The Challenge framework is that each of the participating clubs sponsor and manage a competitive round; Lotus Club Queensland played host to the penultimate round at our home event, Lakeside DTC, the format being timed laps.
Having a home ground advantage, primed our enthusiasm with a solid LCQ entry list, aiming to trounce the opposition; and each other when the visors went down.
Since our last DTC event, the venue was reconfigured to incorporate an Extreme Rallycross circuit. This entailed mixing the existing bitumen circuit with a series of dirt legs and jumps. With some trepidation we viewed the configuration, particularly as the Rallycross event had sprayed a fair layer of dust and dirt over the bitumen roadway and tyre bundles and concrete walls had been erected where there were once green pastures.
Dick Reynolds, well known for his competitive spirit, was reportedly caught re-running videos of his previous runs looking for an edge to oust Daryl and of course the entire Porsche Club. Dick was completely dismayed to find that the Rallycross guys had re-jigged the circuit so much that Dick’s corner “tells” had been completely obliterated.
54 entries were received from 15 clubs, our biggest ever field with an impressive number spectators to boot, a great family day.
With the club rivalry at fever pitch, a full field of Porsches lined up to take on the Lotus boys.
Dick and Jeff Jackson seamlessly worked through scrutineering, the odd number plate was zip tied, headlights taped, Daryl’s driver briefing was more like reading the riot act and we were ready to roll at 9.00 am.
With Mal Kelson (taking life calmly) and Matt Plowman (holidaying in New Zealand) being non-starters, the crowd was a little subdued until Ken Philp decided to spice things up by brake testing a tyre barrier, after the finish line of all places!
Not to be outdone, Daryl checked out a culvert on the side of the track, luckily no immediate damage but pretty funny to watch.
Kelly Pitt attended but played no part on keeping Garry’s tyres hot, even so with his red hot Elise on the rev limiter most of the lap, Garry managed to set the fastest time of the day, well done Garry.
The day ran smoothly, no technical glitches, the new staging lights worked a treat, Kris gave his newly acquired Elise a “what for”, Paul Torrisi sliding across the finishing line on most runs, Mike Moore manned the timing booth all day.
Check out this link to a typical run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcbx37u7IJg
The top 10 final results were in; Lotus Club 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 9th, a solid points tally which puts the club in the box seat for the championship.
LCQ is still 1st outright in the Club Challenge and in the individual stakes, Dick is second outright, Shane is third, Tony fourth and Ken fifth.
Off to the final round; a Motorkhana hosted by the HSCCQ on the 27th September.
