Western Port Model Aircraft Club – Q500 and Sports Pylon Race – May 21, 2023

Unfortunately, our next event at Warrnambool Nov 5-6 has been cancelled due to extreme saturation of the field and no let up in wet conditions between now and the event.
The next event is Munro Dec 3-4 where we will also hold our AGM.

WARRNAMBOOL Event rescheduled – May 4-5

The VMPRA was back at Bazza’s Munro pylon field for the last of the F3D Team trials as well as the usual F400 and Q500 classes.

At the end of the Saturday, the F3D class had completed 8 rounds on the FAI (10 lap) course. The final results for the F3D 2017 WC team was as pictured below: Daniel Arapakis (Junior member), Beau Murphy, Leigh Hocken and Tyler Mees.

Australia's F3D 2017 World Championship Team

After F3D had finished, 4 rounds of F400 were raced before it became too late to continue. Unfortunately weather conditions on the Sunday again prevented any further racing for the weekend meaning that F400 only flew the 4 rounds from Saturday afternoon and there was no Q500 flown at all.

Check out the event photo gallery>>>

Results

Places:
1st Leigh Hocken
2nd Beau Murphy
3rd Tyler Mees

Fastest Time: 55.67 – Glenn Matthews (10 course)
No. of competitors: 13

Class – F400

Places:
1st Beau Murphy
2nd Ranjit Phelan
3rd Glenn Matthews

Fastest Time: 62.97 – Beau Murphy (10 course)
No. of competitors: 12

Check out the full results>>>

Season Championship

FA1

Leigh Hocken has remained in top spot, Beau Murphy has jumped up from 5th to 2nd position and Daniel Arapakis moved up from 4th to 3rd position. 

1st – Leigh Hocken
2nd – Beau Murphy
3rd – Daniel Arapakis

F400

Gary Davidson has moved up from 3rd to 1st position displacing Andrew Davies and Jim Orenshaw who are now in 2nd and 3rd position respectively.

1st – Gary Davidson
2nd – Andrew Davies
3rd – Jim Orenshaw

Check Out Season Championship >>>

News

There has been some changes in the committee from those elected back in July at the AGM. James and Gary resigned from the president and treasurer positions. Luckily for the VMPRA, there have been some members step up to take these positions. We also had not elected a secretary at the AGM and I have been doing this work until a replacement was founds. The new (acting) committee are:

• Mick Kellet – President
• Andrew Davies – Treasurer
• Allan Swift – Secretary

Next Race

As most of you will know we had to cancel the November event due to adverse weather conditions. Therefore, the next event will be again at Munro on December 3-4 which will also be the last event for the calander year. Hopefully the weather will be kinder to us and lets make this a good one.

Check Out Complete Calendar >>>

Event Report – John Schmidli
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.

Unfortunately, the race event planned for this weekend has now been cancelled due to predicted poor weather forecast for Warrnambool on Saturday & Sunday.

This decision has been made in consultation with the VMPRA committee and the Warrnambool Club.

John Schmidli

The second F3D team trial for next years World Championships to be held in Sweden, saw competitors arrive on the Friday from South Australia, New South Wales and regional Victoria. Baz Murphy’s much loved Munro field, a purpose built, immaculately presented and maintained pylon racing facility, was set for a show down. This the pinnacle of the highest speed, pilot and plane combinations all with the passion for precision racing would test the very best to achieve their rightful place on the Aussie F3D team. Results over the past few months have been chequered and pilot placings in probably one of the hardest teams in the world to get onto would be up for grabs this weekend. 

As per the past few race meets at Munro, the weather Gods rolled up for Saturdays racing in East Gippsland. With 10 F3D pilots competing in Victoria’s State Championships. The heat 1 draw was for the Minute Master Munro team and great mates Beau Murphy and Dannmann (Daniel Arapakis). Round after round, the fluro red and bright orange wings battled it out to get clean air….Dannmann with his place already set as the Aussie Junior, was free to give every round his very best against his trusted mentor Beau. Beau as conservative as possible, flew famously well as usual and averaged an event time placing him on the Aussie Team with 2 times recorded now after 2 team trials. The awesome duo of Beau and his long time mate Leigh Hocken who also has two times in with a great performance in QLD a few weeks back, have their places squared away on the Aussie Team for the next year World Champs.

Just as impressive as the first day us southerners met the Jacobsens’ from SA, Shauny mixed with the best in his usual perfect style that will prove out his competitiveness and future success. With only a hand full of F3D races under his belt, Shaun flew his PB of 59.28 seconds and while carrying a cut, Shaun averaged a 61.1 seconds to place him in a very good position for the 3rd team senior member on the Aussie Team.

Great to see Tom Jacobsen, the “Great Dane” larger than life, flying well with plenty of smiles. Leigh Hocken had pace as always but carried a 200 finishing in 4th and 5th respectively. Great to see Ranjit Phelan with yet again another big drive down from outer Sydney to compete in his life passion of F3D racing. Frank Cassella and his family watching and supporting his high speed passion with the most highly polished racing red Voodoo also bringing along his ripper smile enjoyed the perfect conditions at Munro. Brian Steele and Andrew Davies, the two infamous beer monsters, had a tough event with a few too many DNF’s. Jarrod Jacobsen, Shauny’s number one caller and brother in his first time in an F3D event suffered an unfortunate technical problem resulting in wing folding in his first heat, will see him having another go in this very testing class of F3D!

As F3D team trial selection takes priority, 8 rounds were flown on Saturday with Dannmann finishing in 1st place and recording the fastest time for the event and his PB of 57.21 seconds, Beau in 2nd place and Shaun taking out 3rd. Well done to all pilots and to a great F3D event and State Championships.

Q500

With 7 pilots primed and full of adrenaline, pilots took to the perfect afternoon conditions racing for 3 rounds before sunset took over. Unfortunately no more rounds for this class were on the Sunday due to poor weather. Proving the fact out that consistency wins races, finishing any event with no cuts puts you in prime position. Jim Orenshaw who recorded the fastest time of the event with a 96.13 seconds, is always a great competitor. This time round, Lilydale Club President, Gary Whitbourn took out the podium with 1st place, closely followed by Ian Rickard, Munro’s very own grounds keeper in 2nd place and Alan Whitbourn in a very proud 3rd place which was a fantastic weekend racing result. All three trophy getters have put in the hard yards and have been finally rewarded with State Championship trophies – well done guys.

With the unfortunate weather conditions closing in on Sunday, F400 was not raced and the State Championships Trophy for F400 will be competed for at the next event which will be run at Munro on October 15-16.

Many thanks to all the pilots and helpers that turned up and participated and made the event one to remember.

Check out the event photo gallery>>>

Next event.

We are racing at the Bendigo club at Marong on July 13-14.

Andrew Davies has been in contact with the club and has confirmed that it is fine for those interested in camping at the field to do so. Campers need to contact Andy Thomas (Bendigo President – see http://www.brcac.asn.au) so he can advise where to setup and of any other requirements. It’s great that so many clubs allow us to do this. There is also camping nearby at the Marong caravan park.

Brian Steele and Andrew Davies with his KD Racer F400 model

AGM

It was originally envisaged that we would hold our AGM at this event which has been the tradition but as there will be a significant group away at the F3D World Championships, we will hold it at a later date to be advised.

F3D World Championship

On the subject of the F3D World Championships which is to be held in the Netherlands between July 23 and 28, 2013. We wish our members who are travelling to Europe and participating in this great event, all the very best for the trip and the competition.

Beau and Barry Murphy and Ranjit Phelan and Rick Townsand are VMPRA members representing Australia. Matt Young is also representing us as a junior with the help of Bruce DeChastel as caller and supplier of models and engines.

Team New Zealand is being represented by VMPRA members, Tom Wetherill and Jim Orenshaw. Toni and David Axon are also travelling to the Netherlands and I would imagine, will be involved in some way. I hope I haven’t missed anybody out.

Also from Queensland, Chris and Kevin Callow and Tyler and Warren Mees are represnting Australia.

We can’t wait to hear news of how you all go.

I’ll try to post any information that becomes available during the Champs.

John Schmidli