Marlin

I'll jump to your defence here Funk Munk and link them with the TOP GEAR TV FEATURE that you're referring to mate. http://youtube.com/watch?v=hFpPZdwLEJ8 And having driven both cars, if I was spending MY money, I'd take the Clubby too. The M5 just asks too many b*llsh[t questions for my liking. They sure go for a big jigger though!

LOL

For build dates 2007 and 2008 I imagine? 2009 will be out due to official imports?

Yeh does anyone know if they're on the SEVS list yet? Or will be? Insider info anyone? I need GTR....

In a perfect world yes we do and always would. But unfortunately the scheduling doesn't always give us time. We pretty much have to make the call at the start of the day, then make any adjustments at lunch break. As for choosing the right tyre, as Duncan said a crystal ball would be really handy, as well as a limitless budget to have a set of everything on the trailer. It's important to remember when talking tyre characteristics that different vehicles (in my humble opinion) can behave quite differently with the same tyre. A 1600kg GTR treats it''s tyres very differently to a 1000kg Lotus Exige.

Yeh I've heard they're pretty ordinary in the wet. This year (Targa) we were on Dunlop 02G's and we were astounded with how little grip we had in the wet. Although some of it may have been car set-up, our rear springs we thought were way too stiff and they were also binding, so she felt pretty skittish. I've always run on Kuhmo Ecsta in previous Targas and found they have awesome wet grip, but overheat easily in the dry. For Buller we did some testing, running both Kuhmo mediums and Dunlop's new 03G in hards. Didn't get to test the Dunlops in the wet (have heard they're ok), but they were 16 seconds quicker in the dry (thats a second per kay!) than the Kuhmos, plus they didn't go off at all. That to me proves how quickly tyre tech moves and increases the pace on tarmac.

You guys were on RE55's weren't you?

I agree that R spec can be awesome in the wet too..... assuming you can get some temp into them! As Ben said, Fern Glade was a skate rink, but I reckon it would have been on any tyre. It sure didn't help we waited for an hour to start, it was very cold, tyre pressures had dropped way down, and there just wasn't the friction in the surface to get some temp. In fact, I was convinced we were going to crash if we pushed, so we elected to cruise. As you say TT, chicanes are no issue, in fact I kinda enjoy them, so throw some more in I say if they want to keep speeds down!

Absolutely awesome result guys, Congratulations!

Wow, that's a statement right there! Those who have done tarmac rallies may agree with me saying agree that; a. R spec tyres are commonly less forgiving at the limit of adhesion. b. R spec tyres can be very inconsistent in their grip levels on changable surfaces. c. R spec tyres can be very difficult to get up to temperature quickly in rain or very cold conditions (sometimes impossible to heat). d. This attribute above gives R spec tyres little "feel" when cold. Road legal tyres on the other hand are typically average performers at everything, but they're typically consistent at least, and that's something that's easy for Average Joe to become accustomed to. Personally I don't want to lose R spec tyres, I like them, but you gotta remember it's not just the so so drivers that fall off the road. And there's not just one reason for most prangs.

If you let this version play right through it then pops up tabs to see engine building as well. Ahhh, but now I see thats on YouTube too. Ah well http://www.themotorreport.com.au/3056/2008...ion-line-video/

Ok point taken, 9% better power to weight to the 350. 130i - 1,375kg/190kw = 7.23 kg/kw 350Z Track - 1509kg/228kw = 6.62kg/kw Although, having seen quite a few 350's not do so well at Targa (with some good peddlers), I still reckon that a 130 could work. Less twitchy due to better wheelbase to track ratio, lighter starting point so should be easier on tyres, and just plain smaller physically so it's easier to get a "racing" line through the tighter corners. Although to be honest, with my driving skills, I'd still stick to one of these new and quick front wheel drive thingys. Much more forgiving in general and less tiring at full pace. So yeh, MPS would be my choice (not to mention I was stunned at Rick Bates' great effort in '07). As for an Golf R32 DSG, wouldn't get within cooeee of an Sti or Evo.

The more I think about this 190 kay limit, the more it pisses me off. It's playing right into the hands of the Evo RS/Sti Spec C crowd, with their ultra-short, acceleration biased gearing. And whadya know, "Walkden Rallying" who builds Evo/Sti's and owns Rally Tas/Burnie is championing the adoption of the 190 limit rule. Hopefully CAMS will alter the rules to allow those with 300+ klm/h Porsches/Lamborghinis etc to alter their diff and gearbox ratios to allow a maximum speed of only 190. How awesome would it be for the crowds gathered at the lookout at the top of "The Sideling", watching Jim/White/Close bouncing along at 190 on the speed limiter instead of cracking 300 klm/h!!! not.

I'm interested to hear people's thoughts on "the" cars to have for the new showroom class. Maybe you could list them here? 2WD and 4WD... what do you need to win it? Keep in mind the 5yr age limit, Australian availability/minimum numbers, and 80k new price limit. I'll go out on a limb here; 4WD - Evo 9 or 2.5L Sti (who cares, they're all butter boxes) 2WD - BMW 130i (or looming 135i if it sneaks under 80k)

HAHAHAHA, that's gold! I can picture it now. Strap breaks, car falls further down hill, everyone stoked that car lands on nose to use better recovery point Whatever you do decide to use, keep in mind sideways pulling forces to avoid further damage to bumpers etc..., although extractions from circuit kitty litter is usually more straight forward than rallying. Witness these tools pulling this out by the wheel hub, totally ignoring the tow points. Clowns. :sorcerer:

nose

Thats a really good point there re "A" tyres. What with so many "professionals" increasingly participating in tarmac rallies, a move to road spec tyres would likely result in a cheater spec "A" tyre being available for some and not others. As usual, budget wins. Take for example the fact that a certain F*deral tyres sponsored R32 GTR drag car running quick times on their "retail" available tyre. These tyres were in fact a specially blended soft compound moulded into the same pattern. Now Stu, I'm stoked to hear there's no plans to follow the stupid 190 kay limit. It would take away a lot of the excitement of the event. There's dozens of times during the 6 days where we and many other competitors are well over 200, and even well over 250 several times, and in no way do I wanna lose that. Never have I considered these big speed sections the most dangerous. The best thing to happen to Targa in recent years (and I don't think I'm putting the chicken before the egg here), is the substantial reduction of touring kilometres. I personally have always had an issue with previous year's day 4 morning tour/lunch/Cethana section. Cethana is long, and saps a huge amount of concentration...... difficult to achieve after a long sleepy tour and a gut full of food. In fact, the last two years I've insisted the driver only ate an apple prior to doing Cethana. Hopefully the new day 5 doesn't prove too long though. Now I was only watching the '92 and '93 Taga DVD's the other day, and that really highlights how far Targa has come. Of course looking back now, there's no way that we would consider doing this event without ROPS/harnesses/helmets!/ etc because it was so, so dangerous, and I wonder if we'll look back in another 10 to 15 years and say the same of open cars/specials/clubman types, particularly those without a full 6 point ROPS? Now, a further thought, how about max 98 octane fuel is supplied by one event approved carrier, and everyone must drink from the same cup? It might have some effect on the performance of the front runners (and be an additional earner for the event organisers undoubtably), or would it just unfairly hobble turbocharged cars? Sorry, can't help getting off the intention of this thread, so, for now ....... end rant

Well said. Although sometimes, the best laid plans............ lol re the 190 kay limit.... will they have radar guns on every straight longer than say, 200 metres? Seems kinda rediclous to me.

Geeeez! That's some hard-core wear. Without knowing exact brand and product numbers, it's a little hard to say, but it's fairly obvious there's a serious mis-match of pad and rotor hardness. ie, either the pad's too hard, or the rotor's an inferior softy. As for your ongoing "soft" pedal issue, sure this amazing wear rate could have something to do with it, but have you also considered your rubber brake lines?

Very true, but I do feel that steps need to be taken to slow the pace of the cars - moderns especially. The amount of seasoned guys I talk to, (like Murray Coote, ARC champ etc) all agree tarmac rallying is super dangerous, the most dangerous of all. Most won't even compete in the events and tell me I'm nuts. The high speeds, big grip levels of current tyres, coupled with delays in getting to crews after a big off, all these are transpiring to highlight the danger. Now I reckon a ban on open top/clubman type cars is inevitable and warranted, but what else can be done to reduce the risks without taking the fun out of it? Do you think an overall reduction in a cars acceleration and cornering ability would dull the "experience" too much? Don't get me wrong, I'm totally infatuated with the sport, I'm just keeping my eyes open to the possibility of CAMS stepping in.

Hmmm, couple of good ideas there.

Never yet on Dunlops. Never used RE55's so wouldn't know.

I really can't confirm too much as I wasn't there, but I was told they both spent a night in hospital (driver and co-driver in each car for this event) and have been released. I hope that's the case.

Hmmmm, not good alright. Got a couple more of the "Gotalotago"

Here's some of it. Apparently we lost a lot of classics over the weekend. Heard one of the guys in the M3 has a broken back,,,,, I say lucky they were both wearing HANS. Great shot of Bill's 'Stangs still on full noise in the air though