I had a great day today. Made a return from my semi-retirement to race the Mi3 in stock at Sunny Coast. This is a biased account of what happened.
Firstly let me say that the Mi3 is fantastic – much better than the driver talent behind the wheel today, can’t wait to see some really good stock drivers with this car. Shaps also had his car going well today and has quickly established himself amongst the top ranks of modified in Qld.
Anyway back to stock.
I had some great dices with various people, John and Shev especially. I came out in front in each heat, won all the heats and TQ’d for pole in the final. Qualifying went something like Heavy (mi3) John (TC5) Shev (TC4 ) Matt (Mi3 ) and I can’t remember after that. The first couple of corners of the final were a bit scrappy and Shev got a jump on us all. I set out after him but he was just too good. He had swapped into his TC5 for the final and tried a different ratio for the 13.5 and ended nearly a lap ahead of me in second and I think John or Matt in third. Great day, great racing, great bunch of blokes to spend time with. Interestingly all the top 4 were in teh new generation cars with 2 associateds and 2 schumachers.
In mod I think Leonard TQ’d from Anthony and I think Leonard led the final for most of it but I think Anthony got to the line first. I think Peter was third and shaps fourth but not sure – I reckon one of teh mod guys will correct this report if I’ve got it wrong. Interestingly I think Leonard was testing teh new ORRCA rules for 5 cell and I have to say his car looked pretty good and fast.
The 3rd Interclub and the Qld titles are going to make for some great racing – it’s a fantastic track, great layout and great traction. The corners are going to have permanent berms after next working bee which will eliminate teh plough discs and teh corner cutting potential in a couple of areas.
The club is having a training / info day for their juniors and novices in a couple of weeks which is a great initiative I reckon – I always come away from Sunny Coast thinking I wish I lived closer and could get there more often. They fulfill the first prerequisite that any club needs to consider – they make it a pleasant place to spend your time. Good on you guys and thanks.
Stories from the world of RC car racing
11 responses to “Sunny Coast Sunday 15th July”
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It was good to see you back out on the track again today Heavy, You are still fast and the Schuie’s were looking great… Catch you again next time..
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Heavy it’s always great to see you back in racing….just have to get you tallest son back on a regular basis now!
The Sunny coast club in my opinion is probably the most family orientated clubs in SEQ. Its great to see so many father/son combos and/or even the whole family making it a day out together.
As one spectator said to me at the end of the day (being their first time to the track), “I can see why my son likes it so much, its a great day out here”.
Now I didn’t get to see much stock racing, but I do know that Chris Shevelling was improving on his personal best times and the racing was close.
With regards to mod tourer, it also great to see so many fast mod drivers turn up (John Perkins, Keith Mackrill, Peter Dooley -HPI challenge winner, and Andrew Shapland). It was also good to some of the local stock guys trying out mod (Chris Shevelling and Andrew Clough).
A surprise to me was the return of Keith ‘Mac Daddy’ Mackrill! (thanks to Heath Douglas’s Xray)……….one has to ask, is an XRAY t2 007 going to be Mac Daddy’s new ride and venture back into mod racing???
Anyway, TQ went to myself (personal best) followed by Anthony atack, Drew Crawley, and Keith ‘Mac Daddy’ Mackrill (already on the pace with someone else’s car!!!….not sure on the rest. The final was very close between Anthony and myself, with not more than a car length between us for the entire race. With 2 laps to go, I went slightly wide on the corner leading onto the chicane before the transponder loop and this gave Anthony ‘The Flea” the lead and the win! It was one of the closest and cleanest races I have had since my return to racing! Anthony finished with a personal best of 15 laps 5mins 4.147sec and I finished also a personal best of 15 laps 5min 4.797sec, with local mod driver Drew Crawley in third, Peter ‘Grandpa’ Dooley, Andrew ‘Shaps’ Shapland, Keith Mackrill (who missed the start – due to his usual lateness antics), Andrew Clough, Chris Shevelling and John Perkins (I think John had an issue and DNS).
I have and will be continuing to run 5 cell mod as this is where I see this class going. From my own testing and racing (Sunny Coast and Brendale), 5 cell mod is as fast as 6 cell mod, but you seem to have less wear on the drive train, less wear on tires, the motors and esc run cooler, car is more nimble to drive and the power band of the b/l motors are smoother. All a BIG plus in my opinion! I will post a write up on 5 cell shortly.
Another great days racing! As I said, great track, club and atmosphere. Well done to the Sunny Coast club.
– Leonard.LikeLike
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The computer dropped one of my laps in the final. I actually made a pass on Drew on the last corner on the last lap for third, I think we can even go to the video referee (Tom Crawly) for some evidence. LOL
I have to say the Sunny Coast runs the best family orientated meet around. I will be back on a much more regular basis that is for sure.
AndrewLikeLike
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Hmmm, Heavy’s tallest son. You are wanting Steve back racing full time then?
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Ok, smarty pants……secondd tallest son!!! Anyway, I thought the ‘black sheep’ never counts!!! haha!!!
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And yes, Andrew I think you are correct as the lap times indicate. So the corrected results should be:
1st: Anthony ‘The Flea’ Atack
2nd: Leonard ‘The Reaper’ Lai
3rd: Andrew ‘Shaps’ Shapland
4th: Drew Crawley
5th: Peter ‘Grandpa’ Dooley
6th: Keith ‘Mac Daddy’ Mackrill (that’ll teach you for being late and trying to put others off!)
7th: Andrew ‘Chowman’ Clough
8th: Chris ‘Shev’ Shevelling
9th: John ‘getting it sideways’ PerkinsLikeLike
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Drew Crawley also started from pit lane. (I think!) No waiting for anyone up there! I like it!!
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Hey Leonard…. Since when do you get to decide what your nickname will be… I have it on good Authority that Heavy nick you as “The Swallow” not “The Reaper”…..
I’m sure Anthony will confirm this for me…hahahahaLikeLike
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And Andrew Shapland nick is “Side-show Bob”, not “Shaps”
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uuurrrggggggghhhhhh!!!!!!!
(In side show bob voice) LOLLikeLike
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You are correct Andrew. When you rolled over the loop it did not count your time. Great racing bodes well for the state titles for a Qlder to take it out. We have decided to run Canvas tyres for the titles as they give excellent grip and provided Drew with his best time yet. Have to run at least 6 heats for the canvas to work well.
Thanks guys for video interviewsLikeLike
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