The Mildura RC Car Club was the host of the 2010 Colman cup and what a great event it was.

Over the whole weekend, the weather never dropped below 23 degrees (excellent weather for the host club) and they didn’t disappoint. With over 90 entries they put on one of the best events of the year. Running all qualifiers and finals and finishing well before 6pm, all that ran the event should be congratulated as this is how an event should be run.

The track was different to the track run earlier in the year with bigger and better jumps put in.

Gone where the step downs (which I liked) and in their place was a slope down to a table top which was tricky to take fast .

At the start of qualifying, the track was fantastic but by the finals it had started to brake up a little. Despite this the club kept the track clean after ever round and it was still great to run on.

Anyone who hasn’t run on the Mildura track should make the trip up there and try it out as its one of the best tracks in Australia.

Tyres

During Saturday’s practice , any tyre was working but come race day it was a choice between the Holeshot 2 and X-2000’s - with some even running JC barcodes. Come finals time the stand out tyre was the X-2000 as they seemed to work the best on the loose surface.

In The Pits

Not much new at this event but this is what I could find out.

TEAM C: the C cars where running some new diffs. They also have 2 new cars coming out in November 2010. They are the new mid motor 2wd (looks like an X Factory X6) and a new 4wd carbon fibre chassised car with all the Team C goodies in the kit - keeping an eye out for this!

X FACTORY ….the X6 cars where seen running the new AJ GALAXY body which looks like a cross between a Kyosho RB5 and an X6 rear. Looks much better and handles great too. Also seen in the cars was the motor plate moved 3mm to the centre to the car which helps the car jump flatter.

KYOSHO: the only thing at Kyosho was the new Lazer ZX5 FS2 which looked great on the track with a new look body and a longer wheelbase - more forward mounted motor. The car looked a lot flatter on the track and jumped great!

No changes on the RB5 SP2 but in the hands of new comer Ben Sterling TQ’ed 2wd mod.

TEAM ASSOCIATED: B4.1 this was the cars 2nd big race meet and in the hands of Ray Munday it didn’t disappoint. It looked good all day and by the finals was the car to beat! They also have the new B44.1 out but I must say the body is horrible….

NOVAK: Ray was also running the new Kinetic speedy, lots of power and was the smoothest looking car out on the track when it started to get loose.

Two cars I thought would be popular at the race were the Schumacher’s and Durango’s but I only saw 2 x 4wd Schumacher’s and 1 x Durango (still think the Durango’s got the goods).

Also seen in the pits was the modified B44 of Chris Marshall. The chassis was super slim and had a stand up servo mount. Also the saddles were at an angle. The car looked good on the track and ended up finishing 2nd in 4wd stock. After talking to Chris he informed me that a belt drive prototype is on its way (cant wait to see that car).

Also seen was Paul Simm’s “TEAM BERZERK” 2wd pre production car. This car has been around for a couple of months now and the car looks like a factory developed car! With its 4 gear gearbox, geared diff, and top and bottom graphite chassis’s, the car looks and goes better every time I see it. Paul also has a truck prototype as well and that goes just as hard too!

Racing

2wd 540

10 entrees for the first race of the Coleman Cup and straight off the blocks was Matt Reichardt with a 10/5.18.810 followed by Daniel Simm 10/5.22.561 and David Engledow 10/5.25.794.

Second Q and Daniel Simm first 10/5.13.969 with David Engledow 2nd 10/5.22.695 and Matt Reichardt 3rd 9/5.06.20.

The 3rd Q and with any one of the top three in for TQ it was Daniel Simm who said ”ill take it thanks!” with a fast 10/5.09.550 with David Engledow 2nd 10/5.16.756 and Matt Reichardt 3rd 10/5/17.753. So the finals were going to be some close racing.

1st final was a very good race with all getting away fast but soon it was one driver starting to pull away and that was Daniel Simm, putting in a stormer with 10/5.08.491 and with it FTD. 2nd was David Engledow 10/5.17.289 and Matt Reichardt 3rd 10/5.24.507.

2nd final and Daniel Simm closed shop saying ”bye, bye! ”and won by some 8 seconds with 10/5.10.555 2nd was Matt Reichardt 10/5.18.308 and 3rd David Eagledow 10/5.24.425

So Daniel Simm wins the 2010 2wd 540 Coleman Cup with one final to come!

3rd final and Simm once again wins with 10/5.28.256 from David Eagledow 10/5.30.432 and Matt Reichardt 3rd 9/5.04.303 and that’s how they finished 1ST Daniel 2nd David 3rd Matt.

2wd Stock

Eighteen drivers lined up for this class with any number of them a chance for the win.

It was Shaun Thiel taking out Round 1 with a 10/5.14.940 followed close behind by Chris Marshall 10/5.15.357 and 3rd was taken by Michael Salis with 10/5.15.681.

Round 2 and Salis came out firing with a fast 11/5.27.072 with Thiel also on 11 laps with 11/5.33.323. These two were the first to go into 11 lap land with Chris Marshall 3rd 10/5.04.317 and Simon Ryan 4th 10/5.06.071 and a flyer by Peter Brady 10/5.07.302 .

3rd round and Thiel went even faster with 11/5.17 with Chris pulling out a fast 11/5.19. Salis blew his chances for TQ with 2 mistakes getting stuck on a track marker but still coming in 3rd with 11/5.23. This round also saw Simon Ryan break into the 11 laps with a super drive 11/5.29 so with 2 flying 11 lappers Shaun Thiel was TQ with Salis and Marshall tied on points. Marshall got 2nd on the grid because of his faster 1st round time .

With the top 6 drivers pulling out 28 second laps and the hole top 10 separated buy 3 seconds we where in for some hot racing!

Finals : 1st final and Shaun comes out firing winning a close race from Chris by 3 seconds. 3rd was Salis followed closely by Simon Ryan.

2nd final and this race was all Thiel winning by a full lap with Marshall and Salis getting caught up in accidents. 2nd was Paul Kealley from Simon Ryan 3rd and Salis 4th. These three for nearly the hole race were separated by no more than a car length, changing positions at nearly every corner - great racing.

3rd Final was won by Chris Marshall followed by the drive of the weekend from Paul Kealley in 2nd with the super quick Prototype 2wd car of Paul Sims 3rd. After the dust had settled it was Paul Kealley 3rd with his super finals drive, 2nd was Sydney driver Chris Marshall, and 1st was the new Coleman Cup winner Shaun Thiel.

2wd Modified

15 drivers lined up for 2wd mod including newly crowned 2wd stock nationals champ Logan Symes running his first big meeting. All eyes were on Symes and he didn’t disappoint, driving very well all day. This year there was a new name to watch as on road ace Ben Sterling embarked on his second big race for the year - and he didn’t disappoint taking his fist TQ in a major off road meeting easily.

1st Q and it was Ray Munday with a super fast 11/5.16.070 with the new Novak powered B4.1 2nd was Scott Cameron also in the 11’s with 11/5.28.572 and his Team C and 3rd Ben Roulstone.

2nd Q and Ben Sterling came out firing with his Kyosho RB5 SP2 in a blistering 11/5.12.127. Anyone watching this race saw a super smooth drive from Ben and at times his car looked slow due to his effortless driving style (smooth = FAST). 2nd was Matt Griffin also with a RB5 putting in a fast 11/5.13.462 followed home 3rd by Scott Cameron with 11/5.14.957 . Logan was sitting in 5th overall - a great start for his first big Mod meeting.

3rd Q: With eight drivers all recording 11 laps in this round it was Ben Sterling coming out on top with a blistering 11/5.11.821 and this was enough to put his Speed Passion powered RB5 into TQ.

Next best in the round was Ben Roulstone followed by Ray Munday.

1st Final with the track starting to get very loose, Ray and Ben fought for the whole race, separated by no more than a car length for the hole race and changing positions several times. In the end it was Ben Sterling taking the win and fastest time of day by no more than 1 second from Ray Munday with Ben Roulstone 3rd some 4 seconds adrift and Logan Symes 4th.

2nd Final and what a race this was - the race of the weekend for me with Sterling, Munday and Griffin throwing their cars under each other into the turns, all trying to stay in front of each other. Some of the moves Matt was trying were just awesome to watch!! Matt was trying everything in the book to try and get past Ray but MR COOL held his nerves for the win. It was great to watch with no driver taking each other out and showing everyone how it’s done. Awesome drive guys! 2nd was “Watch me put my car there!” Matt Griffin with a great drive and unfortunately for Ben Sterling he had some tyre issues and his car lost a bit of composure near the end of race, letting Logan Symes into 3rd with a great drive.

So on to the 3rd final and Ray was in the best seat of the house with his 1st and 2nd. Off they went and it was the Sterling and Munday show with Ray getting right on the rear end of the RB5 only to have Ben pull out the gap again. This went on for at least 4 ½ mins until Ben over shot the bump corner coming into the esses which left about a foot gap for Ray to throw his B4.1 under Ben’s RB5. That’s all Ray needed and he was of to win the 2010 2wd Coleman Cup with Sterling holding on for 2nd and Griffin 3rd.

Well done to all the drivers in the Mod finals it was great racing.

Logan in his first big mod race finished 5th overall well done!

A new name has arrived in mod and a lot of people will be looking over their shoulders with new comers Sterling and Symes.

4wd 540

Only 5 drivers rocked up for this class but never the less it was good racing.

1st Q and this was taken out by David Engledow with a flying 10/5.23.971 followed by Daniel Simm 10/5.28.594 and his first big meeting in a while Bob Tierney 9/5.35.947.

2nd Q and its Daniel Simm with 10/5.23.367 followed by David Engledow 10/5.34.759 and once again Bob Tierney 3rd 9/5.09.725.

3rd Q on to the final round of Q and with Daniel Simm missing the round it was David Engledow with 10/5.25.722 , Bob Tierney finally got his 10 lap in with 10/5.29.718and 3rd was Chris Davis 9/5.17.214

1st Final with Daniel Simm breaking down it was between Bob and David to fight it out with David coming home first 10/5.19.731 with Bob just behind 10/5.24.656 and Chris Davis 3rd 9/5.08.686

2nd Final Daniel Simm came out flying and put in down the FTD 10/5.19.189 with David 2 seconds behind in 2nd 10/5.21.847 3rd went to Chris with a good drive in 9/5.14.145

So going into the third final, David Engledow had a 1st and 2nd and Daniel Simm had a 4th and 1st - it was going to be a hum dinger of a race!

They were off and Daniel Simm was gone, winning the last final by a hole lap in 10/5.30.769 from David Engledow 2nd 9/5.01.779 and 3rd was Bob Tierney 9/5.11.569.

4th was Chris Davis and Michael West finished 5th overall but he had trouble with his car.

4wd Stock

Only 6 entries in 4WD but still some top drivers entered.

1st Q and it was that man Shaun Thiel again with a lightning fast 11/5.0.6.711 with his Team C 4wd followed by Sydney’s Chris Marshall 11/5.14.874 in his B44 with a storming run by young Jai Davis 10/5.21.948.

Onto Q2 and yep another flyer but this time it was the Prototype of Chris Marshall taking the round with a time of 11/5.11.098 followed home by the C car of Thiel 11/5.12.016. These two where putting down some very fast laps some in the 27 seconds . 3rd home was MR Consistent and nice guy Nigel Spokes with a very quick 11/5.26.642 in his B44.

So TQ was up for grabs in this round with Thiel and Marshall both with a 1st and 2nd finish.

But it was Shaun that said “I can go faster!” and that’s what he did with a FTD 11/5.05.937. This time would have put him 5th in 4wd mod! Second home was Chris “I can go faster too!”11/5.09.916 and 3rd was Nigel with another 11/5.24.734. Also driving well was Jai Davis and Bruce Cameron.

The hard luck story in 4wd stock was Peter “Trigger” Brady as he had his B44 handling very well. He had a time of 10/5.17.334 and that was with his speed controller shutting down on him in the last minute of the race!

After changing batteries and three different motors the problem was traced back to a defective speedy ”NOT HAPPY JAN!”

1st Final and it was Thiel into the first corner with Marshall bitting at the rear end of the Team C , this continued for the whole race with Thiel holding on to the win by only 2 seconds with 11/510.278 from Marshall 2nd 11/5.12.849 and Nigel 3rd 11/5.28.278.

2nd Final and Thiel was gone putting down some fast laps and leaving Chris in his wake, Thiel winning by some 6 seconds 11/5.12.784 from Chris 11/5.18.496 and once again Nigel 3rd 10/5.01.784. Rith 2 first place wins Shaun Thiel won his second Coleman Cup for the weekend!

3rd Final and Chris Marshall came out of the blocks firing taking it to Shaun and passing him to go on and win the final with 11/5.14.949. Shaun had to settle for 2nd with 11/5.19.795 and Nigel 3rd with 10/512.026 so in the end it was 1st Thiel , 2nd Marshall, 3rd Spokes.

4wd Modified

The Ray Munday show rolled on in 4wd with Rays B44 looking unstoppable. The speed these cars are getting is just crazy!

1st Q and it was Mark Rogers pulling out the guns early with 11/5.03.259 and his B44, followed by Ray Munday’s B44 11/5.04.146 and “I’m fast too in 4wd as well “Ben sterling 11/5.07.508 and his Laser ZX5 FS2

2nd Q and their off and its Ben “I’m not playing any more “ Sterling putting down a super fast time 12/5.22.480 with “ I’m there too!” Ray Munday also with a fast 12/5.22.892 talk about close! with Mark Rogers 3rd 10/5.02.783.

3rd Q it was Ray pulling out another 12 lapper with 12/5.19.97 fastest time over the weekend! With Ben 2nd also with a 12 lapper in 12/5.22.230 with Team C’s Scott Cameron in 3rd 11/5.02.926.

So the top three in mod were 1st Ray Munday 2nd Ben Sterling 3rd Mark Rogers.

1st Final and Ray and Ben pulled away and had a very close race until Ray said” play time is over!”, winning by some 6 seconds with 12/5.21.610 from “Mr Smooth” Ben Sterling 2nd with 12/5.27.151 and Mark Rogers round out the top three with 11/5.02.785.

2nd Final and this was close the whole race but it was “Mr Cool” Ray Munday winning with Mark Rogers 2nd and Scott Cameron 3rd the top three were only separated by 1.5 seconds.

3rd Final and I missed the start of this race but will pick it up where I saw it. Ray was well down the order so something must have happened at the start. Cameron was leading with Mark Rogers 2nd and Ray and Ben fighting for 3rd. In the end it was Scott Cameron with a good fine drive followed by Mark Rogers 2nd and Ray fighting his way back to 3rd.

So for the 3rd time this weekend one driver wins two Cups and to think if Ray ran his truck? With two drivers tied on points, 2nd went to Mark Rogers with Scott Cameron 3rd.

Stock Truck

17 drivers in truck stock and this class is getting a lot more numbers than 4wd stock at a lot of big meetings this year - lets hope 4wd picks up.

1st Q and Thiel throws down the gantlet with a 10/5.04.188in his Team C truck followed by Michael Salis and his T4 10/5.18.207 with ever improving Matt Thurling 3rd 10/5.18.348.

2nd Q and it was Shaun saying ”see you later” to the rest of the drivers with a fast 11/5.26.636 the only 11 lapper for the whole weekend in truck stock with Matt 2nd 10/5.09.172 and rounding out the top 3 Bryce Shoemark 10/5.13.126.

3rd Q and 1st in the round was yep Matt Thurling with a 10/5.15.491 with Salis 2nd 10/5.18.676 and Team Berzerk’s Paul Simms and his flying truck prototype.

1st Final and Thiel gets away followed by Thurling and Salis. A few laps in and Thiel makes a mistake letting Salis into the lead only for Salis to make a mistake in the next couple of corners to give it back. And that’s all Shaun needed saying “see you” and going on to win the first final with Bryce Shoemark sneaking into 2nd with a good drive and rounding out the three was Salis with Mr Prototype Paul Simms just behind in 4th.

2nd Final by the time this came around the track was getting very loose and slippery but it was Thiel winning and with it his 3rd Coleman Cup for the weekend - well done Shaun. I think this was a first for one driver to win three classes!

Thurling ,Salis and Simms were having a monster battle for second with Salis just crossing the line in front of Thurling and Simms.

3rd Final was also won by Thiel with Salis 2nd followed by Thurling 3rd.

And that’s how they finished - 1st Shaun Thiel 2nd Michael Salis 3rd Matt Thurling.

Truck Modified

8 drivers lined up for this and what good racing it was.

1st Q and Scott Cameron put his stamp on the Cup from round one with a super fast time just missing out on 11 laps by 300’s of a second with 10/5.00.657 and his Team C truck followed by Peter “the Wookie” Wooster 10/5.14.484 with Andrew Giddings 3rd 10/5.14.752.

2nd Q and Scott gets his 11 lap in with an easy drive 11/5.22.794 followed by Andrew Giddings 10/5.03877 and “THE WOOKIE” 3rd 10/5.06.757.

3rd Q and Scott pulls out another 11 lap in 11/5.23.605 with TEAM BREWS RB5T of Mick Campion 2nd 1o/5.05.500 and 3rd Michael Ellis with a fast 10/5.10.453.

So we come to the last finals of the day…

1st Final and Scott Cameron’s out of there and goes on to win by 7 seconds followed by Andrew Giddings and TEAM BREWS Mick Campion.

2nd Final and Scott once again was gone and did the only 11 lapper for the finals in 11/5.29.919 with TEAM BREWS Mick Campion 2nd and coming home 3rd with a good drive Michael Ellis.

3rd Final and with the result decided, Scott sat out the race. They were off with Andrew in front with Mick Campion chasing his down hard with Campion throwing everything at Giddings and paying off with Mick getting in front and holding on to a easy win in the end with Peter 3rd.

So Scott Cameron wins 2010 truck mod Coleman Cup with 2nd going to Mick Campion with his great finals drive “Must be the Brew!!” and 3rd went to Andrew Giddings.

Wrap Up

So that’s it for another year. I’d like to thank all that put on the Coleman Cup and all the people at the Mildura club for running a great meeting. I think Brendon would have agreed..

Mic "The Doctor" Salis