Welcome to day two of the AARCMCC EP Touring nats!
If its possible, it’s even hotter at Whalan today than yesterday. In the pit area, under shade, it’s 42 degrees. Track surface is hovering just below 60 degrees. Tyres, batteries, motors and under heaps of stress. Puffed lipos are common.
Car performance is hard to come by in the heat, with lots of guys getting loose, and tyres going off very quickly.
The same names are fast, with Ryan Maker showing up this morning and instantly quick. Bakla, Nicholson are still fast.
We’re heading toward some timed practice this afternoon, but almost certain to be interupted by a thunderstorm. There’s a bit of thunder banging around further west already.
Our crew are still going well. We’ve settled on a setup for the Mi4 that we’re happy with, cars are working well, nice to drive and looking after their tyres as well as most. Anthony is fast, Leonard going well having just arrived this morning. My car is still working well as we get down to trying the last few small changes.
More news later. Too hot to type now!
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11 responses to “2009 AARCMCC Nats Day 2”
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thunderstorm hitting now, still hot, now more humid. track drying just as fast as the rain falls.
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Live interview with Darrin Campbell:
ARC: Daz, tell us so far, how is the nats going for you?
DC: (long pause, thoughful look). Off to a slow start, struggling with temp as most cars are. Drivers too.
ARC: what gear are you running?
DC: AE TC5R, Speed Passion Motors & ESC.
ARC: How’s the track compare with other times you’ve been here? What does the high temp do to the track?
DC: Grip is lower than usual and tyres are overheating.
ARC: What kinds of things can you try when conditions are like this?
DC: Testing different additives, and playing with higher roll centres. It’s a balance between tyre life and consistency, but without losing overall speed.
ARC: What are your hopes for this weekend?
DC: Get the most out of the car, and myself.
ARC: Very diplomatic, but tell me more?
DC: If I get the most out of both those things, I’ll be somewhere near the pace.
ARC: Who is looking fast so far?
DC: Simon Nicholson, definitely. Ari is consistent too. It’s hard to tell because there is such a big difference between new tyres and second/third run. Until we know who is running what, everything is a bit difficult to tell.
Thanks Daz!LikeLike
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Live interview with Qld young gun Corey Broadstock:
ARC: So is this your first nats Corey?
CB: Yep. I raced at Tamworth once, but this is my first nats.
ARC: What classes are you running? and cars?
CB: XRAY 009 in Superstock and Modified
ARC: Do you prefer Mod or Superstock and why?
CB: Mod for sure, it’s heaps faster.
ARC: How are your cars going so far this weekend?
CB: Both working well, I’m happy with them.
ARC: You’re here with your dad, how does the partnership work?
CB: Dad does everything. I drive.
ARC: What are your hopes for the weekend?
CB: Superstock, I’m hoping for an A-final position. I’m really happy with that car. Mod is hard to say. I’m new to mod, but its the class I want to race. I just hope to get everything working well.
ARC: Thanks Corey!LikeLike
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Rain stayed a couple hours, and then cleared up. Back on track about 4pm for a frantic last practice session before raining again at 4.45pm. Cars back on track now at 5pm – it’s so hot the track dries very fast. Driver’s stand is full, with a queue – its a real nats now!
Activities will start at 9am tommorrow with 2 minute practice/transponder check by heats, before qualifying begins. Practice has been a little disorganised, with no seperation of heats, meaning that 12th, Stock, Superstock and Mod guys have all been out together. Worse still, the Minis have been out as well, and running a different layout. There’s nothing like ripping down the straight at 90km/h to find a mini stopping to turn in on a different track layout. Sure clears the sinuses! Practice by class would have been easy to organise, and much better for everybody, but it’s all academic now.
Last runs of the day, Simon and Ryan looking very fast, the T3’s looking nice on the track.
My last run I was very pleased with the car – without question the best car I’ve driven. Just have to try and put together a bunch of consistent laps tomorrow and then see what happens.
Have had the chance today to chat with a few of the guys from SA – a big crew over for the nats. The guys are running a mixture of XRAY T3, and Tamiya 416we, are enjoying things and getting the cars worked out. Michael Jones is here from NZ and slowly getting his XRAY dialed in.
Lots of people are finding the track surface and grip conditions a little hard to come to terms with, even after two days practice. Lots more stories to be written this weekend as qualifying gets underway.LikeLike
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I’m hearing the Flea is going well… But did he pack his monkey this trip? I hope this year, this time, he left it at home… 😉
And what about you Mr G… Tell us about everyone else by all means but don’t forget about telling us how you’re going… 😆LikeLike
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Another nearly 2 hours of running, with rain falling again now at 7pm probably finishing things for the night (but I’ve thought that several times already today).
The same guys are still fast in Mod, with Phil Woodbury also looking fast on one run of his that I saw. I’m not sure how much EP mod Phil has run, but he’s looking good at this stage.
There are fast cars from most manufacturers, XRAY, Corally, Tamiya, and of course the mighty Schumacher Mi4’s are going well.
In superstock most feel that Damien Zarb is the man to beat – and he’s definitely looking fast and putting in some good lap times. Nick Morris is going well, and young Queenslanders Corey Broadstock and Tim Weier look like they are there abouts.
I’m still trying to get a handle on who is who in EP Stock, but all will be revealed tommorrow morning when practice is over, and its time to RACE.
My own practice session has gone well. The setup we got to yesterday has worked well throughout the day, just fine tuning tyre preparation, and playing with a couple of small changes. My final two runs at the end of the day were as good as I can do. If I’m not competitive tomorrow, it’s definitely time to hang up the Mod transmitter – ‘cos the car is working very well.
Track conditions have been cooler this afternoon, and consequently easier on car, tyres and motor. Most are able to make the tyres last five minutes at this stage.
The demo motorbike guys have been trying to get some practice in, but can’t realistically share a track with tourers. As a result, they get most of their track time in the rain – and the look fantastic, generating grip even on a wet track.
In terms of mini, I don’t know who is who, and it’s difficult for the mini guys having always to give way to the TC’s on their slightly different track layout. That makes it hard for them as well.
Nice to see long-time R/C legend and event sponsor (through his Venom enterprise) Andrew Bolton here turning some laps in preparation for his race weekend. Andrew was a World Champs B finalist back at St Ives in 1989, so he sure know how to steer!
So where are we at, at the end of practice? In mod, I’ve not seen anything to suggest that Bakla, Nicholson and Maker won’t be at the very front. There have been some good runs at times from people like Vergunst, Campbell, Caretti, Zarb, Atack, Vercoe and Woodbury – so the battle for A final spots will definitely be intense.
That’s about it for me for today, time to head back to the hotel, get some food, think about the car and do a little preparation for tomorrow. It’s about to get serious.
cheers
scottLikeLike
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I was wrong….there was more practice. When I left the track at 7.30, the lights were burning brightly, the driver’s stand was full, and there were plenty of people lining up to try “just one more setup change”!
Me? I’m headed for a shower, a restaurant and the pillow. Back tomorrow.LikeLike
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no sleep for the wicked 👿 .. get back out there!!!
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All for the love of RC.. nice work Scott.. almost 4am working on the last of QRCCRA season 09 results.. Now checking out your blogs.. Michael Kirby was here too having a read while we covered some HTMLing.. Thanks to ActionRC for the great reports…keep up the good work and hope the track cools down and weather clears for a great weekend of racing.. Minis and Mods on the same practice.. wow.. sounds for some serious overtaking and breath holding action… Good luck lads, hope you all have clean runs and ongoing PB sessions.
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Best of luck to all the SA drivers…..C’mon Lads……Oh and don’t forget that Banana Bender Darryl KEMLAHNI , C’mon DAZZA ❗
All the lads from AERCCC . SA.,,,Cheers
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