Northland Challenge

[darinz]

Just a heads up for those interested in coming up.
We will run a Club Class this year and depending on the success of this weekend we will use the same rules.
There will be a greater mix of terrain than has been seen for a while. The current plan includes mud, sand, grassland, pine forest, gum trees and don't forget the gorse.
Also we are planning a new (to NZ) type of stage. You will need a GPS and digital camera. There will be 200 points at stake and it will be such that big winchs and hp will not provide an advantage but thinking and planning will. I'm not involved with the actual track setting for this stage as that would provide way too much advantage but there will be plenty of time out of the trucks, everyone will be on the course at similar times and it will have a DNF of about 4 hours. The expected distance covered will be in the 20km to 50km, but that will depend on quite a few things.
For this stage there will be quite a distance to travel on road to get to it so I'm going to allow trucks to be transported to it or for tyres to be changed for the transport only. You will still compete on the same set of tyres so get use to driving in sand with you mud tyres!
The general base for the comp will be similar to the past 2 years but most of the tracks we have used no longer exist due to earthworks so only about 2 stages will have been used before.
Camping will be available but it will be the end of August so it will be very wet and cold. (well relatively speaking)

[wopass]

event location mate ?

[darinz]

Sorry. Based in Whangarei as for the past 2 years. ie right on the southern end of town except for the first afternoon.

[Big-AL]

hmmm ... sounds interesting

[darinz]

I should add that while this will be to full series standard for stages, scoring etc. It is going to be low key from a prize, profile etc point of view. I want to see it as being a tough competition but I don't have time to organise huge sponsorship and everything that goes with it.
Basically we will take a similar approach to last years one but make sure we have a more formal marshalling a stage setting approach.

Oh yeah, and no big holes to bend chassis's in!

[Loonez]

I'd be interested in watching as i'm in whangarei,

[darinz]

If you're keen then come and help out. The more we have helping the easier it is. I don't mine running the event and racing but extra bodies make and easier job and a better run event.

[Loonez]

yup i'm up for that just let me know when & where so i can sort cover, coz i sort of work 24/7

[gimmemud]

Does club class need a cage?

[darinz]

Not a full cage but you will need a main hoop and back stays.