The Logan club did their usual good job of hosting the annual Winter Cup this last weekend.  I wasn’t there saturday so can’t report (maybe someone else can chime in) but have some thoughts on Sunday’s racing…

The interclub series for 2006 continued at Logan’s Winter Cup after the opening round at Bayside.  Lots of clubs represented – including a good crew from the Sunshine Coast (host of Round 3 at the end of October and home of an excellent track). 

Open Nitro
Nitro was all Michael Sherman. He was quickest comfortably and won the final fairly easily.  All the best Michael on your round the world holiday – see you in November!

Rebuildable Stock
Stock racing just seems to get better and better. Today added interest with the arrival of the gang from Casino, plus Keith Mackrill running stock having run out of modified motors. A very interesting day!
Damien Barnier was the pace setter in qualifying and took a good TQ ahead of Keith Mackrill. Keith gradually improved through the day as he rediscovered the technique of driving the slower cars.  Andrew Shapland was looking ominous in third.  Further back Heavy was delighted to again place the Academy in the A final.  It’s quite impressive this car – and almost certainly the cheapest competitive tourer on the market.
Come finals time and Damien’s world fell apart with two very small errors. He led throughout the first final with Keith applying pressure (as only he can) – and finally it told with a tiny mistake from Damien allowing Keith to the lead with the chequered flag in sight. Damien finished second from a very fast Shapland.
Race two and Damien had it shot to bits – leading comfortably as Keith battled back from about 4th or 5th after the start.  Again a tiny mistake from Damien (clipping the kerb in the chicane) had big consequences and allowed Keith to the lead and the win.  So victory, but very hard fought, for Keith, with Damien second and Andrew third.  Heavy finished 8th after some competitive finals races in the STR4 Pro2.
 
Modified
A strong lineup today and the usual mixture of chassis and motors.  Anthony was quickest in qualifying – dropping into the 19 lap zone in the last heat. I managed second on the grid with John Perkins, Leonard Lai and Martin Nichols close by.
In the first final I managed to get to the lead and stretch away a little over Leonard and Anthony before a disatrous lap saw both Anthony and myself tangle with lapped traffic and both eliminated.  My own accident started at full bore on the back straight – and by the time my car stopped bouncing it was nearly on the front straight.  Nasty!  Leonard went right on with the job to take a good win.
Race two and Anthony got away well, from Leonard and myself after a couple of messy laps.  That’s pretty well the way it stayed through to the finish. I think it was this race that saw the first sub 16-second lap (Anthony a 15.9).
In the third final Anthony and I got away and had a nice close race right through to the finish – but Anthony was too good for me to get by. 
Overall Anthony, from Leonard (well deserved and good pace) and myself.  Martin was fourth (and took the Bob Vardy Memorial Trophy for top “Senior” driver!).  John Perkins had a tough finals series (but a win is close, the speed is definitely there) and Big Mac made a welcome return to finish 6th.  A quick note – Drew Crawley finished 7th, but is definitely one to watch.  Drew and his dad Tom are working hard and learning fast. Look out in 12 months or so. 
A couple of small changes to the track (notably the markers used in the chicane area, and the start grid location) and this has the makings of an excellent Queensland titles layout.