Snowman

Just on Sunday

I'll be down to cheer everyone on. Jack - if you prefer I can just bring your wheels on Sunday instead of doing it on Sat? Also Roy - if you like I can come with you in the morning passenger session and try and give you some pointers on the track. There are a few "landmarks" that can help you improve your times around here.

Na look some people are tools. Some guy reckons because his modded wrx was able to keep up with a ferrari that a wrx must be better than a ferrari. He suffers from delusions. I mean last year at Sandown I chopped a 355 and in the Dutton blew off a 996 RS. But I know my car isn't better than either of them.

I dunno Alan - car looks tuff to me. Here's a better shot. I'm not a huge fan of the red red ferrari's. If I was ever stupidly rich enough to be able to get one for fun I would get one in the burgandy color they come in. I reckon that looks awesome. But anyways....

WTF???? I suppose if it's not on a skyline this is an acceptable substitute. Maybe it's a sign of respect from an ass whooping he once got?? I dunno. Either way I think we need to track him down and put a Team Wang sticker on it to match!

Well I was given the name of a very knowledgeable guy who works at Harvey Normal by Joel. Top guy who know's his stuff. For those that have been following this I ended up ignoring most of your advice and going with a Nikon Coolpix 7900 for the digicam and a Canon MVX250i digi camcorder. I really liked the Canon IXUS range and it was a close toss up between that one and the Nikon but I liked the Nikon a little more as it was slightly heavier and felt easier to hold, plus Joel would have killed me if I didn't get a Nikon! LOL. Anyways... thank you all for your input. I wouldn't have known where to start with out the advice.

Dave - also to add to your questions - Anthony (heartbrk) is the only guy I have known to run at the track in an auto Skyline (R33). He hasn't had any issues with the box but I can tell you from being in the car it is a decent challenge to drive an auto skyline around a track. Unlike a manual where you can really brake into a corner the auto's you have to brake well before and drive though the corners. But I wouldn't say that an auto will be much harder on brakes than a manual. I know I avoid engine braking my car as much as possible these days. Your main issue will be having the right gear when you want to power out. But you can have fun learning all that on the track. As far as the tracks being crowded - normally at somewhere like Winton you will have about 10 cars on the track in a group. All spaced out. Also - due to the distances to Winton the field will be a lot smaller than say what you will see at Sandown on Sunday so at Winton you will also get more track time (I expect) Motorcross helemt is fine as long as it has an approval number on it. Scotsman will be using his motorcross helmet as per usual.

Bec - maybe try Benella somewhere? Seems there will be a few extra party people in town for this weekend at Benella.

It's funny you say that Rhett cause in our endevours we found the opposite. We went to Teds initially and the chick that served us there knew absolutely nothing. And I mean NOTHING. In the end we had to leave because she was just painfull. She was like "um.... well.... this ones a new model and so it's more expensive than the older model but I'm not really sure what new features its has". So what features did the old model have? "um... well... I'm not really sure" Ok - thanks for you help Then we went to Camera House and the guy there was freaky knowledgeable. I kinda felt sorry for him as he knew so much that it was obvious he didn't have a life! LOL. Only problem was they were damn expensive there.

Paul - before we chose the Bell's hotel we went to the Palmerston to inviestigate - was very very average. Parma certainly didn't deserve the No. 1 spot in our opinion.

Top of the Town is in Benella yeah? I only know this cause a bunch of my mates are going to Benella for a wedding that weekend and are staying there - but apparently it's booked out.

Robo - it;s going ahead with Pete. He's just away on holidays until next week.

Ben - now take the car to Eastern Creek and tell us how you go! Could be a car to finally put those annoying NSW GTST track guys back in their boxes where they belong.

What do you mean too low?? I can see some daylight underneath it. Just. Suspension looks like it should be your primary concern however Aaron.

Well these Canon's sound promising so I'll go check em out. What about cam corders? Anyone have any experience with the new DVD style ones that go direct onto DVD-R discs? Compared to other digi-cams?

Yeah I've had 2 recommendations for the Canon IXUS range now. Apparently just released the new IXUS 700 (7MP) 3 x Optical zoom and looks alright. Will also investigate the Pentax - thanks Ant.

Hey guys, Well it's officially time for me to stop being about the only person on the planet without a digital camera. Now that the Mrs is up the duff we figure it's time to invest in one. What we want to know is recommendations of not only camera's but places to get them. I'm as much interested in ones to stay away from as ones to get (if that makes sense). All I'm looking for is a simple point and shoot type one. And smallish. I'll leave the giant ass tricky shite to Joel and Greg etc. I also want to look at getting a Cam corder of some description. I know even less about these than I do digital camrea's! LOL. What I want is something that can take extended recording, be able to put the "movies" onto my PC and also be able to have an input in feature so that I can get a bullet cam for track stuff. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I'm not agreeing with the costs thing either Roy. Other than my gearboxes and tyre issues my car hasnt missed a beat on the track. Sctosman has only had "tree" issues. Emre has only had "wall" issues. And the other regular track GTR's I know - Tim, Ben and Frank haven't had any problems at all. The only people that have had real maitenence problems have been you RWD set your car on fire boys. I've always tried to be gentle on my engine where possible and so far *touch wood* there's been no signs of problems on that front. But the car still is punching out times that are good enough for me thats for sure. I can't see that you need to spend a lot of $$$ to make a fast track GTR. If you want a silly fast track GTR thats a different story but a bacic low maintence R32 GTR shouldn't cost that much. Being able to be happy with keep that level is the hard part with the GTR's even though you will still be quicker than 95% of cars out there.

My suggestion was to change "Engine" - to "Performance" so that things like Suspension, Brakes, Gearboxes etc could be added. and also to change "Other" to "Achievements". So you can list 1/4 times, how many chicks you've picked up in the car etc.

4WD or just 2WD?

Ok - this is just over 2 weeks away now so we are going to book some accommodation in Wang for those that want it by the end of the week. Due to getting burnt at PI with accom we need people who are coming to confirm this week or else you can look after yourself. There is the option of comming up just for Friday night or else staying on for Sat night as well. If you want accom please state your intensions on this matter. Remember it is a 3hr drive from Melb but only a 20min drive from Wang to Winton. From memory the rooms are about $150 per night and sleep 6 so thats less than $30 per night. It needs to confirmed however. So far I know confirmed for accom are: Snowman (Fri + Sat) Bec (Fri + Sat) Scotman (+1 ?) (Fri + Sat) Chrisman (Fri + Sat) Blaise + 1 (Fri)

I'd go the GTST before the GTS4. PERSONALLY - I'd try and find a track only R32 GTR however. You should be able to get one for under 20K. I still say at somewhere like the Island a lightly sorted GTR will out-perform at decently sorted GTS variety. Roy keeps telling me otherwise but I'm still waiting for the results. Mildly modded GTR's with good rubber are pumping out low 1.50's or better at the Island. Scotsman has run a 1.51 in a R33 GTR with stock ECU, Suspection, Turbs etc and Aaron ran a 1.50 with just a Power FC but still stock suspension etc in an R34 GTR. I think from what we've seen you'd need to spend a few $$$ on a GTS to get down to those times compared to what you can get a pretty basic track only GTR from Japan for.

Ok. It's still a little while away but it's time to start thinking about getting orgainsied for this years Dutton Rally of Victoria. Last year I competed in the event for the first time and since it finished all I have been doing is looking forwards to it coming around again this year. For those that want to know a little bit more from my experiences last year here's the link to my little post event report with some nice little pictures. http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/sh...ighlight=Dutton Basically the event is called a Tarmac Rally but really it's a series of motorsport events carried out over 3 days that range from small motokana typre events, to circuit work at Winton to straight line events such as 1/4mile and 800m's. There are no navigational events at all. Requirements are basic - same as any typical track day. Helmet, fire extinguisher, L2S CAMS licence, etc. No need for roll cages or racing suits. One of the most enjoyable parts of the event for me was the encouragement to enter as a team event. So basically for every car there are 2 drivers. This means every event is done twice. One by you and once by your team mate. You don't have to enter as a team but the Team Trophey is the major prize and it also helps to reduce the costs to an individual entry. Biggest downside to the Dutton Rally is the entry costs - so it's not for everyone. Basic Entry costs are: Single Entry - $1775 Team Entry - $2390 These costs cover your entry plus your meals for the event (on Friday - Sunday). Also provides you with some merchanise as well. What it doesn't cover you for is: Accommodation Tyres (you'll want to start with new ones!) Brakes (as above) Fuel General Car preparation Alcohol! Really the Dutton Rally is one of the best chances for you to test the limitations of you and your car in a pretty damn safe environment. One of the best things about the event is that there is ALMOST nothing to hit to risk your car. Also you will get the chance to compete against some of the most crazy cars on the road (like bad ass posches galore plus many others) as well as some seriously good drivers from the V8 Supercars, Porsche Cup and a bunch of Targa Tas drivers as well. Scotsman and I are teaming up this year and if anyone else is considering entering we should look at getting our entries with deposits in ASAP so we can ensure we are teamed up together for the event (the field gets split in 2 groups). More information at the Dutton website. www.duttonrally.com