New South Wales State Championships - 2011
11th / 12thJune at Whalan Park

Click on thumbnails for enlargement
Photos courtesy of Margaret Battam, Ray Fairall,
John Hallowell, Warren Leadbeatter, Phil Poole, Les Spaltman
 

It was a wet and windy 2011 NSW State Championships. Despite the damp conditions, it didn’t stop those that came to fly from getting into the spirit of all the events and that meant some close competition in the racing circle.

Bendix was first away and a definite highlight was a new record heat time of 3.15.25 by Mark & Trent McDermott. With the Nelson .36 on full song and keeping up the good form in the final, they grabbed first place ahead of Tony Bonello and Andrew Heath with the yellow Nemesis of John and Murray finishing third.

Although it was the fastest model, the Nemesis suffered from shut-off adjustment and landing problems that will need to be worked on in the coming months.

John Hallowell
AUS 1984.

Next up was Vintage A. It really was touch and go as to whether this racing would go ahead or not. There was talk of postponement to the October weekend in Albury. Can't blame those that thought the rainy weather was going to stop the event being run... It was almost miraculous the way it cleared up enough to get the racing happening!

The Macca's, Mark and Trent McDermott posted the fasted heat time of 3.16.53 followed by John Hallowell and Murray Wilson on 3.18.78 and Hugh Simons & Grant Potter on 3.19.37. Pre race favourites (and reigning National Champs) Steve Rothwell & Chris Sculley along with Richard Justic & Andy Kerr had some problems with range and did not make it through to the top three positions.

The final was won by Hallowell/Wilson in 6.40.28 from the Maccas and Simons/Potter who both retired at the halfway mark with broken models. The clingy couch grass proved unforgiving for the Vintage A's. The winning Elliptical used an R250 which unloaded nicely on a Graupner 7x7.

John Hallowell
AUS 1984.

There was just enough daylight left to decide who would be NSW Classic B champ for 2011. Mark Godfrey had already headed home by the time the race was due to start. Hope he can make it to Albury in October along with John Goodwin and the other NSW bods who have Classic B models.

The Hallowell/M.Wilson Streak recorded the fasted heat time of 2.58.86. Grant Potter was deputising for Steve Rothwell who was giving his sore foot a rest. With Chris Sculley’s whirlwind flick on target, they posted a smart 3.02.46. Justic/Owen were next on 3.04.92 and the McDermott’s were just tenths of a second behind with 3.05.57. For the first time in a long while, the men from Macca’s Racing team were unable to qualify in the top three. It is bound to make them even more determined next time. Yet again, and certainly as expected, there was super close racing in the Classic B circle.

It was time for the final. As it was about to start, Richard Justic pointed to the moon that was shining in the sky overhead… It would give us a bit more light, he suggested!

Grant Potter and Chris Sculley had some bad luck as the fuel tubing parted company with the feed pipe on the opening lap, causing a sudden loss of power and pilot Grant some hectic moments in the middle.

Richard and Rob Owen got a good start and despite a slow second stop, they crossed over the line first flying a Rocket with a Lance Smith tuned OS25 FX. Their winning time was 6.54.82. After leading the race early, Murray Wilson and John Hallowell placed second with the Streak also with a Lance modified FX. As can be seen in the photo, it was getting quite dark when at the last pitstop, John lost sight of the line on the grass, clipped the battery box and removed the wing on the Streak. Murphy in action!

John Hallowell
AUS 1984.

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