DIDDY KONG RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2, 2001

Hello fellow racers:

Welcome to the 3rd Twin Galaxies Diddy Kong Racing newsletter !!

There have been extensive submissions since my 2nd newsletter, including over eighty reported scores in the past three days alone. I am finally caught up with the data entry accumulated thus far.

Not included are scores from gamer Lars from the TG console forum who announced interest in participation. I am responding to Lars this evening and hope to have some reports of scores before the 4th newsletter is prepared.

Well then, we now have seven (7) serious participants, and at least 1 more to come by next week. Things are looking better and better for the DKR scores that will eventually make it into the 2nd Book of Records comes the August 31st cutoff.

Without further ado, and to save myself a bit of time, I am going to list the rankings and activity alphabetically by track, showing race 1st, then lap 2nd. Here goes. I hope you enjoy the commentary !!

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RECENT ACTIVITY AND RANKINGS

Ancient Lake - Race
0 Min 44.81 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 45.01 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 45.15 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 45.53 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 45.63 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 49.03 Sec Mruczek, Robert
0 Min 51.23 Sec Treib, Valter Andre ("Metroid Team")

This is one of the three "Premiere" events this competition, and the fight for 1st place is something fierce. It's going to come down to the hundredth of a second by competition end, I foresee. Matt Leto may seem like he has a tenuous lead of 0.20 seconds, but in this event, that is a VERY hefty margin. Kevin Booth cranked in an equally impressive 45.01, and new contributors Louis-Philippe Sabbagh and John Mitrou also provided the first of their impressive results. One of the Metroid Team players, Valter Andre Treib, has joined in the fun, and it is conceivable that more participants from Brazil's premiere team of players will contribute scores by competition end. Can't wait to see the final results !!

Ancient Lake - Lap
0 Min 14.40 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 14.43 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 14.48 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 14.50 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 14.55 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 15.33 Sec Treib, Valter Andre ("Metroid Team")
0 Min 15.71 Sec Mruczek, Robert

There are a few DKR courses that boast sub-50 second records, and that implies the potential for sub-16 second laps. In such cases, the disparity between the top players is often miniscule, sometimes a dead-heat or tie. Here, the top FIVE players are all within 0.15 seconds of eachother. Like I said, every hundredth of a second counts.

Boulder Canyon - Race
1 Min 29.31 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 29.45 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 33.73 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 40.36 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 42.96 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 52.01 Sec Mruczek, Robert

One of the few races where a hovercraft is mandatory. Another racer enters the sub-90 second threshold here, and overtakes previous record holder Jason Whalls by a fraction of a second. Mastery of the hovercraft is NOT easy, let me tell you, but for some players it's a piece of cake, it seems.

Boulder Canyon - Lap
0 Min 28.33 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 28.40 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 29.83 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 32.06 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 32.41 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 36.31 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Even closer between the top two players...this one is coming down to the wire by competition end, I can tell.

Crescent Island - Race
1 Min 08.90 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 13.13 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 13.68 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 14.68 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 17.50 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 27.88 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Now this one I must be honest with you, I have to see to believe...such a huge disparity between the top two players is almost unprecedented in a mature classic as far as race-based games go. But if that time was actually set, WOW !!

Crescent Island - Lap
0 Min 22.03 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 23.01 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 23.41 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 23.58 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 24.80 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 26.36 Sec Mruczek, Robert

This is puzzling...the top lap is about a second faster than the 2nd fastest lap, yet the fastest RACE record is 4 seconds faster than 2nd place. Assuming the player performed back-to-back 22.03 laps in the 2nd and 3rd lap, his 1st lap would have had to beat John Mitrou's best 1st lap by 2 entire seconds. Again, I have to see it with my own eyes.

Keep in mind...nothing I say is accusatory, merely speculative based on the numbers of the records themselves. Also, I should mention that a gamer I trust VERY much has vouched for Louis' integrity just now, so as unusually fast as they might seem, they are likely for real !!

Dark Moon Caverns - Race
1 Min 47.85 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 53.30 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 53.75 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 56.83 Sec Booth, Kavin
1 Min 57.26 Sec Mitrou, John
2 Min 09.55 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Same situation here...what a disparity. The "pack" are clustered around 1:53-1:57 while the top score if nearly 5.50 seconds faster.

Dark Moon Caverns - Lap
0 Min 35.13 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 36.75 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 36.93 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 38.11 Sec Booth, Kavin
0 Min 38.53 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 42.60 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Again, the disparity between the fastest lap is 1.50 seconds, and assuming the 2nd and 3rd lap in the race leader's record game were BOTH 35.13, that's only a 3.20 second lead...the 1st lap must have been accomplished 2.25 faster than the 2nd best player did in their fastest race.

Everfrost Peak - Race
1 Min 19.05 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 20.81 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 21.58 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 23.88 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 26.90 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 32.43 Sec Mruczek, Robert

For me, one of the more annoying races due to the twists, turns and positions of the zippers. Still, Louis-Philippe managed the only sub-1:20 record thus far, but Matt Leto is in a close 2nd place.

Everfrost Peak - Lap
0 Min 25.01 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 25.91 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 25.98 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 27.53 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 27.83 Sec Booth. Kevin
0 Min 27.98 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Wow...this is actually a pretty tight race considering the laps are all in excess of 25 seconds !! a 3-second disparity is not too shabby at all. Could be anyone's by competition end.

Fossil Canyon - Race
1 Min 08.06 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 08.98 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 09.73 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 10.75 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 12.15 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 18.88 Sec Mruczek, Robert

A tough race with some annoying track obstacles and objects to watch out for along the way. At least for me it is. Louis-Philippe and Matt are pretty close on this one, and all other players (except for myself) are in striking distance.

Fossil Canyon - Lap
0 Min 21.88 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 22.21 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 22.25 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 22.63 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 23.03 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 25.50 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Funny how the disparity between the fastest/slowest lap here, on a race where players have come in at approx 1:08, is larger than the disparity on Everfrost Peaks, a race that is nearly 11 seconds longer. Anyway, Louis-Philippe managed to crack 22 seconds, while most other gamers are about a second apart or less from eachother (except me, but hey, I'm trying !!)

Frosty Village - Race
1 Min 15.43 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 16.33 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 19.45 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 22.13 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 25.56 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 33.30 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Mastery of the zippers is key here, and most are on inside turns or slightly inconvenient locations. Doesn't seem to bother the top players, though !!

Frosty Village - Lap
0 Min 23.53 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 23.90 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 25.43 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 25.73 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 26.65 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 30.76 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Greenwood Village - Race
1 Min 12.55 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 14.65 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 15.91 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 20.48 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 21.06 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 39.86 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Three players fighting for supremecy here....they hold a hefty 5+ second lead over the rest of the pack. Louis-Philippe leads the way with sub-1:13.

Greenwood Village - Lap
0 Min 22.80 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 23.98 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 24.35 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 25.55 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 25.75 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 32.28 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Haunted Woods - Race
0 Min 48.45 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 48.60 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 50.83 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 52.78 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 52.88 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 59.66 Sec Mruczek, Robert

This is the 2nd of the three "Premiere" events this competition. All players are reasonably close enough to each other that by competition end I expect a VERY tight disparity between the ranks. Personally, this is my all-time favorite stage !!

Haunted Woods - Lap
0 Min 15.00 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 15.73 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 16.11 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 16.63 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 16.83 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 18.80 Sec Mruczek, Robert

I have to tell you, this stage is NOT easy to catch all the zippers on. Doing it in all 3 laps is quite a challenge. I am glad that some true mastery has made it to the competition, as five players are sub-17 seconds each !!

Hot Top Volcano - Race
1 Min 12.30 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 15.23 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 16.48 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 20.58 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 21.00 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 23.71 Sec Mruczek, Robert

A nasty, nasty stage indeed, and one of the few that requires the plane. Lots of places to make costly mistake. Jason Whalls has an INCREDIBLE time of 1:12.30, and a seeming lock on the number one spot. Even Louise-Philippe is almost 3 seconds behind, and that goes to show you how awesome Jason's time is.

Hot Top Volcano - Lap
0 Min 22.51 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 23.83 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 24.90 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 26.01 Sec Mruczek, Robert
0 Min 26.15 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 26.31 Sec Leto, Matt

Jungle Falls - Race
0 Min 43.91 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 45.48 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 45.56 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 45.63 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 47.30 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 55.86 Sec Mruczek, Robert

WOW...a sub-44 second score !! If I am not mistaken, this is the FASTEST RACE RECORD OF ALL COURSES !! Congratulations are in order for Louis-Philippe, indeed.

Jungle Falls - Lap
0 Min 14.00 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 14.20 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 14.30 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 14.81 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 14.86 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 17.45 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Can sub-14 be achieved ? I wonder...Louis-Philippe certainly proved that it is conceivable, but unless someone actually does it....

Pirate Lagoon - Race
1 Min 04.30 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 04.86 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 11.18 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 12.18 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 13.11 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 20.13 Sec Mruczek, Robert

What a blowout we have here...Louis-Philippe and Jason are neck and neck, and their next closest competition is over 6 seconds behind !!

Pirate Lagoon - Lap
0 Min 19.76 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 20.30 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 22.35 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 22.91 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 23.23 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 25.41 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Snowball Valley - Race
0 Min 48.61 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 50.36 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 50.41 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 50.93 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 51.23 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 58.75 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Aha...someone managed to break 50 seconds. And four more are definitely poised to.

Snowball Valley - Lap
0 Min 15.38 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 15.86 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 15.90 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 15.98 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 16.28 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 18.73 Sec Mruczek, Robert

A pretty tight contest here for fastest lap, I think. The top five players are all within a second of each other.

Spacedust Alley - Race
1 Min 41.63 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 43.03 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 44.40 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 44.51 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 51.20 Sec Mruczek, Robert
1 Min 51.50 Sec Booth, Kevin

A pretty tough one from the "Future Fun Land" theme area. Louis-Philippe manages the only sub 1:42 score, while three gamers are in hot pursuit.

Spacedust Alley - Lap
0 Min 32.28 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 33.18 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 33.41 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 33.63 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 36.01 Sec Mruczek, Robert
0 Min 36.96 Sec Booth, Kevin

Space Port Alpha - Race
1 Min 42.23 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 43.26 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 43.30 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 46.05 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 49.05 Sec Leto, Matt
2 Min 02.06 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Pretty tight among the top five players. I just have to get my act together !!

Space Port Alpha - Lap
0 Min 33.03 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 33.30 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 33.43 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 34.10 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 35.76 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 39.55 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Even tighter between the laps, as is expected. Can sub-32 be achieved ?

Star City - Race
1 Min 21.71 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 24.08 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 25.35 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 25.38 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 28.91 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 42.46 Sec Mruczek, Robert

I believe that this is one of the meanest, toughest and most challenging DKR courses of all. So I salute all players in the sub;1:30 range. Louis-Philippe manages an awe inspiring 1:21.71 and takes my breath away !! All four challengers are still very close...note that I didn't say five...I'm a realist !!

Star City - Lap
0 Min 26.56 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 26.96 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 27.43 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 27.53 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 28.78 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 33.13 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Treasure Caves - Race
0 Min 44.53 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 45.60 Sec Kevin Booth
0 Min 45.68 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 45.75 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 46.08 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 51.71 Sec Mruczek, Robert

The 3rd and final "Premiere" event in this competition. Lots of opportunities for one bad skid, missing a zipper, touching a wall that slows you down. That's why I chose it as a premiere event !! That, plus it was among the fastest completion stages.

Treasure Caves - Lap
0 Min 14.00 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 14.23 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 14.25 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 14.50 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 14.55 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 15.83 Sec Mruczek, Robert

I have to say WOW at how close the scores are here...heck, I'M even close for a change. I'd like to see a sub-14 here too. Five players have the potential so far. Can it be done before August 31st ?

Walrus Cove - Race
1 Min 35.75 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 36.11 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 38.38 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 38.85 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 47.16 Sec Mruczek, Robert
1 Min 47.98 Sec Booth, Kevin

Matt Leto of Crazy Taxi and Doom fame takes a good one here with 1:35.75 and Louis-Philippe is not too far behind.

Walrus Cove - Lap
0 Min 30.11 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 31.13 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 31.43 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 32.31 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 32.83 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 35.25 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Whale Bay - Race
0 Min 55.35 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 56.80 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 00.85 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 01.08 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 05.51 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 08.50 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Jason Whalls amazes us all...quite a few gamers cannot believe he did this one, as it is so incredible....but he did !! Louis-Sabbagh proves that even the impossible can be beaten, perhaps, by a valient effort of 1.45 seconds behind Matt...close, but no cigar. I should mention that this is one of the races where hovercraft useage is mandatory.

Whale Bay - Lap
0 Min 16.90 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 17.50 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 18.46 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 19.96 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 20.86 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 21.58 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Windmill Plains - Race
1 Min 36.96 Sec Leto, Matt
1 Min 38.50 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
1 Min 39.56 Sec Mitrou, John
1 Min 40.53 Sec Booth, Kevin
1 Min 40.58 Sec Whalls, Jason
1 Min 49.56 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Matt Leto makes us all eat dust with his lightning fast 1:36.96 !! Though gamers are in general close to Matt, it is not a movement-friendly track where you can go anywhere you please without consequences, so his record impresses the heck out of me.

Windmill Plains - Lap
0 Min 30.95 Sec Leto, Matt
0 Min 31.75 Sec Sabbagh, Louis-Philippe
0 Min 32.13 Sec Mitrou, John
0 Min 32.48 Sec Booth, Kevin
0 Min 32.71 Sec Whalls, Jason
0 Min 35.21 Sec Mruczek, Robert

Again, Matt's in a class by himself here. But he has a few very determined players aching to shave a second off their times, so watch out, Matt !!

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AFTERTHOUGHTS

I am extremely pleased that several new players joined, and some have expressed interest to submit at a later date. This competition is really shaping up.

I could go on and on, but I'm quite tired from all the typing and think the scores and comments said it all.

But before I go, thanks to all players for participating thus far, and especially to those just joining in or are soon about to. This is what Twin Galaxies exists for...to find the world's best players. Happy gaming to all. See you next week.

Robert T Mruczek
Twin Galaxies Editor and Referee
Chief Editor - Twin Galaxies Diddy Kong newsletter
Star Wars arcade champion
(212) 366-3036 (work-day)

If you have any questions about this newsletter, or anything else in regards to this contest, e-mail Robert Mruczek, Chief Referee, at rmruczek@doremus.com.

Star Wars champion