CHALLENGE of CLUBS

[Grumblebum]

Great to see a few Excels having a go at this event which has a Motorkana/Trial/Autocross over two days. Perhaps this event should have been the Excel National Challenge as it encompasses all aspects of "gravel" events and would make the winner truely the best overall Excelian in OZ:clap:
Anyway for those going the competition commences at BLCC grounds at 9am Saturday.Moving to the Ballan Racecourse and Wombat Forest Saturday evening returning to BLCC for the autocross early Sunday [9.30am].:(
Lets hope some of those on this group will pop up to Ballan on Saturday and cheer the competitors on:)
Welcome to competition in 2010 GRUMBO

[greasystick]

I'll be there competing in the trial this weekend....in an Alfa of all things! Should be an interesting change. Look forward to seeing you out there Pete :clap:

[Grumblebum]

Yes I saw your name on the entry list in the Alfa and you should have lots of fun. Matt[xcelmonkey] and I both passed regional scruitiny in Ballarat earlier this evening:clap:. Peter and Sue should have gone through in Melb. and to quote one SL DUST will be the order of the day unless we get a couple of inches of rain. Sandra Cuttle is also competing and if I've missed anyone come and see me during the event .
Bring it on----the rain too:)

[Redwarf]

Gee I miss the Challenge of clubs. It's been over ten years since I've last been. It used to be one of the highlights of my year.

[greasystick]

DUST will be the order of the day unless we get a couple of inches of rain.

Watching the weather station on the desk and it's predicting rain. Can certainly use a dust free event after the Alpine!!

[johnd]

A very wet and slippery Challenge Trial................!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/lancerjohn26/Excel01-2.jpg

Grumblebum gives me the big splash........dry cleaning bill to follow!!
Scored 21st O/R

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/lancerjohn26/Excel2-1.jpg

Stuart Diggins navigates for Greg Wyatt on the Alfa's first outing..........
to gain Equ 4th O/R!
Peter Morrison / Susan Wasson: 11th O/R
Matt Barr / Mark Burnett: 19 O/R

[greasystick]

I vividly remember that photo being taken John - everything went very very white for a second :)

As usual great shots - and you deserve a medal for being out there in the conditions we had last night.

Big thanks to John Carney for 'pimping' me out to nav for Greg. So far his recommending me to other drivers has netted me a top 30 Alpine finish and my first top five in an event ever.

Also thanks to Greg Wyatt for a great drive in what was the Alfa's debut event.

Congrats also to Grumblebum for the finish - good to see you back out in the bush!!

Finally thanks to the NCCA for a well run and friendly event in trying conditions, and for being brave enough to not cancel stages unless absolutely necessary - to the officials (esp. the road closures), thanks for your efforts running a rally in a monsoon, I certainly appreciate your efforts one and all.

Best,

Stu.

[Grumblebum]

Well my prediction of DUST was way off the mark:spank: but what a great event:clap: Following off season mods to the Grumbomobile-raised front ride height and ground clearance of 165mm for the sump guard --I had absolutely NO problems with traction or sump guard bashing but I was very SLOW.
Peter M and Sue did a fantastic job and Matt Barr was sandwiched between the two of us in his slightly modified EXCEL. There were NO problems with any of the EXCELS which was good because there were NO service crews either.
Battle was resumed on Sunday at the Ballarat autocross track with less than a second between Peter M and myself after 3 runs--we were also coming 15/16 out of a field of 51. More will be posted when results come to hand.
All in all a terrific weekend a huge thanks to the NCCA and BLCC organizers and officials who did a fantastic job in the prevailing weather conditions. Thanks also to John D for being out in the mud--sorry about that--but I'll buy the pics and pick them up at next Mondays Meeting.
Thanks to everyone for a fantastic weekends motorsport:grouphug:
Regards Grumbo

[Grumblebum]

Well the Xcel family did very well in the Trial. Congrats to Keith and Sandra Cuttle for a great 3rd outright {C'dore] and to Stu for 5th O/R in the Alfa. In the Excel battle Peter and Sue finished 11th with Matt Barr 19th and the Grumbomobile 21st.None of the Excels had a problem and all finished muddy but undamaged.
Sunday was sunny and the Ballarat autocross track was in superb condition.
The battle between the two Peter's was great to watch with very little between the two over the 5 runs. At the end Peter Morrison triumphed by a massive 1.34 seconds over the best 4 runs-resulting in 15 and17th o/r positions as well as 1st and 2nd in class.Matt finished 39th and Sue 41st.
With a scoring system that evened out all the scores Peter M was first Excel and 5th O/R next was Matt at 13th with Sue 15th and Peter P 16th.
A great event and a good time was had by all although with 3 out4 Wd's at the motorkana you'll notice I haven't mentioned the Motorkana.
I truely beleive that this event or something very similar should be the event for THE HYUNDAI WORLD SERIES :grouphug: