Ateco Warn Challenge 2008 - Rnd 3 Engel

[bagsy]

There was a few nice rigs but the talent driving wasnt that impressive, i was very bored most of the time as there was very soft driving and lots of winching going on.
If you want advice dont bother going Sunday

heres some more advice , " to finish first , first you have to finish ", There are 12 stages and you cant win by doing 4 off them .........

[PGS 4WD]

I was a little disapointed, I have been a few times over the last 10 years and it was probably the worst I have seen.

The trucks and stages were good, waiting goes with the type of event due to failures, DNFs etc and that didn't worry me BUT.

This competition is a lawsuit waiting to happen and I would have thought from previous legal issues, it would have been better, not worse.

I can't understand why we couldn't park in the paddock like we have previously instead of 2km from the stages(it was probably due to morons getting stuck though) , the transport was a joke, a circuiting small bus instead of the landrovers would have been much better. We ended up walking both ways because there was no transport when we needed it.

There was not marked spectator areas or access to viewing areas so people were just walking up and down stages with race trucks flying past at less than a couple of metres distance when the people scattered off the track. Two years ago when I went, it was not perfect but better with viewing areas and marked safe access to them.

The people on the quad bikes were down right dangerous with no regard to pedestrians anywhere and it appeared you could just bring your own and hoon around on them.

If they want spectators at these events (do they? im not sure from yesterday) they need to cater much better for them. If I was a sponsor, I would have been very disapointed.

Before somebody says, If you don't like it, organise it yourself (common theme here) I will never be a competitior or involved in organising the event, Just like going to the world series cricket or the AFL football, I just pay my money and go to watch, and want to get value for this money, and come home safe. I only go to support mates competing.

Dissapointing attitude really, AFL and world series cricket isn't organised by volunteers, and makes millions of dollars, many of these people are out of pocket just to be there. Sure it wasn't perfect however it is a huge effort, the fences aren't there when you rock up like the MCG, 362 days a year the property is a cattle farm. Al Mac is gracious enough to let us use it, its fair enough he wouldn't want 100's of cars driving over and tearing up the grass. People like Neil Cooper, Allison, Paul Lancaster and many others have full time jobs like you or I and give up multiple weekends to make these events happen. If you want to support your mates try supporting the people that give your mates the opportunity to race. I watched marshals tirelessly bunting and asking spectators to move to safer areas, many don't understand the risks or don't care. Everyone I spoke to had a ball, competitors and spectators alike.

Joel

[tna racing]

well said and very true joel. as a marshal it is tireing. and there is that much effort to host an event like this.

[TRobbo]

Firstly thank you to everyone that helped the event happen. Al for use of his working farm, event management, Stage managers, stage marshals, scruitineering, event catering, scoring, PGS recovery, the water boys filling the toilets, front gate - everyone.
It really is a big effort that goes into making this event happen. I was running around all week end doing two jobs and by the end of it am 3 kilo's lighter As said earlier this is all made to happen by a group of people with full time jobs who pull together and put in some late nights and give up many week ends .
Whilst the event finishes on Sunday for competitors and spectators, much of the key event management dont get home until Monday or Tuesday. Unfortunately we dont have the scores up for you yet, but we will get them here as soon as we can.
Well done to all the teams who competed. The tracks really sorted out the competitors this year and this was demonstrated by the large variations in times. The top group of competitors were pulling similiar times on each stage, the bottom group of competitors were pulling similiar times, but the variation from top to bottom was significant.
With this type of sport sometimes we have hold ups and everyone has to wait while we get into some pretty awkward spots to pull cars out. During these breaks I used the time to chat to many people I didn't know and get to know them better. This included competitors, other marshals and some spectators, as well as handing out some spare maps and other information I had where needed.
Saturday and Sunday are two very different formats. Sunday is designed to be in a more compact area and is consequently faster. Last year you didn't like the driving format of Sunday so we brought winching back. Saturday is spread across the property and has more variation in the type of obstacles and the tracks are longer. As far as I can tell there are still a lot of people that like the opportunity to see the action on Saturday despite this. If I was coming to spectate on both days, i would probably try and locate the top group and follow them around for most of the day. You will have something to watch more consistently following these guys. I would then go back to my favourite tracks and watch the other teams do their thing and then realise how much skill those top teams have.
I for one am looking forward to seeing the dvd. I saw a few broken trucks at the end of each day but would love to see how they got into that shape.

A couple of gripes, the idiots in the car park doing doughnuts in the car park, the dad that I saw put a size 12 up his small sons back side hard enough to lift him off the ground who then told him off when he started to cry - I wish I was closer to you when that happened, and the few that pushed some fences down to get closer to the action on Sunday.

[TEE JAY]

Thanks for your reply re scores.
That last paragraph make sme sick in the stomach.

[TRobbo]

Oh Yeah a big to the parents who let their kids slid down the mud hill on their stomachs for an hour or so

Glad mine didn't follow suit though.

[beretta]

It was our first time at Ateco and it was awesome, enjoyed every stage.....although stage 7 with no battery power was a bit of hard work, but we still made it though!

I had a couple of mates come up who hadn't been to an Ateco style event before and they drove three hours to get there and said it was well worth the drive and were keen to come to any other events after that, so I would say most people would have enjoyed the event as a spectator.

As Bagsy said about finishing, consistency and a cool head get you a lot further than anything, we didn't go real hard on a few of the stages, concentrated more on finishing and not having to work on the car all night, we eneded up close to the pointy end with a DNF, so we learnt a lot on the weekend about what we need to do in future to be competitive.

Well done to the marshalls, the organisers and the competitors, look forward to coming back next year for another crack.

Cheers, Paul

[beretta]

Oh and by the way....a big thanks to the sponsors and particularly to Al Mac for letting us have the evnt on his property, what a fantastic property!

Bit sad to see some numb nut doing circle work in Al's paddock....aka the car park, no wonder he doesn't want people parking down closer to the event where its more likely to do more damage.

[matt.mcinnes]

Well I have to say one of the best I have seen in recent years. Hats of to all who helped and Allen Mac for the use again of his property.

Top effort by all

[suzuki boy]

To all that said hanks for marsheling no worries at all!

Matt.mcinnes i was in your car friday night with adam.......Thanks for that and your car go's hard!

Was funny when i was talkin to Al after the saterday stages and he said "well thats over i'm goin to feed the cows......." What a gun!

Saw some gutsy drives and the crowd was awsome on my part of the stage i had on saterday talked to a few and every one was lovin it!

WAS A SUCCESS IN MY EYES!

To those that wern't happy not sure what you where after but there competing there not goin out there to roll cars or rip front diffs out when ittin a bank and stuff there there to finish.....

[matt.mcinnes]

Matt.mcinnes I was in your car friday night with adam.......Thanks for that and your car go's hard!

No worries it's real test will be the next comp either Round 4 of t he Engel or Vic Winch (testing for 2009). Have a little work to do before then, snorkel, re mount both batteries and few other minor bits. Very happy with the new performance though. Still on leafs so competing for fun as always and to put one over the big boys from time to time

Gigglepin would be nice but more likely next year.

[tna racing]

need a pit crew

[BIg StEvE]

need a pit crew

How bout u discuss this via pm's and stop ruining another decent thread!


Wow what a great weekend we had. The tracks were fantastic. Damn work feels slow after a weekend like that. From all the Evil crew thanks to the organisers, marshals and other compeditors. This is a fantastic event that relys on all of you to make it one of the most prestigous events in the country. We will do our absolute best to be back next year!

Congrats to Trent and Dave on a job well done.

Cheers

Steve

[rampage3]

come on someones got to have more photos

[Ruffy]

I went last year as a competitor and this year as pit crew for muppet. From all i seen i would say that this year appeared to be far better orgainsed and the stages were great. Very tuff. It really sorted the men from the boys and Experience won the event. Knowing exactly how hard you needed to push to do good times but still be there at the end.
Congratulations to Trent and Dave, Rohan and Wayne and Bidders and Joe.
Big congrats to the organisers.
BIG thank you to Terry Roberts and the Wanderin 4 wheelers for the catering!!..
Dan

[suzuki boy]

Catering was absolutely awsome...... Way better then vic winch......

All i can say is mmmmmmmmmmmmmm donuts on saterday night where AWSOME!

[TRobbo]

I now have the event results in pdf format. Who can post them for me?

[The Fish]

Couldn't get the full file posted up as photobucket wouldn't except a PDF file but here's a link to it

http://z4.invisionfree.com/Vic_All_Terr ... d=10733835

[The_Wazza]

Some footage is up on youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8AZhebNtzU

[TRobbo]

This never posts well but here goes.
Teams with an * are Production class. the rest are Challenge. I have full stage results that can be provided via email.


Placing DRIVER CO-DRIVER VEHICLE MAKE Points
1 Trent Leen David Hickman Nissan GQ MWB 979
2 Rohan Canavan Wayne Smith Nissan GQ MWB 955
3 John Bidwell Joe Prosenak Nissan GQ ute 951
4 Ben Russell Sean Harbour Ford Maveric 907
5 Darren Green Kevin Nott Nissan GQ ute 890
6 Andrew Cassar Ben Jamison Nissan GQ Ute 881
7 Alan McMullen Stuart Gruchy Jeep 847
8 Scott McGill Andrew Smith-Proctor Nissan GQ Ute 844
9 Darren Webster Steven Lowe Rav 4 841
10 Adrian Parker Alan McGilvray Nissan GQ Ute 823
11* Steven Hudson Aaron Isherwood Nissan GQ Ute 810
12 Clinton Sharpe Iain Parnaby Nissan GQ 776
13 Luke Hall Daniel Hall Ford Maveric 742
14 Adam O'brien Shane Baguley Toyota 80 Ute 704
15 Dave Cameron Rob Koliskin Nissan GQ 680
16 Mick Magher Paul Beretta Nissan GQ Ute 653
17 Alan Cuthill Wally Shorney Nissan GQ 650
18 Scott Alison Jason Forssman Toyota 45s 644
19 Alister Grove Bryan Ross Nissan GQ Ute 641
20 Clint Read Russell Andrew 604
21 Josef Ordon Stephen Crawford Nissan GQ Ute 592
22 Martin Sutton Matthew Sparkes Nissan GQ 591
23 Stuart Johnson Nathan Alison Nissan GQ Ute 570
24* Scott Beaven Jarrod Winch Nissan GQ 554
25 Joel & Rebecca Bottomley Nissan GQ 510
26 Ben Croft Peter Butcher Nissan Patrol 494
27* Shayne Barkley Jeremy Masal Nissan GQ 483
28* Scott Smith Jaey Pearson Nissan GU 434
29 James Tyrrell West Reynolds Nissan GQ 414
30 James Simmons Alex Jones Suzuki 403
31 Clive Denholm Tom Shire Nissan GQ Ute 345
32 Brett Chynoweth Rob Barton Nissan GQ Ute 313
33* Wade Griffiths Andrew Curry Range Rover 160
34 Johnnie Stavrou Andrew Dyer Jeep 74
35 Peter Mihailoff Shiloh Noel Nissan GQ MWB 20

[The_Wazza]

some more footage....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeEVNyIN ... re=related

[UrbanRedneck]

just some pics from saturday click link
http://s339.photobucket.com/albums/n473 ... ateco2008/

[mcgill4433]

[tna racing]

some really good photo's there scotty and pheobie

[embryo]

they are some top shots mcgill4433!

[PGS 4WD]

Thats a ripper shot of Bidders

Joel

[tna racing]

yeah i agree joel. very well done

[ALPINE-OFF-ROAD]

good to see the boys hard at it bens running our fiberglass bonnet and new hid lightforces

[ALPINE-OFF-ROAD]

[ALPINE-OFF-ROAD]