The 4 day event kicked off with 2 rounds of practice and one round of qualifying on Thursday with all in attendance fighting the 95 klm per hour winds which made the setting up of their cars for the new track layout a very hard task. Many spent most of their time trying to keep their pit marquee’s from blowing away in the high winds, some were not so lucky that’s for sure with the wind winning the battle on day one, many marquee’s where heading to the rubbish tip by the time the weather had its way with everyone.
The buggy class was lucky to get through the race schedule before the rain arrived. Day two Friday kicked off with much better weather conditions and the sun out and shining, with 3 rounds of qualifying taking place today with the track providing a fantastic blue groove line that was getting wider and wider with each heat of cars that passes over it, the fast guys were getting faster and some of the less experienced drivers were enjoying having their first run on such a fantastic surface for the first time. As always the better drivers started filling the top spots on the qualifying boards after the first 4 rounds.
Day three Saturday saw the last two rounds of qualifying rounds completed with plenty of guys waiting till there last round to cut loose with a chance to jump a few spots before the bump up finals began. Kyosho’s Kyle McBride took the TQ spot with excellent runs during the heats, local Mugen Seiki’s Matt Griffin sitting 2nd, Queenslander Aaron Stringer, another Queenslander Jason Dyckhoff and Jarrad King rounded out the top 5 before finals.
The lower bump up finals rounded out a great day of racing with the top guys heading home early ready for the re builds before the last days racing gets underway, the track crew had a late night cleaning the site and watering the track preparing it for the final days racing.
Day four Sunday, The big day arrives with the lower finals continuing well into the morning as racers tried there hardest to make the cut into the semi-finals, the weather again decided to play ball with clouds hiding the sun but we didn’t have to wait long before the sun was out and the track was truly the best that it has ever been at Melbourne Off Road Radio Car Club.
Semi-final A: Well it was Kyosho’s Kyle McBride that laid down the hurt on the field of drivers in his semi finishing 2 laps clear of the group on 47 laps, Craig Laughton finished in 2nd place on 45 laps clear of Aaron Stringer also on 45 laps with Jarred King on 44 laps and Martin Wolhuter also on 44 laps, Kyle McBride put on a display of great driving there is no wonder that it has won him 2 Australian titles in past years.
Semi Final B: It was local Mugen Seiki driver Matt Griffin time to shine leading the group of cars from start to finish finally crossing the line with 46 laps, N.S.W Ari Bakla drove a controlled race to finish second on 45 laps clear of the rest of the field, 3rd place going to Jason Dyckhoff with a half lap lead on 44 laps, 4th & 5th place had a host of drivers fighting for the direct bump into the final but it was Glenn Greugem that secured 4th spot on 44 laps and Jesse Newman also on 44 laps that rounded out the top ten drivers directly into the A main for this event, the wait for the fastest times to be posted to decide the last 5 bump up positions for the finals was under way.
A main Final: The weather was perfect, the track had a 2 ½ meter wide blue grooved line and the stage had been set for the shootout between the heavy hitters in Australian racing so out to the starting grids they all went, after the first corner madness it was Kyosho’s Kyle McBride that was away and gone from the rest of the field, first corner tangles slowed a few guys down until the cars all cleared out and the race was on, it was Matt Griffin that set out about chasing down Kyle McBride and the gap was getting smaller and smaller until Matt Griffin had a few minor mistakes and that’s all she wrote, Kyle McBride lead the race from start to finish with a 93 laps and a clear 1 lap winner of his 3rd Australian Buggy Title, Matt Griffin finished 2nd on 92 laps with a 2 lap lead clear of third spot.
Third spot changed back and forth between a number of drivers during the hour long final but in the end it was Aaron Stringer that cleared out on the chasers to finish on 90 laps and 2 laps clear of Ari Bakla on 88 laps, the battle for 5th spot carried on right to the finish with Jesse Newman holding of Jarred King by the smallest of margins of 6 seconds, Criag Laughton’s chances of taking out the truggy and buggy event’s double took a harsh hit on the 2nd lap with a brakeage that retired him from the race.
The Melbourne Off Road Radio Car Club put on a fantastic event with nice fast new layout and blue grooved surface that was enjoyed by all that attended the event Race report from the Australian 2013 National Truggy Title presented by Wot Hobbies at Melbourne Off Road Radio Car Club ( morrcc).