hrd-hr30

Ford stipulates it as a maximum speed of 80kph when towing over 1600kg in the towing capacities for the Falcon. That's the official information from Ford. And that is what any motoring body (RACQ, RACV) or caravan association will tell you. Up to you if you believe that or some guys on a forum who claim Ford have apparently come out and said "nah, that just a recommendation".

Warps, you might be pleased to hear this comment from a guy on another forum who tracks a fast (62s at Lakeside) FWD Corolla; "I've noticed the fwd cars pitch/react a bit more realistic with lift off oversteer."

It's definitely too easy. Golds on the first drive of almost every test. Same for Goodwood and the Mission races or whatever they're called. All you have to do is stay on the road for a gold. It all feels a bit Gen Y "everyone's a winner". If you wanted golds on all the licences in previous games, there was always some you really had to work for. Not any more. AI is worse than ever too. It's never been a strong suit of GT, but easily winning races with a car more than 100PP under the limit and on worse tyres than allowed is a bit OTT. If there's no challenge, what's the point in playing? I'm a bit over it already unfortunately. Went back and did a couple of the latest GT5 Seasonal event races instead. They've been pretty challenging lately.

I bought a cheapo $300 carbon fibre ebay wing a few years ago for my 180SX. Turned it into a plough understeerer (previously it was very pointy) and it dented the hatch around all the mounts. And the extra traction even out of ~80 or 90kph corners was drastically improved. It only cost about 3kph down the main straight according to the GPS, and despite ruining the handling balance it went almost a second quicker. If I took the time to get the car to work with the wing there should have been a fair bit more time to gain from it. I tried it only a couple of times. Added a rear swaybar to try and reduce the understeer, but felt no real difference - still plough understeered. Kept reducing the angle of the wing - still plough understeered. Eventually I took the wing off for a run to convince myself there wasn't something else going on. And it transformed from plough understeer to undriveable oversteer. And I put it into the armco! My 2c is that some cheap ebay wings can work very effectively.

Jeez, I was starting to really worry about my memory, so I did a quick search on the IPRA forums... Lofty said the GTR had 3.5 diffs and 0.75 5th and it still wasn't enough even for EC. He also said they "couldn't stop the front diffs exploding" when they tried a "solid transfer case and locked rear diff". Apparently alot faster but too fragile. Custom gearing obviously required to try and get some sort of top speed out of the severely limited rev range of the restricted engine. Which is why they never bothered running it at PI or Bathurst.

Maybe I'm getting confused with the 10 PPG dog boxes they used in a season then... For the OP, BSM used something like 3.5:1 ratio diffs to try and get any speed out of the restricted GTR. I think BSM also used a taller 5th in the 0.7something range, and top speed was still a problem for them. You'd really be up against it these days with the emergence of the fast V8s since the BSM GTR was around.

yeah, the BSM GTR had a huge appetite for front diffs. And they're not alot of fun to change... It may sound weird, but you could make more power with a good NA 3.0 build than the restriced turbo motor will make, without any of the driveline drawbacks the turbo has. Considered racingin AASA events instead of CAMS?

what do you mean "and again.."? Last race JEV caught Dan. Swings and roundabouts... It's like saying "And again, whether Rosberg improved his race pace or Hamilton lost the plot". Hard to draw meaningful conclusions from one mixed up race where they had no dry setup time in practice - Button got 4th just to prove how mixed up it all was here.

That article said Sauber's financial position is the problem. Looks like the Russian money might fall through. Same goes for Lotus' dubvious sponsorship deals aparently. On performance, I agree with you, Sauber (well, Hulk's Sauber) look stronger than Force India. But that could be down to the drivers a bit too. Sutil's been a bit dissapointing since the comeback I thought and DiResta I'm not a fan of - rate him average at best. Some are suggesting Perez was only ever a stop-gap measure for McLaren before they brought in their next young gun from within their own program. Sounds plausible considering the Hamilton move was a bit of a surprise and they had to come up with a plan for 2013 pretty quickly.

so long since he's won, it's in black and white! Hulk has signed back with Force India for 2014. Means Maldonardo is almost a dead certanty for Lotus now. http://www.f1today.net/en/news/hulkenberg-agrees-a-deal-to-return-to-force-india-in-2014

hmmm, you stick it into JEV for his drive through penalty, and then make excuses for Dan's drive through penalty and want that race not to count... JEV's also retired from a couple of points positions through no fault of his own, which shews the comparison you're making a bit. But I've given up on him. Since the RBR driver decision, he hasn't done much that's noteworthy. He was on a bit of a streak earlier in the season, since then it's totally dried up. It got to the point where it was remarkably like backing Webber - you just knew you were going to be dissapointed. I'd still back him to beat Dan in the wet though, where this pirelli tyre nonsense isn't a factor and it's goes back to being able to drive on the limit.

I did read the whole thing. That's what confued me! Here's just a few more blatantly confusing examples: -In the body of the article Pajero is No1 Tow Car and then in the list below, Landcruiser becomes No1 tow car. -They raved about the Pajero in the body of the article "is more of a driver’s car and was so punchy. The Pajero was fun to drive and it was a lot more responsive. We were so impressed with this vehicle, the way it handled, its towing capabilities, and the comfort. The whole package was such a delight to drive..." but then it only rates 3rd in the list (well, actually 4th) for "Drive cars with occassional towing". - Fairmont is behind 2 4WDs as a "Shopping Car". With no explanation whatsoever. I can't imagine how a Prado or Pajero are better for runing to the shops than a Falcon.

I've given up on him as far as qualy goes - he just can't do it on those Pirellis. He was apparently a very good qualifier in other series running proper tyres. As for race results, you might want to go look at the actual results for a reminder about him beating Dan in a race...

I've been into (or up actually) that bank as well mate. Probably 10 yrs or more ago. Mt Cotton is a difficult place to come to and try to go real hard first time you've ever been there. It caught out alot of very experienced hillclimbers that weekend, so you're in good company. Good to hear it's pretty much ready to go again

Not a bad read. Bit strange about the older Fairmont though. Comments like "‘bottoming out’ on undulating surfaces", "It was not as happy towing as the other cars", and "The van wasn’t pushing the car, but it was rocking back and forth", and rated one of the worst for towing stability, don't really align with it being ranked 4th overall for Best Tow vehicle! Can't understand that...

yeah good drives from Bottas, Perez, and Hulkenberg (again). And Grosjean really is looking like he's found his feet in F1 these days. Vernge again showing his good race pace - despite crap qualifying he was right there at the end fighting with Dan on the last lap before being hit by a mexican...

Schumacher knocked back the offer to fill in for the last 2 GP. As did Nico Hulkenberg. Looks like Lotus may have to resort to their reserve driver... what a radical idea! Some moves are starting to firm up: Reports are that Maldonardo to Lotus is a done deal. Seems to make sense - they can't afford to pay drivers so get one who brings money with him. Massa to replace him at Williams also looks certain. And Sutil says he is signed for next year.

pics: http://www.boostcruising.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=2324354&s=7b3f7e84ba4a3275df73684b3c7563dc http://www.iancolleyphotography.com.au/f823592156 http://www.trackphotos.com.au/p349113467 videos: https://www.facebook.com/#!/Brisxr6t?fref=ts

As a local, I've got most of the photographers who go there added on Facebook. There are pics and even a video... It didn't look too bad. It's not a very fast part of the track, just a tricky & tight corner called the second loop where you have to push hard if you want a decent time. Tthere's no room for error at Mt Cotton. I've been up that bank as well many years ago, just a bit further along... full gallery: http://www.trackphotos.com.au/p349113467

lol Vettel's even better than Mark at donuts!

Towing really well has very little to do with the engine. It is more about what the chassis/platform is capable of. Much like the example of a Commodore on the last page, a VX SS is rated to: Commodore VX / VY, SS / SV8, V6 / V8 Auto (excl Ute & VY Factory LPG Wagon) Vehicle Manufacturers Maximum Legal Towing Mass 2100kg # #1 Load level hitch req'd over 750kg #8 Max 80km/h over 1600kg #9 Owner's handbook MUST be referred to for additional vehicle fittings req'd for towing Commodore VX / VY, SS / SV8 V8 Man (excl Ute) Vehicle Manufacturers Maximum Legal Towing Mass 1600kg # #1 Load level hitch req'd over 750kg #9 Owner's handbook MUST be referred to for additional vehicle fittings req'd for towing The auto is the only one that can legally tow a useful amount to start with. And a good tow car wouldn't limit you to 80km/h or require a load levelling hitch for anything over 750kg. They are marginal tow cars, at best.

ha - didn't quite go the way I remembered it! lol I must be confusing it with another incident -too many beers perhaps. Bottas only ever looked concerned with running him off the road though - the business of the corner was clearly a distant second in his mind. When the guy passing you has half a car length in front by the apex, you pretty much have to leave him room.

The way I remember it, Hulkenberg had already completed the pass on the straight before the turn. Bottas came steaming in under brakes like a muppet not realising he had no hope of passing him back, locked up and made a complete balls up of the corner. Hulk took avoiding action - that's the only reason he went off the track. If not for that, Hulk would have had no problem saying on the road. So it's a good decision. As for consistency, the situation was nothing like Dan going off at 130R where the only reason he ran wide was he went in overcommitted to make the pass, or Grosjean at Spa who only ran wide because he was trying to force his way around the outside. Personally I don't agree that either of those moves should be penalised either, but they are very different circumstances to this.

no he doesn't. he does helmet designs with things like all the red bull staff (below), or all the mechanics, or paying tribute to some of the greats of the past. Alonso went out of his way to change his helmet design to make sure the world paid attention to the fact that he passed Schumacher's points total, even though its a meaningless claim with the amount of points they give away these days, as eplained before - on corrected figures he's not even halfway to what Schumacher's total would be. I agree it's lame, but it's also a bit "look at me, I am the greatest" too busy counting World Drivers Championships instead

exactly - celebrating his record breaking points haul in front of the world is ludicrous. But he obviously thinks its an important and meaningful achievement. Far more arrogant than anything Vettel's ever done. Imagine the vitriol if Vettel dares to celebrate his actual achievement on his helmet...