Results 2009 Australian blokart Open
An over veiw on how the event went at Yeppoon. 

Friday 6^th

Registration finished at 9am and briefing started, “ Sweetlips room “

We had a total 78 blokarts registered to race, with blokarters coming from as far away as NZ, WA, NSW, VIC and QLD fantastic, 6 weight divisions over 2 catagories, Performance 3 and Production 3

Introductions and Briefing over by 9.30am and we’re off down the beach for a 10.30 start.

Light winds around 8 knots saw many changing from 4.0m sails to 5.5m sails and this proved to be the right sail of choice particularly for the heavier classes, the wind was slightly south onto the beach so some tactical sailing was needed to gain placings

After 2 races per class were achieved we decided to run the marathon, 2 laps of a 5km course, the wind was still reasonably light at a steady 12knots, Production class left first followed 2 minutes later by Performance class, some great racing to end a great day of light wind sailing.

Saturday 7^th 

Briefing in Sweetlips room at 9.00 am, a few minor procedure issues to run through and off down the beach for a 11.00am start.

The wind had picked up considerably averaging a constant 15knots and was straight onto the beach, signs of some excellent racing to come with many karts opting for smaller sails, as the day wore on many were using 3.0m sails and the wind had moved to a constant 20knots, short course racing over we decided it was time to run the second marathon, same course as yesterday, except today saw some very quick runs indeed, the jury may still be out on this one but I think the choice of sail for this race was the 3.0m, what ever the sail used I’m sure everyone had some thrilling experiences to chat about once the race was over, I’m know it was an excellent days sailing had by all.

We had a total of 132 for Saturday nights dinner in the ? conference room, I’m sure you’ll all agree, it was a awesome buffee dinner.

We saw a signed T-shirt by Paul Beckett auctioned and fetch a whopping $150.00 for the Brisbane blokart Club, well done Judy kicking this into place,

After dinner saw a solo singing performance from Paul, “ well done Paul “ and then the music played and the dancing started, I sure everyone had a great night

Sunday 8^th 

We awoke to some wild news that Cyclone Hamish had tracked it’s way down the coast towards Yeppoon and that Yeppoon and surrounding districts had been put on Cyclone warning, at little bit more serious then we previously thought.

The weather had definitely changed with a darkened sky and a very strong wind hitting directly onto the beach.

Breifing 9.00am

The weather was the main topic and we decided to hold off until 10.30 to gain a bit more info on the intentions of the Cyclone.

At 10.30 we decided that we would call the event off due to the approaching Cyclone and for the safety of all competitors, we had clearly achieved enough races over the past 2 days to define placing in all classes, prize giving was set for 11.30am.

With prize giving over many sailors went out and sailed the beach and the wild winds of Hamish, yeeha.

Thanks to everyone that attended and a special thanks to all helped make the event a fantastic success.

Regards

Phil & Paulette Coulter.

Production Lightweight.

1st Bryn Wooding QLD

2nd Catherine Paterson QLD

3rd Emily Scott QLD

Production Middleweight

1st Laz Sandilands QLD

2nd Steve Bundred QLD

3rd William Scott QLD

Production Heavyweight

1st Paul Day WA

2nd Wayne Lewis QLD

3rd Lee Grffin QLD

Performance middleweight

1st Ben Lazzar VIC

2nd Tony Fisher NZ

3rd Grant Clark NZ

Performance Heavyweight

1st John Nicholson NZ

2nd Stu Cooney NZ

3rd Ian Timperly NZ

Performance Super heavy

1st Theo Vondervoot NZ

2nd Paul Beckett NZ

3rd Don Mckenzie NZ

Sydney Squadron's BIG DAY OUT... cruising on Sydney Harbour (64ft Racing Yacht.)

.. many thanks to Richard for organising such an awesome day !

Click Here for more photos

OFFICIAL ANOUNCEMENT (Jan 2009):

AUSTRALIAN BLOKART ASSOCIATION (ABA).

It is with great pleasure that I announce that the Australian Blokart Association is now official. It has been registered in Victoria as an incorporated association.

The ABA is, in a sense, a club of clubs. The members are clubs, not individual people. This means that the ABA will be not only be accountable to the clubs that are members, but will actually be run by them through their nominated representatives called "delegates".

The member clubs are at present
Melbourne Blokart Club - Delegate is Brian Campbell
NSW Blokart Club - Delegate is Danny Hall
Brisbane Blokart Club - Delegate is Andrew Hine
Central Queensland Blokart Club - Delegate is Dave Moore
Perth Blokart Club - Delegate is Andrew Bates

The committee of the ABA is made up as follows
President - Brian Campbell
Vice President - Andrew Hine
Secretary - Danny Hall
Treasurer - Dave Moore
Ordinary Members - Andrew Bates, Vacant

There is still a lot of work to do. Just creating a club is not an end in itself. There is still much to do to develop the support for the member clubs that is the reason for the ABA's existence.

Keep an eye out for more news.

Regards,
Brian Campbell

    COFFS CHALLENGE - ARRAWARRA BEACH (  Nov 15 & 16 2008)

  NSW v QLD

 NSW Blokart Club "State OF Origin 2" held at Coffs Harbour. QLD Wins Round 2 and Takes Home the Cup - Well done QLD !!..and a special thanks to all the Cane Toads, Cochroaches and volunteers (male & female) for making the event, (despite bitterly cold & wet conditions)a success !!

STATE OF ORIGIN 2 - EVENT ROUND UP

by Phil Coulter (Blokart Australia)

Coffs Harbour, 15th - 16th Nov 08

We arrived at the park late Thursday night, up early Friday morning and straight down the beach to check things out, not much beach due to high tide, but one thing in favor was the wind had already started to build, back to the park to see who had already arrived, greetings to all the new faces and a howdy to the old ones, we sat round for a while talking the usual blokart talk and waiting for enough beach to sail on,

Low tide was set for 4pm ( NSW time ), by 2pm I arrived on the beach to find 6 – 7 karts sailing well with the good expanse of beach available, the wind was around 13knts, 4.0m sail on and off, before time the wind had picked up to a good 15knot plus and more karters had arrived, we counted 16 karts so decided to set up a short course for some practice racing, two tacks to the top marker and then down wind at bout 60kph to the bottom marker, some good racing with some close banter while tacking back up the beach.

Saturday arrived with conditions much the same as the day before, anticipations were high with 30 karts registered to race, briefing at 1pm and then down the beach to set up the tents etc in preparation for the competition to begin, by 1.30pm we had 13knots NE wind, then the thunder and lighting started, by 2pm we had 6knots, and the very likelihood of a huge down pour of rain, by 2.30pm we had 0knots and a full on cell approaching, at that stage a decisions was made to cancel the days racing.

We packed up everything and back to the park, dinner that night was held at the Darlington Resort next door, a fantastic meal and a time to chat and regroup for the next days racing, this proved to be an excellent time gather some knowledge from 2 of the locals blokarters Dave & Greg,   

Sunday arrived with the expected SE change bringing slightly cooler temps but a promise of strong winds, yeeha, a quick reccy was made of the new beach to sail on, 5km up the road and yep it looks awesome, a few of the hardcore had already beaten us to it with karts on board and hopping to get in a quick practice before the tide came in, from all accounts they had an awesome hour of short, tight wheel to wheel racing.

Back to the park with a thumbs up for the new beach and ready all preperations for the afternoons racing.

By 2pm things were all set up and a few were sailing, it was raining and the wind was coming through around 18 – 20knts the tide was moving out fairly quickly so we decided to start the races, with not enough room for a dial up start we decide to have push start which proved to be a little tricky but considering the conditions things went well.

Performance class had 9 competitors and Production had 19 competitors, in all some fantastic racing with the bottom marker achieving some spectacular sideways cornering from karts reaching speeds up to 70kph ,

A special mention to some top sailing in Performance class by Barak from Mackay and in Production class, Dave from Coffs Harbour.

Due to the weather conditions a total of 5 races only per class were held and 2 kids races.

Queensland took the cup honors with a difference of only 9 points, that makes it   

                                              QLD 2 - NSW 0 

Induvidual Results

Performance

1^st…….. Barak      (Mackay)  

2^nd …..Andrew (Mackay)

3^rd……Stevo       (Mackay)

4^th……Dave        (Mackay)

5^th……Phil          (Brissy)

6^th……Bernard    (Brissy)

7^th …...Brendon (Brissy)

8^th ……Rick        (Sydney)

9^th……Scott        (Ncastle)

Production

1^st…….Dave        (Coffs H)

2^nd……Cameron (Mackay)

3^rd…….Keith       (Sydney)

4^th…….Brett        (Brissy)

5^th…….John S     ( Brissy)

6^th…….Danny     (Sydney)

7^th…….Laurance (Coffs H)

8^th…….Greg        (Coffs H)

9^th…….Len            (Brissy)

10^th…...Andrew    (Brissy)

11^th…...Don        (Sydney)

12^th…...Judy       (Brissy)

13^th …..Richard    (Sydney)

14^th…...Wayne     (Sydney)

15^th…...John S      (NCastle)

16^th…...Brian        (NCastle)

17^th…...Phillip       (Sydney)

18^th…...Christine   (Brissy)

19^th…...Don M      (Sydney)

Juniors.

1^st…….Kim         (Coffs H)

2^nd……Perry        ( Sydney)

3^rd……Mason      (Brissy)

4^th……Joshua      (Brissy)

5^th……Georgina   (Brissy)

6^th……Ryan         (Sydney)

7^th……Cooper      (Brissy)           

A fantastic weekend, some great racing and some good old blokart hospitality.

Thanks to all concerned and a big thanks to Danny & John for organizing a successful event,

C U at Yeppoon.

PhilC.

The NSW Blokart Club Bunning’s BBQ fund raiser at the
BUNNINGS Thornleigh Store(Sydney) - Sunday 1^st February 2009.

    
On behalf of  the NSW Blokart Club ..
Special thanks to Danny & Rick for Organising the Club Fundraiser - HUGE Effort for the NSW Club !!

Many thanks to all the Volunteers for their time, sweat & help to make it work - well done !

              

  Last Weekend the Hunter Valley played host to the NSW Blo-Kart Club members with their amazing wind powered land yachts.
Due to a lack of wind Saturday, members and visitors held a "Meet & Greet" picnic at Grahamstown Dam, with only a gentle breeze for the kids to enjoy......

...But Sunday was a different story - a bustling 30knot Westerly wind rolled in overnight, with gusts of up to 40 knots recorded on the day meant that these eager land sailors were off and racing at the Birubi end of Stockton Beach.

With over 500 of these compact land sailing karts now in Australia and approx 8000 worldwide - "Blo-Karting" is fast becoming Australia's number #1 land sailing sport.
"Blo-karts" only weigh 29kgs and fold up into bag that fits neatly into the boot of most cars for easy transport.

This event attracted land sailors from as far south as Illawarra, Metro Sydney, and an outback land sailor from Bourke. These compact "MiniClass" land sailing karts created a colorful spectacle on the picture perfect Stockton Beach.

The "Hunter Hawks", although out numbered, held their own, and race scores were a draw with the "Sydney Squadron".

The Next Major NSW Blokart Club Meeting is  "Round 2 of the State of Origin" 08 series against Queenslanders’  November 15 and 16.

The NSW Blokart Club is a family friendly oriented club looking to create awareness of the sport, and increase its network of membership state-wide. The club also hopes to conduct charity sailing events in the future.....Club members and visitors alike, impressed with the weekends' event, all went home wearing the "Blokart Grin" after a Fun day of racing at the north end of Stockton Beach, Port Stephens.