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Team News
Up one levelOfficial announcements from the MRDC team. News items posted here will be automatically published on the website's front page.
Club members will be pleased to hear that the MRDC has successfully completed its first year in the GMWC and is now poised to submit exciting entries for the next. Radical, striking and frankly, practically identical to last season's seems the best way to sum up the 2011A MRDC fleet, and if the vehicle design is traditional, then the colour scheme harks back to history too. Due to an ordering error leading to over supply in the paint shop, the MRDC will be offering 3 great colour collections this time around. Whoever you are, whatever your mood there's a colour that will say everything about you. And at only 12.99 (+ tax) they make a great gift this holiday season for friends, loved ones or people you just want to humiliate later.
All the colours were on show at Sepang this weekend as the MRDC held the annual club championship
In more detail, history experts will see the allusions to the legends of the MRDC through these fine invocations. First, the Member Group
Suiting those who already know they're MRDC boys, the classic lines of Scott's, Todd's and Ben's couture will again be gracing the paddock. Then, for the younger set, who only remember the 60's from the Austin Powers movies, we give you The Acid Collection
And for the real traditionalists, there's the return of the good ole Red, White and Blue. Oh, and the Blue, White and Red as well. Way back in 2010A, Club President Andy Jones fought his way to midpack mediocrity bearing the "mainly Blue with a bit of Red" colour scheme. But obviously he's forgotten that, because this time around he's been seen in the "mainly Red with a bit of Blue" version. It's his age y'know. Anyhoo, here they are, The Patriot Collection.
We had hoped to bring you a bit of Black-and-Gold, but that so last year Darh-linnng.
Club members will be pleased to know that after the crowds had left Suzuka this weekend, Argentinian playboy and retired race ace, Juan-Manual Fandango steered the brand new MRDC10C out of the garage for its final testing. Club Engineer Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson had earlier pronounced the car to be the "Simplest, Fastest, Beautifulest" he'd ever designed and while beauty is in the eye of the beholder, members are invited to visit the garage at their leisure later this week to see for themselves just what can be achieved once desperation sets in.
Sadly, there wasn't time to include any ABS capability on Club President Andy Jones' car, so he will have to rely on his own delicate skills when it comes to arresting progress. As that means this is probably the last time the car will be seen not wreathed in a cloud of blue smoke, we've included the shot to the right, so that you can remember what it looks like.
Also expressing an interest in taking Sporting Membership for 2010C, the third GMWC season for the MRDC, have been Scott Farm, Todd Thorne and Ben Montet and their cars are also ready for inspection now. together with the standard club livery that will be on the spare cars provided for any latecomers.
With each passing season, the MRDC has gone from strength to strength. But increasing competition expected from SDL and RAC in the coming season, expect some highly suspect team radio messages to ensure that the points haul is maximised. And if the Club President announces that his long lost twin brother from Australia will be taking his place for alternate races, ask for identification.
Club members will be pleased to know that a free drink in the club bar awaits them, to celebrate Club President Andy Jones' strong showing in early practice for the Essington GP this week.
Uniquely, the usually glacially slow ageing wannabe is showing all purple sectors at the top of the timesheet. No doubt, normality will be resumed once the big boys show up in the playground, but in the meantime, we asked Club Engineer, Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson what the techno-whizz had done to achieve this amazing turn of pace.
"I was watching the telly last week, and they were talking about this F-Duct thing. Suddenly I had a flash of inspiration and realised how I could do the same only much better. I just needed to create an Antidrag Aperture, or A-Hole, the only problem was finding the space for it in the chassis. But lateral thinking came to my aid. I just found the biggest A-Hole I could and stuck it in the driver's seat. Works a treat."
Members will be pleased t know that the prototype MRDC10B has advanced rapidly, just as predicted and has now been spotted in 3 exciting colourways.
Club President Andy Jones led the team in a first parade lap of the aerodrome perimeter road, revealing a brighter aspect to the team's livery for the 2010B season.
More news will follow soon on the technical characteristics that lie beneath the elegant and manicured exterior as soon as we can work out what "Two Sheds" is trying to tell us.
Members will be pleased to hear that across the misty expanse of the Midpack Aerodrome this morning,was heard the throaty roar of a GP engine. Yes, indeed, Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson and Juan-Manuel Fandango are there again, demonstrating just what can be achieved with a little ingenuity and a tin of WD-40 as the first prototype of the MRDC10B came to life.
No technical details, livery details, performance details, driver details, in-car entertainment details or preferred pastry snack details are available yet, but with the level of industry we're seeing in the club garage, it won't be long before all is revealed.
In the meantime, members can check the noticeboard for the latest work in progress.
Members will be pleased to hear that Club Patron and local Midpack aristocrat, Lady Rosetta Ponsonby, is inviting all GMWC members travelling between the flyaway destinations of Australia and Malaysia this week to join her and her consort, Argentinian playboy and retired race ace, Juan-Manuel Fandango, for Cocktails and Canapes at a pre-Christmas gathering and celebration of the club's first podium finish in the GMWC.
The gathering will be held in The Long Bar at Raffles Hotel, Singapore and happily, because of her former liason with a Governor of the colony, Lady Ponsonby has persuaded the authorities to rig the race lights 10 months early in the city streets. Hence, anyone wishing to indulge in a little high-speed tomfoolery will be accommodated.
MRDC members will then proceed to Lady Ponsonby's plantation in the Cameron Highlands for recuperation and meditation before departing to Kuala Lumpur for the next round of the GMWC 2010A season.
For those unable to join us for the occasion, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year for you and your families.
Members will be pleased to know that as part of the recent Rusyn "Ignorance is not Bliss" scouting tour, we were happy to host a day's visit here at the Aerodrome with members of the Rusyn engineering and test team.
Club engineer, Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson recounted some of the key features of the MRDC-10A that have made it the cheapest choice, sorry, default choice for the GMWC in 2010A, with particular interest being shown in the mediumatised diffusor that Arthur spent so many hours perfecting.
After a brief test drive on the perimeter road, the Rusyn Chief Scout seemed somewhat dismayed by the poise and pace of the club car (for exclusive photo follow this link):
Our thanks as ever go to Mrs Jenkins, who wove her magic with coffee and cinnamon swirls to ensure that the equanimity of the entire party was quickly restored.
Members will be pleased to hear that the MRDC10A's have been boxed and shipped to Adelaide for the opening round of the GMWC 2010A season in a shade over two weeks time.
Drivers arriving at the circuit should proceed to the warehouse and look for the crates marked as shown below.
PLEASE NOTE: As we are arriving at the event somewhat earlier than expected, the roads will NOT yet have been closed to the public, so please take extra care. Especially when practising at race pace into oncoming traffic.
Mrs Jenkins will be shipping Cinnamon Swirls closer to the date to ensure maximum succulence on the day and as always with the most valuable cargoes, these will be transported by diplomatic bag.
Members will be pleased to hear that the club has secured a new equipment sponsor for the 2010A season.
.555 Fitness Bootcamp is a personal training organisation par excellence and so well aligned with the mission of Midpack, you might think we're making it up. .555 is of course decimal for Five Ninths and there's where MDRC drivers are heading - step 5 of the 9 in Hoss's simracing guide, also known as 100% pace.
The extra backing has allowed us to forge ahead with club development :
The livery is done, see the Livery Guide for customisation opportunities
The club history is done - see the Club History page for more.
The first issue of the Setup Pack is starting development.
Thanks as ever to Mrs Jenkins who has secured a new supply of cinnamon swirls, nearly 10% larger than last seasons, so well done Beryl !
Andy Jones
Club President
Members will be pleased to know that the recent run of poor weather did not spoil the testing organised for today on the perimeter road of Midpack Aerodrome. Unseasonal sunshine greeted Club President Andy Jones and other club drivers as they gave the brand new MRDC-10A their first runs out. Club Engineer Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson looked on as anxious as any expectant father, but he needn't have worried. All vehicles made at least one circuit of the airfield before needing any major engine rebuild work.
Thanks go to Mrs Jenkins for providing coffee and cinnamon swirls throughout the event.
Members will be pleased to hear that yesterday's meeting at the club house was both well attended and well received.
Newly appointed Club Engineer, Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson gave an illustrated talk entitled
"What I've been hiding in my sheds"
In 30 minutes of discourse that were by turn rib-tickling and intellectually baffling, Arthur took us through the design of the 2010A MRDC car.
You can find more details of what he said on the noticeboard in the garage, or here
All members are invited to take a spin in the prototypes that Arthur has left in the garage to see where today's technology can take us. Any member who wishes to register as a "Sporting Member" to drive a club car for the 2010A season is reminded that the deadline to get your application in is fast approaching. The Equipment Secretary is of course keen to know how many cars we should be ordering from our suppliers.
To summarise the car's feature (and many of you will know, I'm not really technical) Arthur told me:
- at the front of the car, to ensure good running in traffic, he's optimised the flexitating flaps
- at the rear, to give excellent downforce, he's mediumatised the diffusor
- to give maximal adjustability, he's increased the weighty wigglio adjuster at the heart of the car
and in a major coup for the club, Arthur has managed to secure enough sets of super-high tech StopU Anchors for everyone. So very well done, Arthur.
Argentinian playboy, retired race ace and club test driver, Juan-Manuel Fandango has pronounced the car "Good Enough" and now Arthur will be submitting the design for the annual Order of the Shed competition, to be awarded to best race car of 2010 built in a shed. Arthur hopes to join other legendary winners of that title, the likes of Colin Chapman and Ken Tyrrell, so we wish him luck with that.
Thanks to Mrs Jenkins as ever, for providing the coffee and the cinnamon swirls at the clubhouse. Anyone wanting assistance in taking the prototypes for a spin should drop a note in the club pigeonhole.
The Midpack Racing Drivers' Club (MRDC) is pleased to announce that its entry has been accepted for the GMWC 2010A series.
As with all teams in the GMWC, Midpack welcomes drivers of all types, talents and experience levels but is aimed especially at the needs of the midpack and backmarker driver who's looking to improve.
To meet those needs the MRDC will provide:
- a car that is easy to drive and stable under a wide range of conditions
- a car that provides good feedback as it approaches its limits so that drivers gain experience through driving rather than crashing
- setups that follow a consistent approach throughout the season, so that drivers can work on whichever track in the schedule they choose
The car design and the philosophy behind the approach will be presented in the next few days allowing anyone and everyone the chance to drive the car and review the strategy before the season gets underway.
As the team builds towards the key milestone dates for car definition, livery submission and that all important debut GP event, look out for more on what the MRDC means for the average joe.
Andy Jones
Club President