Dutch open 2007 (Indoor)

4-in-a-row-! Close, very close, but again a win for the Elcon team! Ken Walckiers did it again and took his 3rd big international victory in 2007. Tim vander Elst made a superb 3rd place putting a second Cleon on the podium. Kay Koops came unbelievable close but had to settle for 2nd spot.

Except of 4 victories in a row at international races, this was also the 4th in a row that a 2nd Cleon was on the podium as well. A very strong result on astroturf was already achieved and now in sand as well.

Again 3 youngsters on the podium, this was nothing new. Even the same faces were on the podium again like at the Powercup, though a bit in different order.

As always november is the time for the Dutch open indoor. This time an all new location was found, AAA style racing!

Many Brits (18) took the effort to come over. But also pilots from Belgium, Germany and of course Holland were present.
Already some month before the race it was fully booked with the maximum allowed nr of pilots. The turn out was marvelous with almost 120 pilots starting.

During qualification it soon proved pilots in the very first heat had some advantage. The regular names were therefor a bit mixed through the field and some new names came more forward then expected. This resulted in 3 Cleons being among the first 14 drivers providing a direct place in the sub finals.

The other 3 team members had to fight their way up on the Sunday when finals were held.

Curt Sonneville found his Waterloo in his half final. He was one of the guys that already survived 2 finals battling his way up. Getting through a 3rd final was too much. With a big grin on his face he reported: "the driving was most amusing".

"It ain't my cup of tea driving this loose sand", this was Renze Brink his comment. After his quarterfinal he came 6th. This was not what Renze expected after his huge succes in the UK (2nd) and winning the main race of the season in Spain, Salou.

Guest driver Martin van Dijken had some serious intensions. Being in the final unlucky last year he had set his mind on the first 3 places. He was very eager, probably too eager. Next time Martin, next time ;)

Ken en Tim showed what they are made of in their sub final. Like on a string they came 1st and 2nd very easy and were full confidence for the main final.

Johnny Lantman faced serious competition in his subfinal with the Belgian champion Patrick Schepens, former world champion Oddie. It was the group of death. The track changed a lot since his last qualification and the others proved to have a better set-up. Unfortunately he came 6th and was out. Just 2 Cleons remained for the main final.

The track was again prepared superb, being flat the complete field raced at a tremendous speed when started. Each time it goes faster and faster. Pete Whitehead one of UK's top drivers made a gap, his engine had loads of HP's which were usefull at the start.

After 5 minutes the dream seemed to end for one of our cars. Ken had moved up to 3rd spot but lost drive as it seemed. The car was recovered from the track and the engine was just running on iddle. Failsave had come in. As soon as it came it went away, the car was again put back on the track. Ken now was 1 round behind everybody, this was not going to be an easy one.

During the race the track transformed into the moon landscape, holes deep enough to put a complete car in. Things were changing and it asked different skills.

Rene Kuipers one of the main favourites for victory after his strong win a month before at a similair track pushed too much and flipped over a few times. Oddie also could not control himself and dropped down in the field.

Pete Whitehead who started as hitted by lightning kept pushing but this caused mistakes, he was loosing precious time each time he flipped over. Tim vander Elst, Kay Koops en Ken Walckiers used their brain and got it right, they were moving up to the front of the field and took over. Ken clearly found his way up after the unlucky failsave and was leading somewhere halfway the race. Kay however came closer and closer as the track became worse and worse. The last 2 rounds were mind bogling and unbelieveable. 2 corners before finishing Kay took over the lead. But he then got hitted from the back from a driver that really had nothing to do in the fight for place 1 & 2.
The unluck at the start was no longer with Ken and he could take the lead back. He passed the chequered flag with a blimey 0.34(!) secs difference. This was enough to take the biggest trophy home.
Kay Koops came thus 2nd and Tim took a very convincing 3rd.
A better end of the succes full season 2007 we could not imagine or wish for.
All that made us feel home and helped out during this wonderull year: THANKS!
You know who you are!

1. Ken Walckiers (BE)
2. Kay Koops (NL)
3. Tim vander Elst (BE)