Launceston R/C Racers

As a member club of the national association, we from time to time have the opportunity to vote on rule changes.  These rules relate only to sanctioned state or national championships – not to club racing.

We’ve received a proposal to which we have to respond by Wed 29th. Your input is welcome.

The proposal relates to the nitro offroad sector of the sport (which also includes 8th EP Buggy) and specifically to changing the number of cars in the A final at National Championships from 12 to 15, and includes a small change to the way in which those 15 advance from semi finals (top 6 from each of two semi finals, plus next 3 fastest).

We have three options:

1. Vote Yes to support the change
2. Vote No to oppose the change
3. Choose not to vote.

Making this change will align national championship finals numbers with those of state championships, and give an extra three drivers the chance to battle for the overall win.

The downside is the need for tracks to cater for 15 drivers (but that’s already a requirement for tracks hosting 8th offroad state champs – so it’s just extending it to nationals).

The rule would go into immediate effect, including the 2012 GP Buggy Nats in March, and then the Truggy/EP Buggy nats in December.

The exec are inclined to vote Yes. Your input is welcome (as is your right to be uninterested!).

peace

scott

We came, we saw, we raced backwards!  Thanks to all that made the journey out to Launceston R/C tonight for some Australia Day fun.  The result was some great racing, a real challenge of learning a new track (backwards…it was totally different!) and a nice way to end the day.

Class wins went to Chris West (Novice), Andrew Mackenzie (Tourer), Jarrod Painting (Tenth Buggy), Scott Guyatt (Short Course A), Chris Murray (Short Course B) and Steve Madziara (8th Big Bangers).

Full results from tonight are online here, or read on for some reflections on tonight’s action.

Continue reading →

If you survive the lunch-time BBQ, get down to Rutherglen this Thursday night for our Australia Day race. What better way to celebrate our nation than by playing with toy racing cars .

We’re working up something special for this week’s race…so get down for a good time, and something just a little different.

It’s a non-points night, so that makes it ideal for testing and tuning.  And being school holidays, it’s an ideal time to drag the kids out for a race.

As usual, doors open by 6pm, and racing underway by 7. All the normal classes – Tourers, Short Course Trucks, Tenth and 8th Buggies and our Novice class.

Look forward to seeing you there.

A couple of bits of news this week for Launceston R/C regulars…

Championship Season – don’t forget its Tasmanian Championship time for both 8th Offroa and 10th onroad over the next month.  See the post below for more information and links. You’ll need to pre-enter both these events so get cracking. Don’t forget that as both are championship events, they’ll be a little tighter on rules than we are at our regular club events – so check that your car and gear (motor, esc, battery, body etc) all fit within the rules for the class you’re planning on racing).

New Tracks for Hobart:  Both the EP On-Road and EP Off-Road clubs in Hobart have put down ripper new track layouts over the past couple of weeks in preparation for the new season.  The Off-road guys start their new season next Sunday (22nd Jan) and the on-road guys the week after (29th).  They’ll then alternate week-about. Both tracks are in the model park at Goodwood – just down the hill from the horse racing track towards the Goodwood bridge. Definitely worth a trip.

Big Weekend for Launnie boys heading to Melbourne: Next weekend (28/29 Jan( Paddy Hume, Sam Wells and Alex John (I think that’s all?) continue their mainland race assault at the annual Keillor Stock Shootout – with classes for 2wd, 4wd, Stadium Trucks and Short Course Trucks at the Keilor club’s brand new circuit. Good luck guys!

LRC Committee meeting:  It’s short notice but we’re needing to have a committee meeting to get plans for 2012 underway. Meeting for committee members is next Tuesday 24th Jan, 7pm at 10 Cameron St – the offices of Ritchie & Parker, Alfred Green & Co. Committee members please make it if you can.

This time of year is perfect in Tasmania for outdoor racing…and it’s Championship time.

Over the next two months, the Tasmanian Championships for 8th Off-road and 10th EP On-Road will take place.

8th Nitro buggy, Nitro truggy and EP Buggy classes will race at the 2012 Tasmanian 8th Offroad Championships at Latrobe on Feb 10-12. It’s a brilliant race track and should be an excellent race meeting. If you have a suitable car get there for an enjoyable Championship weekend…at a time when the race track is at its best. More info at the NWRCCC site here, and to enter online go here.

And four weeks later, 10-12 March, the EP Touring and Mini guys will go at it for the 2012 Tasmanian Championship at STMCC’s Goodwood (Hobart) track. The team from STMCC are hard at work putting down a brand new track layout that looks fantastic. Again, if you have a mini or a touring car, get there for this one. The Friday is optional open practice – so you don’t necessarily have to be there that day. Go here for more info and entry forms.

Big races like State Championships are not just for the elite. They’re races for everybody, celebrations of the sport, and a chance to race on tracks that are usually at their very best. That’s definitely the case for these two events.

Let us encourage you to give it a shot, and know that at both events there will be plenty of Launnie R/C guys there – so you’ll be among familiar faces.

2012 is well underway, and so it’s time to get back to the race track. Launceston R/C Inc club racing resumes next Thursday night January 12th and continues January 26th (yep…we’re racing on Australia Day…it’s the Ozzie R/C way!).

These first two club events are designed to get back into the groove after the Christmas break, time to test new toys, and tweak the track a little. They’ll be non-points stand-alone club race nights.

The first points championship for 2012 will kick off in February (hit the 2012 dates link above for all the details).

As usual we’ll have the doors open by 6pm next Thursday night, with racing underway by 7.  See you there!

On this night, let me wish all the Launceston R/C crew, family and friends a very happy Christmas.

However you celebrate, enjoy it. Love your family, remember those around who are less fortunate than you, and come back to let us all know if Santa leaves something R/C in your stocking.

Thanks to all our regular and occasional racers for a super year at Launceston RC. We look forward to more great racing in 2012 (hit up the calendar in the menu above for race dates).

Merry Christmas.
Scott

This Thursday (December 8th) is the final Launceston R/C meet for 2011.  It marks the end of our Spring series, and the end of our second full year of racing.

Make sure you’re there for one last chance at some great R/C action for the year.

We’ll resume January 12th and 26th for two non-points rounds before kicking off our first 2012 Championship season early February.

All the usual classes this week – Short Course, Novice, Tenth Buggy, 8th Big Bangers and Tourers.  Come, race, enjoy.