The 2010 Go Racing NZ New Zealand National Champs were held at a totally new Hamilton Radio Control Car Club off road track in Hamilton on the 1st weekend of October. The club battled some severe weather in the weeks leading up to the event and did an absolutely brilliant job to put together one of the best dirt tracks ever seen in NZ. Hard packed clay was rolled to perfection, it was the first time a crossover had been incorporated into a 1/8 scale track for a national event in NZ and proved a huge success.
130 competitors were set to take to the track over the weekend.
Friday morning practice was put on hold for a few hours due to rain which was forecast to clear about lunch time and thatâ™s just what happened with the afternoon sporting bright sunshine and a drying track. XRAY Team driver, Jerry Davis put together some consistent times and looked happy with his XRAY 808's setup by the end of the rain shortened practice session.
(click to enlarge)
Qualifying was set to be intense and close with the track now near perfect for the 1st heat of 6 late on Friday afternoon. The heats were cut from 10 to 5 minutes due to competitor numbers and time restraints. Jerry had a good steady run in qualifier 1 and managed the 3rd quickest time. Saturday dawned beautifully fine and fast and the healthy numbers of spectators were in for a treat with grip high and spirits higher. In qualifier 2 Jerry had another good run with only a few small errors slowing his overall time a little and slotted in with another 3rd place. In qualifier 3 it was to be yet another 3rd quickest time overall. Good steady stuff from the XRAY pilot. 3rd again in qualifier 4 and a top 3 spot by the end of qualifying was looking likely for Jerry. Qualifier 5 came thick and fast and 2nd was a welcome change for Jerry who looked to be getting into his stride now. This really showed in qualifier 6 with Jerry taking his first round win and cementing 2nd spot overall after qualifying was over. A good result with quick lap times really coming to the XRAY/MG66 combination nearing the business end of the event.
Starting off grid 1 for the even semifinal, Jerry got away clean and never looked like being headed for the entire half hour race. By the end he was 2 seconds off lapping 2nd place while looking smooth and consistent. After the race Jerry said "My 808 is handling brilliantly! Can't wait for the final". His time was good enough to put him on pole for the 1 hour final. James Tacon was the other XRAY driver to make the final, he started the main race in 9th position.
(click to enlarge)
The final was one of the best seen in many years with the lead changing between 4 drivers for the first 50 laps. A small tyre issue was hampering Jerry's pace and keeping the rest of the field in touch. The crowd were enjoying every minute of it, but unfortunately for them, Jerry had other ideas. By lap 55 the tyre was replaced with a slick stop, he had the lead and began to etch away slowly from the field. Helped by a few failures and engine problems to other competitors, Jerry's lead went from around half a lap to a 1 1/2 lap advantage. There was now only around 25 minutes to go and Jerry was looking good in 1st. Knowing he had a huge lead, he slipped quietly into cruise mode for the last 40 or so laps and the title was his. James Tacon suffered receiver battery switch problems so finished in 10th position.
This was a fine result for Jerry and XRAY with his National Championship looking fantastic next to his North Island, Auckland and Wellington titles for 2010. This just proves the reliability and top class performance of the XRAY 808, particularly given the 2009 title also went to XRAY 808 buggy.
The event was a massive success and HRCCC proved what a great club they are to put on one of the best meetings seen in NZ albeit with terrible weather conditions for weeks prior.
(click to enlarge)
Results:
1. Jerry Davis XRAY XB808 2010
2. Chris Banham
3. Dave Edhouse
4. Billy Looi
5. Graeme McDougal
6. Malcolm Namana
7. Hunter Burt
8. Andrew Webber
9. Craig Underwood 10. James Tacon XRAY XB808 2010
