Trans-Tasman Aussie TC Meet

[Renco5012]

Hey guys,

There was a small discussion regarding an Aussie meet a while ago here but I can't remember who started it. I believe Willy, Retro R/C and a few other were in the thread.

Anyways, I'm coming to Melbourne in roughly two weeks (last trip unfortunately got axed at the last minute) so I'm up for a "meet" say around the 16-17th of May. I'm going to have no transport except for public transport which is a hassle [|)] and I'll be staying in east Melbourne (Bentleigh) so I may have to bum a ride off you guys. [:I] I'm not too familiar with Melbourne either so I wouldn't have a clue where a possible venue would be, however where I'm staying there is a huge park literally in the back yard. Grass isn't much fun though.

Planning/wanting to bring: WW1, Mini, "Mid-Rider" 'Pumpkin and a pile of batteries, lol.

Sorry for starting a new thread when I should've continued with the other & I hope we can organise something!

Cheers,

Mike. [8D]

[WillyChang]

Hiya Mike - sure thing!

If your bringing your Mini then DEFINITELY you'll have to visit

the international shrine of all things Mini, the Templestowe track.

This is where Mini battles are fought long and hard!! []

What's your preference.. if you make it Sat you can also drop in

to the local Tamiya LHS, its quite close to Templestowe.

Not open Sunday.

Bentleigh is south-eastern suburbs, about 25km from CBD.

But I'm sure we can work something out by then.

When are you flying in & out exactly?

Down here there's Alex (Incredit_serious) and a few others too.

Darryn (Retro) lives in Canberra though, 700km north. [|)]

[Renco5012]

Cheers for replying, Willy [8D]

Yeeouch, 700 k is a long way away! Who else is in Melbourne?

I'm going to be in East Bentleigh. I'm familar with that area of Mel. only. The rest is a blur, lol. The last time I was there was mid '03 but I should be able to recall it some places when I see some landmarks. Well maybe, I got lost in the city almost one day [:I]

I'm coming over on the 10th of May (which is a Monday). I may be away that week until the weekend, but I'm not too sure what's happening with that. Basically the weekend of the 16th is the best time for me or perhaps the weekend after. I'll be in Mel. for two weeks. That's about two or three weeks to organise something [|)]

I'm up for a laugh []

How much do those HPI mini tires go for? Do they fit on the stock rims? I badly need new tires for mine.

[WillyChang]

quote:Originally posted by Renco5012

How much do those HPI mini tires go for? Do they fit on the stock rims?

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Under A$30/pr I think. Yep std Tamiya Mini rim size.

HPI also make mini rims, they're nylon and can be dyed.

[Renco5012]

I'll probably pick up some stock Tamiya rims, they sound a bit cheaper [xx(]

I'm packing for my trip in the next few days so I'm starting to think of what cars I can actually bring with me besides the Mini. The second weekend (22/23) would actually be better if you or anyone you know is still keen.

How far is Templestowe from the CBD?

[WillyChang]

quote:Originally posted by Renco5012

I'll probably pick up some stock Tamiya rims, they sound a bit cheaper [xx(]

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Probably not, think they're about same price.

Tamiya's plastic does crack on impact, unless you buy the dearer

black fibre-reinforced ones. The HPIs survive bashes better.

quote:I'm packing for my trip in the next few days so I'm starting to think of what cars I can actually bring with me besides the Mini. The second weekend (22/23) would actually be better if you or anyone you know is still keen.

How far is Templestowe from the CBD?

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Either is good, but bear in mind the weather.

Last weekend was a shocker, both days washed out. Sat was HAILING!

Tempe is about 30km from city, in east-northeast 2 o'clock direction.

Bentleigh is southeast 5 o'clock from city about 20-25kms.

[WillyChang]

quote:Originally posted by Renco5012

The second weekend (22/23) would actually be better if you or anyone you know is still keen.

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Mike, TFTR's calendar is here: http://www.cookieitsallgood.com/components...lendar_2004.doc

23rd is a club raceday, so that'll be off limits unless all

you want to do is watch... unless you wanna RACE!! [8D]

Usually day before there'll be quite a few practisers there.

Your call, I'm available either way.

15th Sat is good though... can take you shopping then can rock

past the track. Depending how you go you might want to decide

to go back and race on the 23rd.

(how you placate your mrs is your own headache [])

[Incredible_Serious]

Quote:

"Tempe is about 30km from city, in east-northeast 2 o'clock direction."

Willy dude... remind me never to buy real estate from you!!!!!

Mike... TFTR at Templestowe is about 17 - 18km's from the city.... maybe the way Willy goes, it adds up to 30km's with all the wheelspin from the power of the family truckster he drives ;-)

Mini Mini Mini Mini.... hopefully I will have a body on my M03 by then, so I can have a blat with you when you come!

Alex

[Renco5012]

quote:Originally posted by WillyChang

(how you placate your mrs is your own headache [])

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Heh heh, she's working both Saturdays [}]

Okay, now that you mention all that the 15th might just be the best day for a squizz at the track. I haven't raced in years, but it could be an idea. I'd be pretty keen to check out some racing actually so both Saturdays sound all good []

I'm going to have to get some HPI wheels and tires for the ol' Mini now []

[Renco5012]

Alex, I can give you a body to use if you like if you don't have one by then. It's beat, but good for a basher. It's the red one in my showroom [8D] There's a pebble sized hole in the grille though from when I flipped it. That was a sight to see! [)]

[Renco5012]

Hang on, is Templestowe a 1/1 racing track? I'd feel like a bit of a idiot thinking that it's an R/C track [:I][:I][:I]

[WillyChang]

nooooo... Templestowe is a upper-middleclass eastern suburb. []

Definitely RC and only electrics at that.

[RETRO R/C]

Hope you guys have fun !! []

Cheers

Darryn

[Renco5012]

quote:Originally posted by WillyChang

nooooo... Templestowe is a upper-middleclass eastern suburb. []

Definitely RC and only electrics at that.

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LOL! [] So what do people run at the track besides Minis? I guess touring cars and such.

I packed up my R/C stuff tonight (hope I am able to put it on the plane without getting charged extra!) and it's all packed nicely into a small suitcase sized box. Mainly for messing 'round back in Bentleigh I'm taking the Clod, Frog, Lunchbox and lastly the Mini. There's a fairly big park just over the back fence where I'm staying so I've gotta keep myself occupied [] I'll probably regret taking all these cars when I get there though... [V]

[PandaBear]

Mike, YGM.

[Incredible_Serious]

PandaBear... WillyChang... I'm confused... []

Alex

[WillyChang]

Its like LaToya & Michael - don't expect to see them

both in the same room at the same time. []

[Incredible_Serious]

I always thought that was Michael and Janet.....

[WillyChang]

It was, but now you wouldn't catch Timberlake ripping off Michael's top. [}]

[Incredible_Serious]

Well, not in public anyway Willy... []

Hey Mike, you here yet???

[WillyChang]

Nah not Justin, he's 20yrs too old. [|)]

Mike:- if you've arrive safe pls post or email 'Panda' or Mr Serious.

[Incredible_Serious]

Mr Serious..... how posh is that??? lol....

[Renco5012]

I arrived safely [8D] Lots of fog surrounding the airport at home delayed the plane for ages though [xx(] So much for computer guided planes huh?[8)]

[Incredible_Serious]

Well wasn't that a fun bunch of hours!!! Five hours down at the Templestowe track with Willy and Mike, breaking cars, fixing cars, running cars, and generally having a great time! Especially the Minis.... anyone who ants to have a blast, get yourself a bunch of mates, a bunch of M03 Minis with ESCs and Sport Tuned motors, and a huuuuuge bunch of battery packs, and track attack!!!

The Ausmicro.com guys turning up (eventually) with their camera car was pretty cool too, haven't seen an Apple 2E monitor in a while!!!

Let's see if I can remember all that got busted... []... of course, I remember my stuff more, so the other guys will add anything I missed...

Me:

- Having never run a body on my Mini before, as soon as I put one on, I found that the screws holding the front mounts to the chassis weren't long enough... so they both fell off!!!

- My kit-built ESC broke a PCB track.... but we found and fixed that problem! Thankfully I had brought my trusty soldering iron...

- My Schumacher Axis2 tourer was discovered to be set up completely wrong for the track, it's setup being more correct for it's past life as an English carpet-racer - thanks Willy! Corrected some toe in/out problems too... just need to remove and redo the shocks, they're a bit too firm. Think it may be time to pull this car down completely and rebuild it to local conditions. Better organise correct gearings too...

- TA03R... what can I say, it just needs work. Does anyone know how to get these things to handle, and know a good gearing setup??? Or would anyone like one?

- I only have two saddle packs for the Axis2... and one broke!!! Oh well... better learn how to build them myself...

Willy

- Someone kept bouncing his spare Mini body off the track walls, other cars, the ground, etc. [:I]

- Late in the day, Willy's Mini developed an odd handling problem when a WHEEL CAME OFF!!!! Whoops....

- Willy also had a battery vent on him.... icky stuff leaking...

- Someone kept crashing into the camera car... [8D]

- Traction on PVC pipe??? lol...

Mike

- Mike was unfortunate to have probably the biggest problem, when a servo let go on him, probably stripping an internal gear or something... lucky we had spares...

- 1200 batteries..... hmmmmmmm...

- Where's my Clod???

- Broken wallet paying for new wheels and tyres...

Oh, and Willy, you know that step screw you found while looking for your wheel nut, the one that looks like a screw for a Mini front upright.... I know where it goes........ []

There will be more, but for now, I'm just happy that I will be getting an M03 body tomorrow, and sad that I should be getting new tyres tomorrow!!!

Alex

[Renco5012]

Hey Alex, I forgot to give your servo back [:I] And nothing's wrong with 1200 mah batts [8D] even though one of them doesn't go anymore...

So are you guys still keen to do some off-roading this weekend? When & where may be a problem, though []

Cheers,

Mike.