Sinclair won short course at last Factory Tracks Midwest Series race at Pheasant Run

0 June 8, 2015, 5:44 p.m.

By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

Race report from X-Factory

www.xfactoryrc.com

The Factory Tracks Midwest Series returned to Pheasant Run for the 10th annual race over the weekend of June 6-7; track owner Terry McDowell’s layout and facility did not disappoint. Mother Nature almost did.

X Factory President and Chief Engineer Paul Sinclair TQed the first two rounds of 2wd Mod Short Course on Saturday with his new SCX – 61, locking up pole position. There was a third qualifier Sunday morning, then the 5-min A main starting just after 2:00. Saturday was run in bright sunshine, but clouds moved in Sunday morning, and the program was hurried along as fast as possible because radar showed rain moving in. This was OK with Sinclair, who simply ran off with a wire-to-wire win just a few minutes before the first drops fell. “My new SCX – 61 could out-jump everyone else and with the big double, the jump onto the big table-top, and the 6-jump rhythm section this was crucial,” said Sinclair. He added, “The new Viper VST black edition 7.5 has good bottom end, the torque is very usable, and that was a big help today.”

Sinclair also qualified 7th in mod buggy with his X – 6 Cubed, finishing 3rd to make it two podium finishes for the weekend.

This will be the last Midwest Series race at Pheasant Run, one of the very last events to be held there; the track is behind McDowell’s house and he is selling it. Terry has several acres near Holly, MI and built the first track behind his house about 12 years ago, adding a great drivers’ stand, large timing booth, and other amenities as the years have passed. There is an 8 foot elevation change between the high area on the right side of the track and the lowest spot near the center, and with the loose Michigan dirt rooster tails are flying everywhere!

Terry McDowell is moving to a new house on a larger piece of property, and hopes to have a new track ready for next year. X Factory is sad to see Pheasant Run close, but looks forward to the new facility. If it’s anything like the original, it will be a great place to have fun racing!