Norfolk Whoop Club had something extra special planned for this sunny September weekend. They had scouted out the Norfolk Tank Museum who were willing to let us crazy whoopers race around their amazing machines. I mean it's not like we could do any damage….!
Supported by FPV Racing Solutions, the leading drone race timing and live stream host in the UK, the Norfolk crew set out a huge race course around the tanks going between machines around gun barrels and across turrets.
Turning up at the Tank Museum Race we were greeted by huge tanks pointing directly into our van but soon found our way to the campsite in the training ground field. Rocking up next to fellow whoop campers it was great to enjoy a fire pits and fishing chips with friends before the race tomorrow.
In the morning, 16 excited pilots from across the UK congregated and set out their kit in the tank pits. Across the chassis of tanks and next to armed personnel carriers we had batteries charging and pilots lining up for their first races around this unique games console level.
There is a vast array of tanks and military equipment here. Spanning a wide range of military history you can see how the more modern tanks have evolved from the beginning of tank history. The team at Norfolk tank museum have enthusiastically recreated one of the first world war tanks that sparked this new age of technology. Deborah II, looming over our start line was an auspicious place to begin each of our high tech flying races.
Of course being surrounded by a load of metal boxes and flying within a big metal shed did lead to a few video issues. Having good, reliable kit and decent goggles really made the difference in this race.
Like everyone I found a few areas of the track where the video was challenging. This was only really a problem if I was unlucky enough to be furthest from the pilots line when someone came round our end of the track. But on the hole, even using analogue video, I had a really good race.
I've recently replaced my entire whoop racing fleet with the Beta FPV air 65. They luckily arrived just in time for this race and so after binding them and setting my OSD up how I like it I basically flew these drones stock. I have to say I like them in angle mode more than others I have flown recently. I did break a few things like canopies and frames but when going head-to-head with a tank that's not surprising.
Following the TWUK rules as a trial for their next hotly anticipated race, we had triple finals for all. I narrowly missed out on A main through a combination of nerves and challenging video environment leading to some poor qualifying runs. But I was happy to be in around with Norfolk’N’Good herself.
It was great to see how everyone got the track dialed in and had chosen their fastest lines. The moving gate was a great feature on track as was the corkscrew around the gun barrel of a tank. This did trip up one pilot who bobbled and landed in just the wrong spot to slip into the engine bay. After 20 mins of digging thru the engine, it was pronounced lost to the greasy depths. Even in its retirement, the tank had destroyed another target.
Getting the finals underway, now sorted into our main brackets the racing really heated up. There is always a certain amount of tension when racing and some perform better under the pressure than others. Luckily I seem to do better in the race than in the qualifying. I seem to find more pressure from trying to beat myself than beating others around the track. Most of the time a slower and more consistent approach pays off, as it did here. Finally managing whole laps without crashing made the difference and let me take home 1st in the B Main finals.
But of course the main event, A Main finals, was where the fast boys lived. Seeing them back flying head to head again, Martian Mc Fly and Little Man put on a great race. Their friendly rivalry putting pressure on each other forced mistakes and crashes that meant Arthur swept by and with smooth runs, took first position.
Here are the results kindly provided by FPV Racing Solutions
ARTHUR
MARTIAN MCFLY
LITTLE MAN
GV
MINIROLLSRULE
NORFOLKNGOOD
LEX_FPV
BLUEPRINT
RCMANIAC98
BUBBLES
JIPPYHESUS
AT-L-DO
NCFPV
NEWBANATOR FPV
NO ONE EXPECTS....
What an amazing weekend this Tank Museum Race has been. The venue was challenging but totally worth it. There is no other drone sport that provides access to such crazy environments and experiences like this. It’s like a real life version of a themed video game level!
Keep an eye out because Norfolk Whoop Club have big plans and planes coming up in their next race at the Aviation Museum! Not only is it going to be an incredible race around some amazing aircraft but this one will score you points in the TWUK League!
Norfolk Whoop Club - Aviation Museum Race - November 1st
Get booked in now and fly something magical!
UPDATE!! The greasy tank whoop was found!
