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Australian Tarmac Challenge 2009 Vic - Ben Quick & Geoff Stean

Thursday,

Geoff and I set off on our way to Philip Island for ATC round 1 Vic. Trip went without any drama's dropping in on Team Mitsubishi Ralliart in Dandenong on the way. Arrived just after dark had cars scrutineered and settled in for a few well deserved beers and pre event chit chat / bullshit.

Friday Day 1,

Phillip Island Moto GP circuit was the flavor of the day followed by Skidpan and Road Auto Tests. The first time for me out on the PI track was awesome! Super Fast and flowing, times of 1:58.07, 1:53.68 & 1:51.60 put me in 4^th in Class and 7^th Outright. Jeff had some respectable times of 2:12,12, 2:07,92 & 2:06,32 sitting in 46^th place (he wished he had more HP).

The Skidpan & Road auto tests were not too hard after the PI GP track and Jeff utilized the great handling of the FTO on the skidpan to pick up his best results for the event being 19^{th &} 22^nd in the Club class. Here the Evo was running in 5^th & 11^th outright when a Gearbox malfunction put me back to a 50^th outright result for that run......... (Not preferred when this event runs on results for every run)

Day 1 finished without any drama's the day saw a few breakdowns for other entrants, one Evo left the PI track at Lukey heights backwards ?????? Past winners Jeff Beaumont & Peter Gazzard had some issues with a broken fan belt resulting in needing a new head gasket.

Saturday Day 2,

Holden's Lang Lang, proving grounds just a short drive from Phillip Island provided an action packed day with Hill Sprint Targa Style Road events for the Morning followed by Skidpan Auto Test, Oval Test track 800m Speed event and another Road Targa events for the afternoon.

Security was tight at Holden's test facility Geoff and I headed to the hills for the mornings events. This consisted of 3 Targa style events back to back. The Evo performed great here picking up a 2^nd, two 3^rd's and a 4^th outright for the ATC backed up by the Last hill run where that bloody gearbox overheated once again resulting in a 51^st place........ (I became a human oil cooler water spray between events) Geoff had a very consistent morning running around the mid 40's for placing in the complete club class and 2^nd / 3^rd in the C4 class.

The afternoon's events mixed things up with a few Skidpan Auto Tests, Speed Loop 800m & Road Event.

 

First was the Road Event, this was where I took my first Outright result for the event 1:06,38 when the next fastest time was 1:07,56 this was where the competitive part of me said a top 10 result outright could be possible. Geoff held his 2^nd / 3^rd placing in the C4 class.

Next was the 800m speed bowl test where Geoff or I weren't going to be really competitive here, compared to the big horsepower GTR R35 Skylines, Porsche GT2, GT3's and 911 Turbos. I kept a handy 16^th and 23^rd here hitting 217kph from a standing start in 800m. (Porsche & R35 GTR hit 230 to 240kph)

Skidpan that was almost 2,000m long held a Mega Motorkhana for everyone to remember, once again Geoff held 2^nd in his C4 class and popped in a 30^th outright. I held a great average result her with 8^th outright on both runs.

Sunday Day 3,

Haunted Hills Hill Climb track Moe / Morwell, all I can say is WOW!!!!!! When we arrived the track was damp, Fog blew in and out and the general consensus was is this place haunted by deceased motorsport enthusiasts? But then the cloud blew away, sun came out and Haunted Hills Hill Climb track came alive.

This was my most successful day, walking the pits the word was any time under 1 minute was going to be a great time for the day. ATC organizers decided to give all entrants a slow drive of the track as a sighting lap.

QIKEVO hit the track flying first run 58:99 and 2^nd outright, I felt that I was a bit of a girl at certain parts of the track and could drop a couple of seconds. My second run was 56:94 and 2^nd outright again, probably found my best run here. Third and final run 56:96 tried to push harder this time was good enough for 1^st outright.

Next was a five minute drive to DECA Newborough where we had a short 1,000m Targa Road Sprint first run I ran wide on a corner two wheel on the gravel "Oh shit!!!" back into it, better stop!! NOT a flying finish. (Thank you for ABS pulled up in time) 36:37 and WOW 1^st outright. Second run push a little harder stay off the loose stuff and make sure don't overshoot the finish garage 36:21 2^nd outright.

Wow what a day 2^nd, 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st & 2^nd outright out of 119 competitors the QIKEVO.

Finished off the day with a cruise back to Dandenong for presentations where I took out First Place Rookie for the event, 3^rd in the Club class for AWD vehicles and 4^th Outright. Geoff took 3^rd in the C4 Club Class for under 3L Non AWD, Non Forced Induction.

I would like to thank Geoff for encouraging me to join in on the previously Dutton Rally now ATC. I would recommend taking part in this and any other events organized by the ATC in the future.

I will be taking part in the ATC NSW September 3-6 2009, the event will begin on Thursday the 3rd of September and make its way from Sydney to the Tweed coast for the ultimate of tests- The World Rally Car SUPER SPECIAL STAGE. Think you can smoke Sebastian? Think you are the next Aussie Atkinson?!

Why don't you come along and find out.Experiencethe best NSW has to offerstarting with Eastern Creek and spiraling up the coast with tests at numerous hill climbs, airports, closed-off roads and maybe the odd go-kart circuit as we headNorth, WRC style.Once we hit the TweedHeads strap yourself in for the WRCSuper Special Stage in front of potentiallyTHOUSANDS of people. UN-BELIEVABLE!

Cheers,

Ben Quick