classic adelaide

[NT911]

I'm in - can't remember our number though 5 something.
Can't wait!!!
I'll definately say hello Warren.

[Waz356]

I look forward to it. We're car 108 again in the classic tour section. And don't forget that the featured marque for 2006 is Porsche. Hopefully Klaus will bring out some really goos stuff from the Porsche museum.

[Howard R]

Becko and I will be there; if we don't beat Ryan at least we'll out sledge him and Winter. Age is against us, I admit, but we'll avago. Can't remember our number, must be craft disease.

[amk]

Originally posted by obrut
andrew

but what about zag? they have wages to pay! (a low blow - there but the grace of ... etc etc)

I'm trying to persuade John from Zag to join us at some events, then I can get on the spot quotes

Zag should be OK though even if I don't race, Gordon is helping them exceed their revenue forecast

[Langers]

You mean there's someone who crashes more than you?

Is everything on your car sorted now?

[PowerHound]

I don't frickin' crash AT ALL, but my co-driver (or ex co-driver...) unfortunately does! Hence ZAG's exceedingly healthy cash flow. They do an awesome job though...

[amk]

I dunno about more, but Gorden’s mate is certainly more spectacular when he does crash.

My car now looks perfect… to the point I’m nervous about picking up stone chips, been talking to the guys from Ozy Cozy about putting a protective 3M clear plastic film over the nose. I did ask if they had something that would hold the panels together if I crash, but they didn’t have anything thick enough

Gordon, I head a rumor that your ex co-driver did the decent thing and offered to pay for the damage, is that true, or did he love you and leave you?

[PowerHound]

We had a deal and my mate is honouring the deal... we've been friends for 20 years and he's a prince among men so there was never going to be an issue! I miss a year's racing but them's the breaks.

[Langers]

Haha that's the trouble when you make your race car all pretty. You'll be too scared to use all of the road on CA in case you get a stone chip

How is the car going mechanically Andrew?

[amk]

Gordon, good to hear, s*** happens and it would be a shame for the financial implications to spoil the friendship.

Mechanically my car is great, she feels wonderful. Everything held up really well at Tasmania, the only problem we had was a faulty kill switch from revolution race gear, which we replaced after the prologue.

I’m looking forward to stretching her legs this weekend at Wakefield.

[DDR 964]

Gentlemen,

poor old Stuartj is being strapped into the silly seat of B3 for this years event (is there anything more character building for a driver?).

I've done Targa Tas twice before but Stuart has never called the notes. I have purchased Ron & Lisa's excellent notes once again and explained in the comfort of the pub how they work but what advice would you offer Stuartj.

Of course, motorsport always demands that 3 things are in short supply: time, $$$ and HP.... I think we will only get 1 pre event reccy day....

Any thoughts/advice? Many thanks.

Brett

[obrut]

hey brett,

firstly, be very very careful doing recce in adelaide - they get pretty nasty if they catch you driving 'sportily' in any way

as to navigating, i think the main thing is to have a very clear signal for falling off the notes - yelling "i'm off the notes!!" works for us - and another clear signal when stuart is absolutely positive that he is back on the notes. it is easy to lose your place during long strings of similar corners. only drive to what you can see until you are both sure you are back on the notes.

also, be clear on the process to follow to get back on - ie. check terratrip, look for next distance marker in notes, find place, check one or two corners etc etc - it is during this processs that people get flustered

when simon and i first started competing together we would
have an 'off the notes' about once each day. (thankfully, i can't remember any in the last 2 or 3 events we have done)

otherwise, try and give feedback on the rythym of his calls - let him know when they're too early or too late. i also like a lot of repitition so i have a constant flow of info

maybe also try and go a little easy on day 1 (it only has one big stage from memory - the last). ca doesn't ease into it with low base times like day 1 of tt - the stages are fully handicapped from the get go

i'll try and get simon to chime in on his perspective

[Howard R]

What we do is that when Becko falls off the notes I start calling the corners, landmarks etc until he finds where he is again. He says it helps.

[DDR 964]

Thanks guys, we've found in Tas that certainty is the key. If you are not 100% sure then best to just drive the road and wait.

I noticed the CA stages are much shorter so getting on the pace fast will be important and yes, I had forgotten that there is no Day 1 'ease into it' option.

Ryan - what about the style of road compared to Tas? I imagine the road sides are not as heavily treed and is it as much up and down? B3 is light on for torque.

[obrut]

the road style is not too different - they really try and pick only very curvy roads. straights are few and far between. there is a bit of open type scenery (alongside fields etc) and a fair bit of wooded stuff also. i can't remember too much climbing but it has a couple of really brake-punishing descents...

the big difference is grip - in 3 and 1/4 events we've seen almost nil rain and you don't get the "covered in mossy smoo, never seen daylight" corners you get in tas

they also effectively reverse the handicapping as the main awards are scratch (and can only really be won, imo, in a big hp MS car). the sole heritage award is determined using ppi's like in tas.

really fun event though - you're normally back at the hilton telling lies by 5 or so each night. pm me your no. before you head done so we can arrange a beer

ps. also, don't forget to give howard a little wave when you pass him in a stage - he really likes it

[Howard R]

Ryan, it's a bit early to start sledging when you haven't entered yet. I'm sending my cheque off this arvo for the balance of the entry. What are you doing?? Can you entice that sandgroper across? It wont be the same without him, and I promise not to spend every night working on the Dog.

[obrut]

its never too early...