TOPERI CHALLENGE COMP REPORT
29th – 30th November 2008
Comp Teams:
Mal Van & Nick Finch
Ant Haber & Gio Buccicatino
Shane Davies & Nick Finch (replaced Scuba)
Charles Bottemanne & Brett McCurley
Sat 29th
A weekend of fantastic weather at Toperi Park, 12kms west of Orange, set the scene for the new Toperi Challenge competition. A total of 30min to complete all 4 stages over the entire weekend had teams discussing tactics right from the start.
Stage 1 kicked off just after 2pm. The first few teams through struggled in some parts, whilst others negotiated the uphill rock garden with ease. Mal & Ant as team number 12 were able to blast up the first section of track with ease. Both of them lined up the attempt the bonus line for extra points but were unsuccessful in climbing the last tricky rock step.
Shane & Charles as team 14 had planed out their strategy to drive the track without wasting valuable time. The deployment of the snatch strap saw Charles recovered off a large rock. Both of them made the 100 point mark with unfortunate penalties for touching bunting etc.
As night approached and the portable floodlight generators came to life, Stage 2 awaited. With very large tyres the first of many obstacles and mud, wombat holes and large logs aplenty, this wasn’t going to be any easy Stage. As team after team attempted the tyres the muddy ground made the going very, very difficult. The tyres were even being uplifted by the trucks as they tried to drive over them, making matters even worse. As it got later and later into the evening it was announced that team 13 were to be the last to compete for the night and the rest of the competitors would start the stage tomorrow morning.
Mal & Ant were the second last team through for the night. They did complete the entire track which saw some exciting driving by both guys.
It was on this Stage that Ant won himself the new title on FTA – Full Throttle Ant, as the final set of logs had Ant revving the SuzzyQ to the max and showing us all some serious airborne driving!
Sun 30th
Shane & Charles were first up early Sunday morning to attempt Stage 2. Unfortunately both trucks became stuck on the tyres with Charles winching himself off the back of Shane’s truck as Shane winched himself off the designated winch point. Unlucky for Charles he is well stuck on one of the tyres and as he winches himself forward so to the tyre moves forward and then begins to upturn lifting Charles’ truck into the air and onto a real nasty +45 degree angle. And this is where he stayed for minimal points. Shane thankfully continues on and manages to complete the Stage.
Stage 3 had everyone driving a couple of steep muddy steps and holes with the ‘conveyor from hell’ the highlight of this track. Watching the other teams attempt the track, the boys notice that no one is driving the right hand side. It’s decided this is the line to take.
Mal & Ant fly up the track and complete the Stage in one of the quickest times of the day. Shane & Charles also drive the track with relative ease, Charles using the winch once and also getting a snatch from Shane.
The guys are pumped that we have gotten both our teams through to the last Stage and that we both have a significant amount of time to attempt it as well.
Stage 4 sees other teams starting the Stage but not having enough time left to complete it. Mal & Ant once again drive the stage really well and with expert guidance from Nick, both trucks drive the bonus line in spectacular style.
Shane & Charles are up shortly after and with Shane deciding on driving the bonus line and Charles choosing the standard line, the guys were very keen to finish the track within the 15min or so they had left. Apart from Shane getting caught up at the beginning of the track which caused a little bit of time to be lost as he spooled his winch cable back in, both trucks negotiated the course really well.
As Shane drove the bonus line Nick, without hesitation, takes off his shirt to use as a cable dampner – to the delight of the ladies in the crowd!
As Charles attempts the 100 points there is only 5 seconds left on the clock and as we scramble to attach the strap for Shane to drag Charles over the line, the clock unfortunately beats us.
A final tally and later adjustment of the scores had Mal & Ant finish in a very rewarding 3rd place while Shane & Charles placed in an extremely good 7th spot out of a total of 30 teams. An awesome effort from everyone involved.
Finally a HUGE thank you goes to Nick Finch who stepped in to navi for Shane because Scuba had unfortunately injured his knee. Nick had to run back from the finish line of nearly all the Stages after naving for Mal to be back at the start to navi for Shane. Great effort!
Brett