Dickinson steals show in SRCR season opener

  Jude Dickinson beat A main class top qualifier Paul Salalila to win top honors in the Saipan Radio Control Racers’ January 2012 season opener event held late last month at the club’s track in As Lito.

Salalila took the pole with the fastest qualifying time of 16.53 seconds and led seven laps of the race before crashing out of contention.

As a result, Dickinson took the expert class bragging rights once again, outmaneuvering the field in 6:06.42. Leo Gatus crossed the line in second place with a time of 6:10.87, while Jojo Saracho’s HPI Blitz rounded out the third spot at 6:11.10. The frontrunners drove Traxxas Slash cars. Six racers made up the field.

In other results, Adam Salalila came into the final heat as the top qualifier in the Young Gunz electric course category, but was bumped off the podium by Kianu and Kodin Diaz and third placer Leonardo Salalila. Adam Salalila marked an impressive 15.63-second lap time and led two laps of the race, but settled for fourth place with a time of 4:23.59.

Kianu Diaz’s TraXXas Rustler stole the checkered flag finishing 10 laps in 4:05.51, ahead of Kodin’s TraXXas Slash (4:06.31) and Leonardo Salalila’s (4:23.28) Team Losi SCT. Seven racers made up the field.

Up and comer Emir Abuan dominated the B main electric short course division, posting the fastest qualifying time before besting the five-driver field. Abuan posted a lap time of 23.47 seconds to take the pole and ended up the only one to finish all 15 laps in a time of 6:28.49.

With the win, Abuan graduated into the SRCR’s expert A main group. By rule, the B main winner always receives a chance to race in the A main race in each event, however Abuan’s current and past performance has earned him the right to run with the big boys on a regular basis.

Butter Dickinson led 11 laps of the race, but settled for second place as he and third placer Franz Decena came up a lap short; all three B main frontrunners drove TraXXas Slash cars.

Paul Salalila had his moment in the Open Class electric short course event. His Kyosho Ultima-SC swept the six-driver field. He bagged top qualifier (25. 48 seconds ) honors and a first place result ahead of Jude Dickinson’s Team Losi XXX-SCT and Rodney Catalla’s HPI Blitz. Paul Salalila finished the race in 6:21.84, while Dickinson and Catalla only managed to complete 13 of the 14 laps.

There are over 20 active SRCR members and growing and they regularly take part in practices at the As Lito track every Sunday. The group tries to hold a day-long monthly event in four racing categories. The public is welcome to check out the track and learn more about the sport/hobby.

Contact Rodney Catalla at 256-7119 for more information.