Tamiya cup 9 March 2019

A pleasant event, although it was very small for a Tamiya Cup, that used to draw about a hundred entries in the past.

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It all started when Hendry received a nitro HPI Savage Monster Truck for Christmas 2007.  Were he and his wife was invited to share a family gathering in Secunda.

Hendry’s brother – in – law, that invited them, would normally take out his RC car during our hot and sunny weather in SA’s festive season and race it in the street that he lives. Being a collector of classic cars for many years and owing about 12 cars, Hendry never got around getting himself a remote controlled car.  But because Anette’s brother had one, and Henry’s wife didn’t want him to stand and watch her bother playing with his RC car, with him not being able to join in the fun,  she got him his first RC car that Christmas. Within one week after Christmas, Hendry went and got himself a Mercedes on road car as well. The
rest is history…. He was hooked!

“I had a lot of fun driving these two cars up and down my paved driveway, but soon got tired of hitting trees and parked vehicles in my own yard. I then took my lawnmower and cut myself a very primitive “track” on my adjacent, empty plot.” Hendry Ogden

Hendry managed to steer the Savage on the path through the long grass and existing humps and enjoyed it more and more. Passers- by noticed what he was doing and asked if they could join him. The result was that the path through the field became wider and longer, until he decided to find out what a real off road track’s dimensions should be. Anette and Hendry then started to use every opportunity to go and look at every track that they have learnt about. They also surfed on the Internet to gain more knowledge about RC tracks.   At first they found it extremely difficult to obtain info about specs and such, but we soon found the Internet to be an inexhaustible source of information. There biggest obstacle was to know how to use the search engines.  Many nightly hours in front of the computer and many months of hard labour later, a proper off road track was built.  Six months later they started an on road track that also includes a drag strip.  It was completed within 4 months.
Then the 2.4 meter high and 12 meters long driver stand then came along and so did the toilet facilities. We now gladly share this with the community.

The on road track is 4 meters wide and has a total length of 225 meters.
The off road track is 4 meters wide and has a total length of 348 meters.
The drag strip is 46 meters in length.

Both tracks are now affiliated at SARDA

Accommodation near the Meyerton RC track(s):

Plaaskombuis ( www.plaaskombuis.co.za )
Plaaskombuis is a superb guesthouse that is situated in a tranquil surrounding on a fabulous farm, that is a mere 4 kilometers from the very heart of Meyerton

The Village Guesthouse, less than 20 km away from RC track
Henley – on –Klip ( www.villageguesthouse.co.za )

De Klip Guesthouse

Meyerton South  ( www.deklip.co.za )
Nestled on the banks of the Klipriver, in Meyerton (Vaal Triangle),

Vereeniging Formula1 Hotels - about 10 km away from track ( www.formula1hotels.co.za )

• Heidelberg
• Meyerton/Henley-on-Klip
• Bass Lake Adventures
• De Klip Guesthouse
• Klip River Country Estate
• Plaaskombuis Country Estate
• The Tree of Idleness

This was one of those nice summer time local club races that nobody complains about: Not too small, but also not so big and busy that race control and the drivers were under stress. Obviously we are able to handle big crowds, but a smaller group of drivers every now and then is always a bonus.   I overheard the drivers mentioning that it is nice to sometimes just enjoy a calm and peaceful day at the track. All the hustle and bustle can be tiring at times.

It was nice to have had Louis Nortje back after what feels to me like a too long break.. due to work and other family related issues.

Henry, track owner, decided to sit this one out, because with all the power outages in our country and specifically Gauteng, he had been so busy lately that he couldn’t find the time to work on his cars.

Then it was also a race meeting that Esmarie Geyser will remember for a long time to come. Achieving a 2^nd place on the podium in the 21.5 touring class is way more than what she expected of herself so soon.

Well, you did it, Girl. Way to go!

And another exceptional thing about this past weekend’s race was the absence of a beginner class.

Ruan Visser entered for beginners, but as he was the only one, we just informed him that he will be racing with the TTO1 class. And according to the results, it didn’t pose a problem at all. We’ve seen the progress that he has made since he started RC racing a couple of months ago and we knew he was ready…and he is now also aware of it and will not go back to beginner class next month. He’s got the self-confidence now.

THE RACE:

TTO class: Overall:

1. Louis NortjeBest lap -  21.88sec
2. Erich van Rooyenbest lap - 22.91sec
3. Ruan Visserbest lap - 22.38sec

Electric Mini Overall:

Francois did not compete in the qualifiers, due to a car problem and Mike Miscia did not compete in the Finals, because he was chatting away with Henry about nitro cars and did not hear the announcements.

1. Louis Nortje Best lap - 22.39sec
2. Francois Geyserbest lap - 22.82sec
3. Leon van Rooyen   -  best lap - 22.07sec
4. Mike Miscia best lap -  20.90sec

540 Touring: Overall:

1. Piet du ToitBest lap -  19.34sec
2. Rolan Ferreirabest lap - 19.44sec
3. Marchel van Rooyenbest lap - 20.65sec
4. James Theronbest lap - 21.96sec
5. Graham Wrightbest lap - 20.63sec

21.5 Touring Overall:

(Piet encountered problems with his personal transponder – not all his laps reflected)

1. Leon van Rooyen Best lap - 18.88sec
2. Esmarie Geyserbest lap - 19.62sec
3. James Theronbest lap - 20.48sec
4. Piet du Toitbest lap -  18.75sec
5. Marchel van Rooyen best lap - 19.92sec
6. Mike Misciabest lap - 19.76sec

Best presented RC body of the day went to Piet du Toit.

Congratulations!