RubyRS4

Maybe one less hand held speed detecting device $40K? No way!

Nene, Kell and I saw a real arrogant and stuck up wog driving a GTST @ the BP one night ... hope that balances things out Thought he was real special ... didn't he Nene

I wasn't aware of that!

I only offered my BBQ because I've always seen the public BBQs occupied for long periods of time, which can be inconvenient at times. I like the above mentioned places ... there is also the Morialta park. A bit dry, but always less crowded. Maybe even a beach location for a swim also?

Few shots ... or few bottles?

Congrats Ready for it?

We'll just tell the Government/private enterprises not to bother then.

Bring it on!

F*CK OFF

And yet here you are

As already mentioned (and also now by Damo), seek to use existing venues like Mallala. But don't approach it in an "I want (track days)" fashion, rather ask what the venue owners want from us in order to open their gates.

I'm sure I could stick my 6 burner BBQ into the back of the Stag and we'll have a bbq stop along the way

All you really need to do is organise using an existing venue (like Mallala). Get in contact with Clem and just ask him what he requires (number of volunteers, supporting body/club to run the event, and most importantly numbers of drivers) to get the gates open. Ask him if he'd be willing to try a once-off 'extra' drift/track day to see what numbers it would generate, to see if its worth his time (and money really ... he pays insurance and land taxes etc ... and organise an ambulance). He may ask you to firstly, get a group together and pay a hire fee for the whole day (and split it among those who turn up ... the more the cheaper) and you organise your own marshalls and ambulance for the day. If he can see a good number to warrant trial running a few extra days/nights, then he may just do that. Taking a petition in hand while asking for a trial would go a long way. When you prove yourself with an existing venue (when the new venue planned opens next year or year after), that would look good for you to secure dates at the new venue. If you have any questions along the way of getting an "SAU track day" happening, just ask me or anyone here. By now, if you look at the posts of some members, you'd work out who the helpful guys and gals are.

About 7 or so years ago, motorcyclists using the roads at Eagle on the Hill had a bad rep. Residents were calling the cops onto us every bloody night. But we were persistent and remained "cruising" (not racing) that stretch of road (especially when it was 80kph limited) and the cops kept a close eye on us. In the end, the cops were tired of being called out onyl to find us obeying the law and using area for its intended purpose. Residents took matters into their own hands can started putting fish hooks into the guard rail (where we sat), throwing rocks at our bikes, gathering a posse and blocking the exits to the carpark while they verbally abused us, even pouring oil on sections of the roads. One night two riders got attacked. We took to the media to give our side of the story. I gave a story to the local Messenger and it was big talk on the radio the next day. The MRA and Police stepped in and did a joint investigation and (shock) it was found over a 2 month period that only 1 motorcyclists committed an offence, yet the residents (and cars in general) were the primary traffic offenders. The positive image only lasted about 6 months (you might remember those motorcycle safety ads) but it was better than being seen as an outlaw 24/7. I say go for it. Get your story into the media, but try to present it meaningfully. Don't go pointing the finger saying "the cops pick on us" etc etc, because you'll only look like cry babies. Be constructive in presenting us as any regular road user.

^^^ I'm with Damo You organised a car cruise yet? Yet alone a Christmas event which relies more heavily on members being committed? Again this is another "I want, I want, I want". If you want to see SAU SA get off the ground, then help in getting things moving! Kellie, myself and Adam have organised plenty of SAU cruises for Skylines and Stageas. We see regular faces attend our cruises, and we also see regular members online saying they'll attend an event and not show up. Sure, some members just can't make it due to circumstances out of their control, but I'm sure they're aware they then don't have the right to say nothings happening. There are more events coming, just because they don't happen when you want them to, doesn't mean you can make assumptions ... Watch the events thread. I put together a Kart Mania night some weeks ago which fell apart because Kart Mania double booked and we had the lower numbers. Shit like that just happens. Yet members are quick to get on the "SAU SA is dying" bandwagon. If you're not taking part in organising an event, then there really is no grounds for comment.

There is a big difference between complaining and stating facts. All I keep hearing alot is "I want, I want, I want" If you're going to go head on into such a petition without having hard facts to back it up, its just going to fall down. The guys here are just tired of getting their hopes up and nothing comes out of it. So I wouldn't go calling people pussies ... what have you done about it? Its simple economics, Clem keeps days limited to keep the demand high. Higher demand means a guarantee to fill spots when he does open his gates. I'm a race official and I take part in some of the biggest events in Australia. There is alot of work that goes on behind the scenes of any big race day ... or even a small track day. If the support is not there, we don't open our gates. If you want more track/drift days at Mallala, then sign up to be a marshall or just a volunteer helping hand. Race officials are always looking for extra hands. You can't just expect the gates to be open when you want them to be, and not lift a finger to help the organisers get the manpower behind the event. You're like a bunch of school kids playing cricket: everyone wants to bat, but no one wants to field. See what I'm getting at? A petition does not equal manpower. Contact Clem and ask about what is required to get more days. Can you provide the manpower? Can you provide guaranteed numbers to make it worthwhile opening the gates? Instead of beating yourself or them over the head with a petition, just ask!

You haven't ridden one yet have you? The engine (including the tuning) is brilliant! There is no snatchiness of the throttle whatsoever. It doesn't have mountains of power or mountains of torque, but what it does have it delivers smoothly and where the power should be. No jap bike I've ridden yet is as smooth as the F4 engines are. Thats the Ferrari influence there. The gearbox is brilliant also. Snips into gear easily, even under hard acceleration and without clutching. I've found most jap boxes clunky. Clutch feel is precise and smooth and easy to measure when powering off hard. Don't be fooled by the race for big power in bikes ... look closely at the delivery of that power to the rear rubber. Big power means nothing, if it is a pig to ride and if it upsets the handling of the bike. Even the newer jap hyper machines still are not smooth to ride. The MV is so smooth that abusing it will not upset its stability. Oh ... and no other bike has that 'flutter' note to the exhaust like the MV But in the end, she's the flirt, not the whore.

Not to mention the buffer mounds (spectator mounds) that end about halfway down the track, and then the cars are hit with cross winds if its breezy enough. I remember years ago watching a family friend (Helen Rustling) lose control when she got out of shape from the cross winds. Beforehand they stopped races for over an hour. They should have called it a day and closed the track, but they let the race run. end result was one smashed up drag car. And her daughter was sitting in front of us and she watched what she thought was her mother being killed.

Its all opinions and tastes tho. I like the styling of the rear end of the F4 except the 4 pipes. They just look too ... "matchbox car" ... if you know what I mean. I definitely like the headlight styling. but ultimately, I bought myself the F4 Brutale, because there was no fairing to hide all that fine work into the build. I think, for the base models, the prices are fair. Remember, you're buying an Italian bike with a Ferrari engine. A new model GSXR is $18K and the F4 1000S is $26K. but I agree that when you look at the model range upwards ... its about $31K for the 312, no idea on the 1078 but guessing about $36K (in line with the Duc 1098), and $70K for the Tamburini. At the end of the day, the Brutale is there to satisfy my taste for Italian machinery. I have my Suzuki TLR1000 and I prefer that bike anyday over the Brutale. I've had it 7 years now, and will have it 7 years after the Brutale is gone. Each bike/manufacturer has different qualities to offer in a motorcycle. The brutale is the girl you flirt with at parties ... the TLR is the whore you take home and bang all summer long!

^^^ Exactly. Its been poorly managed and funded for a long time. Let it die. Let it be bought by some body/corporation with more brains and management qualities.

Yeah, certainly a nice piece of kit *drool* Looked at one of the 1078 models also today, as well as the 312. But I have a double mortgage now, so if I did get an F4 it would have to be the 1000S. Maybe stretch for a 312. A Senna would be nice but I like to take passengers. Ultimately, an F4 Tamborini would be the ultimate ... but thats $74K I do not have

Will never happen. EOI does not = numbers. You keep beating that dead horse ... you'll end up beating your head against a wall. There is a new motorsport park in the works. In a few years we might have more opportunity. But right now? ... nope.

That could be awkward and uncomfortable ... in every sense of the terms

*groan* Went bike browsing at lunchtime today ... Now I wanna sell my MV F4 Brutale ... $20,990 (retail) 101 rwkw 96 Nm 185 kg 257 kph max speed (which has lots of carbon bits, Ohlins suspension, PCIIIr ecu, crash protection and full hi-flow system) And get this ... an MV F4 1000 $26,990 (retail) 122 rwkw 109 Nm 192kg 301 kph max speed Both bikes have engines designed and built by Ferrari (F4 = Ferrari 4 cylinder) *drool*