Well it's all done and dusted and another AOC Australia Round completed.
3 members of the NHRCCC club, Simon Noton (Mod Pro12 & Mod TC), Neville Bishop (21.5t TC & VTA) and Anthony Mara (21.5t TC & 13.5t TC) were fortunate enough to attend the Melbourne leg of the Asian Onroad Championship. It's a huge event with a record 250 + entries spread over 7 classes and held over 4 days. It is an amazing event with many top pros such as Alexander Hagberg, Andy Moore, Jan Rathiesky, Nicolas Lee and Dominic Quek attending and organized by the voice of RC, Scotty Ernst.
Thursday morning was open practice followed by 2 rounds of controlled practice which consisted of 4 minute heats. Your best time over 3 consecutive laps in Round 2 was used to seed you for Friday's 2 rounds of control practice. Thursday traction was initially very low and everyone struggled but traction improved as the rounds progressed.
Friday was a long day with 2 rounds of seeded practice and 2 rounds of qualifying. All 3 NHRCCC members were constantly wrenching on their cars making subtle and not so subtle changes trying to chase set ups and the trying to get the extra tenths shaved from their lap times. Qualifying was over 4 rounds based on a points system where your 2 best position finishes for your entire class counted toward your position in the Finals. At the end of qualifying Neville would be in P4 of the A main in Vintage Trans Am and the dreaded BQ position (P1 of the B final) in 21.5t TC with the opportunity to bump up to the A main from B1 final. Simon Noton qualified in P2 in the C final of Mod TC and P2 in the B final of Mod Pro12 again with the chance to bump up to higher mains. Anthony Mara would be in P5 of the A main of 21.5 TC and P3 of the E main of 13.5t TC.
Neville had an composed B1 final in 21.5t TC and lead from start to finish and managed to bump up into P9 of the A final.
Simon was also successful in Pro12 and bumped to P10 of the A final and P10 of the Mod TC B final.
After some hotly contested finals they guys were able to achieve the following results:
Simon Noton:
6th overall in Mod Pro12
Anthony Mara:
6th overall in 21.5t TC
Neville Bishop:
4th overall in Vintage Trans Am
8th overall in 21.5t TC
AOC is an amazing event and all 3 drivers recommend anyone the slightest bit enthusiastic about RC racing to try attend this event. Please don't hesitate to approach or chat to either of them at club meetings if you want any additional info.