Superlap 2009 Gets A Green Light!

[Roy]

Not entering because you are worried about not being competitive ? Man, cant affors the entry and tyres, car is blowing oil, clutch needs fixing and is dollars that cant be found for the event, going to the GP, umm any reason other then being worried about being competitive. I know i will be slower then many of the Clubsprint Evos and GTRs but i dont care

[Swiper the Fox]

I dont know the real reason...im just guessing. Luke is unavailable because of the F1...since Dave found that out ive noticed a change of additude from him towards the event. I suppose i could bring my car and only throttle it on the main straight. That would be fun, but would get boring very quickly but at least id get more time behind the wheel than at an ultra boring drag event.

[Duncan]

let Dave know I am happy to enter it for him, or take Neil if you want a NSW state champion. It would be a shame to see the car not compete when this much effort has been put into it. genuine offer.

we have ditched using the HKS coilovers off "twoogle' and will hopefully have new front upper arms (JP ). We have some British made Quantum coilovers for the car but will still use the Tein caster rods and JIC and Nismo rear suspension arms off my car. The breathing issues will be sorted with Mines rocker cover baffles and two catch tanks (a JJR style one above the rockers and a Performance Metalcraft item where the battery normally lives). Ill also run a breather line off the rear turbo drain to further 'vent' the bottom end as it is now blocked off due to the single turbo set-up. It should see more than 3 laps this time (touching wood as i type) .

If Luke doesn't go to F1 he's confident the car will see 1.15's...if Dave drives a PB would be the target time.

I'm not offering to drive Pete's death trap again though. sure it gets great air but the front left strut moves 2cm under brakes. makes braking tricker than it needs to be

[Swiper the Fox]

let Dave know I am happy to enter it for him, or take Neil if you want a NSW state champion. It would be a shame to see the car not compete when this much effort has been put into it. genuine offer.

I'm not offering to drive Pete's death trap again though. sure it gets great air but the front left strut moves 2cm under brakes. makes braking tricker than it needs to be

yes ill take that offer up with him tomorrow.

its a weapon too Luke couldnt believe it last time when we told him it was on the low boost setting to run into 1.17 at 17psi.

[Roy]

Give Duncan or Pete a steer!

[Boosted Zed]

Give Duncan or Pete a steer!

GO Duncan you know GTR's and good driver. When did it do 1 min 17's though has it been out to Oran GP since Superlap?

As to Lotus and Porsche etc I think this is to fit in with the Worldwide theme or rules isn't it? Plus it originated in Japan and biggest there, and most of the workshops that support this event deal in Japanese cars. It would be a bit less than ideal if virtually road registered race cars to start with, including GT3 Cup cars and Lotus won the event each time. The other thing to keep in mind as this gets bigger there may be an issue with too many entries, and a shame if Japanese cars were indirectly muscled out if open to exotic magi dollar Euro cars. Some may not even bother to enter as is happening. As Roy mentioned to compete one would need to spend lots of money.

[Boosted Zed]

I spoke with Ian from Hi Octane who set up this great event about this topic, and he asked me to post his email to me to help explain things.

John,

Thank you for your interest in Superlap and questions regarding the rules. As you know prior to running the first Superlap I did an awful lot of research internationally regarding Time attack racing and then took on the arduous task of making it work in Australia. The reason we made the rule regarding six cylinder rear engine cars is simple. Our obligation to our sponsors. We designed this event from start to finish as a JDM style tuner event, along the lines of what is run by Revspeed at Tsukuba circuit in Japan. This was the big attraction from a majority of our sponsors including our naming rights sponsor Yokohama. I am aware that overseas events do not have this rule but I feel that in Australia there are plenty of events that Porsches and Ferraris can mix it with the GTRs and Evos but in this case we feel that most of our sponsors and also a majority of our spectators would rather see the highest level Japanese cars battling it out together with a sprinkling of other interesting vehicles. The reason the Lotus are not excluded is they are viewed internationally as a tuner vehicle and the two that entered last year were in fact powered by Honda engines retrofitted with superchargers.

To run an event of this magnitude requires a serious capital outlay and I can assure that if the classes are dominated by Porsches and Ferrari's then companies like Hi Octane,Turbosmart,Greddy and Haltech and possibly even Yokohama are certainly going to be wondering if it is worth being involved at the level they are, if in fact at all. And without the level of sponsorship these companies give us the event could not proceed certainly not at the level it will be at in 2009 anyway. After all if I was paying to go into Superlap I am paying to go and see the best Japanese TUNER vehicles in the country because that is what this event is all about.

Hope to see you there on the 29th

Ian Baker

DIRECTOR

SUPERLAP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

36 MARY PARADE, RYDALMERE NSW 2116 TEL: [02] 9638 4643 FAX: [02] 9638 4651

WWW.SUPERLAP.COM.AU

[fatz]

Give Duncan or Pete a steer!

i garentee one thing and thats a faster lap time than uncle duncan no matter what i have to do

mmaawwwahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

[fatz]

I'm not offering to drive Pete's death trap again though. sure it gets great air but the front left strut moves 2cm under brakes. makes braking tricker than it needs to be

you probably like abs as well pussy

[Swiper the Fox]

GO Duncan you know GTR's and good driver. When did it do 1 min 17's though has it been out to Oran GP since Superlap?

As to Lotus and Porsche etc I think this is to fit in with the Worldwide theme or rules isn't it? Plus it originated in Japan and biggest there, and most of the workshops that support this event deal in Japanese cars. It would be a bit less than ideal if virtually road registered race cars to start with, including GT3 Cup cars and Lotus won the event each time. The other thing to keep in mind as this gets bigger there may be an issue with too many entries, and a shame if Japanese cars were indirectly muscled out if open to exotic magi dollar Euro cars. Some may not even bother to enter as is happening. As Roy mentioned to compete one would need to spend lots of money.

sorry...it was late and i was pinching the time above ours in the list...1.18...cheers

[Neil]

Give Duncan or Pete a steer!

You under estimate me Troy.

I would be the one to not slam a wall.

Neil.

[Roy]

Well why would anyone give you a drive then if you are not going to turn it on for the race fans.

[Neil]

In some crazy way I think I just got owned.

Great come back.

Neil.

[hrd-hr30]

I spoke with Ian from Hi Octane who set up this great event about this topic, and he asked me to post his email to me to help explain things.

John,

Thank you for your interest in Superlap and questions regarding the rules. As you know prior to running the first Superlap I did an awful lot of research internationally regarding Time attack racing and then took on the arduous task of making it work in Australia. The reason we made the rule regarding six cylinder rear engine cars is simple. Our obligation to our sponsors. We designed this event from start to finish as a JDM style tuner event, along the lines of what is run by Revspeed at Tsukuba circuit in Japan. This was the big attraction from a majority of our sponsors including our naming rights sponsor Yokohama. I am aware that overseas events do not have this rule but I feel that in Australia there are plenty of events that Porsches and Ferraris can mix it with the GTRs and Evos but in this case we feel that most of our sponsors and also a majority of our spectators would rather see the highest level Japanese cars battling it out together with a sprinkling of other interesting vehicles. The reason the Lotus are not excluded is they are viewed internationally as a tuner vehicle and the two that entered last year were in fact powered by Honda engines retrofitted with superchargers.

To run an event of this magnitude requires a serious capital outlay and I can assure that if the classes are dominated by Porsches and Ferrari's then companies like Hi Octane,Turbosmart,Greddy and Haltech and possibly even Yokohama are certainly going to be wondering if it is worth being involved at the level they are, if in fact at all. And without the level of sponsorship these companies give us the event could not proceed certainly not at the level it will be at in 2009 anyway. After all if I was paying to go into Superlap I am paying to go and see the best Japanese TUNER vehicles in the country because that is what this event is all about.

Hope to see you there on the 29th

Ian Baker

DIRECTOR

SUPERLAP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

36 MARY PARADE, RYDALMERE NSW 2116 TEL: [02] 9638 4643 FAX: [02] 9638 4651

WWW.SUPERLAP.COM.AU

a Lotus Motorsport Elise becomes a Japanese TUNER vehicle when you put a Honda engine in it? Everyone was commenting on how the little Lotus' showed up all the Japanese hero cars after the last Superlap so the general perception certainly isn't that they've become Japanese TUNER vehicles. I guess all those Lotus 7 replicas with their Toyota engines will want in now too!

Personally I think the Lotii are closer to kit cars than production cars in their design. They are built with no compromise made for road use or occupant acessibility or comfort. No room to get in, or once you are in. I have to take the roof off my mate's S1 Elise to even attempt entry! and let me tell you its stil no mean feat to actually get in! I only did it once and that was on a dare. having done it once I won't do it again. Once you are in, there's no interior finishings, no creature comforts, no boot spacee tc etc. They're built to be super lightweight, low Cg purpose built machines that can (just) be registered and tolerated for short drives on the road. Just like all those other kit cars.

If they only want JDM TUNER cars why not just say that in the vehicle eligibilty rule? The "No rear engine 6 Cylinder or above vehicles are allowed" rule won't stop any mid engine exotics entering - Ferraris, Lambos etc are not rear engined. Only Porsches are rear engined.

[Marlin]

Could we bring this then? It's only to GT3 spec....

[Roy]

Cool cars are British, economical cars are Japanese, wanker cars and Italian and Pretentious cars German.

Lotus/TVR etc are the way to go

Provided the Exiges entered are road cars or mass produced shells that are hotted up with parts, engines and components then that is way cool by me. My only concern is if cars are ex race GT cars that have been purchased and modded then they are at too large an advantage.

The fact that std they are 1,000kgs with 250hp means that they are perfect for this sort of event and should not be penalised. Hell, in my books i am amazed there are not more EVO 3 thu 6s competing as they can get down to crazy low weights, have huge aftermarket support...and in my eyes a 600hp awd car that weighs 1100kg with crazy cage that makes it as acceessible or usable as the Exige makes it no different.

Big thing for me is they should not be ex GT2 or GT3 race cars, isntead true to the tuned/hotted up production cars.

[Marlin]

Agree wholeheartedly Roy, GT2/3 cars need to be inelligable. It's important that the cars are built from a road car, not simply replicated a road car utilising aerospace materials etc...... taking that into consideration Dean's Gallardo above would be inelligable, but say, Kevin Weeks/John white could run his Superleggara without hesitation.

[N1GTR]

Ok, ill throw this one into the debate;

Ultima GTR

In or out?

[Roy]

Because its one of my favourite cars i say in, but reality is it probably shouldnt as the thing isnt mass produced and is only legal because of limited build quantity

[hrd-hr30]

Ultima GTR is a kit car and they're not allowed in the rules.

Those Lotus' are Motorsport Elise, not a production Exige. The Motorsport Elise was the race only predecessor to the later tamed down road going version that was called the S1 Exige. The Motorsport Elise weighed in the 700kg range from factory, not 1000kg.

On top of that it has been converted to GT spec to run in the Australian GT CHampionship, which resulted in an 11 sec per lap improvement around Eastern Creek than it was in Production Sports Car spec.

The Motorsport Elise came with a tuned version of the Rover 1.8 puting out 200 flywheel bhp. These cars have been converted to supercharged K20A engines with about 230kw at the wheels if I remember rightly from the info board they displayed down there last year. Race weight is apparently low 800kgs with driver!

In 2007/2008 they were eligible for Prod Sports again as someone had made production 5 examples in Aus! There would be more production versions of most kit cars in Aus, like the Ultima GTR.

I was a big supporter of them being in Superlap last year, but if the event is really supposed to be focussed on JDM tuner cars, should these GT spec Euro cars be there? Lotus still claim these cars as their own releasing media statements bragging about their Aus GT Championship victories over the Italian Supercars.