FLASHBACK FRIDAY: 2013 ROAR Electric Paved On-Road Nationals [VIDEO]

0 May 4, 2017, 7:55 p.m.

By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

Everybody knows that Friday is meant for reminiscing old times. Each week we take you back in time as we flashback to some of R/C racing's greatest moments, products, drivers, and more!

Flashback: 2013

Going gorilla at the ROAR Electric Paved On-Road Nationals

Four years ago today, WCRC/Village Raceway in Boynton Beach, FL hosted 130 entries at the ROAR Electric Paved On-Road Nationals. Unlike Europe and Asia, still races pan cars on asphalt - occasionally - and even though four of the eight classes offered drew less than ten entries there was plenty of close racing. Here’s a look back at the winners, replays of the title-deciding stock and modified touring car finals, and a very interesting choice of trophy presenter.

The track looked awesome.

And the pits looked rather nice too, with palm trees for shade.

Stock Touring Car - 40 entries

Andrew Knapp charged from third on the grid to win the first A-Main by just over a second from TQ Scotty Gray, but Gray cruised to the win in A2 to force the title to be decided in A3. Knapp caught a break in A3 as second qualifier Cory Parsons didn’t make the start, so he had an easy shot at Gray - and won the race by nearly four seconds to win the championship. Eric Anderson captured the third spot on a tiebreaker.

Finishing results:

Andrew Knapp
Scotty Gray (TQ)
Eric Anderson
Robert Cooper
Cory Parsons
David Bowser
Danny Jenkins
Billy Spence
Kyle Eden
Robbie Michael

Vintage Trans Am - 14 entries

Third qualifier Tim Kowal put in a valiant effort by fighting his way to second in the first two A-Mains, but the VTA class was all Cory Parsons. Parsons won A1 by two seconds and A2 by over 7.5 seconds to wrap up the race early. Kowal won A3 ahead of Dave Franklin - who had finished third in each of the previous two races - to finish out the podium.

Finishing results:

Cory Parsons (TQ)
Tim Kowal
Dave Franklin
Jarrett Parsons
Steven Pendergraph
Tim Potter
Eric Gillespie
Jeff Flassig
Billy Dzama
Chris Remus

13.5 Touring Car - 29 entries

Top qualifier Josh Cyrul looked like he had an easy road to another title after winning the first A-Main by nearly four seconds over Cory Parsons, Andrew Knapp finishing third after missing out on the extra lap. However, Andrew Knapp fought his way past Parsons in A2 and then beat Cyrul by just under a second to set up a three-driver race for the overall. In A3, Cyrul faltered and Parsons beat Knapp by less than eight-tenths, locking all three drivers in a tie. Parsons won the title with the fastest combined times, with Cyrul second and Knapp third.

Finishing results:

Cory Parsons
Josh Cyrul (TQ)
Andrew Knapp
Chris Adams
David Bowser
Felix Law
Cristian Tabush
Andrew Ellis
Ray Darroch
Eric Anderson

Stock 1/12-Scale - 6 entries

Mark Smyka made short work of the stock 1/12-scale class - in which only six drivers entered. Smyka earned the TQ spot before beating Robert Morris in the first two A-Mains to clinch the title. Billy Spence, who had finished third behind Morris in A1 and A2, won the final race and beat Morris on the tiebreaker for second on the podium.

Finishing results:

Mark Smyka (TQ)
Billy Spence
Robert Morris
Jeff Maturo
Dustin Brant
Joe Conte

Modified Touring Car - 20 entries

Ralph Burch was the fastest driver in qualifying, earning TQ honors, but the finals didn’t go his way. Keven Hebert sped off from third on the grid to an easy A1 win by nearly six seconds, with Team Associated teammate Rick Hohwart second and Burch in third. In A2, Paul Lemieux - who had dropped out of the first main event before the two-minute mark - outpaced his XRAY teammate Burch to get back into contention for the title. Burch failed to hold onto the lead in A3 as well, and Lemieux crossed the line before the tone to celebrate his national championship with a victory lap. Hebert and Andrew Hardman swapped third and fourth place finishes in A2 and A3, but Hebert’s first-race win propelled him to a top-three finish - he missed out on second overall by just over two-tenths of a second.

Finishing results:

Paul Lemieux
Ralph Burch (TQ)
Keven Hebert
Andrew Hardman
Rick Hohwart
Felix Law
Cristian Tabush
Josh Cyrul
Dave Vera
Chris Adams

World GT - 7 entries

Like the Stock 1/12-Scale class, the World GT category drew a small field - with just six drivers competing in the main events - but two of the three A-Mains came down to the final lap. Top qualifier Joe Conte won the first A-Main by less than seven-tenths of a second over Jeff Maturo, with Seth Moore third. Moore set the fastest time of the finals when he won A2, while Maturo edged Conte by less than a half-second for second. Despite starting third on the grid, Moore raced his way to the front again in A3 and held off Maturo by less than seven-tenths to capture the championship. Conte beat Maturo for second overall by just over three-tenths of a second.

Finishing results:

Seth Moore
Joe Conte (TQ)
Jeff Maturo
Frankie Fry
Ritch Grubb
William Fraden

Scalpel - 7 entries

Released six months prior, the JConcepts Scalpel on-road conversion for the Traxxas Slash 4x4 was featured in a demonstration class comprised of team drivers and friends. Founder Jason Ruona was the fastest qualifier and kept employee Paul Wynn in his rearview mirror in all three mains, with Felix Law finishing third.

Finishing results:

Jason Ruona
Paul Wynn
Felix Law
Fred Reep
Dave Franklin
Tim Keslar
Nick Black

Modified 1/12-Scale - 7 entries

Top qualifier Andrew Knapp’s chances of the national championship - or even a podium finish - were cut short with mechanical issues in the first two finals. In his place, second qualifier Josh Cyrul won A1 and A2 comfortably to lock up the title. Dave Vera finished second in all three A-Mains - as Knapp won an inconsequential A3 - to earn second overall. Ken Miller recovered from a DNS in A1 to score third overall with third place finishes in A2 and A3.

Finishing results:

Josh Cyrul
Dave Vera
Ken Miller
Steve McNichols
Andrew Knapp
Monti Panzica
Michael Hanulec

This year, the Electric On-Road Paved Nationals will take place at N-Control RC in Elgin, Texas from August 31-September 3 - and you’ll be able to watch it all on LiveRC.

Flashback Friday

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