Press Release From Hobby Station:
www.hobbystation.co.nz
There are many ways in which one can have fun the recently-added public vacation of Matariki right here in NZ – however for native mannequin automobile racers there is just one method: reducing some quick laps and burning rubber on the South Island Indoor Champs!
Now into our sixth consecutive 12 months working – that is the premier 1/10 off-road occasion within the South island and attracts racers from Blenheim by means of to Invercargill able to throw down and battle for some silverware!
Day One – Setup and Practice
Friday would see the monitor being setup within the morning after which open / timed apply for the rest of the afternoon – ensuring all of the touring racers received up to the mark.
The membership had invested in an entire lot extra carpet that means the monitor was bigger than in earlier years that means resident track-design maestro Ian Rickerby might work his magic over the total corridor floorplan!
Day Two – Seeding / Qualifying Begins
Saturday would see racers again on the monitor vivid and early – with drivers briefing beginning at 8:00am on the dot.
The Grand Master aka Neil White was already scorching on the mic in his function as Race Director extraordinaire – rustling up racers/promoting raffle tickets, conserving the kitchen busy with orders and most significantly conserving the occasion on schedule!
The format for the day would see one spherical of randomised seeding – with racers seeded through the three quickest consecutive laps which might hopefully see qualifying teams of similarly-paced racers, adopted by the primary 4 rounds of qualifying.
There was a little bit of shock in that Luke Prattley was dominant in seeding – setting quickest instances in each 2WD and 4WD buggy forward of seasoned champs superstars equivalent to Ian Rickerby, Phil Sandford and Daniel Thompson.
Could Prattley maintain forward of the chasing pack all through qualifying???
Qualifying
The qualifying format used was race factors with one of the best 3 rounds counting out of 5.
This meant that you just needed to be persistently quick all through the total day or so to get ‘er done! Prattley was impressive in the first round but many others were proving to be a big factor also!
The Grandmaster piloted the event effortlessly throughout the day, finishing at a perfect time to get a wee bit of wrenching done before post race day beers/coke and food at Smoky Ts ! The first 4 rounds of Quals were in the books with one to go early on Sunday!
Day 3 – Finish Qualifying and Finals
Again, we were all at the track bright and early with the heaters going strong to provide some relief from the crispy Christchurch morning! After some titanic tussles and when the dust had settled after the final qualifying round, experienced campaigner Daniel Thompson with his fluoro Team Associated rides was sitting atop pole in both 2WD and 4WD buggy.
Jamming Jon Cunard was the top dog in Stadium Truck and Willie Sloan was in command of the SCT class! It was also great to see some of the future RC stars of tomorrow out in force in the under 16 class!
The “A Main” groups were as follows – reading like a “who’s who” of native offroad racers and former champs!
Before the finals started, the “dash for cash” occasion was up!
This noticed eight 2WD buggy numbers known as at random based mostly upon qualifying place and beginning in a reverse-grid order – no marshalling allowed and the primary racer to finish three laps gained some chilly, arduous money – $100 to be exact!
After some first lap points, wily veteran Dave Beck (all the way in which from Invercargill) managed to stay cool, calm and picked up – slipping a move on younger Jack Henderson with a lap to go to assert the win!
No doubt the drive-home coffees have been on Dave!!
Finals Time!!
The time that everybody had been ready for shortly got here round – and everybody was able to throw down of their respective triple-mains!
Under 16s would see younger gunslinger Kisik Peltzer outduel the extra skilled Liam Miekle for high spot with the ever bettering Henry Houliston taking third place! Great job lads! It is not going to be lengthy earlier than these guys are giving it to the massive canine!
Stadium Truck was all a technique site visitors with Jon Cunard cleansing home and taking all three wins within the severely speedy Team Associated whip – with veteran Hayden Taskar second within the trusty Schumacher and Tim Engel into third.
Short Course Truck solely had a small variety of entries however younger pace demon Willie Sloan got here out on high with Danny Lang taking second place dwelling to Invercargill and Clay Sutton taking third all the way in which north to Murchison.
4WD buggy would see a dominant efficiency with Daniel Thompson successful the primary two races wire to wire in his speedy Team Associated B64 – exhibiting that you just actually don’t want the latest gear to win if the talent is there!
Jon Cunard was feeling the stream after his stadium truck victories and put an X-Ray XB4 onto the second step of the rostrum with Ian Rickerby charging into third place within the purple and white Team Associated B74.2!
In the marquee 2WD Buggy class we’d see Luke Prattley’s Schumacher surrounded by a sea of Team Associated drivers – headlined by defending champ Phil Sandford and wily veteran speedsters like Ian Rickerby and Dan Thompson plus the younger and upcoming Zac Rickerby!
After a tough first spherical, Dan Thomspon once more drove away from the gang taking races 2 and three wire to wire in an virtually faultless show!
Jamie Van De Laar displayed consistency all weekend and was rewarded with 2nd place with multi-time champion Ian Rickerby coming dwelling like a freight prepare for third for a full Team Associated podium lockout! Domination!
This was a incredible effort from Daniel taking out the 2 largest courses – effectively deserved for a high bloke who consistently is the final man out the door at membership nights after packup! Legend!
Here are Dan’s speedy rides and trophies from the weekend:
Whilst there have been many different powerful battles, we shouldn’t have the house to cowl all of them in depth – nevertheless yow will discover the total outcomes and instances right here: Christchurch Indoor Radio Controlled Car Club :: Hobbystation 2023 South Island Indoor Champs :: LiveRC
Thank Yous
As at all times, now we have many individuals to thank for the continued profitable working of this occasion. So, in no explicit order the membership want to thank the next:
Hobbystation – very long time main occasion sponsor and residential of Team Associated in NZ! Huge large thanks! Hobby Station
One 7 RC – first 12 months 2WD buggy class sponsor and residential of nice manufacturers equivalent to X-Ray, Serpent, 1UP Racing and so on. One Seven RC — One 7 RC
Mainland RC – long run class sponsor on this occasion. Home of Schumacher in NZ and lots of different manufacturers. Mainland RC New Zealand
GTRC – have supported the occasion as SCT class sponsor for a few years now. The go-to for all of your crawling and bashing wants. GTRC Remote Control Cars, Trucks and Boats – GT RC
RC Parts – first 12 months stadium truck class sponsor. Can cater for nearly any RC racing half or setup you may want! RC Car Parts RC Boats (rcparts.co.nz)
Neil White – Thanks for doing such a tremendous job as Race Director. So a lot nice suggestions!
The Canterbury Kennel Association – we want to thank our hosts and particularly Leslie within the kitchen for conserving the hungry racers fed and watered over the lengthy weekend.
The racers – thanks for turning up en masse from all elements of the island to participate – with out you all now we have no occasion!
See you all at subsequent years champs!