MSCA Mallala Supersprint – Round One
March 17th2019 (St Patrick’s Day) was the start of major motor sporting events across Australia, the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix, Collingrove Hillclimb and the Round One MSCA Supersprint at Mallala. While the luck of the Irish may have not been smiling on competitors at the F1 GP and the Hillclimb (due to timing issues) nearly 100 competitors at Mallala did have smiles on their faces as they headed onto the track for the first time for 2019!
With a Come’n’Try event as well, a number of new or returning competitors tried the Mallala circuit for the first time. While it was warm, and the circuit surrounds very dry and dusty from the lack of any rain, most found the circuit to be in clean and good condition, based on the lap times from most.
The Sprite Club was represented by the usual stalwarts, Barry & Lyndall Edson and Paul Doube in Kestrel Clubman’s, Pat Miller in the Irukandji Clubman, Helen Stephenson in the Circuit Excel Hyundai, as well a few Clubman competitors, such as Ian Eldridge in the very quick PBR.
Once the briefings were over it was time to head to the circuit. Cars are grouped in their time order, so there is minimal passing, but all can have a clear lap and try for a fast time. While the track was clean, some found the end of the back straight an issue with a couple heading into the sand trap due to braking problems, one parking on its side, with minimal damage to the car, other than needing a good clean. One spinning Skyline off the back straight also raised quite a dust cloud as it drifted along the infield!
Our two flying females, Helen and Lyndall, both had brief off track excursions, but regained their confidence and both put down some reasonable times when they returned to the circuit. Well done ladies! Most competitors had four runs of five laps around the circuit, so there was plenty of track time for all.
The Sprite Club had been allocated to assist with Flagging duties for the day, so Chris Brine elected not to compete and was ably assisted by Dean King in manning the Turn 2 flag point for the day – special thanks guys, without your help the day could not have run. It is a shame a few more from the Sprite Club could have helped on the day. President Gordon was the CAMS Steward for the day to ensure all played by the rules……
Other than the Edson Kestrel being loaded on the trailer early, most had a good, but warm day, and I guess a few will be making adjustments and alterations for the next round. The next event is the Peter Hall Memorial 6-Hour Relay Sprint in May, so it would be great to see a few more members at the track to help out our two teams, plus the proposed three teams from the Victorian Sprite Club.
Gordon Boyce