Winton Fun Day

[Aquarius]

Jeez, I went to Winton on Sunday for the Fun Day they run, what a great day, pretty much drove all day for 20 bucks.

Great day, great weather, great time, not much brakes, tyres or fuel left though.

Well done to everyone at Winton.

[Adam Ronke]

I had an old Pintara there but my old helmet wouldn't fit over my head! You could say that since winning that Sprint Series for the Juniors in 1996 my head has swollen!

Unfortunately I didn't have a drive but I had a ball watching everyone "fanging" around.

[Aquarius]

There were certainly some great looking cars(?) there.

[Adam Ronke]

There was one in particular, an Orange XD ute with a 302 I think it was, sounded good and looked to go fairly well.

[Wrex]

So the public could take their cars on track? That sounds brilliant.

When is the next one planned?

[Adam Ronke]

December 19th 2004 - Usually around 400 participants and you are also able to take a passenger. It is kind of like a come and try day.

[Matt H]

is it like a normal sprint meeting?

what safety regs are there for each car ? helmet, long clothes, extinguisher ?

not causing a fight, but are the winton fun days run under cams or aasa, just for my own curiousness

[Adam Ronke]

They are AASA and there is a safety check of all vehicles. Everyone who goes on the track pays $20.00 and receives an armband. If you don't have one you can't go on the track, driver or passenger. Helmets,long clothes that are not flammable. Extinguishers are not required but recommended for the Fun Days, there is an efficient fire crew on hand to attend any incidents as well as Fire Extinguishers placed around the circuit. It is basically designed to be a bit of fun, or try and put some fun back into motorsport.

[Chronicle]

Originally posted by Adam Ronke
There was one in particular, an Orange XD ute with a 302 I think it was, sounded good and looked to go fairly well.

Thnaks Adam, and it is a 351 thank you very much. Bit better than a shonky old panel van with faulty head lights.

[Chronicle]

Originally posted by Wrex
So the public could take their cars on track? That sounds brilliant.

When is the next one planned?

YES Wrex, the public can take their cars on the track, and many do, even some of the locals hoons. It is a real eye opener for them though, in their VS SS's being dragged off by some old Datsun 1600.

[PVDA]

So were you going to try and out do your effort at the first Motorfest Adam?

Yes some of us still remember

[The Hrt Kid]

so with the halmet does it have to complie with any standards? like would a dirtbike helmet do? With the car what mods have to be done to it? bonnet straps or what? I guess it has to be registered and have a road worthy certificate?

[Chronicle]

Originally posted by The Hrt Kid
so with the halmet does it have to complie with any standards? like would a dirtbike helmet do? With the car what mods have to be done to it? bonnet straps or what? I guess it has to be registered and have a road worthy certificate?

1. Helments have to have an Australian Standards sticker on them.

2. Some wear open face bike/car helments or full face bike/car helments.

3. Car can be unregistered or registered it doesn't matter, but in a road/race worthy condition. No oil leaks, working brake lights, battery secure. Bonnet straps are not necessary, but the bonnet security will be checked.

To give you an idea, there was me in an unregistered XD Flacon Ute with a 5.8 litre, old V8 Supercars (EL's & VS's), $450 Datsun Sunny Auto from the local wreckers, local blokes in their road cars, new BA GT's & XR8's. Do you get the idea.

What do you mean in the way of mods?

[PVDA]

and from past exerience you should for your own safety use a car helmet not one designed for bikes.

The weight difference is pretty big as bike helmets are designed for multiple impacts in the same crash where car helmets are not and being lighter put less strain on your neck in a collision.

Not that winton has a lot of things to hit compared with some other circuits.

[johnh875]

Very interested in this day, especially after the historic meeting on Sunday where we did a few (v. slow) laps of the track. Just a couple of questions that people who have been to past fun days may be able to answer - on the blurb for the last fun day it said you could drive at "reasonable speed" on the track, does this mean there are restrictions (apart from not falling off & crashing!), also how many turns or laps would you fit in the day? Thanks for any help!

[Chronicle]

Gidday John, yes it was a great weekend. The parade looked very good from where I was.

You are most welcome to come to the next Winton Fun Day on December 19th. The days are exceptionally popular.

There are no speed limits, but you have to be aware that you are intermingled with real novices, and real race cars. The only requirement from Winton is that you drive within 80% of either you or your cars capabilities.

I get to about 145 to 150, but other more serious operators leave me behind.

The process works that after your car has been through scruitineering you go out on the track for 30 minutes with just the driver on-board at about 10.00 am, the next 30 minutes you can have one passenger, this process alternates until about 5.00 pm when all officials have had enough (nah - just joking ), but 5 pulls it up.

BTW, what car was yours in the parade? (PM me if don't want to pulicise your car). I was in a position to see all the cars.

[johnh875]

Cheers Chronicle, that's what I thought - after all a) it would be my first time on the track and b) I would want to drive home afterwards! (unless I brought my other car on the trailer and I still don't want to bend that either) PM sent too.

I will see if I can rustle up some participants!