New Grand Prix Event

Speed Rally Grand Prix – Newsflash

As the Creator and Race Master (Jonty Esser) together with SAPFA and the ANR (Air Navigation Race corridor navigation) concept as the basis of this new exciting and competitive discipline I am proud to announce that the concept has proven to be in its inception a huge success.

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My vision is to create a competitive platform for the Selected Grand Prix Racers as well as create an enthusiastic following of spectators comprised of the general aviation (Aeroclub of South Africa members and all their Sub sections – SAC  South African Aerobatics Club, Airshow South Africa etc.), motor sports enthusiasts, sports enthusiasts, general aviation enthusiasts (Our own Speedsters) and anyone who enjoys routing for a selected favourite team. 

With the introduction of The Sanlam Grand Prix Girls, that Looked after their Crews with Pride, are an important and integral part of the Vision to creating an Elite and Exclusive sport for our competitors, supporters and followers. Thank you, Girls, you looked Stunning.

The rules are Simple:
Be Safe (therefore only the best of the best crews are selected – Speed Rally top 20 - Aerobatic rated Pilots – PTAR top 20 – Air Show Display rated Pilots and crews that have complied with and have practiced and completed a training seminar)
Stay in the course.
Fly Fast – First over the line wins

Sadly, two Gremlins cause some discussion points and controversy.
  
With live tracking the Chief Judge should have and would call out in-flight penalties – (On the 1st and 2nd lap a 15sec straight out penalty would be given – this means the Crew has to at the end of the lap fly straight for 15sec from the finish line straight out and then join the course safely again and on the Last Lap a DNF (did not finish) would be given -this would mean the crew would need to slow down and finish last) – All in the spirit of having the first over the line be crowned the winner. 

Sadly the live tracking technology let us down and no live penalties could be given in flight for this first event. We are currently working on new technology to not have this happen again, in the meantime we will fly the course and after landing download the loggers and declare the winner after the Chief Judge has analyzed the tracks.

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Additionally, we had another gremlin at the start line with takeoff times, the first aircraft  ZU-BLL was sent on time and the rest of the pack was sent off later than their takeoff times by about between 15sec and 30sec giving the slower aircraft an unfair advantage. To rectify this, we will now have a GPS digital Large Led clock at the start, and it will be the Crews responsibility to take off on the correct time to the second. The Chief Judge will only check that the crews do not leave early, leaving early will incur a 15 sec straight out penalty after the first lap.

So the concept is simple, First over the line wins.
This weekend initial Grand Prix Racers results ended as follows:
1st Place – Pilot Insure Team - ZU-BLL – Jonathan and Jonty Esser 
2nd Place – SAC Team - ZU-NDH – Nigel Hopkins and Mary de Klerk
3rd Place – Fast Flame Team - ZU-IHH – Johan van Eeden and Cor Esterhuizen
4th Place – Prompt Roofing Team – ZU-LNC – Leon Joubert and Sandi Goddard
5th Place – SAPFA Team – ZU-LAX – Eric and Antionette Addison 
6th Place – Airshows South Africa – ZU-LVE – Father and Son – Ivan and Juandre van de Scar 
7th Place – Lick you Lips – ZU-JAR – David Ross and James Braid

After realizing that the live tracking failed us we downloaded the loggers the next day to analyze our tracks and wanted to see how we can improve the sport for the competitors and supporters.
Sadly, both ZU-BLL and ZU-LAX marginally touch the red area on the first lap directly after takeoff and not again for the remainder of the race, and although this gave no advantage to the crews I decided to apply the rules DNF to ZU-BLL and ZU-LAX.

This means the official Winners of the First Ever Grand Prix Speed Rally in the World are:
1st  Place – SAC (South African Aerobatics Club) Team - ZU-NDH – Nigel Hopkins and Mary de Klerk
2nd  Place – Fast Flame Team - ZU-IHH – Johan van Eeden and Cor Esterhuizen
3rd  Place – Prompt Roofing Team – ZU-LNC – Leon Joubert and Sandi Goddard
4th Place – Airshows South Africa – ZU-LVE – Father and Son – Ivan and Juandre van de Scar 
5th Place – Lick you Lips – ZU-JAR – David Ross and James Braid
Shared 6th Place
Pilot Insure Team - ZU-BLL – Jonathan and Jonty Esser
SAPFA Team – ZU-LAX – Eric and Antionette Addison

It is with pride that I accept that with the failure of technology and start line issues, that we change the results.
Until we have the perfect live tracking technology in place the DNF rules will be apply to all races.

We appreciate your SUPPORT and will dedicate integrity and safe competitive flying!

WILL SEE YOU in Witbank at the end of January the 31st and 1st of February 2020

Come meet your favorite Grand Prix Team and support team while then take part in this Exclusive Exciting Fast Paced Adrenaline infused Grand Prix Speed Rally.