navdan

Cheers Benny! Here's the final stage of the event (with proper audio this time )

The only thing in that list that doesn't generally happen at rallies is moving house (although when unpacking it certainly feels like it) The roads with this new multi stage event were unbelievable with everything from flat out to tight and twisty switchbacks, even on the same stage. Would have loved to drive them in the dry but still enjoyed them regardless. Here's some incar from the stage we won outright by nearly 4 seconds. Excuse the poor sound quality, we had an issue with the audio jack on this stage

Well, what an awesome weekend we had in Marysville. Seriously, I hope more people enter and attend Pete's events in the coming year/s as the level of social activity and camaraderie amongst competitors and officials is at a level you just don't get at any other event. Until 7:30am on Saturday morning I had never driven the car in the wet so the shakedown run was just that, a great chance to get rid of the nerves and feel the car out on a road I knew well. Temperatures around the 4-5 deg mark, fog and rain all added to the challenge. Once into the swing of things on Saturday my aim was just to improve my times throughout the day and get the car home straight. Saturday was a success then with times tumbling throughout the day leaving and after trading times (by as little as a second) with Clinton Arentz, we finished the day in third place. Sunday was more of the same weather wise (albeit a little less wet and a bit warmer as well) but with different stages it was back to square 1. The first stage Sunday felt ok from the driver's seat but didn't feel special. It was enough though to win the stage by 4 secs from Denmeade (also stopping his clean streak of stage wins ) By the last stage Sunday I was really comfortable in the intermittent conditions and really had a go, finishing on a very big high! (second on stage and enough to secure third outright) Unfortunately the entry numbers were low, but you gotta be in it to win it (so they say) To top off the weekend we have a car that drives onto the trailer and needs minimal 'urgent' work, just little bits of maintenance

So heading off down the Hume again tomorrow for the second round of the "other" tarmac rally series at Lake Mountain. Sammy drove in round 1 at Mt Baw Baw where we placed third and with the aim of sharing the fun (happy marriage and all) it's my turn to drive. Last time we were there all was going well till we melted a couple of pistons at 200km/h so there are a few scores to settle with the mountain. This time we're rocking the E85 and a brand new set of A050s (last time the tyres were 2 events old) fingers crossed it's enough This year the event has expanded from the hillclimb format (12 runs of 10kms) to a multi stage event using the road from Marysville to Lake Mountain and Cumberland Junction with total kms of over 200 for the weekend.

Hahaha Ben, no that wasn't me...was stuck in Sydney watching on the web I've seen them come up with a stroke of 85mm on an Evo at High Country last year. After a few more tries they got 88 The fact that they are checking should be enough to deter most that would otherwise push the boundries of legality. What went on in the past can only be left to the imagination (testing has only been done in the past two years).

Generally you are allowed 1mm overbore and as Dale FZ1 mentioned, any more that that and you start running into wall thickness issues. Octagon is a business so if you have money to spend and an unlimited imagination you can run almost anything in any class/category (last time I checked EM was up to year 2002... )

Congratulations Ben and Damo certainly a well earned victory. I can still see you passing us on Arrowsmith last year (prior to your issues) and am in now way surprised you're up there this year. That car is very well sorted We were stroke tested at Targa Tas last year and then another 'eligibility check' at High Country last year so it's becoming standard practice thankfully. To do it Dan, they remove a spark plug, put the car in fourth gear, and roll the car till the piston measures bottom dead center. Then its rolled until the piston reads top dead center. The difference is the stroke In the case of the Evo, 88mm. In the checks last year at the end of Day 1, one Evo was found to be a stroker with the story going that he was unaware as had just bought the car. Octagon let him compete in the NC class.

It's extremely rare to see Alonso make a mistake, but the car looked a little unstable on turn in before he decided to "hold it flat"...followed by Homo's left rear down to the steel...high tyre wear or carcass fail? Most likely the latter

Devestating. Had dinner with John at Wrest Point back in Jan and can honestly say you would have trouble finding a truer gentleman. Fingers crossed Tristan gets through the surgery unscathed. Good speed today Ben, keep it up, we wanna see you beet that VW in front of you

Alex, I saw you there on the ARDC practice day. Your car looks and sounds amazing I was in the white Evo 6 and the good wife in the green Focus RS.

They'll want to sort it properly for next year when it'll be worth an additional 160ish HP for 30 secs per lap

What Blaise says here is spot on. The "lightbulb" moment when you've recce'd your first rally, putting notes in about bumps 'cos you felt them in your road car, then taking those notes back out on the first stage 'cos the remote canister coilovers sucked 'em up. Work out what you can afford to pay for suspension, then buy the ones that cost double...on credit...like a boss! You'll never regret it

I agree with this 100% and will definitely be tuning in where possible. Best looking car on the grid is the Irwin Tools AMG in my opinion. The AMGs sound different due to them running a flat plane crank (or so I've been told). Think Ferrari 458 V8 vs SLS AMG V8...two completely different sounding motors.

HA! Was on the lookout for you as well and being in a white Navara, I'm not at all surprised you saw us first and then I was confused when I saw no HQ on the trailer. How about that rain!! Picked up our new baby in Brissy yesterday morning and drove it home, an Ultimate Green Focus RS. Fast for a road car but nothing like the evo. Sitting on the speed limit with the occasional blat (just to hear that glorious 5cyl) we averaged 8l/100kms.

And I'm guessing that it will stay that way as long as you have the Val in the garage The uneducated might think you are trying to make up for certain deficiencies by having a 500+ cu.i street car...I'm sure thats not the case