MX-5 Club Racer At Willowbank - 23/24 Aug 14

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:22 pm

Sonke Hatje, one of our regular MX-5 Club Track Day competitors will try his luck this week end at Qld Raceway. He will be racing in a MX-5 race car lent to him by Henri Van Roden - a Production Sports Car Racing Association Qld and MX-5 Club member.

The opportunity was put together by the MX-5 Club Qld and the PSCRAQ - Jeff Hume, Henri Van Roden and Paul Ansell.

MX-5 Club members, friends and enthusiasts are invited to come out to Qld Raceway to support Sonke in his first race.

It will be a 2-day race meeting with Saturday comprising of qualifying, 10-lap National and 12-lap Clubman races. Sunday will consist of 2 races of 10-lap National and 12-lap Clubman.

ansellpa · Postby **ansellpa** » Thu Aug 21, 2014 9:38 pm

Prodsports is very pleased to make this happen in conjunction with the mx-5 club
We hope to get lots of folks out to watch and support.

For those who can't make it check out natsoft or follow Production Sports car racing association Qld on Facebook.

Good luck Sonke!

Cheers
Paul Ansell
www.pscraq.com.au

adidistyle · Postby **adidistyle** » Sat Aug 23, 2014 9:30 am

Guys,

Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather, driving unfamiliar machinery, and associated additional risk for a first timer, Sonke WILL NOT be running this weekend.

We will post up when he is actually running.

Hope this reaches you all before you hit the road.

Cheers

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Sat Aug 23, 2014 2:46 pm

Tough break, but when Sonke does get on the track he will have a ball.

Whilst it is a daunting step up to door to door, once you make that step you won't want to go back.

toppertee · Postby **toppertee** » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:45 pm

MattR wrote: once you make that step you won't want to go back.

Your bank account may :mrgreen:

david_syd_au · Postby **david_syd_au** » Wed Sep 17, 2014 4:07 pm

MattR wrote:Whilst it is a daunting step up to door to door, once you make that step you won't want to go back.

Agree %110
After running at 3 rounds (so far) of the MX-5 Cup in NSW this year, I am really enjoying the atmosphere and the racing, and looking forward to more. Racing is definitely worth a go if you get the chance.

adidistyle · Postby **adidistyle** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 4:46 pm

Update.
Sonke will be running his own car at the PSRAQ round this weekend at QR.
He will be practising on Friday the 17th, and racing on Saturday and Sunday (18th and 19th).

Sonke is receiving lots of support from PSRAQ to get him onto the grid, and demonstrate that it is possible to make the transition from trackdays to racing. PSRAQ are currently negotiating another avenue to lower the cost of entering the sport, using an MX-5. Contact Jeff Hume at jeff@totalpartsplus.com.au for more information on this opportunity.

The MX5 Club of Queensland has also supported Sonke in his endeavours, and encourages any interested MX5 drivers to get out to QR this weekend and cheer Sonke on.

adidistyle · Postby **adidistyle** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:26 pm

So Sonke has had his first day in the QR NB.
General practice was in two categories: Tin- Tops and Opens... It was a good day to be in open car, as there were only a dozen or so, whereas there might have been up to 40 tin-tops at peak hour.
Conditions were warm and dry, and Sonke dropped his times to 1:35.7 on National, after switching to the Nittos. But he has been stymied by a recalcitrant gearbox that really, really doesn't want to go into 3rd.
It looks like tomorrow morning will be a "quick" gearbox change before the first qualifying session, and then lots of tyre rotation thereafter.

20141017 Sonke hatje at QR Small.jpg

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:45 am

Cool. Be interesting to know what else is on the grid...

Trackphotos · Postby **Trackphotos** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:45 am

gslender wrote:Cool. Be interesting to know what else is on the grid...

Entry list was posted on the ProdSports FB page, I was able to download it without being a member of the group. It's here: https://www.facebook.com/download/76644 ... entry.xlsx

Handful of 997 GT3 cup cars, an R35, supercharged Lotus Exige and a Corvette, and about 10-12 mx5s. That was as of 4 days ago, so may be late entries.

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 2:32 pm

10-12 MX5s.... That's awesome!

adidistyle · Postby **adidistyle** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 11:46 am

Mosler on grid too.

adidistyle · Postby **adidistyle** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:02 pm

So yesterday morning Team Sonke got there early and had the 6-speed out and 5 speed in, tested and running in 1hr 45min.

Sonke then did both qualifying sessions without incident, and his best time edged into 1:34 on the National circuit. That put him last on the grid, which was not unexpected.
He finished the six lap race after lunch, in second to last place, without overtaking anyone... last was a DNF.
He is absolutely stoked with that, and glad to tick another item off the bucket list. Today is the one hour race. One hour will test the fitness of a solo driver, even with a 45 second compulsory stop mid race (Sonke will be wishing it was 45 minutes, I reckon).

Sonke wants to thank everyone who has helped get him to this point, and I think a special mention goes to Mark and Francois, for thier gearbox swapping efforts. No decent pics from yesterday I am afraid. They are all on Sonke's camera.

20141018 Team Sonke changing gearbox.jpg

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:51 pm

So, how does Sonke's car compare to the other MX5s on the track? Is it better tyres, brakes, better mods/engines or just simply better driving?

toppertee · Postby **toppertee** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:40 pm

gslender wrote:So, how does Sonke's car compare to the other MX5s on the track? Is it better tyres, brakes, better mods/engines or just simply better driving?

About 30-50k price differance :mrgreen: