Targa Tom

Dont reckon we will hear from Snowy for a while, because whether the GB was quicker or slower - Targa is an event that is physically and emmotionally draining. When you get sooo close then it is taken away will make grown men cry. Without any of the he said, she said... it was indeed snowmans deal to read the rules (and the GB rule is one of the easier ones... basically black and white) Had anyone told me pre-event they were running a non standard GB, my interrigation would have gone like this... "Have you read the rules?" "Does it comply?" "Are you sure - read again" "Do you think you will be in the top ten?" "Wouldnt it be a prick if you won then..... I dont know the guy, but doesnt seem like a cheater... unfortunately like the derived thing... its in the sup regs. As for the limited run things.... if guys were getting support from AM distributors by way of sponsorship, then I could see the point. However policing the "manufacturer" rule is so much easier. If they want wild looking things, let the bigger wheels n brakes... What you may not be aware of is the event lost one of its engine room guys... a no nonesnse nice guy. He will be hard to replace and my opinion is he was missed this year. Mark / Stu... hope you can see through all the emotion and realise there are some issues that need your attention. You have made it a policy to give the event longevity... and some of your changes I disagree with. However I know your heart and soul is in it, so suck it up like snowy will and make it a better next year. Greg

98% of the carnage was avoidable.... and if you are waiting for a dry targa where the roads are not slippery, lash out on some extra goodies cos you'll save heaps - about 1:15 all dry events. TT

Make that "No reflection on 1/2/3/4th place... But if so the rules desperately need an overhaul." And good comment. Bit hard for you I know Dunc - but the boys at Octagon have dropped the ball on a couple of issues. The original 999 / derived time rule was in place to prevent people getting behind the 999 car and with late time in hand deriving them selves through the event. For some reason it has been changed or implimented differently this year. Falling Behind the Competition Sweep (999) a) Competitors who stop in a Targa stage and fall behind the Competition Sweep Vehicle (999) but are within their late time limit may receive a derived time. The derived time will take into account that the competitor has stopped prior to the passage of the Competition Sweep. A derived time calculated for any following stages will have one minute added to the time. To be eligible for this derived time, the crew must report to the end of the section. If a vehicle is unable to reach the finish control of the stage they have stopped in, or any following control, under its own motive power, a derived time will not be calculated from that point on. b) Competitors who fall behind the 999 Sweep Car on a touring stage will not be able to contest the following Targa Stage. The crew is required to record all arrival and departure times on the time card. Provided the crew is within its late time limit at the start control of the stage following the touring stage they fell behind on, and provided that the vehicle has not stopped to carry out service or refuelling, a derived time may be issued and ten seconds will be added to that time. What ever - you cannot crash out of a race, (or break down) on live stage and remain in front of someone who completes it properly. Dean Herridge changed a tyre in the stage... Maybe, had he parked it and waited for the sweep, followed it out and got a derived time he would have been better off. Derived times - other than those for accident assistance - need to be slowest time plus 10% or something similar... TT

Have lots of thoughts on many of the decisions this year... from the sidelines you see cars on tow ropes and not making it out of the stage... Some of the derived times this year were astounding... I dont know the full story on most - but a couple I do, Suck it up Snowy... your name on the honour roll will be worth it. See you next year. TT

Ummm the fat lady has been singing... see results. Next time the C of C is on here, maybe a clarrification of the 999 rule please. Because it seems to have gone full circle in the last 5 years. It would seem the rule now allows you to get out of the stage you crashed/mech on and if you are not out of late time and get to the start of the following stage inside your late time, you are given a derived time for both??? Anyhow, this event had more twists than Queenstown stage! TT

Well done to everyone full stop. The Snow"I want him in my lotto sind"man Bens little boy Tim and his circlip Tiger Bradles Manion High Point was YTs Lambo win... Uncle John spends large sums, but Jason and a small crew spend 1000s of hours doing all their stuff in house. Well done to Tony Warren who agian proved that a shed in the back yard can see off the factory teams in Showroom. And the low point... just the oil on water causing a chain of events that robbed the race of something special. High point... the unpredictable weather - and all those who overcame it at whatever speed. TT

Now if somebody doesnt slow the boys in the Porsche (Jim n Tim)... reckon Timmy will get the Benny WOo experience on SUnday night. TT

It has Black Cloth looking Bonnet, Pops n bangs and shoots flames... goes puuuu on lift off. The rules have changed quite a bit and the AASA cars are getting fairly wild... Becoming cheque book racing from machinery point of view... but Targa as a course is driver rewarding and there are a lot of cars with owners scratching their heads, and wondering why they didnt get an i30 or Mazda3 D. TT

The phrase "Kissed on the Dick" springs to mind..... Bugger all!! TT

Yep... my description of tools like that would have my post withdrawn. This is not motorsport, can the mods shift it to the tools corner please. Last time I checked, Bathurst was a public road. I hope this doesnt encourage any more idiots TT

Bugger... Guess he is looking thru the hinde sight goggles now. Never mind TT

Just fill in the form Andy, all your start times are in sequence and the order you crossed the line is via transmitter... with 30sec its a no brainer. We had about four stages last year with discrepencies - but only lost out on about 7 sec which we left in case it decided anything. TT

Too easy...

Walked in tonight to "I should have been out with you - spent all day on the Targa site... didnt get a lot done" "Well your fired was my reply" "Suck your own **** then!!! Geez that Ben bloke is funny. He has been on the live site too instead of working and telling every one to steady" Two things wooo. That is fine coming from you Mr 110%. And 2nd - Stop making Targa savvy people like my missus laugh... She should be working. Saw TS pole dancing today... lots of fireworks. TS 1 Pole 0 The mower mechanic had a failure, so lots of long faces... and my top three is down to two. SG was on it though... can I draft him into my 3? TT

Yes was fast, and looked fast n smooth... other lambo driver has alledgedly thrown the teddie out of the cot because he doesnt have one. With no Chicane the times were all over the show. Those who dont want the sweep car in their mirrors all week will no doubt have tanked to get away somewhere early in the last hour. AUDI of Matt Close sounded destingtive and has a lot of good numbers... untested but he will be praying for rain. All the Evo/STi open class boys were in tears as the no chicane rule pushes them toward showroom. (not sure how giving the supercars a gift will be received) Maybe those who only look at outright results and cant afford a supercar... The 1.8 k straight that i part of the original Riana stage will be interestiing... just hope all those who were chicane challenged dont get too excited. Quinny was smooth thru the complex, Jones by comparison was sawing at the wheel and peddling... GTRS still sound good. Race doesnt start till after lunch tomorrow, and my tip is by the time they get to Ulverstone on day 4 the cream will start to rise. TT

Been playing with my mates new cup car to distract me from the fact we arent running... Just had a really non motorsport six months. In fact just read a PM from you in September!! All good. Thinking body kit and carbon everything + high rev 2.4 on e85 for rebuild... by the time I get it done it will be all legal anyhow. Looks like the weather is going to be rough... so all those not on M's (we ran S on our stock RB20 in 2003 and got thru)are only making up the numbers. Are you down to socialize or staying home to enjoy the sun?? Greg

Gave the Road Car a run for Make a Wish at Symmons... Race car still in construction. Good luck to all taking part. Just had a read of the rules (or lack of) So to make a tip I would have to assess the supercars, Modern - Vandenberg/Herridge/Close Showroom - Warren/Daylight/More Daylight Rest - Usual Suspects We have 2 x hoists close to Lonny - If you need any help give us a shout TT984 (09) Enjoy the Rain... 2003 was a hoot

Trackvision is very flexible and gives great results... downside is the post event time for editing etc. http://www.gjmaustralia.com/downloads/gjmIncar.wmv http://www.gjmaustralia.com/downloads/cethana_0001.wmv Think one of those may have Trackvision... If not can upload one for you TT984

As if it isnt hard enough... Following our success at Targa, an international Airline we have been courting for some time started talking about a 2010 involvement. Most will know we had corporate support for a few years from big B, but since 2008 have been paying the bills ourselves. I refered my Marketing contact to a couple of web sites, the Targa site and Tarmac mag. Negotiations have since gone south "Greg, that mag mentioned your car may not have been legal" was my feedback. I looked at a copy at the only agent that carries a copy of TM in L'ton. "Fargin Great" "Not sure that is the type of profile we are looking to support" MM commented. "Whether it be true or totally off the mark - it is not a position we should put our selves in... ...any publicity is good??? and I should expect any better from a mag who's editor cannot read a results sheet?? But the loss of a rare potential sponsor would tend to dispell the publicity theory and make our chances to be at 2010 events less likely. Dean - You was NOT 3rd quickest in Queenstown (even though the commitment in the 260 footage is impressive) and leaving out the fact that half the top ten got derived times makes your continued reference even funnier. And for the record - You was NOT the highest placed showroom spec car in the event! - thanks for your support though... the CarbonXtc ad in your mag looks great. PI eh? I leave the country next week, and my GSR Evo IX is at the doctors. Will be watching with interest though - and good on Glenn Ridge for his push to get the show a run at the island. TT984

Hey Snow, Dont forget the $$$$ limit on showroom. kinda procludes some of the trick stuff. Now if I import an RS and you buy it from my company... then it is commercially avaiable in Oz Ahhhhh I crack myself up sometimes TT

They wont bring the RS focus in M8, Or that would be one weapon. What Stu is saying is it is possible to have "internal cannisters" I dont see the point, but a guy that has been doing suspension since Jesus raced a Skoda in the middle east does this configeration. 10k or thereabouts is the carnage. These shox have a giant circlip setup under the spring purch and while fixed, are changeable in steps... I think if pressed these are on the edge regarding the rules. We used blue dampers. We took oem shox, and pressed the oem damper out of the spring purch and pressed new dampers in. These dampers had rebound and comp (sorry thats bike talk) - bump adjustability. We set the ride height as we have run our coil overs, and used a kings progressive spring with oem spring seat. We run a trick bump stop (because it gets used in Targa) and the service crew love them. Not much to fiddle with I just drive... and to be honest the average is very good. TT

M1 (CAMS) Exhaust Rule: (R35) 1.1 Exhaust: All components must be as per the original dimensions and design save that the catalytic converter may be replaced by a substitute part approved by the appropriate transport authority and the muffler may be replaced by one respecting the original equipment inlet and outlet dimensions. 1.1.1 The exhaust system must respect the laws of the state in which the event is run with regard to noise levels and regulations of CAMS. 1.1.2 Minimum bodywork modifications are permitted to allow the exhaust to be routed to avoid modifications to the floor pan which may be necessary to fit approved seats. 1.1.3 Additional parts for the mounting of the exhaust are authorised. 1.1.4 Repair of the exhaust system to original specification is permitted. So, even if you tipped over the dba reading you could be outed... when all other criteria are observed. Easier said than done to comply. TT

Geez... I said I believe every car I race against is legal. I didnt say the were/are. If you take the Gainsford-Taylor approach of looking back at where you may have finished if a subsiquently prooven infringer is in your event would send you fishing quick smart. I look at the times I do in sec/km behind various guys I rate... and go and do the best I can. Sometimes I am disappointed on stages when we are quick, because my pressure comes from within. Ben is bangin on about stroker Evo's, yet he doesnt compete against 'em.... I dont get the point. We are aware there could be people out there running cranked evo's and maybe in the outright standings they finished in front of us. But wouldnt they be looking at us saying - "Would we have been faster than those two clowns if we were legit?" Bit like kicking the golfball out when you are playing on your own... The TT results are on the net Dunc, and I "believe" this to be a one off.... Our car was not checked mechanically Ben, however we were made to remove the wheels to prove all our tyres had DNA. There was a rumour that one of the factories wanted to have a couple of Evo's in showroom checked, but it did not eventuate. You have to be sure that your competitors know nothing about your car if you wish to lodge the dosh for a check. Successful counter protests result in expensive omlette. At rally Tas we were taken post race in 2007. Not sure why - the car was what I would call box stock LOL. (I was later played a phone recorded conversation between two cams officials which made it clear - and made me laugh) Rumours start and it is not hard for an experienced competittor to lobby/direct the event officials toward a suspect car... CAMS see it I think as a way of making their events "better" in what is now a competitive market, to drag entrants into post-race checks. The other side of the coin is the people who lobby for this regime must always be squeaky clean. SOme "none performance-enhancing" mods, make cars entered in certain spec illegal - would be a pain to be excluded if you got caught up in that syndrome. Every competitor has a choice. I would rather see TT with 300 entries and over half being illegal, than just 70 all legal entries and broke in two years. Some people in the crowd just dont care, and they like race cars worth 200k to sound better than their Dyson. TT

And how do you weave LWR into it Ben. The KQ car was converted from VIII to IX by TMR and is owned by the VIP Racing. What the hell does that have to do with LWR? TT984

No need - All good. It was dropped there because Pete was in Japan with APRC. Will get across it when I get home. PNMS and LWR are about 600 mtrs apart and my old crew cheif is with LWR full time. SO Ney Bodder TT