Last week saw the trophies for the hard fought Autumn series handed out, a big congratulations to all of you who managed a podium spot, for those who missed out, the spring series has just kicked off and it will be on again for those coveted top 3 spots on the ladder.

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