Driver: Mads Andreas Callesen
Mechanic: Bjarne Callesen
Race: DRCMU 1
Date: 5.10.2014
Track: Randers
Class: Superstock - 17,5 T boosted
Car: Serpent Eryx 3,0

My youngest son Mads, for whom I am the mechanic, has gotten the new Serpent Eryx 3,0 with alloy chassis. We had made some practice at our small home track, but none on a larger track. We felt both we were not optimal prepared for the first race. We talked about our expectations for the race. We both had the same feeling - high B-main or low A-main. Last season Mads had twice made it into the A-main and ended up as 7th and 8th.

The track in Randers was big but also very technical. We knew the carpet from last year. It was very tricky to drive due to the high carpet pile and long hair. However, Mads did some very good practice rounds and we found a good setup. We drove the first practices on old Sorex 28 with JB blue, but at DRCMU the control tires has changed to the new Sorex 28 with black inserts. As we tried the new tires in the evening, the whole balance of the car was gone! Normally new tires are good, but the low grip of the carpet could not get the tires to work. I used then the tire sander, and it helped. Good to know for the race day the next day.

So I started the Sunday morning using the tire sander on the fresh set of race tires. Some of the competitors did not try new tires on Saturday, and they all had huge problems. We did not, and the car felt ok in the practice rounds. The practice rounds were used for reseeding and Mads got seeded as fourth out of 33 racers - a big surprise for both of us.

Mads drove excellent in the qualification. Although he was pushed of the track while overlapping a slower car, he made an astonishing second place in the first round. In the second round it was almost the same. Mads made some small errors late in his run, and he ended up "only" as third. My nerves could not stand this. His A-main was secured. For the last round I tried some setup changes, but the car was too tricky to drive for Mads, and he made a seventh place. Mads had to put a three on his car for the A-main.

In the A-main Mads had to battle with more experienced drivers, but he did a great job. In the first round - after he did a poor start - he had some fine fights and ended up as fourth just behind the car in third place. In the second round he drove almost alone. The two cars in front of him were some seconds away and he had the same in lead over the car in fourth position. He ended up as third. In the last round Mads got nervous and made some errors. He ended the last round as sixth.

In the end he got a fourth place overall at the first DRCMU race this season. It was an unexpected result for both of us, as Mads has far less experience than the other competitors in the top of the Superstock class. I am very happy for Mads. It will give him a boost for the next practices and races.

Our new Serpent S411 Eryx 3,0 was amazing all weekend. The car had a good balance and it was easy to drive. Some other racers from the modified class told me, Mads did a really good job and the car looked very good on the track. He deserved his result.

We both look forward to the next races.

Regards
Mads and Bjarne Callesen