Two rounds run in a very different direction has proven a good start for the 23′ series.

SACC’s round in Maramarua Forest on Sunday April 16th brought in another quality field to join in the round 2 action. 41 starters lined Symes Road, a long walk up to documentation for those towards the end of the pits line. The stage, being run in a different direction to the usual offering, was welcomed by drivers, fresh rallysprint stage notes at the ready.

The roads were in good nick & there was a blustery wind to clear off lingering dust (you will never leave the forest though without a light coating of inside car dust).

 

 

Run 1, Phil Campbell set the bar high leading the field with a 7:11 straight out of the gates. Mike Goldsbury, Dave Strong & Grant Liston following closely behind. Right through the field, the timing is seconds from the next, a chance for teams to get a feel for the road & prepare to push the comfort zones into run 2.

Classes B, C & D making up the proportion of the field, let the battles begin. Tony Yong appeared to have mechanical issues leaving him unable to finish run 2. Phil Broadbent netted a second in class B to Mike Goldbury, Lukas Ramsay rounding out the tri-fector.  Grant Liston’s many years in the forest paying off with 7:12, Bryn Jones 2nd in his Ford Fiesta & Mark Nielson just seconds off in 3rd in class C. Charlie Evans & Dave Strong had mere seconds between them, a cats whisker & Wayne Pittams coming in 3rd place to round out class D.

 

 

Class E was surprising lighter than usual. Phil stamping down a tough run 2 time to beat at 6:56, closest was Rick Aubin with 7:13 & Hamil Pala gave it a good push with 7:18 seeing him sneak into the top 8, 3rd in class E in run 2. Jay Pittams & Chris Burke had dual battles in Class G & class H saw Gary Wainwright & Colin Cole trading seconds for placings, with Craig Tickle ending in 3rd position.

The field was still incredibly strong running into the 3rd run. With 2 DNS, attrition was not knocking people back today. Tony Young got going again, by gawd, Sam Broadbent must have snuck in some NOS between runs pulling out a 7:12 on Mike Goldsbury’s 7:07, Lukas still pushing hard 5 secs back. Grant & Bryn were now 2 secs apart & Brendon Andrews now joined the top 3 in class C. Dave & Charlie were going into the hundred’s of a second to determine the fastest & Wayne Pittams held again onto 3rd fastest in class D. Drink your Red Bull if you want to catch Phil who was flying, Rick Aubin, Noel Miller & Hamil Pala were up to the challenge. Class H times were mere seconds from another, Gary Wainwright holding on tightly to 1st place in class.

 

 

The many spectators who had gathered for the day prepared to capture those pushing to the max into run 4.

For a majority of the competitors, this is the last run of the day. On this occasion though, time was in the green & competitors were offered a 5th run outside of the run 5 run offs. A few did indeed oblige, sometimes another good push can be a bit hairy but might as well go for another if the fuels still in surplus.

When you’re 1 of 1 in class A, the odds are high of a class win & job well done for Tony Young. Class B placings were status quo from the previous run, Sam Broadbent continuing a good hard push, 2nd in class B. Grant Liston & Bryn Jones ended 2 secs from one another, the final push from Brendon Andrews, John Whooley & Dennis Harvey went down to hundreds of a second, all with a 7:25 end time. Such a close result saw Brendon just take out the 3rd slot with 7:25.33 in class C.

Charlie Evans just pipped Dave Strong in class D taking the win with the 2 sec difference. Rick Aubin continued his strong charge, Noel Miller stealing 3rd from Hamil Pala by 2 secs with a 7:12.

Jay Pittams joined the under 7 min club with a stella run 4 time of 6:55 in class G. Gary Wainwright had his 1st place set with a 7:24, Colin Cole a mere second behind him.

 

 

Run 5, Jay Pittams charged hard & gave it all he had but Phil Campbell well & truly had the cat in the bag with a final time of 6:38.

Jay Pittams 2nd overall with a 6:54 & third in the podium ring was Charlie Evans with 7 flat.

 

The progressional placings are a run-to-run talking point but the class battles harvest the real desire to pip your fellow competitors. They span over events, variable courses & conditions, heck they span multi-year if you’re counting. I mean we race to win but it’s not always a trophy that determines a win on the day. A good days racing with mates seems very much like the ultimate win to me.

 

 

Round 3 of the Northern Rallysprint Series, TVCC will be offering Piakonui Road

IN REVERSE

Clubs have really stepped up this year & the offering of the reverse course direction is just what the series needed to keep it fresh. Organizer’s having to go over safety plans, new pace notes needed & in some cases, additional personnel are rqd to make these variations in direction happen.

Hats off, thank you participating clubs for being so accommodating.

Piakonui Regulations 

Get your entries in NOW, entries close Thursday 27th April @ 5:00pm

This is the final round for automatic registration to the Northern Rallysprint Series.

If you have pre-registered for the series online but have not yet competed, you’ll need to enter this upcoming round to qualify to be in the series.

Please see Hamil Pala @ the event if you want any smaller NRSS window stickers, there’s also a couple of door banner stickers left.

 

Points are up

Check out the Points Tables as they stand.

 

 

Brake Pad Promo

Ferodo

Pagid

Allport

Race Brakes

7% off your next set of brake pads

Offer ends at the end of the rally sprint series

Take this coupon into the Allport showroom 34 Oliver Road, Penrose

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sales@allports.nz

NRSS Round 2, SACC’s Maramarua Forest round has snuck up real fast, next weekend Sunday 16th.

SACC are now

Open For Business

 jump onto

SACC Events Page

& get your entry’s in before April 11th.

Event Regulations 

 

The forest can be harsh, she can be a bit unforgiving but she’s a road paved in pine needles, primed & waiting to go.  Recent logging has changed the landscape, Neil Alport is kindly adding a quick pace note session to this weekend’s agenda to bring competing teams a refreshed set of notes ready to use at the event. Hats off Neil, much appreciated.

In Maramarua’s western block, entry will be via Symes Road, roughly 8kms – no wof, no reg, no excuses, we want to see you there!

 

Dialed in and ready to go, continue the action right into round 2. Registered driver-codriver teams will add to their R1 points tallies & be sitting sweet after R2.

Following the forest run, we launch straight into R3 – TVCC’s Piakonui Road in quick succession on 30th April, this round being run in REVERSE direction so keep bringing your A game off the back of the forest round.

This year brings a bit of change to the familiar roads.

 

The below Maramarua compilation brings launch memories… If the start line’s in around about the same place, it’s great for pits loiterers to rate who’s got start line stance.

If in doubt, flat out…

3,2,1 enter NOW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqsoAfIY58w

 

‘Ohh, on I burn, fuel is pumping engines, burning hard, loose & clean,

And I burn, churning my direction, quench my thirst with gasoline,

so gimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme that which I desire’

Fuel, Metalica

 

 

Sunday 19th March saw 61 starters ready to crack into PCC’s Bothwell Loop rallysprint in Glen Murray. Maybe it’s been a long time in between drinks but what an opening field, impressive!

Morning fog dissipated quickly into an absolute bluebird day. Wet grass dried seemingly on the way up to an early drivers briefing, club organizers under the pump to get the day going & get into recce to let drivers analyze this new reverse direction stage.

Drivers attacked & the road condition was on point. The thing with a new road or new direction stage is we haven’t all had the chance to note the many caution bits. JP Van Der Meys unfortunately tagging a rock on run 1, pulled drive shaft, smashed the hub & bottom arm – day over.

Class E frontrunners Clinton Cunningham, Phil Campbell & Raana Horan set blistering run 1 times, Mike Goldsbury hard on the go pedal coming in 4th fastest in his Toyota Corolla DX.

Mechanical withdrawals from Mason Grimmer, Tony Young, McCrae Sloper & Carl Adnitt on run 2 thinned the field but the battles were just as fierce. Phil Broadbent & Lucas Ramsay rounding out 2nd & 3rd fastest class B drivers behind Mike Goldsbury. Grant Liston fastest class C with the smallest of margin between Mark Nielson & John Whooley. Ian Wood fastest class D.

Great to see competition building in the G & H classes – classic 2wd & classic 4wd. Jay Pittams fastest Class G & Bryn Jones fastest class H.

We know the class E peddlers are smokin fast, welcome to the top 8 fastest run 2 battles Zeal Jones.

The day was progressing well, just after lunch time & into the 3rd run. This is the run where you see belts tighten & ears pinned. There are eliminations happening from run 1 onwards but run 3 is where the magic happens. Charlie Evans cracking under the 6 min mark in the Mazda, Ian Wood & Daniel Haines chasing hard in 2nd & 3rd place in class D.

Justin Glavish had no other class A competition for the day, but anyone can be in real danger of being pipped by this hard charging 1300cc driver.

Craig Tickle & Colin Cole battled for 3rd in class H, Craig Tickle just taking it out.

Fastest top 4 in run 3, Phil Campbell, Clinton Cunningham, Haydn Mackenzie & Raana Horan, all with times within 5 seconds of another.

Run 4 & some space now appearing in the pits area.

Dannevirke Car Clubs Bradley Stewart & Ben Brown – Subaru vs Mitsubishi – Subaru just taking out 2nd in class G on this run. The mid field competitors are all within seconds, 10ths of a second, 100ths of a second from each other. The temperature’s dipping a notch now & there are many codrivers with a slight unsettlement in their core, the final decent of dips & dives taking a toll on stomachs.

10 drivers sitting under the 6 minute run mark: 7 class E drivers, Jay Pittams in class G, Charlie Evans in class D & Mike Goldsbury in class B.

The final showdown, run 5.

Gary Wainwright charged hard in class H but Byrn Jones finished in the green with a time of 6:09. Jay Pittams V Bradley Stewart for class G honors, Jay got the win with a 5:55 – how’s that to go with the car livery.. Class E blink & you’ll miss it, Phil Campbell seconds in front of Haydn Mackenzie with a 5:32. Class D, Charlie Evans & Ian Wood decided a runoff wasn’t needed, a handshake for a good day ended well. Class C hard charger Grant Liston took the win with a 6 flat over Mark Nielson on a 6:04. Lucas Ramsay & Mike Goldsbury also deciding a runoff was not needed.

End consensus: the hidden rocks were not ideal, however the road was flippin good giving driver/codriver teams something new to bite into. Most stating they like the new direction more than they do not like it, a few more stating they’d have to come back & give it another good crack just to cement which way works better.

PCC would like to thank all competing teams for contributing to a well-run day.

Special thanks to Geoff Ridder for braving big stones for great images.

There is a fairly large rally in the south between this event & the next round of the rallysprint series, but keep those tyres warm as we want to see you dialed in at the next round hosted by SACC.

Point tables up very soon.

Sunday 19th, round 1 of the Northern Rallysprint Series, is almost here.

 Bring it on!!

Weather forecast is looking promising, atm. Of course, it can change, but as long as it doesn’t monsoon again, touch wood-touch wood, a bit of a sprinkle can help to keep the dust down.

Targa is on as well same day, below are relative links to their road closure locations & times.

Take note as it may affect some on the drive in, in the morning.

TARGA ROAD CLOSURES

TARGA ROAD CLOSURE TIMES

The entry list is bumper for round 1, we’ve got an exciting line up so get there early, get your docco done – grab your NRSS door banner stickers @ docco & get them stuck on your cars.

Help PCC run an efficient day, take note of your competitor number at dooco & make sure your lined up ready to go run by run.

Stage notes will be provided, a special thanks to

Attention to the notes on recce & good flowing runs after that!

There will be live timing for both rallysprint results via PCC website & for NIRS via CrisSport.

 NRSS points will be up post event on NRSS site.

Special thank you to all who took the time to register to the NRSS series online.

We currently have

42 Drivers

 23 Co-Drivers

 

If you’re not already registered & are entered this Sunday & want to accrue points, click below & get your registration in – particularly co-drivers!

Registration – CPS Northern Rally Sprint Series (nrss.co.nz)

Check out previous Bothwell footage (south to north direction) showcasing just how awesome this road is

BOTHWELL LOOP

Race face on, see you Sunday.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 …. stop

Northern Rallysprint Series Round 1 Arcadia Road, scheduled for Sunday 26th February, was cancelled by the HCMC organizers at the 11th hour as bad weather again lashed the North Island region.

The rain started falling on Friday 24th in northern regions and the trickle of doubt started creeping in for Sunday race day. The rain just kept coming and the sinking feeling of an event cancellation eventually becoming a reality.

The right decision was made by the organizers to cancel the event as locals dealt with deluges of rain and flooding. Roads were closed, slips prevalent, just not good off the back of not great weather events for the region.

 

 

To add insult to injury, the sun came out again on Sun 26th. With a sigh and a groan, off many went to attend to Sunday lawns.

Good news though, Arcadia Road will showcase as part of the Series, to be held later in the year. We organize around the weather, clearly, and do our best to work with local clubs to include all rounds as part of the Series.

 

 

PCC’s Bothwell Loop 19th March will move up the ranks to Round 1.

It will be a big event for PCC, also showcasing the first round of the newly formed North Island Rally Series. PCC organizers will continue to monitor the weather, looking outside today – she’s an absolute bluebird day, so let’s work with the cup half full mindset and gear up for a delayed start to the Series.

Running in reverse direction, Bothwell Loop will offer competitors something a bit different.

Get your entries in

Be mindful that Targa Bambina will also be operating in the region on the same day and road closures will be in place. Wave out to the tarmac guys if you see them as the you tow in your gravel steeds.

Gear up, race face on, we’re counting down to Sunday 19th March!!

 

         

 

Series Dates:

Round 1 PCC Bothwell Loop 19th March

Round 2 SACC Maramarua Forest 16th April

Round 3 TVCC Piakonui Road 30th April

Round 4 HCMC Arcadia Road date tbc

Round 5 HCC Hoddle Road 20th August

Round 6 MBOP Kaharoa/Penny Roads (tarmac) 12th November

*Dates can be subject to change*

 

We’re good to go for round 1 this Sunday 26th Feb kicking off the 23′ Northern Rallysprint Series.

Arcadia Road, in sunny (fingers crossed) Paparoa, hosted by Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Club, see’s us back in familiar territory. The event being run in a North to South direction brings a feeling of familiarity as driver/codriver teams tackle the 8km +/- course. The course shortened just a smidgen from prior years. The road has been on high watch by organizer’s no doubt following our recent bad weather spout. It’s held up remarkable well, good enough to get the thumbs up from the Local Council, to be issued with the ‘golden ticket‘ – an approved road closure permit. Take the time to scout your route before you leave for awareness of any ‘bad road’ sections to your destination which could cause transit delays.

Like most clubs, HCMC would have a fairly good rapport with locals and work in wherever necessary to allow this event to happen. Supporting the local Lions Club, your event entry gets you a free 2-person meal pass for a sit-down dinner post event at the Paparoa Hall right at the heart of the pits area. Please take the time if you can to partake in this, it’s really awesome seeing collaboration with local communities for our rallysprint events – fundraising from the Paparoa Lions Club goes towards local community projects.

An event with probably the best pits area you’ll get all season, slowly tour through town and out into the country to the start line for ‘go time’.

The course starts with a tight twisty downhill section towards the narrow one lane bridge, then snakes uphill opening up into higher gear sections. Sprinkled full of tight turns as far as the eye can see, follow the notes and throw her in. Good results favour the brave, crests requiring full commitment, flowing corners with favorable cambers, this road just dances left, right left …

The mid-section opens up to some decent straights, you’re running up higher in the hills at this stage, easier to gain better vantage as the roads dip and turn. One lane bridges really do rein in the speedo, but opening up into straight sections after, foot down all the way! The road flows corner to corner, right the way towards the finish line. Focus dialed right in, this is a really fun road – still the big sigh out as you cross the finish line and high five your codriver.

It’s been a while since I’ve been up there competing but watching some in-car footage gave me goosebumps and jogged the memory reminding me just how awesome our road selections are. All fair and well scouting for new roads (always in the sights of any club) but our existing roads have so much character, so many ‘moments’ had and it’s nice to return for another go at trying to beat your personal best time from years prior. Like an old friend, the roads are welcomed and enjoyed by many!

No need to fight for a good pits spot here, we look forward to seeing competing teams arrive for an excellent day’s racing.

While in the hall doing your documentation, look out for Nikki who will have the series door banner stickers. You’ll need to grab two door stickers and apply them to your car. We’ve also got Northern Rallsprint Series window stickers you can take to stick em’ somewhere to promote the series. Colour options available even to suit your car colour scheme…

Entries closed off on Wednesday so hopefully you’ve got yours in. HCMC are accepting late entries to the event, so even if you’re swearing and cursing at late couriers for parts arriving or the battle is real to get your car going in time, stop kicking her and contact the organizer’s and get an entry in. This is No. 1 for the series rounds and a good opportunity to blow out the cobwebs and see what the talents like this year if you’re in for the class battles with mates.

Sponsored by CPS & Suspension Tech, overall and class points start from here on in.

Special thanks to Neil Allport for supplying pace notes for the events. These are great for novice codrivers to jump in the silly seat and give it a go, without the stress of writing your own notes.

Racing Sunday – let’s gooo ….

The 2022 CPS Northern Rallysprint Series may be done and dusted, but it won’t be long until you all need to dust off the knobblies and throw your car onto the trailer for the 2023 series.

At the recent convenors meeting a draft calendar for 2023 was released, with a six round series on the cards. Here are the dates to put aside in your calendar:

• HCMC – 26th February, Arcadia Rd (running north to south)
• PCC – 19th March, Bothwell Loop Rd
• SACC – 15th April, Maramarua
• TVCC – 30 April, Piakonui Rd
• HCC – 20 August, Hoddle Rd
• MBOP – 12th November, Kaharoa/Penny Rds (tarmac)

There has been discussion around whether some variety to the roads is needed to keep competitors interested, with a proposal that the roads used for the PCC, TVCC and HCC events be run in the reverse direction to that used previously. The convenors are looking for feedback and discussion on this, if you have an opinion you’d like to share about the proposal please drop us a line.

Until next year, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and hope that Santa brings you all the horsepower you asked for.

 A 6-round series has been delivered. Most teams finding their rhythm and really getting into the groove as the season progressed, others can drive the pants off anything at any round in any condition, to the envy of all. For some it’s a highlight of the year, to compete in this series. After a few many years of doing the series, I used to think of it as poor man’s rallying, shorter stages, less constraint on timing requirements, a lesser entry fee and equivalent horsepower. Now, I know it as an extremely popular competitive series that branches from Northland to Otorohanga. Events with exquisite roads, people who leave lasting impressions that fly the ClubSport flag, and competition that’s every bit as fierce as any other series.

This year’s had its driver battles, competition’s been strong and healthy. We’re missing a few faces sure, but the show must go on. We’re still a bit light on Class A cars, it’s been great having Tony Young back on board – calling Simbo and Mark Bradley to the start line! Class G could do with a bit of a top up as well. The remaining classes have good, healthy numbers for battles to brew. I fly the flag for the girls out there racing so great to see Nastassia Subritzky competing and always a pleasure having Emma Gilmour grace us with her presence – irrespective of the Suzuki’s temperament on the day.

Congratulations to Charlie Evans, Series winner who drives like a bat out of hell. Honda or Mazda, doesn’t matter, he gets the very most of what he drives, and he drives hard! Also, for putting a 2WD driver back on the podium spot, impressive! Dave Strong and Colin Gibson coming in respectively in 2^nd & 3^rd places overall. Colin’s also a hard charger, extremely consistent and pulls impressive times.

The co-driver’s championship is gaining in popularity. This years deserved winner is Boots Ryan, co-driver for Derek Payne. Second on podium is Andrew So, new codriver for Hamil Pala and in third, Graeme Cockerill. Graeme getting the best of both a tarmac car and gravel car for driver Colin Cole.

At the end of a season, there always seems to be a desire for more but as summer looms we quickly realize why it’s a good idea to swap the race suit for some jandals, a cap and have a well-deserved break. Some need it, their trusty steeds looking a bit second hand. You’ve got to squeeze in preventative maintenance at some point as well, either pay the man or roll up your sleeves and get into it before you head off to the beach for the holidays (must heed own advice here).

 

We’ve had good commitment from the hosting clubs this year, and great to have MBOP on board as part of the series. I’ve alluded to this before, but these events do help float some of the local clubs so it’s imperative that we run them. We’re quietly missing the roads of the north though; Northland Car Club please bring us some Ruarangi magic or Glenbervie gold!

It’s been a tubulous year and times are tough. A progressive reevaluation of how we’re doing things, working smarter not harder. Covid’s been the pits, but our Kiwi resilience has shone through and we’re out there doing it again. You can sit and shake your head at the price you pay for an avocado, a block of cheese or a beer at your local pub OR just fill up the racecar and head out to your next event.

A hard charger, a conservative cruiser, a battler, a trier. Funds on tap or raiding the piggy bank to tweak your car to get a little bit more from her. Whichever you are, it’s great to have to you part of the series and it is what makes ClubSport rallying so enjoyable. For parents I’d say, get your kids into it. Driving is a fundamental skill we’re all to learn. We do it for most of our lives. If you can navigate through a tricky course with variable surfaces conditions, readjust when your lines not good, be kind to the working mechanisms beneath you and be proud of what you drive, then a bit of gravel rallying will help you become a better driver. Bonding with your kids is valuable, kids being competent drivers is imperative. Do it together, makes sense.

Calling club representatives for a Rallysprint committee meeting before the years out. Yes, another meeting is a pain, driving/commuting, talking/discussing. We’ll flesh out dates for 2023, discuss roads, maybe using new roads or running existing roads in the opposite direction to keep it fresh.

All, to bring you another year of the Northern Rallysprint Series.

We’re leading into the final round of the Northern Rallysprint Series. SACC providing a slightly different final round format in Maramarua Forest, steering away from their usual dual stage spread. 9kms of forest action, no WOF or rego rqd, easy. Bolt on a set of your best treads and prepare to race. The event is still fundamentally the James Allen Memorial Rallysprint with a well-attended prizegiving at the end of the day at the Red Fox, a refreshing way to wash away the dust.

Competitors will be looking to pin their ears back and bring home the bacon with a good result at the event contributing to the final points tallies. Whether you’re out there blowing off the cobwebs or in full race mode, its serious business when the start clock shines green. Chocolate fish racing at its best, the silver foxes, the accomplished drivers, the weekend warriors and those just set on finishing the day, all of you make up this excellent series.

 

Get ready to crown the series winner, Charlie Evans has set a blistering pace all year round. Hard to swallow, a 2WD trumping the field. Do take note on the overall series trophy being awarded at prizegiving, just how many 2WD drivers have accomplished this feat. Dave Strong, Colin Gibson and Derek Payne are all front runners for 2nd & 3rd overall placings, a cat’s whisker, or should I say minuet engine clearance, between them.

In class tiers, there’s nothing better than benchmarking yourself against your closest rivals. Classes A & E proving the closest of margins, also where you might end up if you push your luck too far in the forest and connect with a tree. Congratulations to Nastassia Subritzki being the only other female driver, other than our favourite Emma Gilmour, competing in the series. Competition is equally tight looking at the co-driver standings, co-drivers positioning pivoted on how well their drivers perform.

Don’t take the limelight off these guys and gals, it’s serious business. Last time I had my driver call notes to me we got to the 4th corner, some cussing then ‘go, go, go’ or ‘careful here’ replacing the intricate notes system.

 

The paddock pits banter, the competitor comradery, mate’s vs mate’s in clubsport’s finest racing. The northern rallysprint series has offered up a good hearty 6-round series this year with all of your favourite roads and favourite people.

It’s been a positive 2022 year, with inflation nipping at people’s heels and a variety of events to compete in, the NRSS series remains strong and has had a good following despite absences of some of the top drivers. Thus, in turn has allowed others to rise in the ranks which is enlightening to see new faces walk away with top honours. The series attendance is testament to good wholesome, cost-effective rally events, the bridging level to our clubman’s or national events.

A big thank you to series sponsors CPS & Suspension Tech. To Neil Allport for his valuable pace notes, Grant Liston for points collation and points queries. Jason Byrne for impeccable photography and website admin – on that note please support Jason with his Little Bit Sideways publications, if you like it, subscribe to it!!  There’s also Geoff Ridder and Matt Smith dotted in there on precarious corners providing fine imagery of your finest and worst moments. The convenors Dont Brunt, Wayne Sim and Grant Liston. The bread-and-butter staples for a good rallysprint recipe.

The series wraps up with prizegiving, set for October 15th, at the South Auckland Car Clubrooms. Kicking off at 5pm, catch up with mates before we roll into the night hosted by Steve Goodare and Stumpy Holmes. A recap of the 22 series sets the scene before we move into prizegiving, thanking our very loyal sponsors for their support throughout the season then general banter and competitor feedback. Join us for an evening where the timekeeping isn’t quite as critical as on raceday.