Steven Jones Nissan Skyline R35 Gtr Is The New Leader Of Quit Targa West Competition Modern Class.

[Guest]

Holy f*cking crap. Get this man into Targa Tas, stat!

Better still, assuming it may well be the first Targa-style race for the R35 GT-R anywhere in the world, Nissan Japan should sign the kid up as a works driver.

Again, holy f*cking crap. Balls of steel.

I let Steve use my EVO 8 in a local sprint event when his MR was getting a new transfer case fitted as he couldn't find a suitable replacement and he was leading the series, people said I was F#CKING crazy for letting him use it but I knew he could drive and I wanted to prove a point that his quick times were his driving not just the car.

He went from his MR that had the dollars spent on the important things and was set up perfectly to my daily driven JDM 8 with just a set of good tyres and the times were that close in both cars it was barely noticeable, actually it was quite funny due to the cars he was still beating.

It isn't Balls Of Steel as to why he drives so well, Steve knows GOD wouldn't let such a good looking bloke loose so he goes all out.

[Snowman]

Holy f*cking crap. Get this man into Targa Tas, stat!

Better still, assuming it may well be the first Targa-style race for the R35 GT-R anywhere in the world, Nissan Japan should sign the kid up as a works driver.

Again, holy f*cking crap. Balls of steel.

Fanboys of the world unite!!

But before you all run off and have you're big man love orgy just consider a couple of things.

1. Steve was very thorough in his prep for Targa West and had done it before in the EVO but he knows those roads pretty well as they are in his back door.

2. Targa West is a different rally to the ones over east for a few reasons. Firstly the speeds. Watch that McNess video again (and yep - balls of steel) and then watch this one from Targa

and this one from Mt Buller

Targa West is a significantly different style of rally that probably suits the GT-R (and Porka and Lambo) power well - compared to say the EVO's and STi's. But the GT-R might struggle a bit more on tighter / twister stuff and it really might struggle with the weight on the hill climb events (although he said he might bring it to Buller in Nov so we'll find out then I guess)

3. The stages in Targa West are pretty short. The major impact this has is that his "wow he did it on street tyres" is no where near as effected as it will be once stages start going beyond 5mins in duration. Once they get hot they might really start to struggle for grip so when you get to the +20km long stages they might be found out. And if you look at the longer stages from Perth like Western Range he was behind the other cars on them. Although again I think for Targa Tas, Mt Buller etc he can run smaller wheel and hence get better rubber (AASA rules as opposed to CAMS) but I'm not 100% sure on that.

There' no question it was a brilliant effort by both the car and driver but we need to see a little bit more before you all get too carried away.

[Marlin]

Very well said Snowy.

[rinmak]

Looks like the cars for sale now peeps:

http://my105.com/Classified.asp?id=10328&exfeature=1

[Iron Chef]

Well, I'm not impressed easily, and given that kid is 23, I remain impressed. Sorry I didn't realise I wasn't allowed to be enthusiastic on here

Regardless of the style of event, or how well he knows the roads, to win at his age, and against the likes of Jim Richards is an awesome effort. If Jim Richards had won in his Porsche on road tyres, I would've been equally impressed.

lol @ the ad - condition is "like new"...

[SimonR32]

Fanboys of the world unite!!

But before you all run off and have you're big man love orgy just consider a couple of things.

1. Steve was very thorough in his prep for Targa West and had done it before in the EVO but he knows those roads pretty well as they are in his back door.

2. Targa West is a different rally to the ones over east for a few reasons. Firstly the speeds. Watch that McNess video again (and yep - balls of steel) and then watch this one from Targa

and this one from Mt Buller

Targa West is a significantly different style of rally that probably suits the GT-R (and Porka and Lambo) power well - compared to say the EVO's and STi's. But the GT-R might struggle a bit more on tighter / twister stuff and it really might struggle with the weight on the hill climb events (although he said he might bring it to Buller in Nov so we'll find out then I guess)

3. The stages in Targa West are pretty short. The major impact this has is that his "wow he did it on street tyres" is no where near as effected as it will be once stages start going beyond 5mins in duration. Once they get hot they might really start to struggle for grip so when you get to the +20km long stages they might be found out. And if you look at the longer stages from Perth like Western Range he was behind the other cars on them. Although again I think for Targa Tas, Mt Buller etc he can run smaller wheel and hence get better rubber (AASA rules as opposed to CAMS) but I'm not 100% sure on that.

There' no question it was a brilliant effort by both the car and driver but we need to see a little bit more before you all get too carried away.

then again, he does have a EVO 9 MR which is faster around wanneroo than the gtr that he uses in dutton

[Adz]

Fanboys of the world unite!!

But before you all run off and have you're big man love orgy just consider a couple of things.

1. Steve was very thorough in his prep for Targa West and had done it before in the EVO but he knows those roads pretty well as they are in his back door.

2. Targa West is a different rally to the ones over east for a few reasons. Firstly the speeds. Watch that McNess video again (and yep - balls of steel) and then watch this one from Targa

and this one from Mt Buller

Targa West is a significantly different style of rally that probably suits the GT-R (and Porka and Lambo) power well - compared to say the EVO's and STi's. But the GT-R might struggle a bit more on tighter / twister stuff and it really might struggle with the weight on the hill climb events (although he said he might bring it to Buller in Nov so we'll find out then I guess)

3. The stages in Targa West are pretty short. The major impact this has is that his "wow he did it on street tyres" is no where near as effected as it will be once stages start going beyond 5mins in duration. Once they get hot they might really start to struggle for grip so when you get to the +20km long stages they might be found out. And if you look at the longer stages from Perth like Western Range he was behind the other cars on them. Although again I think for Targa Tas, Mt Buller etc he can run smaller wheel and hence get better rubber (AASA rules as opposed to CAMS) but I'm not 100% sure on that.

There' no question it was a brilliant effort by both the car and driver but we need to see a little bit more before you all get too carried away.

Snowey go to the doctor mate and tell him your suffering from tall poppey syndrome

[Beer Baron]

lol, $235,000. nice price!

[Shaolin242]

lol yeah. the price is "Deeply Humbled".

[Marlin]

lol, $235,000. nice price!

Baron... profit is not a dirty word is it? lol

[Roy]

Awesome result. I imagine getting such a new car accross the line would have been a great result, let alone winning. Again....big congrats!

Datsun build a pretty good car, and WA fellas seem to piliot them well, note i say pilot not driver

[Adz]

Just watched some of the in car vids.

Two things popped to mind:

1. Mental

2. Friken tallented

Well done mate that was an awesome effort.

[Brockas]

Snowy, you do sound a little 'green' there buddy. It's not a case of "fanboys" it's a case of Steve's abilities being pretty well respected over here.

1. Steve was very thorough in his prep for Targa West and had done it before in the EVO

And Jim Richards hasn't done Targa West before??

Targa West is a significantly different style of rally that probably suits the GT-R (and Porka and Lambo) power well - compared to say the EVO's and STi's. But the GT-R might struggle a bit more on tighter / twister stuff and it really might struggle with the weight on the hill climb events (although he said he might bring it to Buller in Nov so we'll find out then I guess)

Keep in mind he came 4th last year in his Evo 8 MR.

3. The stages in Targa West are pretty short. The major impact this has is that his "wow he did it on street tyres" is no where near as effected as it will be once stages start going beyond 5mins in duration. Once they get hot they might really start to struggle for grip so when you get to the +20km long stages they might be found out. And if you look at the longer stages from Perth like Western Range he was behind the other cars on them.

SS22, SS23, both over 8 minutes long, and in front of Richards by 6 seconds on both stages.

[Snowman]

You're from Perth as well aren't you Brockaz.

I just laugh that everytime someone from Perth does anything you all feel a national shrine needs to be built or something.

I know Steve well enough to call him a mate and I'm not at all green and I am truely impressed with Steves abilities (I know anyone who was able to consistantly beat Blaise head to head over there in their EVO battles must have some real tallent not to mention having seen him drive the last few years in Duttons) - all I was trying to do was point out that the Targa West result doesn't yet fully prove the CARS potential in these style of events given what I mentioned.

Steve and I actually booked out AHG for an afternoon earlier this year and I saw first hand how much prep work he did on that car to get it as good as he could and I'm SURE he put the same amount of effort into the actual roads being used simply because he could reccy them on a regular basis with ease.

My point is that so far we have seen a great result in Perth but we've also seen a very ordinary result in Tassy so until such time that we see the car in the hands of someone like Steves ability and preparation in conditions like found in Tassy and the Vic mountain series we still don't know how great it is because there are still too many unanswer questions.

But until such time comes you W.A. guys can all queue up to blow Steve all you like even though none of you are going to stack up well against Kira

[MissJuz]

Well done Steve, I think you would call this an 'Epic WIN!!' because it is!

Regardless of where you're from this is a big win for the GTR and you, what a great win to have on Fathers Day!

Your natural driving abilities far superseed 99.9% of the drivers I know and all the money and fast cars in the world could not buy that talent...

I have no doubt you will be at the pointy end of the field in Tassie as well.

[Marlin]

Been keeping an eye on this thread and can't understand why you WA folk think that Snowman was trying to somehow downplay Steve awesome achievement or indeed the new GTR's obvious pace.

The way I read it and still agree with him is that it was an absolutley outstanding effort from the team, that means driver, navigator, support crew, and of course the GTR.

I'll admit that I haven't competed in Targa west, but from what has been relayed to me over the years and it's quite obvious is that it's an extremely fast event, far over the FIA road rally approval speed if it weren't for the inordinate amount of chicanes and RSZ's. Therefore, the conditions are VERY different to what you'll find in the Tasmanian or events like Mt Buller, Lake Mountain.

In these latter events, average speeds between chicanes etc are (and I'm guessing here) closer to 100 klm/h as opposed to 200 klm/h. It is obvious that the Lambo, Porshes, and now the GTR are going to revel in those fast stages, but it is in these more common, "slower" stages that become the great leveller and allow the STi's/Evo's et all clamber back some ground because that's where those vehicles are in their element. well, at least that's whats happened in the past!

It is certainly going to be some interesting times ahead, with plenty of tarmac rallies on the calender in the next twelve months, we don't have long to wait and see whether the GTR is the absolute freak most of us expect it be!

One can only be amazed at how quick they'll be expected to be once good road racing rubber is developed for them!

Once again, huge congrats to Steve and his obviously excellent nav (whos name is escaping me right now) on a great result!

Now, I'm off to blow Steve Glenney for dusting Richards in his GT2 by MINUTES in a dry Targa Tasmania! what was Glenney driving? A lowly Evo VII up specced to a IX is what!!!!

[Brockas]

I know Steve well enough to call him a mate and I'm not at all green and I am truely impressed with Steves abilities (I know anyone who was able to consistantly beat Blaise head to head over there in their EVO battles must have some real tallent not to mention having seen him drive the last few years in Duttons)

But until such time comes you W.A. guys can all queue up to blow Steve all you like

By your own definition you just did that for us!

We're only saying "congrats Steve on being the youngest person ever to win Targa", I'm not sure how that constitutes 'blowing' or being a fanboy.

Obviously, on this stage the R35 can match it with the Porkas/Lambos etc, but of course anyone with any knowledge about motorsport at all knows that certain cars are suited to certain events.

Who cares if the R35 is going to smash everyone on tight twisty tracks, time will tell, for now though lets just congratulate Steve and the R35 on a job well done at Targa West.

Edited September 12, 2008 by Brockaz

[BANGN]

The result from this is epic and will not be forgotten, definatly a listing in nissan and motorsport history, I was very pleased with the result. Especially taking out richards

[Stig O'Tracy]

Fabcar Racing R35GTR for sale:

http://www.my105.com.au/classified.asp?id=10328

$235,000.00 Or Best Offer AUD.............

[BANGN]

thats alot of money for a car with a cage and a few decals. what are they going to be landed in the country?