It was a dark and stormy night and then it was morning and a damp and crappy one at that.
We had a go at making everyone happy, but as with all good intentions, it didn't quite work out that way.

The attendees were as follows: Sheila and Simon, Craig and Simon, Greg and Chen, Cam and Jackson, Roger and Cam No 2 and Wayne and Ja.

I was supposed to be somewhere else and the deal I had with my love interest was - I would do my 4 runs and then do a runner but as usual I forgot to do the runner part, so our family lunch in Whangamata became an early dinner (oooops).

The timing gear started to play up as well, so was just a bum titties day. Simon was on the pace straight away and was in the 60 sec bracket with only one run of 63 sec and a FTD of 59.58 and another round win and the series win as well. Yours truly did a 61 in the first timed run and then went progressively slower all day and finished with a 62.27 to come in secound for the day and for the series again. (This would get a lesser man down, but I just have to HTFU).

Roger's times are very consistent, so we know he can drive, so all he has to do is get the angry man out and we know his boat is quick - he ended up 3rd for the day and 3rd for the series, (see the pattern here?) Wayne was also consistent with his times and is getting it all sorted out for next season, but a good 4th on the day. Craig and Simon started with a 81.28 and ended with a 66.71 so a huge improvement on the day.

Rumour has it that Grimz now has the Big cam inside his engine and the story is that he is bringing up a huge can of whipass to the summer season, so we will know what he's got on the 20th Feb for the start of the new season - let's get into it and go hard or go home.
---The Jonesy

SPRINT 8-10 - Meremere - Sun 14 Nov 2010

HANDICAPS have all been updated - see how much your Handicap has risen! As well as the ones in BLUE below, both Simon's and Cam's have risen to the 99.99 maximum.


No sign of spring this morning; it was a dismal start to the day. Craig’s friend came down with his camera and beautifully captured the drivers briefing ritual and then the finger pointing going round in circles rotation learning ritual. (Photos will be posted soon)
The fun started when we hit the water with a bit of on track weeding being performed and a damsel in distress mission for Cam as he rescued Lucina from one of Den’s park ups.
P1 was not playing nicely, so Cam hopped in with Rodger and proved how quick P14 is, posting the fastest time of the day and taking home the trophy for the day. The DOD trophy finally found a willing recipient after being unclaimed for a while. Yep, Den the old master, left the boat on the ramp while a trailer extraction was performed. The resounding thump was heard clearly around the whole of the course, as was the hysterical laughter and applause that followed. Yup, no secrets out here.
Thankfully the day improved and by the time we were doing the top 5 the sun was out. After racing finished we had a quick flurry of activity weed eating and mowing the islands, starting the tidy up for summer. By the time prize giving came around it was back to a lovely day ,thanks to all for the help with the BBQ. Cam deservedly took the trophy home, saving his last run to post the fastest time of the day. Den and Rog shared second place with Simon coming an unusual 4th. I was quite happy taking it easy, slowly getting back into driving again, but really enjoying sitting in the silly seat flapping my hand.
Great to see Craig and Chris, our new drivers, shaving seconds off their times.
An enjoyable day for all and some great candid photos to take away too.
See you next month,
Sheila

Sprint 6-10 17th October Meremere

out of the horses mouth !
better late than not at all
We left whiti at the usual time heading for Meremere but with a difference,Following close behind was Chris with P13 in tow.
We landed at the pond to find rodger the only boat there (as yet),Slowly the crews come through the car water course and backed up ready for a days fun.The weather was bleak with the odd shower and a cold breeze blowing through (brrr).
Boats and more boats turned up 7 to be exact,ps 1,10,8,14,19,13 and 5 great turn out.
Most boats did 1 or 2 runs pre racing on weed control (Chris it is fun LOL)and there was casualties.
Racing started and we all were having a ball,swapping nav's and boats running aground etc,(yes me 3 times,Chris twice and Doug was it 2 or 3 times?)
Vanessa up on the deck doing the timing god thing and every one helping flapping the flags. Thank you.
Once the racing was done it was off to weedeating and lawnmower racing around the islands,looking good,pity about Simon killing the new club mower ! Whats with that ?Price giving and BBQ to finish off .O for awesome.
1st Cam,2nd Simon(president)and 3rd Doug
1st Lady was the 1st Lady (Sheila)
Welcome to the new comers,Please come again and thank you for everyone for coming along.
GRIMZ
Ed's note,
Grimz got DOD and thanks to Craig (newbe)for BBQing the snags.

I woke in the mornig to the sound of pouring rain and thought this is going to be fun but by the time we got to Meremere it had cleared into a alright day.
Rodger was the first there so we set about setting up the timing gear but that wasnt a happening thing so it was hand timing for the day,i think the old timing light has seen a bit to much water with myself, rodger and Grimz al trying to get it working but na.
A big thanks to Vanessa and Wayne for the timing duties,you cant stay on that deck all season Wayne !.
After two attempts at the demo we got it right and then it was down to racing.Myself and Sheila in P10,Rodger had his nav Sean again and Cam and Doug swapped around in P1 with Jackson and Grimz talked me into naving for him.Our cut off run didnt go to well with us picking up a bit of stick firmly lodging itself onto the front of the blade making us limp our way around to the finish.The track was pretty full due to the rain and lots of weed in the track saw plenty of weeds being pulled out of grates on a regular basis.All the boats ran pretty close over the day with only nano seconds between 1st 2nd and 3rd.Grimz reconds i wasnt allowed lunch to keep my weight down but you know what they say about a man and his lunch !
The rotation was nice fast and sweeping with a few new corners not tried before but there was no whoops and everybody nailed it quickly so the old dod award went unawarded for another month ,its funny how no body wants to take that trophy home !
After racing it was play time and i took Grimz boat for a spin to see if i could go any quicker than him but nooo it was about the same so Grimz jumped in P10 for a spin and found out just how different the boats handle.
So it was onto prize giving and stories and pack up to head home until next month.
Until then
s

August 2010 Rogers Birthday Sprint

Rogers day will appear here

Sprint 4-10 *Whitianga* Sat 19 Jun 2010

Due to maintenance at Meremere sprint 4 was relocated to Whitianga at the track which had been made for the Speed weekend display.
**Thank you Grimz for organising the venue and tractor.

It was a very early start as I was travelling down with Den and Ree and they needed to leave their home at 6am. We travelled south and looked for the stars of Matariki which mark the Maori new year but too cloudy and misty.

Making good time we stopped in Tairua for a coffee etc then carried on to Whitianga to find a bakery {another story}. Txts exchanged with the others then all met and convoyed into the venue.
This was the first time I had seen the track, which is made in part of the waterways. It had plenty of water in it after all the rain. A long pond with tyres making the islands was the challenge for the day. Launching a bit hard with a car so Grimz had arranged a big tractor for that task. The boats all in the pond. Next, Rodger gives drivers briefing and a course randomly chosen. I had not been in a Pred since February so was looking forward to the days racing even if it was windy and cold.

Grimz had trouble demonstrating the rotation, which was good as it gave me a bit more time to get my head around it, knowing that the tyre islands were going to take a bit of distinguishing at water level, as they all look the same except for a little grass growing in some. The wind was cold but seemed to have little affect on the water in the track. Vanessa parked her truck in line with the start finish line to keep warm while time keeping, and soon the days racing started. There only being 6 drivers it did not take long to get through to the final where all but Ree managed their best run for the day.
**Well done Simon on taking out the day with a great run of 57 secs closely followed by Den then Doug and Rodger =3rd.

The Round had finished quite early so it was decided to have another little competition where all drivers had one go only driving Grimz's P19 around the same rotation with the same navigator. Rodgers nav Charlton was elected and off we all went. One time best time drive in same set up - what a great little bit of fun. It showed how close all the drivers are getting with less than 3 seconds covering the field.
**Well done to the master Den who took it out, over 1 second clear, ahead of the rest of us.

**Grimz thankyou for the use of your boat but I guess it shows you it can get around a bit faster than you or I have managed to yet.

With all the boats back on the trailers we set off to Grimz & Vanessa’s house for a great cup of coffee and warm up out of the wind. The day’s results announced and decision to cut the series to 4 rounds was agreed and then the series results announced.

**Simon with navigator Sheila in P10 took out the series win, a great effort with some nice consistent racing.

**Prizes from our great sponsor CRC where given out, then we set off home.
Thanks to all who came out for the day. I had another great day of Predator jetsprinting, looking forward to the next round.

Doug D

Sprint 3-10 * Whitianga Waterways * Sun 10 Apr 2010

Cam's expressions will land here ...

Sprint 2-10 * Meremere * Sun 14 Mar 2010

Nathan (McWinner) will tell his story here ...

SPRINT 1-10 - Meremere - Sun 14 Feb 2010

Firstly sorry for the lateness, I forgot it was my turn.
Welcome all to the new season. I hope everyone had a pleasant xmas and new year.
The weather was great; track looking fantastic, lots of work has been done. The club room and deck provide our timers and flag flappers a great view and shelter for their fantastic work for whom without there would be no results to publish.
A good turnout with seven boats on the ramp.
Racing was close as always, with less than 0.3 of a second separating the first three boats.
It is good to see families out there competing together and against. With Sarah and Cory both trying to beat each other and Mum and Graeme, Cory winning the day with a little help from Cam.
I think Sarah's new horse would have been faster on the day than P14, it would definitely have eaten less weeds!
Looking forward to seeing everyone next meeting.
Cheers
Rodger