Mid Essex Radio Car Club

Off Road Series Round 2 – Sunday 13th May

It’s going to be 3rd time UNLUCKY for MERCC, I’m afraid! One of our Committee Members checked the situation out yesterday and, as you will see from the pictures he took, things are REALLY bad! He observed that “wherever there was a dip there was water” and where there was no visible water, the ground was “squelchy”.

Even if no more rain had fallen between yesterday and Sunday the field and track would not be dry enough, let alone trying to get the grass cut! The inevitable has happened (i.e. more heavy rain) since the photos were taken, so conditions are now absolutely awful! This means that, yet again, it will be necessary to cancel the next Meeting scheduled for next Sunday 13th May.

What has happened so far this season is unprecedented in MERCC’s history. I am still optimistic that the weather will sort itself out and allow Braxted’s micro-climate to return to normal; the sooner the better for everyone! In the meantime, let’s keep our fingers crossed that all will be well for the next scheduled Braxted Off-Road Series Meeting on Sunday 27th May. Getting the grass cut will be no easy task as it is now 4 weeks since we were able to get onto it to mow it!

On behalf of MERCC, apologies once again. I know you will all be itching to race at Braxted, so I will e-mail the Weather God right now and tell him that enough is enough and to get his act together!

This message will also be posted on Facebook and, once again, I would ask you please to let others know who are not on e-mail, or do not have internet access, about the cancellation.
_________________
Keith Wright
Chairman, MERCC
www.facebook.com/merccuk

Bank Holiday Monday Open – Monday 7th May

I have to be the bearer, once again, of some more bad news. Since my last message informing you of the necessity to cancel last Sunday’s Race Meeting, I have to tell you that there is no way in which we will be able to hold the Open Meeting on Bank Holiday Monday. The bad weather has impacted badly on the track area and field, to the extent that it is completely waterlogged. One of our Committee Members has checked the situation and describes it as “suitable for amphibious vehicles and hovercraft only” and that waders would be needed to negotiate the field! We have never experienced conditions like this before and, even if were possible to cut the grass in time, it would be foolhardy and very unwise to attempt to drive onto the field. I know that the weather forecast predicts dry periods, but the outlook as far as rain is concerned is not good. Please do not be tempted to go to Braxted!

In the circumstances, Monday’s event is cancelled and we will have to keep out fingers crossed that conditions will have improved before the next Meeting scheduled for Sunday 13th May – this will now become Round 1 of the Off-Road Series.

We will try to slot some extra Meetings in later in the season if possible to compensate, and on behalf of MERCC please accept our sincere apologies. Prevention is better than cure, and I’m sure you will agree that the decision to cancel is the correct one.
_________________
Keith Wright
Chairman, MERCC
www.facebook.com/merccuk

Off Road Series Round 1 – Sunday 29th April

It’s finally happened – we’ve been beaten by the weather! MERCC does not like to be defeated, and this is a very rare occurrence for us as it has been some time since a Meeting has had to be cancelled due to the weather! However, even Braxted (“It rarely rains at Braxted”, I’m always joking!) has not escaped the extremes of weather for the past two weeks that we have all been experiencing – rain every day, hail, etc. This has meant that the field and track has become waterlogged and, added to this, it has been impossible for any grass-cutting to be done since the last Meeting. The forecast is not good for the weekend, particularly for Sunday, with more rain expected. All-in-all, a gloomy picture.

It has been decided that it would be better to cancel next Sunday’s event at this stage, rather than take a risk. If you know of anyone who had intended to race, would you please be kind enough to let them know. The next Meeting will therefore be the Bank Holiday Monday ‘Open’ on 7th May and the weather must have improved by then!

On behalf of MERCC, please accept my sincere apologies for this bad news, but I’m sure you will appreciate that the decision to cancel is in the best interests of everyone.
_________________
Keith Wright
Chairman, MERCC
www.facebook.com/merccuk

On a cold, damp and windy morning 33 hardy souls turned out to welcome in our Off-Road Season with the now traditional ‘Warm-Up’ Meeting – the question was “would it warm up?!” The forecast was for a dry day, with showers later on, so our fingers were crossed that we could have a complete meeting of heats and finals. Lessons had been learned at the ‘Trial Day’ with regard to our new race timing equipment so hopefully things would be relatively straightforward at Race Control!

Some new faces were in evidence, and a warm welcome was extended to everyone at the Briefing. Classes comprised 1/8th Nitros, 1/10th 2wd & 4wd Electric Buggies and 1/10th Electric Short-Course Trucks – one 1/8th Electric Buggy would be racing with the Nitros.

After all of the heats, the timing system had worked well, and all ‘unregistered’ transponders had been sorted out. With only one driver now being counted manually it was getting easier at Race Control! The skies were by now looking very threatening so we tried to press on as quickly as we could. With many drivers in a truly competitive mood the Finals looked very promising!

The Nitro B Final ran first in some very light rain and David Brazington stormed away with his 1/8th Electric Buggy to win by 2 laps from Clive Nash. Before anyone says “but he didn’t have to stop for re-fuelling” remember that he won by TWO laps! In any case, from the points perspective he would have been racing in his own Class. Paul Noy came in 3rd. Just after the Nitro ‘A’ started it rained for 5 minutes, so this made for some interesting track conditions! Anthony and Kristian battled it out from start to finish, with Anthony just having the edge on speed, and Sam Collins came in a very creditable 3rd.

The track was well and truly damp for the 2wd and 4wd Electric Finals, which were run between showers. Danny won the 2wd Final by 23 seconds from Tony Price with Scott Fitzgerald in 3rd place – all on 8 laps. In the 4wd Electric Final Mark Lambert on Pole won by 2 seconds from Michael Spindley. After this Final the heavens opened, so we waited. The sun came out after a few minutes but the Short Course Truck boys had already decided not to go out onto the wet track.

All in all, a good Meeting. The timing system had worked well, and all Personal Transponders had functioned. After the track ropes etc. had been cleared, the trophies were presented and the obligatory photo-shoot took place.

A full Race Report in pdf format can be viewed/downloaded from the 2012 Results Page!
_________________
Keith Wright
Chairman, MERCC
www.facebook.com/merccuk

MID-ESSEX RADIO CAR CLUB
INVITES YOU TO
A ‘SEASONAL WARM-UP’ OPEN MEETING
Sunday 15th April 2012
at
Great Braxted

Check the ‘Event Details‘ Page for more information

Although it was April Fool’s Day, this event was no wind-up! In order to try out our new Race Timing equipment, MERCC members were invited to take part in a ‘Trial’ race meeting with no charge for racing and no trophies – just the satisfaction of knowing that participants were helping the Club to become familiar with 21st Century gear! A mixture of Electric and Nitro cars were in evidence, with 27 drivers keen to start racing. It was made clear at the briefing that drivers should not take the results too seriously and that they would need to bear with us while we ‘tweaked’ the system.

The morning started off somewhat chilly but the sun soon appeared and dried out what dew there was on a track prepared for the occasion by ‘Gentleman Jim’ Shepherd. Working Parties during March had worked hard to get everything ready for the season and the 20kg of grass seed and 2 tonnes of topsoil put down early in November had produced a nice ‘green’ track. The willing volunteers who set out a great track design made full use of the track area and the portable ‘Crossover’ feature was included.

All the equipment was connected up as per instructions and we all said a prayer and crossed our fingers as Yours Truly pressed the button to start the first race. This had to be stopped immediately as a warning appeared on the screen referring to a vital code that had not been entered! Once one of our computer geeks had identified this, we were again ready for the ‘off’. My main concern was “would the Personal Transponders be recognised?” My fears were soon allayed as the screen soon showed that they were being picked up and the timing system was functioning perfectly!

We ran 4 rounds of heats and finals, and at the end of the meeting were able to congratulate ourselves on a very successful day. I personally am very grateful to all the drivers for being prepared to be used as Guinea Pigs for the ultimate benefit of everyone in the future. MERCC now has a system which caters for Personal Transponders and Manual Lap Counting and a very willing membership who are happy to help out in many ways. I am also grateful to those who gave me helpful advice and suggestions throughout the day. Yes, there were teething problems, but these were relatively minor and we can work on these. Much was learnt on the day, the weather was brilliant, and everyone went away happy – especially me!

I’m pleased to say that MERCC already has 40 paid-up members, with more expected, so this year is going to be a busy one! On Sunday 15th April there will be the traditional Seasonal Warm-Up ‘Open’ Meeting at Braxted – be there!
_________________
Keith Wright
Chairman, MERCC
www.facebook.com/merccuk

Yesterday (Sunday 11th March), several willing club members – including children – descended on Braxted for the first Working Party to start preparations for the forthcoming season. The weather was great, enabling us to get more work done than anticipated. The track and parking areas were mowed and rolled, after clearance of twigs and rubbish blown onto the grass during the winter. The rostrum decking and boarding around the track perimeter was treated with preservative, the toilet block cleaned, repairs and alterations made to the inside of the Race Control caravan, and trees trimmed back. It will now not be necessary for a Working Party on Sunday 18th March but we will need to spend a couple of hours during the morning on Sunday 25th March.

Don’t forget that the first Race Meeting will be a 2012 MERCC Members-Only ‘trial day’ on Sunday April 1st to test out our new equipment. There will be no charge for racing, and no trophies. Anyone wishing to take part must have renewed their membership, or joined as a new member, before 31st March. No membership fees will be collected on the day.

Any drivers intending to race at Braxted this year should notify the club of their Personal Transponder numbers (indicating to which class they relate) as soon as possible. Drivers not having a Personal Transponder will be counted manually. There will be no hand-out transponders.
_________________
Keith Wright
Chairman, MERCC
www.facebook.com/merccuk

The 2012 Off Road Race Programme is available for download in pdf format. There is also a live events calendar on the Race Programme page that can be used to check key dates throughout the season!

Happy Racing!

The Annual Membership Application Form is now available for download in pdf format: