On Sunday 6th September, the MSCA has decided to do something a bit different by providing a day at the track where pretty much anyone and anybody can participate (on the proviso they are of legal driving age and possess a current driver’s licence, or if just a passenger, at least 12 years of age). There will be several components to the day’s activities, ranging from parade laps to full sprinting.

Parade Laps : there will be at least two sessions conducted for people who have registered their interest at the driver’s briefing to be held at 10.30am. There is no special preparation or requirements to participate other than a road worthy vehicle and a licenced driver, and laps will be completed behind a Course Car at a controlled speed. There is no cost for this activity.

Come & Try / Driver Training : here is an opportunity for participants to go a bit faster and get some helpful tips and guidance from some of our experienced sprinters. Passengers in vehicles will be allowed, and track density will be limited to eight cars at time. Speed will be limited to 80% of sprint speeds and this will be a non competitive activity.

Novices Practice : following on from the come and try / driver training session, newcomers will be able to put their new skills to the test if they so desire. This will be an untimed non competitive session, and track density limited to a maximum of ten cars at a time.

Untimed Practice : two sessions are scheduled for experienced sprinters looking to get a bit more practice through completion of laps at sprint speeds. Up to eighteen cars will be allowed on the track in each group, and usual rules and guidelines for practice will apply.

For all of the activities other than Parade Laps, all usual requirements for sprinting will apply. Vehicles will need to have been passed through scrutineering, and basic items such as a valid fire extinguisher and appropriate clothing / helmet will be needed.

Entry Fee for the day’s activities, regardless of participation level, is $70- and the MSCA will cover the cost of a CAMS day licence for those who do not currently possess one. Full details can be found within the Supplementary Regulations on the MSCA website, as well as Entry Forms. If in doubt, refer to your Competition Secretary for guidance.

If you have ever wanted to try sprinting but may have been a little unsure about what it is all about, then this is your opportunity. Help, guidance and friendly advice is all on offer here – why not give it a go!

Roger

Well the month of July has certainly been cold and wet but our reservoirs have been filling nicely so our water problems may not be quiet so enormous in summer!

The ladies technical luncheon was well attended even though we managed to hold it during school holidays….very noisy but lots of discussion was held regarding the up and coming Nationals in Western Australia.  Sounds like Frankie and Lloyd are having a house full of South Australians so I look forward to hearing all the gossip following the return of the National participants!

Thanks to Sue Gibson and Sue Taylor for organising the raffle and supper last month as I was unable to attend the meeting.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the AGM.

Margie Berlemon.

The ladies technical session was well attended despite the school holidays, and the wet and cold conditions.   Next technical session will be in September (see calendar).

The run to the Barossa and then on to Gawler to Bob Fielke’s cricket bat making demonstration certainly attracted a lot of interest with about 50 people attending.  Lunch was at Lou Miranda’s at Rowland Flat before driving to Gawler.   Bob gave a very entertaining and interesting talk on how he makes cricket bats and you didn’t have to be a cricket fan to enjoy.    Thanks to Brian and Peggy for organising the successful day.

The mid week run on Wednesday 12th August, is going to Goolwa for lunch before visiting the Goolwa Car Museum operated by Mike Finniss.   Meeting place is Crafers Hotel for coffee at 10.00am, departing 11.00am.

Sunday 16th August is a lunch run to Lyndoch via the Adelaide Hills Markets at Lobethal for morning tea.  Please let Jack know if you are intending to come along as numbers are required for the lunch venue.

Note for the diary:    This year’s Christmas dinner will again be at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club.   After so many favourable comments on the venue last year the commitee decided to return in 2009.    The price for the dinner has been kept the same $40 members $50 non members.

Neil Martin took his TR7V8 out for the Modern Regularity event on Sunday 28th June and whilst he enjoyed the first couple of runs, including placing 3rd in Run 1, he became increasingly frustrated with traffic that made consistency difficult. So rather than just try to be “regular” as it were, he decided to see if he could improve on his previous best lap time. With regularity out the window, Neil posted a best lap time for the day in Run 4 with a 1:31.57 – improving with each outing . . . . good on ya Neil!

The MSCA Sprint series was back in full swing with Round 2 held on Sunday 5th July. The weather was cold, and the rain held off until mid afternoon, so we enjoyed a reasonable day at the track after waiting since Round 1 way back in March. The 6-Hour Relay was held in between, but some of us didn’t run in that, so it has been a long wait.

We had three Triumphs out for a fang, Rod Carey’s GT6, Neil Martin’s TR7V8 and Roger Lange’s GT6. Rod has a relatively new engine in his car, and whilst it is not an overly powerful unit at this time, it is sufficient for Rod to get used to the car, which is quite a different handful from the AMI Spitfire that he has punted over recent times. Rod best lap for the day produced a time of 1:27.02 and a big smile!

Neil Martin’s day got off to a shaky start after arriving at Mallala only to find that he had left some important stuff at home and had to go back to Adelaide to get it. He was last through scrutineering, but then put his mind to track work and improving on his previous best time – which he did! 1:30.80 – now to break into the 1:29’s!

I had a good day as well, qualifying 3rd quickest and placing 3rd after the first sprint with a best of 1:19.98 even though the cold conditions produced some significant under steer in my little GT6 – something I wasn’t used to, as the car has had very good turn in up to now. I can only put it down to the cold, and to a slippery track, and efforts to adjust tyre pressures didn’t do much for the next run. Some confusion in form-up saw me lose my position at the front of the grid for the start of the second run, but it was good fun chasing and overtaking much of the field. Not good from a fast lap time perspective however. And then it rained . . . . definitely not good for a car on slicks. A high percentage of cars on road tyres did go out in the rain however, with the drivers enjoying the challenge of car control at speed in wet conditions. Round 3 of the Sprint series is set for 16th August.

Tom Hutchinson continues his racing in the Victorian Circuit Racing Series with a great performance in Round 3 held at Sandown over the weekend of 18th / 19th July. With two qualifying sessions, Tom placed 4th and 1st but I am not sure if that meant he had pole position for Race 1 or not. I can only presume that grid positions were based on the fastest time overall. Whatever, Tom produced an excellent result for Race 1 surrounded by Porsches, a Lamborghini, Maserati and other exotics, with a 2nd place and a best lap of 1:17.08 – anyone who knows Sandown will agree that this is very fast! Tom continued his good form with 3rd places in the following two races. A great weekend that sees Tom sit at equal 2nd on the championship table with one race meeting to go – Phillip Island later in the year. Go Tom!

Team GT6 is off to Wakefield Park for the All British Race Meeting set for 3rd August, preceded by a Super Sprint on the Saturday 2nd Aug run by the Austin Healey Club for the CSCA (the NSW version of MSCA). Trevor Lindsay, Rod Carey and myself are all looking forward to this great weekend of club level motorsport – full report in next month’s issue of TRak. NB – TRak editor Richard and his brother are also making the trip to experience the fun and report back to the TSOA membership.

Full details of all upcoming events can be found on the Competition Calendar found elsewhere under this tab.

That’s enough from me . . . see you trackside!

Roger

This year’s weekender was another fun filled weekend with plenty of things to do and see.   Paxton Cottages in Burra was the overnight venue and the weather, whilst cold, remained fine.    Thanks to Bill and Margie for the time put in to organising the two days.

The mid week run on Wednesday 10th June saw 20 plus people meet at The Place Next Door for coffee before heading off for an hours run, ending up at the Hampstead Hotel for lunch.   Thanks  Bill & Maggie Smith for organising this run.

The jazz afternoon on 21st June was a good fund raiser for the 2011 National Rally, raising $638.00, and saw over 100 people at the Sporting Car Club rooms enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon of jazz with afternoon tea supplied.    Thank you to all those who assisted on the day, and a big thank you to Bob and Natalie for organising the event.

There is a ladies Technical Session on Tuesday 14th July at Café Buongiorno at Mitcham so, ladies, if you are not doing anything on that day come along and join us we would love to see you there.

The run on 19th July to the Barossa for lunch and then on to Bob Fielke’s Cricket Bat Factory in Gawler is fast approaching.   Please let Peggy know if you are intending to come along for lunch in the Barossa or just going to meet up at Gawler as numbers are required for both venues.   (See advert in TRak).

Congratulations to those members who have recently become parents and we also wish  Judie Long a speedy recovery and hope to see her back soon.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tues 14th July – Ladies Technical Session—12.00 noon Café Buongiorno Mitcham

Sun 19th  July – Cricket Bat factory run – meet Burnside Townhall Carpark 10.45am

Tues 21st July – General Meeting Sporting Car Club King William Road Unley 8.00pm

Wed 12th August – Mid week run—meet Crafers Hotel 10.00am

Sun 16th  August – Run to Lyndoch – meet 9.45am Civic Park (Opp Tea Tree Plaza)

Tues 18th August – Annual General Meeting Sporting Car Club King William Road Unley 8.00pm

JULY BIRTHDAYS

Happy July birthday to Arrand Ellery, Eva Treen, Jasmin Elsdon, Tom Long and anyone else celebrating a birthday/special occasion during July.

Regards
Sue Gibson

There is little to report since last month but there is a lot to come over the next few months with a string of events for those who are interested.

Tom Hutchinson (TR8) has once again shown just how good his race car is when mixed with all that the modern machinery can muster. Tom enjoyed a great 23rd/ 24th May weekend at Sandown competing in the Victorian State Series for Production Sports Cars qualifying in 3rd position and finishing the first two races in 3rd place. Tom also competed as an invited marque in the MG race series, and after qualifying fastest, finishing with mostly 2nd places over the four races held. Let’s just say, Tom wants to be asked back.

By the time you read this, Round 1 of the Winter Cup Hillclimb series at Collngrove  and the Austin 7 Club’s Modern Regularity at Mallala will have been held, both on Sunday 28th June. Also the second round of the MSCA Super Sprint Series on 5th July at Mallala – more on these events next month. Also coming up is the All British weekend at Wakefield Park near Goulburn NSW – Team Triumph GT6 will be travelling from Adelaide for this.

Full details of all upcoming events can be found on the Competition Calendar located within this website.

That’s enough from me . . . see you trackside!

Roger

Trevor and Steph Lindsay with their 1969 Mk1 2.5PI Estate after taking out the prestigious Shannons Award at the 2009 All British Day

Well the winter months are certainly with us and the nights have certainly been cold.  Every household seems to have had their fair share of the flu….so I do hope you are all looking after yourselves. Get well wishes to Judie Long – do hope you are on the recovery trail.

Thanks to everyone who has helped out with the supper roster – it is great to see some new members assisting as well – it certainly helps if everyone takes a turn!  There are a couple of vacancies on the roster so if you would like to help out, please give me a call or see me at the meetings. Thanks.

A reminder that we have the ladies luncheon (opps technical luncheon) on Tuesday July 14th at 12.00pm at Cafe Bonguornio at Mitcham and we would love to see everyone come along.
Margie

The ladies technical session was well attended with plenty of technical talk over lunch.

The weekender on 31/31 May to the mid north is well subscribed and I am sure will be a fun weekend.  Thanks to Bill and Margie for their efforts in organising.   A full report will be in next month’s TRAK.

The mid week run on Wednesday 10th June is being organised by Bill Smith and the meeting place is The Place Next Door Cnr Glynburn and Greenhill Roads Hazelwood Park at 10.30am for coffee before heading off for lunch at the Hampstead Hotel.

The Jazz Afternoon on Sunday 21st June is fast approaching.  Please contact Bob & Natalie to book your place.  This event is being organised as a fund raiser for the SA 2011 National Rally.

Sue

The 2009 Victorian State Circuit Racing season commenced with Round 1 at Phillip Island over the weekend of 25th / 26th April, with our local member Tom Hutchinson (TR8) once again doing his best against modern technology competition including latest model Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin etc. Tom did well for the weekend, qualifying in 7th position, and finishing with two 4th placings. Race 3 was abandoned due to the icy weather that had caused the flag marshals to freeze – the officials and competitors took pity on them and decided to abandon the last few races on the Sunday.

Tom reported that he had both dry and wet races where his best dry time was a 1:41.94 and 260 kph down the straight, and a 2:04.95 in the wet, with a speed of 250 kph down the straight. That sort of speed in wet conditions is just insane. Tom is now also invited (as are other Triumph and Austin Healey racers) to race with the MG’s in what has been to date, an all MG affair. Naturally, Tom is able to run at the front of this field and probably win most races, but clearly, that is not the intention. In fact there is a 130% rule that would exclude some of the slower MG’s if Tom just went out as fast as he can go. So he has had to slow it down a bit – he still recorded one win and two seconds whilst having a bit of fun.

Neil Martin took part in the Regularity events at the Austin 7 Club meeting at Mallala on 26th April and enjoyed a trouble free day circulating in the 1:32’s and gaining one second place for the day.

Which brings us to the MSCA 6-Hour Regularity event held on Sunday, 17th May at Mallala. TSOA again fielded a team, with drivers Andy Ansell (TR7), Neil Martin (TR7V8), Rod Carey (GT6) Robin George (TR7V8), Colin Gaetjens (Mitsubishi Evo TR6) and Jon Fechner (German Mini Cooper S). We were all looking to have a fun day, and perhaps finish with a good result as we did last year when we placed third. However, that was not to be . . . . although we did succeed in having fun.

Our day got off to a disappointing start during the practice session before the event, when Robin George downshifted from 5th to 4th but slipped into 2nd instead. The engine didn’t like it at all, producing some rather nasty noises internally, and Robin was forced to retire from the event. That left us with five drivers – enough to comfortably complete the event and still do well . . . . . which we could have done with a bit more discipline.

Unfortunately, our team incurred too many laps where the driver broke his nominated time. This meant that not only did the lap not count, but we also suffered a deduction of a penalty lap from our score. We did gain 47 bonus laps when drivers did a time within one second of their nominated time without breaking it, but with 24 broken times where the lap does not count plus incurring a lap penalty meant that we broke even on the bonus / penalty score. Not good enough!

Consequently, we finished mid field with an official 8th place (this was advised initially as 6th, but a check of the scoring over the following days saw this corrected down to 8th). Still, we had fun, so no complaints.

A few acknowledgements – thanks to John Tuohy, Arrand Ellery, Bill Berlemon, Frank Llewell, Jon Williams and Stephanie George for their willing assistance at the pit wall and with sash changeovers. Our team could not run without you – thank you.

Also thanks to TSOA for the sponsorship that allows us to hire pit garages and provide lunch and drinks for all team members – this is very much appreciated as well.

And finally, my thanks to the queen of trackside catering, Cherri. The muffins were excellent, and lunch was just great.

Upcoming events can be found on the Competition Calendar on this website.

That’s enough from me . . . see you trackside!

Roger