2009 Scottsdale RC Challenge

November 13th & 14th

Trip Report By: Rodney Houghton

The track is set up on 3 all weather tennis courts

The 6^th Annual Scottsdale RC Challenge was held recently in conjunction with the annual Scottsdale Show in North East Tasmania. The event being held over 2 days with a mixture of on and off road electric and nitro vehicles, and is now a regular fixture on the Tasmanian RC racing calendar.

The weather was near perfect for both days of the event, with only a minor threat of a thunder storm during the pack up process after the racing had been completed late Saturday afternoon. The recent very wet winter meant that the track was relatively dust free, and grip was extremely high compared to previous years, with most drivers dialling out grip from their vehicles.

Two of the more notable regular Scottsdale drivers that were not able to make the grid this year were Tim Hanson who recently had an addition to his family, and Johnny Beggs who was unable to get away from work for the weekend. Tim’s awesome Nitro off road truck was missed by all, and several people were wondering how we would manage with out the track side antics of Beggsie J but the remainder of the southern contingent more than made up for Beggsie’s absence, with at least one driver reported to have missed a race due to taking a nanna nap after a big night out in Bridport.

Entries were down compared to last year’s record field, but the entry list was full of very competitive drivers from across the state. Several of the regular Scottsdale drivers were unable to attend due to other commitments, but it was good to see several new faces at the event this year. All up we had 22 entries confront the green flag for a fun weekend of racing.

Lee, Mark, Rob G and Pete set up a workshop in the dinning
room of their accommodation. 1 dinning table was not quite enough
to work on 9 cars after Friday night qualifying.

Racing was close across all six classes, Mini, 1/10^th Nitro tourers, 540, 19 turn Super Stock, Stock and Off road electric and nitro buggies. The Off road class had a good mixture of 1/8^th Nitro buggies, 1/8^th Electric buggies, a 1/10^th 4wd electric buggy and a 1/10^th Short course truck.

This year we ran the Southern Tasmanian Model Car Clubs (STMCC) full Alley cat timing system complete with the transponder loop, so the meeting was more or less on auto pilot the entire weekend. A special thanks to Peter Townsend who pre-programmed the race meeting into the system, set it up and operated the system for the weekend. I would also like the thank STMCC for allowing us to use the system for this meeting, and also the use of the portable drivers stand and track set up.

A big thank you also goes to Tiger Models and Hobbies for providing the trophies again this year. Hans Wanders and Dwayne Leonard have supported this event for a number of years, so please support them where ever possible.

The Scottsdale Show organisers were extremely happy with the event and the entertainment we provided for the show goers, and had received a number of good comments and feedback about how good the RC cars were. They have already asked for us to come back again in 2010 (Dates to be confirmed). In 2010 we will be looking at the possibility of more classes. I would like to see a full field of short course trucks running on their own, and would also like to be able to split the nitro and electric off road cars, but this would depend on the entries we receive in these classes.

Congratulations to all the winners and place getters, and a big thankyou to all who helped organise and run the event and all the competitors from across the state that attended. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2010 for a bigger and better Scottsdale RC Challenge.

1/10^th Mini:

Numbers where down in Mini class this year, with only 3 cars entered for the weekend, but the racing was hard and fast with plenty of panel bashing and traction rolling, (we would not expect anything less from this classJ). Rodney Houghton (Rocket) was trialling a brushless system he borrowed from the Mini Guru(Beggsie) so had a top speed advantage over the remainder of the field, and easily TQ'd and won the Friday night Final. Lee Harvey (Lethallee) and Andrew Barrett (Bartman) battled it out for the entire weekend, with some good close racing between them.

Rockets weekend started to look in doubt, after a coming together with Bartman after the finish of Friday night’s final, which damaged the internal gears of the little purple Mini. Lee had several steering problems over the course of the weekend and Bartman seemed to be suffering from too much grip and had a few traction rolling issues. With Lee and Andrew’s problems, Rocket was able to nurse the very noisy little mini around for the remainder of the finals on Saturday to take out the win, with Lee taking second and Andrew a close third for the weekend.

1/10^th Nitro Tourers:

Nitro Tourers were also down on numbers this year, with only 3 entries, which is a shame as these little beasts are a crowd favourite, and what the Scottsdale event was built around originally. Rocket had his old faithful Kyosho FW05 back on track, Andrew Eberhardt debuting a brand new Kyosho V-one-S, and Graham Viney having his first run with a new Mugen MTX3.

Rocket was able to shoot off to dominate the class on Friday, with Andrew coming to grips with the extra speed of his new Kyosho, and Graham also leaning the ropes on his first run with a 1/10^th GP car. Andrew was getting more confident with the speed of the Kyosho with every run, and with Sam’s help tuning the engine was soon pushing Rocket, and was able to hang on for some close second placing’s during Saturdays finals, with Graham struggling a bit with the power of the Mugen, but he seemed to be getting his head around it in the last few finals and had a some good runs.

Rocket eventually took the top spot, with Andrew a very consistent second, and Graham coming home in third. Next year should be one to look forward to, with both Andrew and Graham having a bit more experience with their new rides, and should be able to push hard for a win. Hopefully we can get some more cars out on the grid for next year.

540 Tourers:

540 electric tourers was another class struggling for numbers with only 3 entires, but the racing was close all weekend. Andrew Barrett set the early pace with the borrowed Nicks Hobby Shop Colt ep tourer, taking TQ after the heats on Friday, Graham Viney a close second, and Mark Davis learning his way round the Scottsdale layout in third. Friday night’s Final saw Mark step up the pace and put the pressure on Andrew to take the first win, with Andrew close behind in second, and Graham not far off the pace in third.

Saturdays Finals had Andrew and Mark both setting a fast pace, with both taking wins and seconds, with Graham consistent in third not having the car speed to keep up with the two pace setters. Not much separated Andrew and Mark throughout the finals on Saturday. Andrew struck trouble in one final, hitting the transponder bridge and witches hats and damaging the Colt, giving Mark the upper hand. Mark took top honours after 5 close finals with Andrew Second and Graham driving consistently in Third.

The spectators loved this class with the raw speed of the cars, and the tyres squealing for mercy in the 28 degree heat at every turn. We had a strong competitive field of drivers entered from across the state, with Rocket setting the early pace in Friday qualifying taking out TQ , with Lee Harvey, Peter Townsend and Rob Gillie getting their set ups sorted out for the warmer Scottsdale climate.

In the finals both Lee and Peter had found a good set up, and picked up the pace with Lee dominating the first 4 finals with a show of very strong consistent driving, only to hit trouble in the last final. Peter had his Serpent running very strong in second position and was able to take advantage of Lee’s misfortune and take a well deserved victory in the last final.

Rocket was left pondering what went wrong after his strong qualifying effort, as he went without a win in the finals and seemed to be really struggling to match the pace of the speedy southern drivers. Rob Gillie was also struggling to find pace and ran a consistent 4^th all weekend. Lee put in a very consistent drive taking out the win for the weekend, with Peter a very strong second, Rocket licking his wounds in a distant 3rd and Rob 4th .

Stock:

Stock was one of the closest classes of the weekend, all 4 drivers had a realistic chance of victory. Mark Davis was the surprise, with his brushed powered car taking the TQ spot after Fridays qualifying sessions, cruising past Rocket in the second round of qualifying.

Friday night’s final was a very close one, with all 4 drivers within seconds of the lead for the entire race duration. Lee and Rocket rubbing wheels from start to finish with the lead changing nearly every lap. Mark and Peter were close behind waiting to pounce if the leaders faltered. Rocket hung on for the first win with Lee, Mark and Peter close behind.

Saturday’s 4 finals were much the same with everyone pushing each other all the way. Rocket struck some electrical gremlins in the 3^rd final with his Spectrum system deciding to have a pit stop leaving him stranded on the back of the track for 2 laps. Mark was absent from the grid for the last 2 finals as he had a late Friday night with the locals and had to conserve himself for a strong showing in the off road class.

Lee was slightly more consistent than the rest of the field over the 5 finals, and eventually hung on for the win, with Rocket very close behind in second, Peter a strong third, and Mark fourth after a very strong start to the weekend.

Off Road Nitro and Electric:

The off road class was by far the most exciting one to watch, with a good mixture of 1/8^th nitro and electric buggies and SC trucks. The action was hard and fast, with cars hitting each other and just about anything else that could be hit. Andrew Barrett and Scotty Wilkes were close to hitting the transponder bridge on several occasions with sprint car like wheel stands accelerating onto the main straight.

Andrew and Scotty were the red hot favourites heading into the weekend with the brute horsepower of the Lipo powered brushless 1/8^th machines, but Andrew had battery problems on Saturday, and Scotty took some time getting his machined dialled to the track.

Mark Davis with his 1/10^th 4wd modified buggy although not as quick down the main straight, proved too quick through the corners compared to the heavier 1/8^th nitro and electric machines, and was the pace setter for the entire weekend taking 3 wins and a second through the finals.

Sam and Paddy were close all weekend, each taking a win in the finals and strong podiums, and were only separated by 1 point at the end of the weekend. Sam’s SC truck was pushed to the limit on Friday and the motor failed, so he fired up his 1/8^th nitro buggy for Saturday and was able to run with Paddy for the remainder of the finals. After an entertaining weekend of racing, Mark proved too consistent and took the overall win followed by Paddy in second and Sam a very close third.

Final Placing’s (all classes)

Mini: 1/10 Nitro Tourers:

1^st – Rodney Houghton 1^st– Rodney Houghton

2^nd – Lee Harvey 2^nd – Andrew Eberhardt

3^rd – Andrew Barrett 3^rd – Graham Viney

540 Tourers: Off Road Buggies & Trucks:

1^st – Mark Davis 1^st – Mark Davis (1/10^th Electric)

2^nd – Andrew Barrett 2^nd – Paddy Hume (1/8^th Nitro)

3^rd – Graham Viney 3^rd – Sam Wells (1/8^th Electric)

4^th – Scotty Wilkes (1/8^th Nitro)

5^th – Andrew Barrett (1/8^th Electric)

Stock Super Stock