Pezhead

I have tyre fettish - hehe lol

I put together a little video from yesterday.

My latest video from World Time Attack

Paul (Piggas) is in for this too. I've also had a chat to Yo-Yo as well, who might be if he can get the time off work. We need more response than this if this is going to be a flyer. I'm open to suggestions folks. If Jindabyne is too far then we can axe that idea. I also had another storyline though - doing "What's your Skyline Story". How did you get to the Skyline you currently have? Why did you pick a Skyline? etc. With voice over and video of you driving, working on it, washing it. What ever. We need at least 2-3 more people to commit to get in on this before I book my accomodation and start the itinerary.

Spotted so many nice Skylines in the car park at World Time Attack yesterday. I was surprised they didn't wave me off so I parked right under the grandstands. There were several 32 & 34 GTR's there in the same lot with me (plus Evo's and WRX's, etc).

WTA here I come!

Jeez, hit a deer! Well at least October's a few months away. Being a stock 33 at least your intercooler is tucked away at the side. I've got a spare stock GTR 2 core if you want it, you can have it. It's 33 so think it should fit. For the videos it's more important that you are just proud of your skyline. That's all that really matters and is what this video is about. Well, that and going on a big roadtrip to meet up with a bunch of other skyline owners/lovers.

Roy, as long as you are using the most current firmware on the GoPro most any software editing program will work. I use Corel VideoStudio Pro X4. Is about $150 but will do just about anything you would want to do. I highly recommend having a read of this Flip Video. The GoPro shoots in a nonstandard 60 FPS (no industry standard for full frame 60p HD video yet). So StreamClip allows you to do simple things like trim and rotate the video without losing quality. An that software is freeware.

So we need some commitments for this to go forward folks. Q: Is the Winton Track Day keeping folks from considering? If so then vocalise so we can decide if we need to drop that portion to make this a flyer. I'm keen to do the project but only if we've got a few people locked in. This is going to take a fair while to organise and shoot.

Well guys I didn't want to let the cat out of the bag on the challenges. Once the group has formed then we will think of a few challenges and agree, but here are some of my own ideas. 1) Evade Sniper Fire - each contestent gets one of those nerf dart guns and a pack of suction cup darts. The other contestent has to drive a slolom from one end to the other while the others shoot darts. Points are counted based on number and placement of darts (e.g. points for windows, car door, bonnet - based on "emulated" damage caused to a car). 2) Make your own spy gadget for your car. Self explanitory really but points are a bit subjective. 3) Precision stop - four chalk outlines are marked on the road. From rolling 40k's you have to stop as precisely as possible close to chalk outlines. Sum the distances for total score. I'm sure there's lots of other stuff we can think of, but you get the idea. Noth'n that will damage your car. James, I hadn't thought about non-road registered ones. It would be a bit difficult and a bit of a drive out of your way with a trailer. I'd love a 31 as I think it is better viewing if we have a number of different cars. Your thoughts?

Probably about 200 meters from where the wreckage is. I haven't had a look yet.

Ever wanted to be the star in a Top Gear Challenge? Ash has asked each of the interstate clubs to do a video on the road trip to the SAU Nationals. A 5 minute video will be put on the event DVD. However, I'm not going to invest that much time and effort just for a 5 minute video. So, SAU NSW will be doing a big production that will be more like a 15-30 minute piece. It will be shot semi Top Gear style and semi-indie film style. I'm looking for 6 participants. Requirements: You must be able to take an extra day off work before the nationals. We will be heading down early to give extra time filming along the way. We may even (need to vote) take an extra diversion through Jindabine to break up the boring drive down and get some nice tasty mountain road shots. You will need to be available for a couple of day shoots before the event (weekends, cause I work weekdays). You will need to be able to make a short intro video like this one (from 0:30 to 2:00). Don't worry, you have to come up with the ideas and I'll help you shoot the video all pro like. If we decide as a group that we want to pursue the Top Gear style theme (a.k.a. - the challenges) then I also need to make sure you can enter the Sept 3 Texi and the Winton Track day at the SAU Nats. And of course you'll need to pay for your own lodging during the trip down and event. There also might be some small items you will need to purchase for inclusion in the filming. But don't worry I will make sure we keep the spending limit tight. What will you get? Well a great experience with a bunch of friendly folks making this road trip the most memorable experience - and a full production grade video to show at the end of it! I have the camera gear - including two of my own GoPro HD's and two full HD video cameras and lots of kit for those beauty shots. Oh, you also can't be camera shy. This film will be shared with the club for promotional purposes. This is one of the projects I've been wanting to do for so long. So, Who's in?

Yeah, I'm still working on my white balance skills. It's especially tricky in the dark and tinting really comes out harsh. Still a Padawan.

Here is my latest experiment in video - night sky time lapse. (Best full screen HD)

I'm headed down Friday night to Marulan for the track day, then staying the night in Camberra then another night in Marulan cause I have a Corp event there - two track days in one weekend. WOOT!

oh yeah, was going to add that I bought a ball cap from bunnings that has 3 l.e.d.'s in the brim. one directly straight ahead and two pointed down from the brim at about 30 degrees. It worked a treat for this kind of work. Was funny cause I kept feeling like the Blair Witch project with the light pointing any direction I looked. Was well worth the $20. For you noctural photography buffs would highly recommend.

Hey Fellas, had a good play with the camera last night. Some serious effort and some just goofing around. Hey Matt, Kory & Nick these are taken at the netball courts just behind my house. It backs onto the bush which makes it a great locale for the dark bush sihouettes. We should set up a meet there and see what you fellas think of the location. (I call that second to last photo - "my rocket ship")

So are you wanting to get into Drift or Grip driving? Two totally different driving sytles/technique. If you just want to go fast, then yeah track days are great and an opportunity for you to go as quick as you feel is safe. If you want to learn to drift then that's totally different. Most tracks don't let you drift while normal grip driving is taking place - it's too dangerous to have both on the track at the same time. If you want to drift then check out drift school at adrenalin. They run deals all the time and you rent their prepared cars so you don't even need to thrash your car first off. As other have said, be absolutly sure that your car is in mechanical tip top shape before bringing it out. I don't recall you saying what car you have. If it is a Skyline then be sure to get some decent brake pads. Skylines weigh a fair bit and are therefore hard on brakes. It is one of the scaryest feelings when your brakes glaze over. If you have a silvia or lighter nissan, they are easier on brakes but I believe it is better to be safe then sorry. Aggro Dave thought his brakes were good - right up until they glazed at the end of the straight at Wakefield. Come along to one of our social events and pull up a chair for a chat. We're all friendly and happy to have the chat. Or come out to the MDTC day just to watch (not sure if we can offer rides at that event or not). Also come to the Texi Day in September and ride along with a few people. I'll be there and happy to give you a ride in the car so you can experience what it feels like. That's free experience learning! This is a great club with plenty of people to help you out.

You've actually already started down the right track - recognising that performance driving are skills that are developed through theory, practice and critique. This club in particular is one of the best I've been involved with in terms of providing great events and opportunity to explore the limits of your car. Safety is top of mind and there are lots of experienced guys here to learn from. I started my track experience some years ago in America. I had a modestly modified Celica at the time, Jap motor, street tyres, stock brakes & suspension. I learned a lot from my first outing and am still learning lots. In my opinion there is one golden rule of club level sport - be conscious of the limits of your car and conditions. There's lots of other stuff to learn but if you understand this one concept you have a good base to chase down speed, drift, skid pan - what ever. And how to you learn how to read when your car is telling you it's at it's limits? Well real world practice of course. The best way to start your journey is to build up your skills through practical experience in environments where you are controlling a few elements at a time. So in other words - work up to a full on speed event through other events first. First advice is to come to a Texi (skid pan days we run at Nirimba Tafe). We set out cones and you memorise the course and run it. It's all 1st and 2nd gear work but don't let that fool you. Learning how to manage 1500kg of sliding mass takes a bit of practice. You'll also learn how your car handles without as much danger from high speed. You'll be amazed that a car even with the best tyres and handling mods will massively understeer when you try to do a 45km 180 degree turn around a cone. Learning to brake, enter, control and exit on a skid pan accentuates the kind of driving you do on a road course. Learning how your car behaves on this accentuated/extreme condition at low speed will help you feel what your car tells you more subtly at the track. Then build up more and more confidence and learning until you feel prepared for a track day. There are also lots of guys that go out for a track day right away too. I just felt that since you asked what we though was the "right" approach - I'd offer the suggestion. Steve's advice is also so true - there's no substitute for getting in a course with a performance driving professional. You'll learn heaps more, more quickly at one of those events. Well worth the investment for a bit extra, but make sure it's one where you have plenty of access to a driving instructor - not just one session. I could go on and on but that should get you started.

So how far to the city from the burbs? I need a place to stay too. How's security at these places, ok to leave the GTR out overnight?

You boys are absolutely killing it with those rig shots!

Scott, I use a GPS laptimer. You have to download the data to a laptop, but it is very accurate and better yet you can divide the track into sections to see where you gain or lose time. Well worth the $200 if you are trying to learn what you are doing right and what needs improvement. Mine is the QStarz version which can be found locally and on ebay.

Well, if you want me to nock you up some'n for a few bucks let me know.

The screw was from another accessory I have for my camera - some big follow focus gears. But I figure if you used some threaded rod you can just lock a couple of washers on one end between two nuts to make a thumb screw and then you just need some round or triangle pieces to drill and tap. Really Easy. Had an hour or so to play with my new lens and wanted to see what it can do for night photography (Panasonic 20mm 1.7 Prime). These are really just a trial run to make sure I can get decent capture of stars. I want to do some star gazing time lapse with an intervalometer. I'm pretty pleased with the results straight out of the camera.

I gotta get out this weekend and shoot some pics so I can post up a good'n. Thanks Matt.