WozzTopia

The Winter Classic Trial and Tour, formerly the Winter Classic Rally and Winter Classic Rally and Tour, is a 3 day multi club event run by Ballarat Light Car Club inc., on the last weekend of August each year. With a 13 year history the event has become a regular for many competitors. The Winter Classic is a Tarmac only event (making it suitable for all types of vehicles) consisting of a Trial or Tour and good number of Driving Tests over the 3 days. The event is set around areas of the Central Highlands and includes some challenging and picturesque scenery.

The Winter Classic Trial and Tour has continually evolved over the last 13 years with this year being no different. Competitors this year were given a choice to enter the full event eg. trial or tour and driving tests or driving tests only. After several years of maintaining the Winter Classic website the new option of competing in the driving tests only, not to mention the reduced price. I was contacted by long time friend and fellow BLCC member Mick, who asked if I was interested in being co-driver for him in his Subaru on the Sunday only. My instant response was h**l yes! To my utter delight after a night to think on it just Sunday soon turned into the whole 3 days.

After a couple of days madly trying to organise my club membership renewal, a helmet, and a CAMS license, the event finally kicked off Friday night the 26th of August at the Ballarat Show Grounds with 3 fast paced laps under lights. What a way to be initiated into motor sport, although I am a long time BLCC member this was the first real event I had participated in.

Saturday saw us at Victoria Park Ballarat for an almost 2.5 km dash through the big old Oak trees. It is good to see the return of Victoria Park to the Winter Classic repertoire after several years. A few chicanes, dog leg turns and a stop, reverse, go kept the speed down on this track for competitors safety. From here we had a couple of hours to fill while the other entrants did their Trial or tour before we had to be at Myrniong for an uphill (not a hill climb) test of about 1.4 km that was all over in under 50 seconds for some competitors.

Next it was back to Ballarat for some more tests including the old favorite the bus park at Morshead Park, the FMP car park and a new test at Villiers Drive Wendouree that was well received by all. Sadly this test saw Rob P hit the gutter, pushing his front right wheel back and well out of alignment, causing the early retirement of this car from the running, but it was good to see Rob pull up in his road car on Sunday morning intent on finishing the event.

Sunday started off with a slightly shortened heart starter run around the car park of Bartlett Blinds, due to a few items being left out in the proposed test track. Next it was off to Clunes for another uphill run up Scenic Drive. This was a great test starting at a creek crossing with a family fishing just metres from the start line. This series of tests proved somewhat eventful for Mick and me with the Subaru jumping out of first gear on one run and totally demolishing the finish garage on another. (see video)

Back to Ballarat Sunday afternoon for our final series of tests starting off in Old Creswick Road for a fast run around Anchor Drive – Golden Crescent that nearly saw the withdrawal of Mick’s car from a strange shudder and noise in the left rear. Next was a tight Motorkhana style test on the car park of the Wendouree Pool. After just a few seconds on this test Mick made the decision to withdraw because of the vibration again.

While driving to the last test location at Villiers Drive Mick decides the car works well in a straight line and when turning left, we’re back in baby! We then head back to the previous test to put a time on the board and then to the final test site that just happened to be predominantly left handers. The car went well and let us put 2 final times on the board.

What a weekend! I can’t believe how much fun we had and the camaraderie with other competitors was great. I can’t wait for next year, maybe I’ll see what else I can do between now and then.

My first visit to One Tree Hill since 2000 where I believe I caught a staphylococcus infection that caused a brain aneurysm. With any luck things won’t turn out that drastic this time:)

With the demise of the Ballarat Light Car Club run, One Tree Hillclimb in 2002. A small group of local motoring enthusiasts met and resolved to “Re-climb the Hill”.

The Ararat Car Club was formed and after much hard work and frustration, in 2008 after a 6 year hiatus they ran their very first One Tree Hillclimb.

Below Steve Grinstead proving he has what it takes to please the crowd.

On the 5th and 6th of June my daughter and I spent the weekend in Camperdown, Vic helping out the Ararat car club by doing the event timing of the Mt Leura Hillclimb. Although it was a very wet day on Saturday I was in a perfect spot in the timing bus.

Sunday was a much better day for weather, but the track remained damp just about all day.

With a huge field of 67 cars with a few being double entered the entrants managed to get 4 official run on Sunday, some got more due to a few mess ups in the timing equipment (or the timing official)

Outright Places

1^st Kevin Mackrell Viagra             1^st in class          31.41

2^nd Rod Moody Cheetah             1^st in class          31.97

3^rd Scott Thompson Pirahna         1^st in class         34.19

The winners Chev powered, 4WD Datsun 280Z

The above trail was recorded on my iPhone 3gs using MotionX-GPS. But I did start recording at the top and drove down the hill

A bit over a week ago I helped out at a Khanacross held by the Ballarat Light Car Club. I drove the stop watch while another club member Noel wrote the competitor’s times down. It was possibly the coldest June day I have ever experienced with wind that went straight through us. My nose was running my eyes were watering but I still had a good time.

A khanacross is an inexpensive, safe way to develop your driving skills and have fun!

The competition is held on unsealed surfaces and involves a series of timed tests utilizing various layouts. The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) has stipulated that since a khanacross is not a “speed event” no straight section of the course is allowed to exceed 150 metres and this means the speeds are relatively low. Only one car is allowed on each test at any one time.

Many of our club members use purpose built vehicles (which are also suitable for most other forms of competition offered by our club) and these can often be developed to a competitive standard for a total cost of less than $4000.00 (sometimes much less!)

Rally type winter tread tyres are usually permitted in our khanacrosses although our popular once a year Stapo’s khanacross allows only less aggressively treaded road tyres.

Your road registered “everyday” vehicle is also suitable for khanacrosses provided it is well maintained and equipped with an approved fire extinguisher.

All drivers must wear an approved safety helmet and possess an easily obtained CAMS level 2 NS licence.

More Info at BLCC Website
Full Image Gallery

Fathers day started out good this year but took a drastic turn for the worse in the afternoon.

With photography on my mind Rhiannon and I decided with the weather being fine we would take a trip to Mount Beckworth a picturesque granite outcrop, that is a sanctuary for native plants and animals 8 km west of Clunes and 35 km north of Ballarat.

We had not been there to long when I decided to let Rhiannon have a drive because she has shown interest in the past. She was doing a great job, breaking without giving us whiplash and accelerating without spinning the wheels. This may in hindsight given me a false sense of her ability’s. Because only a few hundred  meters further on with the track starting to go downhill slightly and taking a turn the left she has had a bit of a panic attack and froze steering us into a tree By the time I realised what was happening it was to late to do much I tried to grab the steering wheel, far to late.

If I had seen her eyes shut maybe I would have had second thoughts!

After bouncing around the inside of the car (should wear safety belt even at low speeds) I found myself staring at the crumpled up bonnet thinking OH S**T! Luckily neither of us was badly hurt Rhiannon was wearing a seat belt so did not get thrown about. I on the other hand was not and because I was trying to reach the steering wheel I ended up hitting my face on the rearview mirror my knee on the glove box and my ribs on my right side must have hit the dash.

After things going so wrong I could not believe I had full Mobile phone reception and was able to call my good friend Mick to come and trailer the car out of there.

The Winter Classic Rally and Tour is an event put on by the Ballarat Light Car Club ( http://blcc.net.au/ ) annually in late August. It comprises several tests, navigation and touring events.

The Rally format has been developed to suit entrants who have competed in events of this type before who enjoy driving tests and relish the challenges that navigationally oriented touring sections provide. The Rally format includes a mixture of challenging driving tests each day to guarantee a true team effort. The Tour, with clear and full touring instructions, suits navigationally inexperienced competitors, first time competitors or those who simply wish to enjoy their driving tests without the highs and lows of finding their way. The Tour uses guaranteed sealed roads, hence making it suitable for all vehicles. Both the Rally and Tour use the same driving tests, allowing all drivers to compete against each other in this part of the Event.

Image gallery Saturday Image gallery Sunday

www.winterrally.ballarat.net.au/

I have just upgraded from my crusty Toyota (that has done a wonderful job over the last 5+ years) to a Ford Falcon ED Futura. My last car a 1985 Toyota Corona base model to say the least with no Cruise Control no Air Conditioning and worst of all no Power Steering. For someone without the use of one arm that to put it mildly sucked.

The new car is luxurious compared to what I am used to. With all items referred to earlier as well as Tinted Windows to keep the harsh Australian sun out. You could almost call this a hand me down having previously belonged to the farther of one of my good friends. The overall condition is good the body has a few small dings and the paint is a little down however the inside is very clean and tidy. The 4.0 litre 6 cylinder engine and transmission are also in good order. So as you can probably tell am am stoked with my new acquisition. Fuel prices at the moment are making it a little expensive to run compared to the 2 litre Toyota. After next week that should not be a problem as I have it booked in to be converted to LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas). At around half the price of petrol I will be able to afford to run it more. Who knows with reliability and cheaper fuel I may even be able to leave town to visit my sister etc or take my daughter away for a weekend once in a while.