Lutz dishes on disappointing weekend at Southern Nationals

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By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

Race report from Ryan Lutz:
www.lutzinator.com

This past weekend was the Southern Nationals in Monroe, Louisiana. Every year this event brings some of the most spectacular track layouts to this temporary R/C track in the Ike Hamilton Expo center. This is the type of venue where a worlds could be held with Grandstands to watch the racing and a true off-road track to contend on. Having missed last years event I and kind of forgetting about it, I can now say though that his should be one to consider attending as its one of the greats.

For me my it ended up being my first weekend in a long time where my results were poor in my mind. I struggled with a few different things. I fought back through some early adversity in both Nitro mains to procure some respectable results considering. But overall the feeling at the end for me felt like some of my poor results from years past that I haven’t experienced in a while. Through it all I’m trying to find the nuggets of truth and wisdom from learn from it. Part of it could be its my 3rd race in a row, and while home for 2 days between each one I haven’t been able to catch up on my cars or program as we are preparing a cross country move. So parts of my maintenance program and engine program are lacking at the moment due to simply not enough hours in the day for this guy.

There are some good bits of info I feel I can share about though, that could be good for many, as I’m sure others have felt similar in the past. When you are doing this as a hobby and it’s meant to be fun and you spend lots of time, energy, and money to attend a larger event. Then that race ends up going poorly for you and you simply wonder why it is you are doing it. I think this is a real feeling for many at any given event, as R/C cars can be every bit as frustrating as fun at times. I think it’s key to assess what went wrong, analyze what could have been done to avoid it happening if anything, and also note the things you do find fun about the Hobby that you would miss if you didn’t do it.

So for my assessment of this past weekend I know I needed to/ should have been better prepared with my engine program (as both engines had 7+ hard gallons thru them) and I should have been to the tracks more testing setups. I can look now and give solace to the fact that my life situation has been challenging lately and the time just hasn’t been there. I know I will be able to bounce back when life gets settled in a month or two, and get my program back at 100%. I can also note how I enjoyed meeting and talking with new people and helping others with questions that they may have. And finally I should be proud that I was able to fight back in both Nitro mains to finish where I did. Even though I’ve nearly gotten to the point to where, if I don’t win, I’m upset with myself at the result. I know I can be critical of myself, and I just need to realize that there is always another race, and one race or result doesn’t define who I am.

Now to what actually transpired for me on the track. Qualifying was a standard qualpoint format with best 2 of 3. My Tekno NT48.3 Truggy was dialed as always as I took TQ in all 3 rounds. Out of the gate I was able to take TQ in Q1 of ebuggy and a close 2nd by .6 tenths in Nitro buggy. Q2 and 3 in ebuggy were more of a struggle and Joe was able to take the overall as I slid to 2nd. Nitro Q2 was a really poor race for me with one of the worst laps of my life (loosing 11 seconds on one lap) but I came back in Q3 to win that one, which would seat me 2nd behind Ogden.

Ebuggy Amains were a triple A format. I just didn’t feel comfortable in any of them. The traction had come up as a groove of sorts had formed for main day. Where this was a good help for me in the nitro classes, for whatever reason I struggled in electric. I would win A1 because Joe had a servo going out the final 3 minutes of the main. But outside of keeping Joe honest for the first 5 minutes of A2 he had my number and I settled for 2nd overall.

Nitro Truggy main was looking to be good as I started out of the gate from Pole position. I did what I’ve done so often in Truggy and extended out an early lead and was feeling very comfortable. Got in for my first stop no problem and set off on my out lap. Got most of the was around the track and ghost flamed over the back right jump. Lost nearly 1.5laps in the process but got back out there for a few laps and made up some ground before flaming again in the back left. This time I came off the stand and retrieved my truck and came back and fired it up myself. For some reason idle had dropped a lot so I cranked it up and went back on the stand. At this point I was way back many laps down. I fought back for most of the remainder of the race although my truck was running on due to putting the idle to high. This made it hard to drive but I was still fastest on the track. I made up quite a few positions and came in 7th in the end.

Nitro buggy was the big show and during warmup I was feeling really good about it. My buggy was feeling great and it was show time to avenge my Truggy mishap. Well I had some small mistakes on first lap as many were bumping and grinding. I was in about 4th to start lap two when someone crashed on the hip corner and was turned backwards and I didn’t see them as they were blocked from my view by a Marshall. So I hit them full bore head on and broke a front shock shaft. I immediately yelled down to Matt to run to our pits and get a front shock. I drove the next 4 minutes or so with the broke. Front shock and still stayed top 5 or so. I came in to have it fixed and lost over a full lap in the process. His put me down to 14th. I got back on the track with all 4 shocks albeit 2 different front piston/oil combinations. I still was making up time on the field and moving on up. I was also struggling for power as something seemed to get damaged, linkage or power wise in the hit as I was having to pull 3/4 to full throttle just to make ok power the rest of he race. I still was doing well though as my car was good and I worked my way all the way back to within 6 seconds of he lead before having to do a last minute extra pit stop for fear I was going lean. I felt that way because I was driving so hard and didn’t have the usual power and thought I may just be burning lots of fuel. I also would have been even more upset had I ran out and fell off the podium. So I settled for 2nd overall.

So that was my weekend in a nutshell. Overall it’s still not bad with a TQ, 2x 2nd and a 7th. All considering the Tekno durability and willingness to finish shown thru. 

Next is Byrons Challenge in Omaha as the 4th week in a row of racing for me before the big move. Hope to get my mojo back.