Targa Tom

C'mon Benny Strokers drive Nissans too... I always said those RB24s would be a good thing. In all seriousness BM - well done. You have been a quite achiever for some time. Enjoy your 15min - it is reward for your years of disappointment. Old fella still going OK too

RB20 with Talk???? There is only one "Roy" that would believe that Ben looked as good as anyone at Paloona yesterday. Think Quinies Exit may have been mechanical rather than political TT

YT Blazes to the front!!!....

Been one of my better efforts... GJMS TTTW

Was going to toss one in with your sticks... never mind. You are sorted? We used to smash ours often - actually ran two for safety. If I was to use wheel probe again a teflon scraper to stop the 14mm bluemetal between the probe and bolt syndrome would be the go. TT

Hiro San down at Link can hook you up with the Nismo R35... Looks horn in pics. TT

Outa country sort of... in the land of the fast guys (EM Champ 2011) On Ningaloo Reef actually, get the odd text, but email me if you wish... TT

It is p155 funny that Benno's "quite" post is at the top of the page... I reckon that he was drafting that email as the press release was being outed.... And 861, first time I have looked at car stuff this trip - so dont think I am out here sunning myself. TT861 Service

A partner in the Rally Safe ting with YT has one as does his M8... one a repsol copy, the other Ford factory colours - look very ipressive...

One of the guys down here ran one - and its not a bad thing. Building one from the ground up would be better again as he bought his as a going concern. The boys over here dont seem to be hearing the "Its been done..." M8 TT

I would go an VIII Ben, then as the IX comes in, Mivec Eng + eng loom and plastic... You will get constant gains as the years pass by. Or get a IX and go back one step initially. Or we all go to the F1 ranch with Snowy... Cant even begin to get my head around how much fun that would be! One of my sponsors offered me a trip there... only have to get his equipment on a V8 Supercar team - tall order me thinks. TT

When I blasted thru the Waratah TO service area it was absolutley pissing down... I couldnt see the dash let alone what was going on elswhere. I heard the accusations and also the story of what happened from one of the accused crew – I have to say the story was quite plausible. One question – was there three wheels on the road ready to be fitted, or was the guys moving them in and out of a serviuce vehicle? They had a puncture on day 2 so I am tipping there might have been some indecision as unlike most they did not have two fresh ones to go on… I have no Mazda axe to grind, but hearsay and innuendo with out proof is no more interesting than the royal wedding. TT

No BP 98 in Queenstown...

The re-seeding and late time sure effects the roadside service if you are near the back. In another life we would casually change suspension settings on days one and two, fuel (when it wasnt restricted to nominated spots) and then carry on... It was easier if you started the event about 60-120 cars from the back. But that has all changed and new stratergies must play out. Next year the goal posts will agin be moved - that is one reason why we love the event. One difficult thing when the driver says "We are right for fuel, will get some at the end of next stage" "Sure you dont want 10ltrs?" "Nah - see you at the next one... vrmmmm" Right then you know he has no idea how far I have to drive to the next stop does he!!! lol. 861 Service had a puncture on Day 2. As we backed it into a L3 I asked my nav "Hows our tyre pressure in the rear?", He tapped the ETPS on the dash - "No worries, 48psi" he replied. We popped over a crest on a shortcut we use to find a Porsche soft roader with a flat. Not wanting to incur the wrath of the Targa gods - "Gees M8, tough luck getting a flat" I said. "You have one too was the reply" "Nah just looks flat M8 - we got 48 here on the dash" I smiled. "Hans - has he got a flat?" "Yar" Hans replies.... "Dan have a look - these pricks are taking the piss" I said. Dan leaned half out the door and looked back at me with a ETPS's are useless expression - "Its flat" We jumped out changed it and were gone inside 2 min.. We saw the Porsche crew a fair bit over the next few days - there was always a wave and knowing we had both endured a fairly rough bit of road... Then there was the rain on the Mt Black go around and the convoy of vehicles - all doing a fair pace, & finally getting held up while pressing on the 15 mile road - all good fun. Thanks to Motul/Dunlop Motorsport for their VW AWD van (to service a Yoki shod car) - I had a ball.... right up until Snowies "M8" started concreting.. come to think of it, that was fun too. 363 days to go... TT

lmao... sometimes you crack me up. lol That being said - with lady stage workers and navs being part of the sport, maybe a portaloo partner is required. TT

Late time, 999 and 300 cars - 30sec intervals, que jumping, Prologue - seeding order. Good luck with that!!! The whole thing is very complex and I bet has caused some rowdy meetings. 2010 we saw the derived farce, now this year - a couple of heart breakers. However when we do these events, we have the guidlines in place. Late time is always going to be a problem when the stages are close - cos transport has no margin for error. A-A would not allow any servicing and with such a huge field - cant see it working. I think the 30 + 30 min is workable and allows for the guys in classic to also do repairs on the run. Was the 15 + 15 this year fair - it was in the regs which the event was started under, but maybe it needs some work. One thing Targa should not be is easy... should a mid stage incident be penalised the same as a mech failure due to wear and tear? Somehow I dont think everyone will be happy all of the time. Dont forget - even with a late time penalty, you can still get your plate... and that after all is what its all about. You just dont get the headlines or podium - so maybe it is OK Sometimes the ideal solution does not exist. TT

Great story Ben, we had a few events like that and they sure make your next one easier. Please be aware, you only had 15min of late time. Speaking of which, I was astounded the number of people who enter the event without knowing the rules. Navs in particular - a/. Not knowing and b/. not having a copy of the regs in the car!!! My advise to anyone - read the regs, read the regs, and when you are sure you know them - read the regs! TT

Well, I thought it was to decrease the average speed. Now maybe not a requirement due to AASA v CAMS. Drove past Kennards the other day and those devises were stacked 2 stories high - not causing any damage... I was sticking up for the event Stu. If anyone is a poor enough driver that they hit big bright orange things with 300mtrs warning - maybe U need to re assess the driver ability pre-requisit. You failed to mention the massive saving in hire/logistics of the many chicanes during the event. If AASA went belly up and you had to use cams, then maybe the carnage creaters would return. My response was to a comment about speed / death and mayhem... Was being an ally - relax. TT

We do a protector, but most dont run the lip... acts more like a shovel.

I had about 50 crashes.... "SO" with corners lol. looked good - much tighter than I imagined a gravel car. Well done TT

Who cares how quick the lambo is! The guy hosed everyone (bar 1) in a last minute HQ ride. Mods/speed doesnt cause prangs - steering wheel attendants do (until they outlaw pedals & steering wheels that will continue to be the case). They had showroom - a few of us entered. Now manufacturer winging has lobbied change to brakes, exhaust, clutch and diffs. All of those 270kw showroom cars finished behind our 220kw one (Well all but 9 did). Fact is everyone wants to run a car that they are passionate about - and will get thru the event without spraying components all over the road. It is a race - and while it is, people will go in over their head and prang. I dont agree with the no chicane change - that makes no sense. Other than that - if you want to do Tarmac Rally - come to Tassie. We have two of the best on the planet - and everyone is welcome. If you want to win you will need two buckets - one with talent the other money... otherwise just enjoy the event and challenge yourself. After all, where else can you drive the same race as Quinn Herridge Richards Glenney Wooster en all? Back to pull GB from Cup Car Go Casey & Ambrose tomorrow am TT 2011 15 Days to go

Um, when did the std boost rule come in? or are you talking about Production Car Racing.... TT

No Ben... KJ has it sorted I think - although will watch them with interest. The boy can drive... That RB20 has no right to be doing the times it does at Symmons and Basky. Giving a bloke in an EM TME a hand. TT

I'm low on sugar - might need rewording after lunch. So 2WD, the Focus not a thing? And now the cut off $$$ has been Raised - the M' BMW should be a good tool. TT

The event needs EM and Classic... All the drivers want trouble free motoring lol. Ask Quinny about trouble free Motoring. And believe me it aint all plain sailing - I think the green grass saying may well apply. Finishing in the top ten these days Timmy aint no cruise. (Check out YT's 2010 TWP in-car if you need a reminder) And have a good time in the EVO IX this week end too Tim lol. Hope it is trouble free for your 1st time out. TT