Well now the dust has settled and I’m back in the comfort of my home I can now reflect on Saturday’s event. As most of you have already read, I managed to win the HPI Challenge and I’m now contemplating a trip to Bangkok, Thailand to compete in the “HPI All Asia Challenge Finals Series” in December this year. Right from the start of this report I’d like to thank several people that made this trip so much easier for me:
In no particular order;

• The SORMCC Club for providing pit area, tent, tables, and chairs making interstate racing far less troublesome.
• Dave Smith (one of the Icon’s of Aussie RC); can’t thank-you enough for your hospitality and after dinner stories, great fun.
• “The Flea” for all your assistance in setup  and being my sounding board.
• “The Cougar” you are definiately the secret weapon of RC. I now realise why “The Flea” is so good. You da man, Coug’s. My offer for your exclusive services is in the post….lol 

 
Morning Setup/ Practice
 
 
We got to the track around 8am and there was enough time to get in one practice run in before the racing started at 9am. My pit area was already setup with tables and chairs. so I unpacked everything and glued up some tyres. The Challenge ran a “controlled tyre, insert & rim, which were the Sorex 36R tyre, Sorex C medium insert, and Proline Velocity 24mm Rim. Vent holes in the rims were open, so I decided to put 4 x 1.2mm holes in each rim.
With 7 minutes remaining before practice concluded, I quickly threw my car onto the track to check if the car was still in the zone, and the track condition had not changed from Friday’s Practice Session. The track was very busy with everyone getting there last minute laps in. I was no different and put the car on the track. My session didn’t last long however as I only got 3/4 ways around the track when I was persuaded by another to get off the racing line. The damage was a broken spindle carrier, and a CVD bone.
What a great start to the day! I was pretty disappointed and mumbling to myself about a broken car and having no practice time when “the Cougar” came to rescue me with,
“Well, how was the car for the first part of the lap”?
“Hmm, it was actually quite good”. Which is just what was needed to re-focus my attention on the task at hand and repair my car.
Qualifying

Due to a communication/logistic issues, there was a delay in getting the motors before the first qualifier. With some hasty moves by Dave Smith and Race Officials, they got the ball rolling and it was all good for the next Qualifier. The motors we used were a 13 turn, zero degree, locked endbell, and they were surprisingly responsive and great to drive. With the Second Qualifier ready to run and with the right motors bolted in, some competitors seem to be struggling with the grip on offer as there car’s were drifting badly, but my car was solid and I came away with the win with a 2 lap lead over the field. The Third and last qualifier was relatively the same but more competitors were getting a handle on the conditions and my lead was reduced by a lap. Never-the-less, TQ was safe.
Finals
Race One
Starting from pole was a definite advantage as the rest of the field had a bend in the track to contend with. So, my start was good but the competion was faster again then in qualifying, and unfortunately I tangled with a back-marker which spun me off the track and I lost the lead to a fast improving Tom Matley who drove fawlessly from 3rd spot off the grid. I got my car going again, but my car was handling funny and was steering off to the right. I also noticed there was a scrapping/dragging sound coming from my car as it passed the Driver’s Stand. I thought I had broken something in the collision earlier but press on as I was still in second spot. About a minute to go the scrapping sound disappeared and the car was good again, but Tom was too far in front and I was out of time. I just held on for second place.
Race Two
Started well and got clear of the field. Tom was in hot pursuit trying everything, but late in the race he got caught by a back-marker as I did in the first. Tom eventually finished third with a fast improving Ray Zarb (from 8th spot off the Grid) taking second and I managed my first win in the Finals. This left the last final to decide who was going to Thailand with Ray, Tom, and myself all able to take it out depending on the finishing order of the next race.
Race Three
Like the previous finals, I started well and got clear of the field however I was suffering some nerves early in the race but as the race went on my confidence grew in the cars handling and pace. Ray Zarb was pulling out all the stops and showed extraordinary pace in the first third of the race and was catching me up. I started to push hard and thankfully his pace dropped off and I managed to secure the win and this years Title. Ray came home second, and Tom I think from memory got clobbered again by traffic.
All in all, I consider myself pretty lucky to have won, as it could have very easily gone the other way.
Once again, thanks to all that helped me over the weekend and a big thanks to HPI for the Sponsoring the Event, the SORMCC Club for a well run event, the Canteen staff that fed us, and the competitors and spectators.
 
Regards,
Peter