Back on August 4th-5th, the VMPRA headed to Bendigo to go racing. We ended up with better numbers than we first thought would be in attendance and the weather was quite good. Thanks to the Bendigo Club for hosting this event and for providing a field that was in such great condition.
The next event is the VIC State Championships being held at Cohuna on September 8th – 9th. This will also be a selection event for the 2019 F3D world championships Australian team.
The written content in this post is accurate to the best of my/our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is written from my/our perspective and reflects how I/we have experienced this event.
Photos published as feature images are selected purely for their quality, general interest or topicality. They are chosen from a pool of photos taken by myself and others when time permits.
If a perspective is not being represented, I am more than happy to publish any written content or photos that are supplied to me provided it is fair and reasonable.
Back on the weekend of June 9-11, the AMPRA Championships where held in Victoria at Barry Murphy’s pylon racing field at Munro about 3 hours east of Melbourne.
This event was also the first of the Australian F3D team select for the 2019 World Championships to be held in Queensland.
Just in the last event for the Season Championship, Leigh Hocken popped up into the winning position, Pushing Brian Steele down into 2nd place and Glenn Matthews remained in 3rd position
The written content in this post is accurate to the best of my/our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is written from my/our perspective and reflects how I/we have experienced this event.
Photos published as feature images are selected purely for their quality, general interest or topicality. They are chosen from a pool of photos taken by myself and others when time permits.
If a perspective is not being represented, I am more than happy to publish any written content or photos that are supplied to me provided it is fair and reasonable.
So VMPRA was off to the MAAA Nationals held in the New South Wales town of West Wyalong. We were to be providing the equipment and be running the event. Mick Dallmann from Queensland offered to be Contest Director for the weekend and did a fine job of it. It was great to see a good group on competitors down from Queensland and some from South Australia also.
We were allocated an area on the secondary runway at the local airport which had a gravel runway. There was some test flying on Friday but due to the difficult take-off and landing conditions much time was spent on laying out sheets and matting to keep the dust down on the take-off position and on the runway for the planes that land wheels up.
At the nationals, the classes of Q500, F400, F3T, F3D & F5D were raced. This meant that racing of F400 & F3T ran late into the afternoon with the sun very low in the sky.
One of the highlights of the Nationals is being surrounded by lots of people that are interested in the various facets of aeromodeling and getting a chance to watch some of these other events. Hopefully the Nats can become a more regular part of the Australian aeromodeling scene and especially for pylon racers from all over Australia to come together.
Places: 1st David Wilkins
2nd Steve Taylor
3rd Marc Hamilton
Fastest Time: 96.39 – Jim Orenshaw
No. of competitors: 11
Class – F5D
Places: 1st Trevor Pearce
2nd Daniel Arapakis
3rd David Wilkins
Fastest Time: 60.10 – Jim Orenshaw
No. of competitors: 4
Event Report and Photos – John Schmidli
The written content in this post is accurate to the best of my/our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is written from my/our perspective and reflects how I/we have experienced this event.
Photos published as feature images are selected purely for their quality, general interest or topicality. They are chosen from a pool of photos taken by myself and others when time permits.
If a perspective is not being represented, I am more than happy to publish any written content or photos that are supplied to me provided it is fair and reasonable.
It was a rather smaller than usual group of us that turned up at Warrnambool for a weekend of pylon racing. The Saturday was a stunning sunny day with light winds. With the smaller number of participants and a great group of the local club members helping out, we got through 5 rounds of each class by the end of the day.
Unfortunately, Sunday was not to be as kind to us. With only 3 rounds of each class left, Q500 started the day’s racing and during the first race, the wind picked up resulting in some damage to planes on landing. This and the fact that the NATs were only a couple of weeks later, meant that the plug was pulled on racing for Sunday.
Brian Steele is in 1st place and Leigh Hocken continues his surge to the top being on equal points but in 2nd place due to events attended being less. Glenn Matthews has now dropped to 3rd place.
The written content in this post is accurate to the best of my/our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is written from my/our perspective and reflects how I/we have experienced this event.
Photos published as feature images are selected purely for their quality, general interest or topicality. They are chosen from a pool of photos taken by myself and others when time permits.
If a perspective is not being represented, I am more than happy to publish any written content or photos that are supplied to me provided it is fair and reasonable.
We had another wonderful pylon racing event down at Barry Murphy’s purpose built pylon racing field. There was a good turn out for the weekend with many camping out at the field. Andrew Arapakis did another of his beautiful spit roast dinners that has become synonymous with racing at Munro. On a somber note, we held a minute’s silence out of respect for the very recent passing of Marvin Dunsmuir who owns the farm that the filed is built on. It was also good to see Barry’s new F3D model performing so well with Beau at the controls.
The written content in this post is accurate to the best of my/our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is written from my/our perspective and reflects how I/we have experienced this event.
Photos published as feature images are selected purely for their quality, general interest or topicality. They are chosen from a pool of photos taken by myself and others when time permits.
If a perspective is not being represented, I am more than happy to publish any written content or photos that are supplied to me provided it is fair and reasonable.
The written content in this post is accurate to the best of my/our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is written from my/our perspective and reflects how I/we have experienced this event.
Photos published as feature images are selected purely for their quality, general interest or topicality. They are chosen from a pool of photos taken by myself and others when time permits.
If a perspective is not being represented, I am more than happy to publish any written content or photos that are supplied to me provided it is fair and reasonable.
Back on the December 10, we returned to Crib Point for another of our Q500/Sports pylon racing days. Thanks Allan Swift for the below event report.
Q500
In Round 1, Jim Orenshaw did a 93 sec time which was the quickest all day. John Schmidli flew fast and consistently all day to win overall.
Some very quick models and close racing was displayed. Allister Cox (Western Port member) was flying one of Daniel Arapakis’s Q500 models which appeared to have the highest airspeed.
Gary & Alan Whitbourn both flew fast well prepared Q500’s.
Sports
A good day was had by all and a variety of high and low wing Trainer/Sport type models were flown.
F5D display
Daniel Arapakis performed a practice/demonstration flight of his F5D after lunch and was very quick!
Many thanks to the host Club for making the Pylon flyers welcome, assisting with the Pylon marshaling duties and providing the catering for lunch.
No change at the top 2 positions but in a close battle between father son team Gary Whitbourn has displayed Alan and has move up from 4th to 3rd positions.
1st – Jim Orenshaw
2nd – John Schmidli
3rd – Gary Whitbourn
Please note the VMPRA Committee approved engine list for Q500 Pylon events in VIC, as per carried motion at VMPRA General Meeting at Cohuna in 2017.
“Motion: VMPRA to use AMPRA Q500 rules, with the exception of retaining an updated approved engine list. VMPRA Committee to amend approved engine list.”
Thunder Tigre .46, OS 46AX, OS 46AXII, OS 46FX, Super Tigre G45, Evolution .46NX, ASP S46A & ASP S46AII
Next Race
The first event for 2018 is at Camperdown on February 3-4. This event is the VMPRATrophy. Pencil that one into the diary.
Camperdown Racecourse access conditions Friday (02/02/2018)
Racecourse is available from 11:00 am onwards. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER EARLIER THAN 11:00 am.
Saturday (03/02/2018)
Gate open at 8:30 am and NO FLYING.
Entries close at 9:30 am and the course is to be set up. Test Flying from 10:00 am to 10:30 am.
Q500 to commence at 10:30 am.
FA1 practice allowed during lunch break.
FA1 to commence after lunch, followed by F400.
Sunday (04/02/2018)
Field closed for test flying and racing to commence after 9:00 am.
VMPRA Membership renewal
Please also note, your VMPRA membership fees are due for 2018. Payment of $25.00 can be made at Camperdown or by the following methods:
2018 Nats
Also worth considering is the Nats that are being held in West Wylong (NSW) on April 28-29, 2018. Entries close on January 31, 2018 so you can register to compete by visiting the below link.
Event Report – Allan Swift
Additional material – John Schmidli and Allan Swift Photos – John Schmidli
The written content in this post is accurate to the best of my/our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is written from my/our perspective and reflects how I/we have experienced this event.
Photos published as feature images are selected purely for their quality, general interest or topicality. They are chosen from a pool of photos taken by myself and others when time permits.
If a perspective is not being represented, I am more than happy to publish any written content or photos that are supplied to me provided it is fair and reasonable.
Back on November 18 – 19 after a weeks postponement, the VMPRA ran the Victorian State Championships down at Barry Murphy’s beautifully prepared, purpose built pylon racing facility.
Unfortunately I was not able to attend and an event report hasn’t been provided so I’ll get stuck into the results.
Brian Steele and Glenn Matthews have moved up a position each into 1st & 2nd positions respectively and Andrew Davies has dropped from 1st to 3rd position.
1st – Brian Steele
2nd – Glenn Matthews
3rd – Andrew Davies
That was the last full 3 class event for the year. We have a Q500 & Sports event scheduled for Crib Point on December 10.
The first event for 2018 is at Camperdown on February 3-4. This event is the VMPRA Trophy. Pencil that one into the diary.
Also worth considering is the Nats that are being held in West Wylong (NSW) on April 28-29, 2018. Entries close on January 31, 2018 so you can register to compete by visiting the below link.
The written content in this post is accurate to the best of my/our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is written from my/our perspective and reflects how I/we have experienced this event.
Photos published as feature images are selected purely for their quality, general interest or topicality. They are chosen from a pool of photos taken by myself and others when time permits.
If a perspective is not being represented, I am more than happy to publish any written content or photos that are supplied to me provided it is fair and reasonable.
I was great to be back racing at Cohuna once again after a break of a year to celebrate 40 year of this great club hosting pylon racing in Victoria. The VMPRA has always regarded the Cohuna Club as the home of pylon racing.
We had a good turn-out of competitors including the interstate guys from South Australia & New South Wales and we were blessed with terrific weather. Lots of club members, locals, photographers and even a local councilor visited to watch proceedings.
The Cohuna club was so supportive of this event that we had enough helpers to run a 10 lap course rather that the usual 10.5 laps. There were some very fast times and even an Australian record for F400 was broken by Shaun Jacobsen with a 61.60 sec.
Event Report and Photos – John Schmidli Additional photos – Tegan Clifford
The written content in this post is accurate to the best of my/our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is written from my/our perspective and reflects how I/we have experienced this event.
Photos published as feature images are selected purely for their quality, general interest or topicality. They are chosen from a pool of photos taken by myself and others when time permits.
If a perspective is not being represented, I am more than happy to publish any written content or photos that are supplied to me provided it is fair and reasonable.
After a long break in racing, the last event being back in May, the VMPRA held it’s first event at Rick Townsend’s purpose built pylon racing field in Newbridge. Rick has been setting up and developing this field over the last few years with the ambition of holding regular pylon racing events there.
We were blessed with some superb weather, particularly on the Sunday with temperatures of zero and below when we first arrived at the field, but with clear blue skies, it was t-shirt weather by lunch time.
Numbers were a little down on usual with the post world championship hang-over. Barry Murphy was suffering with the flu and had to return home on Saturday morning and Leigh Hocken also had to pull out due to illness. On the plus side it was great having father/son team Matt & Xavier Noonan there for the weekend flying Q500 and also Steve & Jo Taylor put in a big effort, coming down from Queensland. Steve was debuting his brand new F3D racer, the “Vector” which had only just been test flown the week before. They also left a bunch of models down here with some great bargains to be had. It was also great to have Rick flying with us again after a long break and he was certainly on it right from the start and ended up taking out 1st place in FA1.
Racing on both days comprised of F400, FA1 and Q500 as the last class for the day and all flew 8 rounds by the end of the weekend. We finished nice and early on the Sunday and finish, packed up and presented certificates and left around 3pm.
I think we would all say the flying at Rick’s field was very enjoyable. The field setup was great and the hospitality was 2nd to none with Rick and Ozzie’s Coffee van being on-site and along with Barry Townsend, were selling some very nice “really” coffees plus homemade food.
Event Report and Photos – John Schmidli Additional photos – Andrew Arapakis
The written content in this post is accurate to the best of my/our knowledge at the time of publishing. It is written from my/our perspective and reflects how I/we have experienced this event.
Photos published as feature images are selected purely for their quality, general interest or topicality. They are chosen from a pool of photos taken by myself and others when time permits.
If a perspective is not being represented, I am more than happy to publish any written content or photos that are supplied to me provided it is fair and reasonable.
Back on August 4th-5th, the VMPRA headed to Bendigo to go racing. We ended up with better numbers than we first thought would be in attendance and the weather was quite good. Thanks to the Bendigo Club for hosting this event and for providing a field that was in such great condition.
