Some Observations From An Old Noob.

[spilmer]

I have a good theory Noel. Bogans dont own (afford) skylines. Simple

[Spook's_Skyline]

Most us drive our cars daily and cannot afford to race "door to door" in case of accident/breakage.

our line, is our only car

we sort of need it for getting to and from work/sport and general living

i just like owning a car that i deem "nice"

[maccattack]

I see from your join date you have been around the import scene for a while and obviously have a detailed knowledge of the motorsport activities of most skyliners. You must have been to the sprints, drags, hillclimbs, rallys etc and got a good count of imports (especially skylines) competing in these events.

I for one, as someone who joined a forum such as this for both information and comradeship, find your comments fairly inflamatory.

You make the blanket statement that unless you are out there thrashing your car - you are a gutless smartarse that has a skyline for a dick extension.

I am quite surprised that as many skyline drivers undertake the levels of motorsport that they do, based on the costs involved. My car is my daily driver - which is the case with most who undertake weekend motorsports. I am a little luckier than most that I have an income which allows me to do a little more in terms of modifications and repairs. In the time I have been sprint racing I have rebuit the engine 4 times, gone through god knows how many sets of tyres, fixed I don't know how many breakages. I have pondered side by side racing, however I cannot justify the risk and cost of doing this with my daily driver.

I also cannot justify or afford to buy a dedicated race car. These come with the requirement for a tow vehicle and storage amongst other things.

You would also need to be at every event in Australia just in case you turned up to see who was there or not.

If your intention was to stir an emotional debate you may have succeeded - but you are certainly not doing yourself any favours on this forum.

[ze_flexy_1]

Im with stupid ^^

Just curious, why didnt you compete Noel?

[Benno31]

Noel, are you serious with your question of just bored and looking for a bite?

Drags to me are not all that interesting, my car was built to handle and as such I would prefer to use it around corners where I have more fun. This doesn't exclude it from being capable at drag racing though. Having said that, to race door to door where you can overtake on corners etc is reserved for those with specific CAMS licenses, to the best of my knowledge the track day events that don't require more then a basic license don't allow you to overtake on corners hence removing the fun aspect of it for me.

Another aspect to consider is that many Skyline owners that I know use their Skylines as a daily driver and as such, don't race it all the time and save their fun for Skyline concentrated events where they can enjoy the racing with other Skyline owners.

Another thing to consider is that a VH Commodore with a 308 with some work done to it is a cheap fun when compared to a Skyline, and if they break something the repair cost and availability of parts make it even easier to fix.

Now, you said that you went to these events but did you participate in said events?

If you didn't then I would assume you have a reason for not doing so and perhaps that same reason may be why other's weren't there on the day. Generalisations are a problem though so I understand you don't mean everyone when you question the participation.

Cheers,

Ben.

[FineLine]

Noel, are you serious with your question of just bored and looking for a bite?

Drags to me are not all that interesting, my car was built to handle and as such I would prefer to use it around corners where I have more fun. This doesn't exclude it from being capable at drag racing though. Having said that, to race door to door where you can overtake on corners etc is reserved for those with specific CAMS licenses, to the best of my knowledge the track day events that don't require more then a basic license don't allow you to overtake on corners hence removing the fun aspect of it for me.

Another aspect to consider is that many Skyline owners that I know use their Skylines as a daily driver and as such, don't race it all the time and save their fun for Skyline concentrated events where they can enjoy the racing with other Skyline owners.

Another thing to consider is that a VH Commodore with a 308 with some work done to it is a cheap fun when compared to a Skyline, and if they break something the repair cost and availability of parts make it even easier to fix.

Now, you said that you went to these events but did you participate in said events?

If you didn't then I would assume you have a reason for not doing so and perhaps that same reason may be why other's weren't there on the day. Generalisations are a problem though so I understand you don't mean everyone when you question the participation.

Cheers,

Ben.

Yo benno, The reason i didnt compete in these events is really quite simple. I actually went to the digs on saturday night on the assumption that it was another test and tune a la every saturday night but, It wasnt. It was a round of the bracket race series, the quickest of the quick. my outfit isnt quick enough to qualify as yet and even if it were i couldnt run simply because i am not a card carrying andra member to date any more than i am a card carrying cams member, hence my lack of participation at the sunday raceway event as well. I am the noob around here remember, give me time and i will definitely be involved in both.

As for a v8 being cheaper to get going than a line, I call bullshit. You obviously havnt tried to get a bent 8 going hard. I have a near stock line already running a best of 13.8 and it wont take much to turn it into a 12 second car. Go get a vk comode and start tipping in the bucks to turn it in to a 12 second car and then count the cost. You will be very surprised.

I have no truck with those that use lines for show and shine etc, Its their money and their car, they can do what they will with it. I am a little taken aback however at the amount some invest in go fast goodys just to park it and strut. It really does beg the question as to why one would bother unless it is done solely for the purpose of illegal street activity.

To date i have been to qld raceway on several ocasions to watch and learn and i could count the lines i have seen on less than one hand.

The drags arent much different unless its an organised night when a handfull do show up and participate. It truly surprises me that peeps do buy a performance oriented car yet only a small percentage take advantage of it.

p.s. In answer to your first question Ben. I think you already know the answer. "wink wink"

[Benno31]

I have personally seen a 11 or 12 sec VH Commodore wagon which has had about $2500 spent on the engine. So it doesn't have to be expensive. If you don't believe me I will gladly arrange for you to speak to the guy who built it. You already know of him.

And I am not aware of a single Brisbane Skyline owner with an Andra or Cams card anymore, I am sure there are a few of them, but not many left.

Perhaps that might explain the lack of them there.

[FineLine]

I have personally seen a 11 or 12 sec VH Commodore wagon which has had about $2500 spent on the engine. So it doesn't have to be expensive. If you don't believe me I will gladly arrange for you to speak to the guy who built it. You already know of him.

And I am not aware of a single Brisbane Skyline owner with an Andra card, so perhaps that might explain the lack of them there.

And the cams card??

[Benno31]

I updated my post above.

[Mr Kofi Ahmed]

And the cams card??

http://www.cams.com.au/Content.asp?PageID=PaperForms

[FineLine]

I updated my post above.

Then it validates what my original post was all about. for the amount of lines out there there are very few who take advantage of the performance potential of these cars.

[Benno31]

perhaps the performance potential is taken advantage of without the requirement for a CAMS license.

[Mr Kofi Ahmed]

perhaps the performance potential is taken advantage of without the requirement for a CAMS license.

A basic level license isn't hard to get

[Benno31]

agreed. but some of us don't see the value of the CAMS license at the moment.

Time will change that for me if all goes well with Lakeside.

[FineLine]

agreed. but some of us don't see the value of the CAMS license at the moment.

Time will change that for me if all goes well with Lakeside.

So is lakeside really going to happen or just someones wish for. Would be great if it was more than just rumor.

[Benno31]

Ask MountainRunner (Paul), he keeps up to date with what is happening on this front.

[Mr Kofi Ahmed]

So is lakeside really going to happen or just someones wish for. Would be great if it was more than just rumor.

I was speaking with some CAMS people on the weekend, it looks like it will be a go ahead, wasn't told anything else other then hursh DB rules, and the norm which most already know from the Lakeside thread already on here.

[hrd-hr30]

benno, L2S CAMS licence allows you to enter Super Sprints where passing/racing is allowed, but with limited numbers of vehicles on the track.

The Qld Super Sprint Series is run at Morgan Park by Warwick District Sporting Car Club. They have 2 series of 4 rounds each. Each round is a 2day event and you get about 5 sessions of 3 or 4 laps, depending on which circuit configuration they're using. 4-6 cars on the track at once, again depending on the circuit used, starting in pairs separated by a gap of about 10 seconds. The pair can race or one car can sit on the start line for a couple of sec to let the other go if they choose not to race - timing starts when you move, not when the lights go out. It's too late to register for this year's series, but you may be able to get in next year if you're interested. Spots are very limited though so you have to get in early - they take 100 cars for each series and are normally well and truly over-subscribed with entries. I competed in the series for a few years and had an absolute ball - great events and an awesome track. I've also done the Conrod SuperSprint at Bathurst a couple of time. NSW has a Super Sprint series at various tracks over the year.

Lakeside, IF it re-opens, will be under QR's control and will be predominantly, if not exclusively, AASA sanctioned events so you will probably not need a CAMS licence for that venue either!

fwiw, I still hold a CAMS National Rally licence - it doesn't get used anymore, but I still have it... all the events I do these days I could just get a cheaper L2S.

Noel does have a point though, I only recall having seen 2 other Skylines competing anywhere apart from QR. It's a bit dissapointing to see them so under-represented in club motorsport. I don't think the cost factor is the real issue - plenty of WRX's and EVOs and other late model stuff are out there competing and the majority are daily drivers.

Edited March 26, 2007 by hrd-hr30

[r33_racer]

lakeside is going ahead...plans for up and running racing in the not too distant future...There will be racing this year as far as i know from what tetley said at qr sat.

[hrd-hr30]

I don't share Tetly's optimism. I've heard there is a court case disputing the PRSC tender process. Even if it doesn't get up, it will no doubt delay things... I might swing past Lakeside on the weekend and see if Tetly has started any of that work he was so enthusiastically talking about.