Snowman

There's a whole thread on Targa in the motorsport section but the R35 crashed out at the start of day 2. But wasn't setting the world on fire before the off anyways.

Ferrari Challenge Platform: PlayStation 3 Category: Driving Release Date: 15/05/2008 $109.95

Has there been any word on whether Marcov is attending this event? I know I'd really like to see his car there.

For the uninformed..... http://www.joss.com.au/

My other thoughts were based upon the R35's move from M2 (where the old GTR's are) to M1 which means there's less that they have to play with. But I hope you are right and perhaps someone like Steve Jones in W.A. can re-encourage those of us that are feeling a little underwhelmed currently. BTW - just to make it clear I'm not having a go at anyone or anything. I'm soley talking about the potential of the car as a genuine tarmac rally challenger because to be honest I had genuine long term dreams of owning one for this purpose. I want to pop my Targa cherry next year in the Rookie rally (but in something slow and sensible - not an R35 GTR) but with a long term goal of heading towards one as experience was gained.

Well it didn't exactly set the field alight yesterday either. I remember when the Gallardo made the debut with Stokell (and Appleby) it was kicking ass despite the tyre issue - until the little wall incident. But it left you feeling the potential. Right now I'm just not feeling that for the R35.

Well it sure hasn't left me feeling like it's going to be the next big thing in tarmac rallies to take on the Gallardo, Porka's and EVO's. I wonder if there is a bunch of people that have already forked out a lot of coin for one that are starting to feel the same!? Guess we'll get a better idea after Targa West where a couple more will be running as well. But all in all quite a disappointing start to the R35 here in Oz.

Oh noes - 901 Alford had an off on Sideling - Crew OK I was going to put up some odds for this happening just before the event started but I thought that would be a bit pessimistic of me.

It's been delayed about 5 times now - think the lastest due date is Mid May sometime. I've been waiting for ages for it to be released.

One of the best places to "start" in W.A. that I know would be both the sprint and auto test series run out of AHG at the Airport. http://www.dtec.com.au/mc-motorsport/car-clubs.htm The facilities there are great and safe and would be a good and cheap place to start and also to meet people in any car before you decide exactly what direction you want to head in motorsport. The W.A. guys on here "generally" seem to be a bit quiet about motorsport but if you want more discussions / advice about real club level stuff I'd consider looking at the perth-wrx forums http://www.perth-wrx.com/vb/index.php as they seem to talk about it heaps and it's guys with all cars (not just rexes) that are on there.

You know - you're not being any different here to what this idiot was being. I've just come back from the Nurburgring where my car was a 1 Series BMW and it was a cracker of a car. This is the 135i - which if you don't know is the Twin Turbo 3.0L Inline 6 jobby (same engine as the 335i) which does 0-100km/hr in 5.2s. No doubt what he was blowing his load over. Now I'm not saying its in the same league as the R35 GT-R because it's not - but chances are it would rip the doors off most GTST's going around and overall I can see how someone who wants a RWD rocket out of the box would be excited by this car. I sure liked it! But I'm not defending this idiot - just pointing out not be one yourself.

Yep - and this one is going to be a dual presentation. I think they should be interesting - I know I found them both interesting to attend. There sure was a lot about the Nurburgring that I didn't know despite all the Playstation time I'd dedicated to it. And the other part - well that'll have to wait for the night

The good news is the less entrants there are the less people I have to beat. But yes - their major sponsor (Alphera) has withdrawn their support which means a whole bunch of their original plans for 2008 have had to be shelved. It will be interesting to see what impact this has for the future of the series as for me I loved these events as it was really the only place I could showcase a car like mine in a National Motorsports event. But having said that the fact the series now seems to have stagnated means this will probably be the last year that we'll run so hopefully we can have a good crack at the National Championship. Then it will be onto new challenges for 09 and beyond.

Yep - same twin turbo motor out of the 335i. I originally booked that car as I thought it should be fun and light and nimble. When I got there on Friday morning Theo (who runs rent-racecar) told me I had picked the "most difficult to drive" car in his fleet. LOL. I soon found out why. Because it has pretty good power but it as quite a short wheel base so it was EXTREMELY twitchy in the rear - espeically at higher speeds. And there are plently of places you find yourself having to brake and turn from high speeds and boy did I have some moments! Still - no point in not making the most of a potentially one off life experience hey. BTW - Theo told me I was insane to have run 9.12 on my 1st ever lap around the place. lol

A race prepped (well cage, good suspension and brakes) BMW E87 135i. Decent engine and RWD coupled with a short wheel base made it very exciting to drive - until it started to piss down then it was just down right frightening. lol Company I used - http://www.rent-racecar.de/gb/ - they were really great.

Hehe - last Friday. Most unbelievable thing I have done in a car. The place is unbelievably scary. Still - I was told that 9:12 on my 1st ever lap around there in a car I'd never driven before puts me into a category known as "insane". lol I really want to go back again very badly.

Check it out - my latest download using the software. http://sau.ferni.net/Snowy/20080404-1505-b...ap-1-export.kml (Google Earth File)

SAU Nickname - Snowman Car Make and Model - BMW 135i E87 Circuit Name - Nurburgring - Germany Lap Time (BTG) - 9.12.3 - Google Earth file of lap here - http://sau.ferni.net/Snowy/20080404-1505-b...ap-1-export.kml \ Mods - Half cage, Sparco Race Seat and harness, Brembo Brakes and pads and KW Suspension Tyres - Bridgestone RE050 street tyres. Power - 306HP I did one slow sighting lap to see the track and get a feel for the car - which scared the crap out of me. I then did my 1 hot lap - which really scared the crap out of me. On my next lap it started PISSING down and then a car infront of me speared off into a wall halfway around the track and with me having a $20K excess over my head I decided it was time to call it a day. (My lap time in the rain was 10.51). But my god - what a track that place is!

The weather in Melbourne even made the news over here in Germany!! (On CNN news) Must have been a cracker of a storm

Ok - can someone tell me how you unlock the extra manufacturer races? I've got the GT-R Proto but those manufacturer races are still locked.

Thats not exactly true Paul. In the wet I actually think they are better than standard street tyres - as long as there is a fair bit if tread left. And thats the hard part because with normal street driving you'll probably only get 5,000km's before they are shot. But for exmple I remember last year at Calder (track - not drag) a WRX being 3s faster in the rain on RE55's than on his "good" street tyres. Same deal as when R comps are cold - they aren't as grippy as when they are hot but they are still more grippy than normal tyres. As said - the biggest problem with R comps and street driving is value for money given the short life span.

Those tyres along with these 2 would probably be your best options in my opinion http://www.tracksidetyres.com.au/potenza_re01r.html http://www.federaltyres.com.au/ss595rs

It's ok - he can feel free to vent in my hate thread if he likes. LOL http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Re...p;hl=hate+snowy

I have one of those phones - and I purchased ONE OF THESE and then used the java software to change it to 5Hz (see a few posts up)

LOL - http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Wt...-A-t210768.html