Tarmac Rallying Perpetual Thread

[Snowman]

Well we covered the course with notes in hand yesterday (minus Mt Buller).

It sure is.... interesting!

Day one has lots of long fast sections that are different to Tassie stuff as the fast sections have a number of LLLOOOOONNNGGGG fast corners that have changes in radius mid corner. They will be challenging for sure. Plus of course as Jeff has alluded too there is some epically dangerous sections where making a mistake will be the last one you make. Especially on the Tolmie / Powers Lookout stage.

And then there is the day 2 stuff. It's INTENSE! For Jamieson / Mt Terrible the Navs will not stop for breath. It's just corner into corner into corner into corner for 10kms - and at least 30% are tightening. Big River / Eildon are basically the same except for the single fastest bit of tarmac I'm sure I will ever drive on. In the Big River direction I'm wondering if we will hit 300km/hr. I reckon we'll come close if we are brave enough (its not the best bit of road for those kinds of speeds though!).

But its a 6L 300 9R~10L 600 9R 900 DOWN HILL (well at least its downhill for the first 500m of the 900 straight)

And I'm sure others will disagree with me Stu but I'm not entirely sure that turning that section into one super stages is a good thing. Even if it was the same length as Mt Arrowsmith it would still have at least 3x's the number of corners as Mt Arrowsmith. Its super intense driving through there and any mistakes are going to be bad with the whole cliff thing along that road!

[sav man]

any pics of the drops?

[Marlin]

Sounds extremely challenging, and will reward the guys who have done a good recce, and punish those hard who either haven't recce'd well, or just make a mistake!

The issue with mega-long stages is you always have a strong possibility of losing the stage due to one or two big accidents. although I personally enjoy the really long stages, sometimes I think it smarter to keep them shorter, to lessen the chances of having a drive through on a huge section of the rally.

I really REALLY hope this event goes well, and I also hope the speakers at the driver's briefing are annimated, and stare the competitors in the eyes with the seriousness of some of these roads! (Judging by the reports I'm getting!)

[Snowman]

Will try and post up some vid footage of YT's Westpac corner (aka Westpac Rescue Helicopter will be required). It's a big drop - and the drop starts about 50cm's from the edge of the road - and there are no barriers! (oh - and its a big tightening corner.....)

[marinetowing]

This one Andrew?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dncA-P1fntw...player_embedded

[Snowman]

Thats on Day 2 isn't it Scott? Like on Skyline?

I was actually talking about the corner where the top of the giant power pole is sitting @ road level about 20m from the edge of the road.

[Snowman]

This one

[marinetowing]

Pretty sure it was from Skyline

Really not looking forward to that action in your clip

We are heading over on the 31st October and staying for the week, hoping to get at least 3 solid days of recce in....looks like we will be needing every bit of it!

Edited September 27, 2010 by marinetowing

[Marlin]

Hmmm, gotta say, doesn't look that bad to me. I'm certain if you actually stopped and looked on many of the Tugga Tas roads you'd find similar drops. in fact, where we stuck the 34 in in Rally Burnie on Hellyer Gorge in 2006 we were stopped by a fern from travelling over the 20 metre drop, vertical. I very nearly slipped down there when I exited the car.

And the fast bit, just looks wicked to me! Not really very different to the top of Cethana, long staights with fast corners in between = MONEY stage!

Don't stress fellas

[sav man]

I think Rossarden is worse than that

[Marlin]

I'd have to agree.... and Rossarden, you're heading downhill at 200+ into a tightening corner

[Snowman]

Those bits aren't the super hard / dodgy bits. They were just the bits where IF you got it wrong you are 100% retired for the event.

[Marlin]

For sure for sure.

But as is always said (especially of the really fast bits), "the driver controls the throttle".

Edited September 27, 2010 by Marlin

[sav man]

For sure for sure.

But as is always said (especially of the really fast bits), "the driver controls the throttle".

unless you drive a Toyota

[Kel]

I'm back in for THC

Looks like showroom with MX5 Racing guys.

Bring on the hairdresser/stopping for a latte mid stage/ Mazda on its roof goes "wooz wooz" jokes

[Marlin]

Good girl

[Kel]

Good girl

I'll think of you while you're swanning around on that big boat Ben

Thanks for the video posts. We're not likely to get reccy in until the week before but it's good to get a feel for some of the stages (and dangers!)

[Marlin]

Guys, Drew and Georgie are selling their 32 GTR.... good thing I reckon, nice build.

http://my105.com/classified.asp?id=16963

[Roy]

Seems good value for a good car. Does anyone know if thats the paint job or whether its vinyl? Also whether it is registered or pure race car?

[Marlin]

It is vinyl...... and I'm fairly certain its a full rego car.