RC-Foff Finland Cup Comp 2 at Mänttä
We arrived to the gravel pit in Mänttä, Finland late at Friday night. After few tests we cobble the tent for next day's action. We slept in local reindeer farm. There were lots of sheep, chickens, rabbits, reindeers and other interesting animals. After having a fantastic sauna, we went to cottage to have some sleep.
In Saturday morning we were taken the nose at Mänttä's gravel pit. Sun was shining with full energy, because there were at least +27 degrees. So, great day for having some RC Foff fun.
Gravel pit was fantastic. Just excellent to have a RC Formula Offroad competition.
These are only few of the cars that were in the comp.
Pasi Äkräs and new comer Dictator. After a fantastic opening race the rhythm was slowing down. There one nice full throttle turn on stage five.
After the nice turn on fifth stage a massive roll over. Roll over's are very rare in Unlimited XL. So after a close race with The Bull, Dictator ends up to second place.
Timo Nikkilä with his car The Bull. Loss in last race and today was the payback time. Fantastic drive and couple of interesting conclusions jack his position to number one.
The Bull was obviously trying to collapse the cameraman in stage two.
Great win and finally Timo is getting started with the season 2008.
Sofi Sarka with borrowed car from Pertti Sarka. Sofi's another competition in Rc-Foff Finland Cup. She got bored again with the sport after two stages, so that's it. Not so impressive driving this time and position was 9.
Matti Lehtonen with Foff-Killer. This young fellow was having he's first RC Formula Offroad race. He borrowed tires from Lauri Lahti and get's some experience with this sport. Not so good performance for the speed stage. After that he had to go and position was eight.
Toni Juvakka and Cat MT. He is driving first time in Modified class with loan car from Mikko Nieminen. Picture from close situation in stage 2.
Here he is stuck from the bottom in stage six. Fine race to Toni and position is lucky number seven.
Mikko Nieminen with his Cat MT. Not so great race today, what was in Kangasala. In stage one nice trying, but it just wasn't enough.
Here's Cat MT from stage 3 nice jump and good landing so the stage continues. Mikko catches sixth place in comp number two.
Pertti Sarka and his car Hell Crawler. The car was the winner of first competition. First time that Pertti was driving Hell Crawler in competition. Pretty impressive performance.
Here in stage 5 quite bad downhill rolling after unsuccessfully driving on the hill. Pertti drives good and end's up to fifth place.
Lauri Lahti and his new car axial AX-10 named Slidhus. In stage 2 bad rollover after side slide.
Here's Slidhus in stage 3. Pretty hard course and he manages it very well. To the end real "Apophis" rolling. Lauri Lahti does good work and ends up to fourth place.
Saku Sarka and Thunder Horse. This rollover was in course number three. Saku got complete comp and some good performances.
In last stage Saku showed some excellent driving skills with fantastic landing after that jump. Saku ends up to bronze position and is current leader in the cup.
Pasi Äkräs and Gladiator. As you can see a massive sandstorm was following him in every course of the race. That is because Pasi has made his own conversion of Modified class tires. That paddle is extremely aggressive.
In last stage Pasi did normal performance and somehow he struggles to survive in silver position. He is holding now second place in the cup.
Samu Sarka and newcomer Toxoplasma Condii. This car with TCS Edge chassis, was ultimate today. Here is nice stunt of course two. Back flip and scored 330 points.
Here Toxo is in stage 5. Samu scored the best points in this course as well.
Samu Sarka almost makes it to the top in last stage, but gravity was too much against him. The gold position was well deserved.
Nightfall the great. It's almost that you could give the car a extra name. It has managed to win 6 times barrel. But this time with some electrical unknown problems it falls literally to the bottom.
Stage number two. There is the end of Lauri Lahti and Nightfall today. Position number eight will surely weak his position in gold battle of Rc-Foff Finland Cup.
Mikko Nieminen and Cat SS. In this race he showed some good performances in first stages, but in stage 5 the engine burnt off.
Engine off. So, he had to quit after 5 stages of six. Position number seven.
Pertti Sarka and his latest car Foxfield Junction. Here in first course he gets the best score and was leading his first race in Unlimited class. Approving performance!
Not bad race at all to Pertti. Some very nice performances and stunts which gave him sixth position. Good job!
Toni "Jägermaister" Juvakka and Breaker. Previous race was disaster to Toni and he showed that he will rise again. Best nitro position.
Toni was having really good race. He surprised us in many stages. Result was respectful fifth place.
Aleksi Vikkeri is newcomer to this sport too. Here is his car Sand Fire in stage two.
Aleksi showed in this race that he can be in top five if he just wants that. Really great potential and here in stage three he gets third best score. Position after a fabulous competition was four.
Pasi Äkräs and Hot Shadow. Homer was in the car again. He was driving like a mad man in this day stages. Car was like a musk ox!
Here in stage three full house points and fierce battle with Foxfield Junction and Tipsy.
As the picture attest, musk ox was in mad speed hunting a 350 points. Well today the battle was tight and it just wasn't enough. Bronze position. But he stays in lead of the cup.
Here are three shots that could explain this drivers skills.
Unbelievable.
After this marvelous performance Saku Sarka and Foxfield Junction was finally in the top three. The battle was tight and it did last to final stage where Saku did a little mistake and loses the gold position. "Silver was over the expectations" ; as the driver said Saku manages very well and other drivers keep him now as a real challenger.
Samu Sarka and Tipsy. A couple with world class potential. And in this single race when Nightfall was out of the game Tipsy and famous Jack Slayer had a chance to be in the golden position. Picture from stage 2 known as a planned rollover.
Course number three. Incredible save and 330 points.
Here Samu was thinking that golden position was his. And he was right. He was finally having a possibility to crop the fields of gold. Congratulations!
Prize ceremony was humoristic and fun after a hard day with this sport!
Jack Slayer and Tipsy. Finally won. This day will be remembered as HB cush!
Results
(Driver, car, team)
1.Samu Sarka - Toxoplasma Condii - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team
2.Pasi Äkräs - Gladiator - Havialan Konepaja
3.Saku Sarka - Thunder Horse - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team
4.Lauri Lahti - Slidhus - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team
5.Pertti Sarka - Hell Crawler - Helltek
6.Mikko Nieminen - Cat MT - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat
7.Toni Juvakka - Cat MT - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat
8.Matti Lehtonen - Foff-Killer - TPS Racing
9.Sofi Sarka - Hell Crawler - Helltek
1.Samu Sarka - Tipsy - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team
2.Saku Sarka - Foxfield Junction - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team
3.Pasi Äkräs - Hot Shadow - Havialan Konepaja
4.Aleksi Vikkeri - Sand Fire - Team X-Park
5.Toni Juvakka - Breaker - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat
6.Pertti Sarka - Foxfield Juntion - Helltek
7.Mikko Nieminen - Cat SS - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat
8.Lauri Lahti - Nightfall - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team
1.Timo Nikkilä - The Bull - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat
2.Pasi Äkräs - Dictator - Havialan Konepaja
Standings in RC-Foff Finland Cup 2008
(Driver, car, team, points)
1.Saku Sarka - Thunder Horse - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team - 32p
2.Pasi Äkräs - Gladiator - Havialan Konepaja - 29p
3.Mikko Nieminen - Cat MT - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat - 23p
4.Samu Sarka - Toxoplasma Condii - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team - 20p
4.Samu Sarka - Hell Crawler - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team - 20p
6.Lauri Lahti - Slidhus - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team - 12p
7.Pertti Sarka - Hellperi - Helltek - 10p
7.Sofi Sarka - Hell Crawler - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team - 10p
7.Pertti Sarka - Hell Crawler - Helltek - 10p
8.Lassi Väänänen - Cenator - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat - 8p
9.Toni Juvakka - Cat MT - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat - 6p
10.Lauri Lahti - Emperor - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team - 5p
10.Matti Lehtonen - Foff-Killer - TPS Racing - 5p
1.Samu Sarka - Tipsy - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team - 35p
1.Pasi Äkräs - Hot Shadow - Havialan Konepaja - 35p
3.Lauri Lahti - Nightfall - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team - 22p
4.Saku Sarka - Foxfield Junction - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team - 17p
5.Toni Juvakka - Breaker - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat - 15p
6.Saku Sarka - Tipsy - Ruutanan FoffRoad Team - 12p
6.Aleksi Vikkeri - Sand Fire - Team X-Park - 12p
6.Mikko Nieminen - Cat SS - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat - 12p
9.Lassi Väänänen - Hellsmate - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat - 10p
10.Arto Nieminen - Sandslinger - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat - 8p
10.Pertti Sarka - Foxfield Junction - Helltek - 8p
1.Pasi Äkräs - Dictator - Havialan Konepaja - 18,5p
1.Timo Nikkilä - The Bull - Pirkanmaan RC-Autoilijat - 18,5p
Thanks to organizers and competitors for the great day!
Samu Sarka
www.rc-foff.net
