Saturday, June 12, 2010

SUPERIOR ALL TERRAIN CHALLENGE round 2 2010

SUPERIOR ALL TERRAIN CHALLENGE
round 2 2010

Landcruiser Mountain Park had arranged for a cool, clear and crisp long weekend for the running of the second round of the Superior Alignment All Terrain Challenge with nine vehicles in three classes pumped and ready to race.

Always on the lookout for something different, during the heats the officials snuck a track into the rally cross area to allow the competitors a chance to get a bit of speed up.

Luckily the side of the deep gully alongside the RallyX track is fenced as Jack lost control of the white GQ/MQ V8 Ute and used the fence as a safety net to stop his truck from making the long steep drop to the wreckers.

Back in the usual comp area, the Wombat holes usually reserved for the Outlaw class buggies was brought into play for the Super Modified class with most having a bit of trouble finding a good line through them.
Haylea, driving the blue over silver GQ Ute needing the highlift jack to raise the chassis off the log lined holes when she got stuck but was soon under way again.

Christian had a pretty big pucker moment in the orange GQ Ute when he tried to take a different line over the tyres at the rock mound, he had the rear wheel at least a metre and a half off the ground but was able to reverse back to safety and drive out on a better line.

Jack was having a few mechanical woes in front end of the Ute when he reached the rock mound and as is his usual spectacular style decided to use momentum to try and clear the logs but launched upwards rather than along and landed half way amid a cloud of smoke ending his run.

Haylea found a unique parking position when she managed to almost roll the Nissan but the high bank stopped it going right over, they were quickly under way again powering through the rest of the course.

The organiser of the event, Craig Linnane, had somehow managed to convince Christian Trusz to let him race the bright orange Patrol Ute around the course and just like everyone else had to run down from the top of the course near the spectators, jump into the drivers seat and buckle up the harness then drive as fast as possible around the course.

Craig managed the first two reasonably fast but actually managed to roll the Ute on the start line!!

There was a large rock off to the right hand side of the track just in front of the right hand wheel but the track veered to the left and when Craig drove off he drove up the rock and gently rolled the Patrol.

We have seen a lot of rollovers over the years on the tracks [including your truly] and even a couple of rollovers on and through the finish line but this was a first for this event and something he will never live down if the other competitors and officials have anything to do with it !

Come to think of it, he takes out the prize for the fastest DNF as well !

The Ozcat excavator soon had the Ute back on its wheels and Craig had a great run around the track this time.

Brendan Lohse seemed to do it easily in the White Hilux dual cab taking out the Modified class ahead of Jack in the much abused white GQ/MQ Ute.

Ken Bain keeps getting faster and faster with less and less mistakes and fully deserved the win in Super Modified class driving his blue over silver GQ Ute ahead of Brad Rooks in the Blue Hilux, Christian Trusz in the orange GQ Ute, Brad Bernard in the gold GQ Wagon and girlfriend Haylea Reed also driving his GQ Ute.

Justin Kerr in the Orange buggy had the Outlaw Class to himself after Dan Cable had to pull out after the first heat.

Anyone thinking of getting into competitive driving should consider this event.
The competitors and officials always seem to have such a great time with plenty of help and a warm welcome offered for new competitors.
The driving is not too hard or damaging until you add too much speed for the conditions so it is entirely up to the driver to control the “Red Mist”
If you reckon you have what it takes, come along and join in the fun … you won’t be disappointed!

. Shane Gerrish

RESULTS:

Heats: Driver - Heat 1 - Heat 2 -

Modified Class
Brendan Lohse 1733 1714
Jack Chapple 1294 1733

Super Modified Class
Ken Bain 1748 2099
Brad Bernard 1689 2130
Christian Trusz 1645 2143
Haylea Reed 1638 2042
Brad Rooks 1613 1915

Outlaw Class
Justin Kerr 1800 1825
Dan Kable 823 0

RESULTS:

Finals:

Modified Class
Brendan Lohse 595 1st
Jack Chapple 544 2nd

Super Modified Class
Ken Bain 595 1st
Brad Rooks 585 2nd
Christian Trusz 569 3rd
Brad Bernard 569 4th
Haylea Reed 560 5th

Outlaw Class
Justin Kerr 600 1st

Competitors gathered around a big campfire on Sunday Night
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this is the way to feed a fire
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Brad Bernard
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Haylea Reed
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Christian Trusz
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Justin Kerr
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Brendan Lohse
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Jack Chapple
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Haylea
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Christian
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Jack
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Brendan
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Haylea
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driver Ken Bain making the run to the start.
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Ken Bain
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Brendan
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Brad Rooks
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Jack
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Jack Broken
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Craig Linnane
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