Vic State Race Series

[RaceTime]

Interesting to note the proposed 2002 Victorian State Race Series calendar in todays Motorsport News VSRS supplement:

Rnd 1 Calder 6/7 Apr 2002
Rnd 2 Sandown 18/19/May 2002
Rnd 3 Phillip Island 8/9 June 2002
Rnd 4 Sandown 20/21/July 2002
Rnd 5 Phillip Island 7/8 September 2002
Rnd 6 Calder 19/20/October 2002

Two rounds at each track but no Winton on the proposed calendar and my sources imply that there won't be any change to this either.

We all know what Winton can be like - maybe someone is finally standing up to the track at last?

[FalconEL]

Interesting post Racey. Without competitors and officials patronage, does Winton make good farming land?

It might pay certain track owners to take heed of the fact that without our goodwill and investment, their own investment is worth nothing. Alternately, as competitors and officials, our investment in this sport is also worth nothing if we have no venues to compete at. This is a two-way street that requires compromise from all parties.

There is a Calender Committee meeting being held to determine dates for the Qld State Championship Series for 2002 tonight at the CAMS offices. There is some fairly reliable mail around the place that would suggest Qld is in for another dictatorship with regard to once again having only one race circuit in Qld since the untimely demise of Lakeside. As a devout supporter of Qld Motorsport and Queensland Raceway also, I sincerely hope this does not happen.

I eagerly await answers to:
1) How much we will be paying in terms of entry fees to race in QLD in 2002?
2) Whether or not clubs such as the QGRA, QRDA, MGCCQ, HRCC will be able to hire the circuit to conduct State Championship rounds for a reasonable track hire rate?

If we don't receive positive responses to the above, you southerners may find an infux of Queenslanders looking for alternate venues to compete at in 2002. Keep those entry forms coming!!!

FalconEL.

[Vandas]

Good work by the Vic State Race Series, they should be congratulated. The second round at Sandown will be run by a conglomerate of clubs.

[Morris 1100]

Winton owes me $50 too!

[RaceTime]

Originally posted by FalconEL
Interesting post Racey. Without competitors and officials patronage, does Winton make good farming land?

There is a Calender Committee meeting being held to determine dates for the Qld State Championship Series for 2002 tonight at the CAMS offices.If we don't receive positive responses to the above, you southerners may find an infux of Queenslanders looking for alternate venues to compete at in 2002. Keep those entry forms coming!!!

FalconEL.

Also interesting - if/when anyone gets the various state calendars, I would appreciate copies of them please.

It is also imteresting to note that there is currently discussion about reviving the 24 hour race held at Winton some years ago.

What makes it interesting is the train of thought on where it would be held - bear with me.

Phillip Island, Sandown, Queensland Raceway, Eastern Creek and Oran park are all ruled out because of environmental problems. Mallala, Hidden Valley, Symmons, Baskerville and Barbagallo are out because of location.

This leaves Calder, Winton and Wakefield Park.

Calder is considered the worst of the three because of facilities and the track itself - not conducive to spectators for an event such as this.

Leaves Winton and Wakefield.

The recent turn of events at Winton - treatment by circuit operators, general 'happiness' at the track is tending to rule Winton out as well - this leaves Wakefield Park with an enthusiatic management group who smile, say please and thank you (a few words Winton needs to learn) and don't tell porkies when asked questions!

When viewed in terms f location they are really about equally distant from a major centre. Wakefield 1 1/2 hours from Sydney, 7 1/2 hours from Melbourne. Winton 2 1/4 hours from Melbourne and 7 1/2 hours from Sydney. Both would require overnight accom cost and travel - so both have the same cons against them.

Will let you know how things pan out with this one.

[Morris 1100]

As someone who raced at most of the Winton 24 hour races (I missed the first and last) I would love to see it revived. I always loved going down to Winton as they were very enjoyable events to compete at. However the last time I raced at Winton was a support race for the V8 stupidcars and I soon discovered the difference between a race meeting run by a club and a race meeting run by Mick Gronk and I said I would never go back again (and the prick still owes me $50)
But if the 24 does go to Wakefield Park count me in that would be great as I live in Goulburn! (and Wakefield Park dosen't owe me $50)

Originally posted by Racetime
Wakefield Park with an enthusiatic management group who smile, say please and thank you (a few words Winton needs to learn) and don't tell porkies when asked questions!

Like "we will refund that $50"

[RaceTime]

I somehow get the impression tha Winton owes you some money

Next time I am at Wakefield make sure you call into timing and say Hi!

[Morris 1100]

It's not like I am bitter or anything!
I went down there for a 3 day race meeting and find out that Ronke charges extra for HQ's to run on Friday (note only the HQ's not bikes or other supports) they said it was private practice I said it was a rip off (how can you have private practice during a race meeting? the sup regs said it was untimed practice) but I need to bed in brakes so I paid first and argued later. Then the clerk of the course calls a meeting of all the HQ drivers and says that Sam Newman is going to race a Falcon XR6 in the HQ race with us, but he needs all the drivers to agree and sign a form, so I said if they pay me back the $50 I will sign. The clerk of the course says he knows nothing about charging the HQ's to practice and that he will see Ronke and find out but can I sign the form first! After a bit of talking about it I signed and kept chasing the clerk of the course all weekend to find out if I would get my money and he kept promising that I would.

But I did get to hit Sam Newman in both races

[Vandas]

Morris 1100,

Mick Ronke invited a mate of mine, Darren Smith to go down and commentate at the track for the V8 round.

He offered Darren $500 for the job.

Darren took him up on the offer and went down to commentate.

Early on the first morning of the meeting, Ronke noticed that Darren hadn't started commentating yet. So he raced up to Darren in the booth and started demanding to know why he wasn't commentating.

Darren replied "Mick, I'll do it for $500, but I want the money up front. I want $500 in my hand before I will start to commentate."

Mick said fine, I'll get the money.

Just before lunch Mick noticed that Darren still hadn't started commentating.

Again he raced up there to be met with the same reply.

Just after lunch Mick arrived with the money and Darren began to commentate.

I see this as the only successful way to deal with a guy like Ronke.

Thought you might like to hear a story of someone getting the better of him.

[Bomn]

At one of the 24-hour relay races he had the hide to charge the teams for walking on the grass.

[Morris 1100]

Was that the year he charged a team for banging tent pegs into the ground?

[aaaahhhhhhh]

Nah the tent peg year was 91 and the walking on the grass year was 92.

[Morris 1100]

So what did he try and charge for in 93?

[RaceTime]

Probably organisational skills (severely lacking there at times) or racing (for daring to show the club up!

[Morris 1100]

Nah that was 94 and 95.

[RaceTime]

Hehe - sarcastic ******* - you're worse than me
(Why does this remove a decent commaon Australian word??? ******* )

[Bomn]

I once overheard a fellow spectator say “how could Benalla Council allow anybody build a racetrack at a tip”

[Morris 1100]

Ah yes Benalla Tip sounds about right!

[Morris 1100]

Originally posted by RaceTime
Hehe - sarcastic ******* - you're worse than me
(Why does this remove a decent commaon Australian word??? ******* )

It's no good calling me a sarcastic ******* you will just have to call me a sarcastic prick!

[RaceTime]

I'm ust waiting for the race track to be built and finished at S****horpe... :confused:

[Morris 1100]

What do they call people who come from S****horpe?