There has been a few changes within the classes with the coming of the new season, to those who have taken the plunge and gone up a class, good luck, but be sure to take it easy, it is a big transition and a big speed differential, something that will take a little time to get used too. It is all down to making sure your car setup is on the money, and that you are not just racing to be the first into the first corner, but first to the finish line at the end of the 6 minutes.

With the date changes for the Dandenong cup, now the 17th and 18th of September, I hope you all get your entries in early, we are looking to have a huge turn out this year. I have my fingers crossed for fine weather and good racing. The classes we will be running will be as per club meetings with the inclusion of OPEN TOURING and possibly 4WD MINI if the interest is there. I know that a few of them are keen to come down and try out our track, just to get an early start on the Mini Nat's setup's.

We have confirmed the dates for the Mini Nationals for 2012, the meeting will be held from the 9th to the 11th of March. This is the labour day weekend. Control tyres will be available during scrutineering on the Friday, also on the Saturday morning. For all of you who are thinking of running at the nationals, it will be a huge event with drivers from all over the country coming down to compete, with the local knowledge that some of you have, it will be a definite advantage over the course of the weekend. Control tyres are for the M-chassis class only, all other classes have open tyres.

There have been several discussions recently with regards to some rule changes to the 540 class. It has come to my attention more recently that this is a very competitive class, and there is certainly a need to update the class rule to fall in line with current trends and availability of components. With the limited availability of brushed speed controllers, the proposal for 2012 is to introduce the use of brushless 21.5 motors with brushless speed controllers running the ROAR approved STOCK program. This will mean that the motors will have no variable timing, no supercharger or turbo functions, just the preset timing etc that the program has been configured with. Any alterations to this program will be easily detected with the default telltale for this particular program being a set of blinking lights on every speed controller. Scrutineering will be easy to do as the blinking lights are either on or not. This will work to the benefit of nearly all drivers in the fact that if they so choose to have a run in 21.5 touring class, it is as simple as a change in program, not a complete and costly component change for all of the electrical. More information will be available on this over the coming weeks.

With the Dandenong Cup fast approaching, there is a working bee planned for the weekend prior. Saturday the 10th of September. On this day we will only have a couple of tasks to get done, concrete the area in front of the container and around the back under the stairs where the compressor goes, plus erect the timber on the drivers stand in preparation for summer. If you are available on this Saturday, the more hands we have the faster we will be able to get it all done.

I look forward to seeing you all at the next race meeting on the 21st of August.

Shaun Peters

It has been a big few weeks for all at SERCCC, culminating with the Dandenong Cup meeting held last weekend the 17^th &18^th of September.  It has been a struggle this year to make this meeting happen, especially with the late date changes due to a conflict with other users of the showgrounds.  Many thanks go to all the committee members for all their help in making it the success it was.  We had over 55 entries.  The gods shined on us both Saturday and Sunday with the best racing weather we have had in Months.

With the Dandy cup dates moved forward, we had a big task on our plates to get the track and surrounding areas prepared in time.  With the working Bee on the 10^th, we managed to get all that done in time for the event.  Huge thanks goes to ALL who came down and spent their time helping with the ground works and timer work.  A big thanks to Darren O’Dea for all his efforts with the concrete around the container, it made life so much more pleasurable over the cup weekend.  The plastic was a godsend, with the rain showers coming over every couple of hours; it could have been a disaster without it.

Earlier in the month we also held a Special General Meeting to discuss and vote on some urgent club issues and to finalise some outstanding matters that had arisen with the technology advancements that the club has made over the last 6 months, again a big thanks to those who took the time out on the Tuesday night to come down and have their input into these matters, was good to see.

With racing continuing for the Spring Series, most of the classes are very close on points, and with the added interest we have had over the last few months, the numbers look to increase towards the end of the year.  There were some outstanding performances over the last few rounds, and most of those drivers stepped it up over the Dandy Cup weekend as well.  I am sure it will prove to be a nail biter towards the end of this series.  With the Ron Wilson Trophy dash on the horizon as well, there is plenty of racing opportunities through to the end of the year.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank some major contributors to the club this year; firstly RAB Hobbies, Ren and the boys have made some significant donations for raffle prizes and gift vouchers.  The Hobbyman has also been a great contributor throughout the year with donations to both the Good Friday appeal and the Dandenong Cup; it is great to have two such wonderful Hobby shops backing our club.

Finally, as most of you are now aware, Ted has tendered his resignation from his current roles with the club as he eases his way to retirement.  It was a pleasure for me to be able to introduce the Ted Dexter Perpetual trophy which our Webmaster and Committee member Leith Hughes was the recipient of over the Dandy Cup weekend.  Congratulations to Leith, a very worthy winner.

I look forward to seeing you all at the next round of the spring series 2^nd of October.

Shaun Peters 

We are half way through the year already, how time flies....  There has been some great racing throughout the first half of this year, not only with some of the more experienced drivers, but also with some of the youngsters who have managed to come to excel in the class thus far.

There has been a significant growth within the club this year, and the potential for further growth is always there.....  The recent discussions being held between some of the senior nitro drivers regarding  the development of the ‘replacement ‘ class rules to the old pull start class is going to make things allot more affordable, the competition allot closer, as well as potentially increase the numbers of competitors running in the class.   There is also increasing numbers of new drivers that have been attending regularly, not only in the novice classes, but within the touring car classes as well.  Great to see all the faces on a Sunday morning ready and raring to get into the day.

Recently some of the members ventured up to Bendigo for the Mini Nationals, this was a multi day event that attracted some of the best Mini drivers from around the country.  It was however unfortunate that the weather was to play such a pivotal role in the outcome of the weekend.  Saturday qualifying was dry and hotly contested in all levels, but due to Mother Nature and her poor sense of humour, Sunday’s finals were a wash out.  There were some positives to come out of it though...SERCCC has been awarded the honours of hosting the 2012 Mini Nationals.  Dates for this event will be made available soon, and the track layout will be a closely guarded secret up until the event, that way there will be no significant advantage to anyone.   Although the actual layout will not be available to practice on, the current track is very competitive for the mini’s and all who wish to come down and give it a go, try some set ups and do a bit of tyre testing are more than welcome.  The final tyre combination for the M-Chassis class(s) is also yet to be determined, but the committee are always open to suggestions from drivers as to the combinations that they seem to think work the best.

It has been a while in the planning, longer in the execution, but the NEW club clothing is now available to pre-order.  Last Sunday I had a sample of the Polo Shirt and the Hoodie that are available, there is also a plain T Shirt.  The samples can be viewed next Sunday the 17^th and all the information regarding sizes, prices etc will be available then.  So come and see me with your list.

The ACT indoor titles are coming up very shortly, with this in mind we have had a small run of the new Shirts & Hoodies done for those that are heading up there, it will good to see SERCCC representation at yet another title event this year.  All the best to Patrick, Gab, Tilla & Wayne, for most of them it will be there first run on the indoor carpet track, so that will be an interesting learning curve.   There is also the Dandy cup, and the Ron Wilson Trophy days coming up later in the year, so take the opportunity now to get some testing in and be ready to take on the rest of the Melbourne RC community in these big events.

With the warmer weather not too far off, we will be getting the area in front of the container excavated and prepared ready to be concreted.  This is one of the tasks scheduled for the upcoming working bee.  There are a couple of other small projects that we would like to have completed at the same time.  Date for the working bee will be advised shortly, but if you could spare ½ a day to come down and help, especially if you are a concreter, it would be most appreciated.

Looking forward to seeing you all this coming Sunday morning for Bacon and Egg Sangers, and a good days racing.  Fingers crossed that the weather will be kinder to us this time.