both, the Combined Bracket class and the 2.50 Index class.  Next points race in Saturday, October 18th.  Best 5 races count towards your overall score, which  will be totaled after the final race of the season, December 27th.

Congratulations To Area Winners After The World Finals ...

10/10/2008

The IMDRA rolled into San Antonio October 2nd-5th and crowned World Finals Champs before they left.  When the dust had settled. Several local racers had claim their spot in history.  In the Combined Bracket class, Darron Legnon grabbed the number one qualifying spot while cousin Donnie Legnon made his way to the top of the heap as he took all the marbles and won this class.  On the B-side Kevin Schneider and Michelle Scharf met up, with Kevin taking the win.  The 2.00 Index class saw "Bad Joe" Braddock land the number one qualifying spot while Chris Alcoser took the B-side runner-up position.  In the Electric Pro Mod/Funny Car class, Kip Scharf snagged the A-side victory while Houston area resident Ted Dziedzic took the B-side victory over SA's David Mares.  In the Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car class, Dallas area resident Joshua Wood ran the boards as he took the top qualifying spot and won the event.  He also reset the et record in this class.  Other Dallas residents, BK took the B-side winner spot while Sam Cannata took the B-side runner up position.  SA's Jeff Schmidt brought home the Victory in the Nitro Top Fuel class while Dallas resident Mike Barge took the B-side runner up spot.  Joshua Wood was not done.  He TQ'd, won the Extreme class and reset the et record!  Whew!  Congrats to everyone that participated at this event!

SAMDRL To Take A Weekend Off….

10/9/2008

The SAMDRL will shutdown operations on Saturday, October 25th to celebrate in 2 wedding ceremonies affecting numerous racers and family members.  Donnie Legnon will be losing a daughter and gaining a son this day.  On the same day, cousin Darron Legnon and wife Pam will be watching as their son walks down the isle in another ceremony.  As numerous racers, families and friends will be attending, we will forgo racing for this day and turn our attention to these 2 young couples in wishing them the best in their new lives together.  We will resume racing on Saturday, November  1st,  which will render in the Winter time schedule.  Track will open at 12 noon for test and tune.  Qualifying will get under way at 2:00 p.m.  Be sure to change your schedule !!!!!

SAMDRL Series 2 Points Completed

9/28/2008

The second points series of the 2008 SAMDRL racing season has been completed with both, the Bracket class and 2.50 Index classes having the winner decided by less that a round win.  It was a double-up effort by Kip Scharf to squeak by Jeff Schmidt for the Bracket trophy after Jeff took him out in the semi finals.  Kip had garnered enough points and held on to take the overall points win by a mere 7 points!  Kip also managed to make it to the 2.50 Index finals against Michelle Scharf, which sealed his points score no matter the outcome.  Michelle won the race, but Kip maintained a 17 point lead to take the 2.50 Index trophy as well.  October 11th begins the 3rd and final SAMDRL points race of the 2008 racing season.  Congrats to all who participated.  The 3rd series promises to be even more exciting!

2008 IMDRA Divisional Champs Are Crowned !!!!!

9/20/2008

The 2008 Division 4 season is complete.  A great day of weather and racing greeted racers for this, the final divisional race of the 2008 season.  The Bracket class saw first time winner, Jeff Schmidt take home the trophy, but Donnie Legnon could not be caught and will wear the crown as champ.  A new class run for the first time was the Combined Funny Car/Pro Mod class, a most unpredictable gaggle of short-wheel based vehicles.  Top Qualifier Sunny Waas from Houston could not put together 4 complete rounds of racing and when all was said a done, Kip Scharf came out with a car built the day before the event and took home the gold and the title as 2008 IMDRA

Combined Funny Car/Pro Mod Champ.  Michael Mayberry snagged the title as the 2008 IMDRA Nitro Top Fuel Champ with his 78 points gained earlier in the year.  One of the hottest classes contested was the Electric Top Fuel class.  Again, Houston's Sunny Waas came to play.  His new Litespeed Engineering direct drive dragster set the qualifying pace with a nice 1.589.  Ultimately he'd meet up in the finals with SAMDRL's Kip Scharf.  Both racer had run 1.59 and 1.57 respectively, so this match was going to be exciting.  Kip got out first but Sunny's power continued as he ripped off a 1.61 to defeat Kip's 1.74.  Kip did manage to hold off hard charging