2020 - 1st ICC event wrap
A big thanks to the attendees of the event who made it a success.
The pressing inclement weather held off and the the HSSCQ event started off with our MR2 Qld entrants making there way to the registration tent to find some of the entrants were not entered or uploaded. An error withe system needed to be fixed before nerves bubbled over and show any cracks. Quick as a flash we jumped into gear and righted the entrance application by completing the online application again before getting swiftly to the scrutineering. it was tense but calm with Keith from HSSC madly clicking the PC.
With the entrants Battery box's and positive terminals taped up they were the only challenge with otherwise well prepared road going vehicles ready for the task ahead.
With the four entrants through scrutineering after some minor adjustments onto the first of three circuits on the tightly laid out car park became not only a challenge for the memory but also for the forearms as each driver and car made there way around the circuit. The intensity gathered as the wind started to pick up and the circuits now realised as tougher than we thought were set upon by each driver and car. The tight u turns and the cones of disaster came thick and fast at the drivers cornering capabilities and scraping camber curves of scratching inner guards forced some of us into reverse after over shooting the gaps between them.
As the day went on if you successfully completed a timed circuit without error, and trust me there were many, the time keepers would give each driver a thumbs up. It seemed to be the only important thing by the end of the day and a swift thumbs up given to each other was a sign of relief and proud success. Each MR2 club member successfully completed atleast one out of two runs and scored themselves retribution on the courses.
With Ben, Danny, Mannchy and Lachlan not giving up on the tight courses and getting familiar enough to set their minds at ease the game then changes. A brief break lulled the team and the other drivers at large with the realisation we were only half way through the day as the marshalls set the second grouped set of courses and the cones of disaster
By now the team were fed and watered with subway or what ever we had brought along and the drivers lined up in their order to start the second set of courses.
The cones were set tight and the sleeman sports complex car park surface had warmed up with a little more grip available. The wind wasn't so prevalant and the scattered leaves were almost all cleared from the early morning slippery courses.
After completely sending it all morning with the JZ powered Chaser lachlans talk about buying another sw20 came to fruition with the many clutch dumps taking its toll on the master cylinder and the twin plate clutch. Even after a completely new gearbox install recently the now warmer surface was providing less slip transfering the load into the clutches now potentially destructive situation. The option was to keep sending the epicness of the toyota into the course or let it completely cool down and see if it was still driveable after throwing the near two tonne thing around. The biggest balls were thrown into the ring with the decision to rest the weary beast was actually a harder decision to make rather than throwing caution to the wind and having a hard parked downshift meet start spontaneously. And with that we were down to three running MR2's. Great stuff on the day lachy.
After a morning of error free driving Ben Schneider and his SW20 Turbo winged and flared beast had put himself under the pressure of the courses and its challenging and weaving nature disorientated him for a split second and a ended up on the wrong side of a gutter. He valiantly drove on through the courses to complete a time for each of the remaining courses. There were 6 in total for the day and each proved to have its challenges. His efforts gave him strength that he was on the right path to success. Ben will fight another day after some minor repairs. Great stuff ben.
Danny made his return to this years 1st ICC event felt with the fellow competitors even cheering him. He belted his silver arrow MR2 Spyder literally at the courses twists and turns while hand braking, burning rubber and lifting the front of his car up and down constantly with the completely stock suspension provided training for some of the local wildlife bobbing up and down in mating season. Agility and aggression showed as he lapped better and better times in each of the grueling tight courses. Great stuff danny.
Mannchy started the day with not even being on the run sheet to posting some of the most consistent times with his AW11. Lowered suspension and steelies with street tyres proved to be an interesting combination in posting completed lap times. Mannchy's unwavering focus and determination was matched to his forearm workout he completed over the day with it looking like more of an arm wrestle while completing the slaloms than steering to hit the apex. At one stage the grinding could be heard across the car park but that didn't stop mannchy getting times on the some what bumpy course. Even after tucking up the frunk release cable which came out over the front tyre which was wearing quickly it didn't stop some quick repairs and straight back out on the course. Mannchy kept up his chuckles and his car made it through the day as does most of the AW11's when put to the test. Great stuff on the day Mannchy.
Individual times for the day and totals for the event paled in comparison with the exhaustion which set in after meeting up later to grab a bite to eat and a rehydration. Thanks to matt arcado in support for running us to get essential sustanence. The Cookie monster.... I'm sure weight reduction will be a focus in the coming days after over consumption of the seriously good cookies.....
Thanks to all. See you all at the next event.