Tarmac Rallying Perpetual Thread

[PHaT MR30]

Should be a salary cap I reckon!!! If you are lucky enough to get an experienced nav for free... I think thats fair.

Tim, for instance over the last 3 years has gone to the trouble of getting seat time and improving his skills.

He has been in a ute (and the reports from that event weren't glowing), some dirt cars, an unexperienced evo, then a couple of trips with BW bought him to this years event.

Now I would say on the strength of his CV and his enthusiasm for improvement he has gone from paying to fee charging. In future he will have the choice of riding for free, helping out, or being paid.

Well done Tim - Poor art dealer in Qld just bumped his entire stock 3% so he can afford you...

Summary Roy, two by novices = split cost, two mates may = split cost (or if one mate is travelling ok - free). Very Good Nav may charge for the privilage (but they will only be looking at the quick chairs)

TT

Thanks for the kind words Greg, for those that don't know, Greg helped me out a fair bit on my foray into the world of Tarmac rally co-driving. I knew absolutely nothing about it prior to this and I appreciate his expertise over the years. Also Benny for taking a huge gamble taking me on as a Rookie navigator in 2008 and then inviting me back in 2009 to have an absolute ripsnorter.

I personally work for a living and rally for fun, so if I can get a paid gig thats great, if i get a free ride awesome, team up with a mate and share costs, so what (like ben said its an adventure with a close mate) but im not going to get in the car with a loaded shotgun and tempt fate. One thing Rallying has taught me is to treasure your life. This isn't a game, its serious and if you don't take it serious... you could be dead.

Oh and I really wanna give a great thanks to Damo (DJRIFT), I called him at 9am on the sunday morning of scrutineering to come help us with a couple of niggling electrical problems with the car and he was up there in a flash, went over the car with a fine tooth comb and fixed it up all ready for scrutineering and it didn't skip a beat (well up until it spat a headgasket, but we won't blame damo for that one!).

Ok enough smack talk from me, here is a link to our run over Rosebery. I think we didn't miss a beat over this one.

[poolheaters]

Another great video from Tassieroo of Targa 2010, including Matt Close's Audi oops and a brilliant soundtrack.

Don't know the guy but he does some great work..

[Sinful]

Thanks for the kind words Greg, for those that don't know, Greg helped me out a fair bit on my foray into the world of Tarmac rally co-driving. I knew absolutely nothing about it prior to this and I appreciate his expertise over the years. Also Benny for taking a huge gamble taking me on as a Rookie navigator in 2008 and then inviting me back in 2009 to have an absolute ripsnorter.

I personally work for a living and rally for fun, so if I can get a paid gig thats great, if i get a free ride awesome, team up with a mate and share costs, so what (like ben said its an adventure with a close mate) but im not going to get in the car with a loaded shotgun and tempt fate. One thing Rallying has taught me is to treasure your life. This isn't a game, its serious and if you don't take it serious... you could be dead.

You sound alot like me Timmy! Was so cool how smashed you were Sunday night!

I am exactly the same..I basically woke up one morning and said I wanted to be a Rally Nav..Wanted to get myself to Targa Tas in any way how...................Ive had to pay my way in a few rallies and the entry fee and totally cool with that..But it really depends on who you team up with and you feel comfortable in that seat as it is your life your playing with...

I am so happy I made the effort and followed my dream and have gotten to the greatest Rally in the world

Bring on Next Year!! Oh but wait....Targa Hi Country anyone ???

[Kel]

You sound alot like me Timmy! Was so cool how smashed you were Sunday night!

I am exactly the same..I basically woke up one morning and said I wanted to be a Rally Nav..Wanted to get myself to Targa Tas in any way how...................Ive had to pay my way in a few rallies and the entry fee and totally cool with that..But it really depends on who you team up with and you feel comfortable in that seat as it is your life your playing with...

I am so happy I made the effort and followed my dream and have gotten to the greatest Rally in the world

Bring on Next Year!! Oh but wait....Targa Hi Country anyone ???

sorry Jess- missed you at Targa

What car were you competing in?

[giant]

Kimbod somehow I think you missed Roy's joke!

[Sinful]

sorry Jess- missed you at Targa

What car were you competing in?

I was officialing in Zero Car..Dont know how you missed me was standing right next to you a few times..

I will be competing next year

[Kel]

I was officialing in Zero Car..Dont know how you missed me was standing right next to you a few times..

I will be competing next year

Really?

I must have had the race face on.

You should have said hi

[R31Nismoid]

Kimbod somehow I think you missed Roy's joke!

Maybe it was a countering joke that we are yet to understand?

[Ant97GTR]

Don't know the guy but he does some great work..

LOL HAHAHA love Newtons work

[R31Nismoid]

Another great video from Tassieroo of Targa 2010, including Matt Close's Audi oops and a brilliant soundtrack.

Don't know the guy but he does some great work..

Nice video there

That Torana sounded fken MINT! Same as the Zed - Gotta love old school motors, just sound tough.

Matt C was doing well until the tie rod/ball joint or something along those lines broke and sent him off

[sav man]

Really?

I must have had the race face on.

You should have said hi

I was talking to Jess when you came and talked to me at straun....must of still been coming down from the epic run though gunns plains

[Kel]

I was talking to Jess when you came and talked to me at straun....must of still been coming down from the epic run though gunns plains

ahh the stage where we were robbed

we'll concede some timing error but we did have a blinder

no in car running to dispute the readjusted time so we copped it

no wonder i was distracted

[Roy]

Ok enough smack talk from me, here is a link to our run over Rosebery. I think we didn't miss a beat over this one.

I am left scratching my head after looking at that vid. A friend used to run in the 944 Series in Vic and know they are a capable car....but how on earth did you guys get the pace out of the thing? Such an awesome effort to punt the lil 944 as hard as the two of you were!

[Marlin]

Kimbod somehow I think you missed Roy's joke!

I think so! Dude needs to take a chill pill.

I wanna know who's gettin in with me next year......... if Gavin steals my boy that I trained and moulded just how I wanted him, then I'm gonna knock him the fark out!

[sav man]

maybe a lifetime supply of tenga eggs will keep his with you

[Beer Baron]

Very observant ROY. I am a shire boy. About 7 yrs ago I brought a pristine 94 gtst 4door 5 speed manual form Steve and Darron at Just jap and they have serviced that car which my son now has . 202,000 ks later it still on it's original turbo . I now have a 2000 V Spec N1 with a genuine 28,000 ks which I got through them. I have always found them to be and honest and trustworthy company, which by the way as you know is a sponsor of this forum. I would guess that a large number of people has talked to them and had items for there cars sold to them from Just Jap. I don't work for them I work at the Caltex

Now no matter what is said Targa is still a reliability rally/ time trial. espcially in the modern classes . The rules are there for a reason. you can rebuild , but you can't replace the major items, engine , gearbox, there is a number of tyres, etc.So if you don't have reliability you don't finish. Was that the reason a 5 speed gearbox was put in the car ,as they are stronger than the 6 speed. I am sure that if it had been noted on the entry forms and paperwork that this GTR R32 had a 5 speed they would not have been able to run. People complained about the Autech R32 in this forum. It was legally allowed by the organisers and scruiteneering had no problems with it or the numbers built, otherwise it would have not been able to start. How many of that spec Lambo's are in the world? Simple 1 car was legal, 1 car wasn't, because it didn't follow the rules

Again well done to all the crews

it's nothing to do with reliability. he broke the rules that's simple, but ascribing motives to the breach and then saying targa is a reliability challenge is just wrong. if it were just about reliability then wouldn't he replace the 6 speed with a 6 speed PPG gearset or other aftermarket gearset? that's completely allowed under the rules and would be much stronger than either the r33 5 speed or the R34 getrag 6 and he could have picked some better ratios too.

they didn't exclude him because the box offered improved reliability or improved shift action or improved anything. they excluded him because that particular change was allowed for under the rules. simple as that. as to whether or not they knew about it pre-event I wouldn't want to speculate on that and neither should you.

perhaps it should be legal though? If there is two identical 34 GTRs and one has an R33 5 speed in it and the other has a fully built PPG 6 speed with improved ratios (and there is massive improvement to be had) I know which car I'd rather step in to. the only difference is for the bloke who can't afford $10K for a gearset and the constant maintenance they require then allowing him the cost effective option of an R33 5 speed is not such a bad thing. it doesn't change anything in this case as it doesn't matter whether it offers advantage or not. it's illegal and that has been shown to be the case and he's been penalised for it. but it's worth looking at for the future...

[Roy]

But hitting on 16yr old school girls is illegal too Count. Doesnt stop some!

[Marlin]

Now now boys..... saying the 5 speed isn't a benefit but rather a cost saving is utter bullshit.

To win Targa first you have to finish it, so yes, reliability is very important (it is NOT however just a reliabilty trial, that is an insult).

Therefore, running the stonger, yet ILLEGAL, 5 speed box is definately a benefit.

Just because the R34's LEGAL gearbox is a six speed, does NOT make it instantly better. In fact, it's simply not, not for this type of racing. The R34 GTR is hopelessly tall geared, 6th never seeing use because the car won't pull it, and the diff gears are tall meaning less punch out of corners.

So cut the "it's not a performance enhancing mod so should be allowed" crap. That argument is baseless and I'll say it again, CRAP.

So, that's TWO plusses for the 5 speed box. The third (although how this matters when the event costs$20k to do) is cost.

I run an RB20 gearbox in my car, because that's what is legal. Everyone else running my model of car runs the RB25 gearbox, which is ILLEGAL. But, those slow guys don't get on the podium, therefore finishing the event is more important to them than legality, because the legality side of it will never worry them.

I have to be very aware of my weaker RB20 gearbox because as said, to do well you need to finish. And that is one of the other challenges with this event, you need to be aware of your particualr vehicle's weaknesses, and allow for same accordingly. Hey, the WRX guys have been doing it for years.

For all you guys saying improvements should be allowed for reliability, I'm sorry, you're simply wrong. Different cars need to have different strengths and weaknesses to keep it interesting.

I'm not aiming this at Snowy, he's a good fella, but a little reality check is needed here.

[Roy]

Really? Looking at some vids with teh 5spd it looks like it is often stuck between either ringing its neck in 2nd gear going nowhere in a realy hurry between bursts and 3rd where it is a little doughy....would have thought the 6 spd 3rd would be handier for all the 60-80km/h corners/switchbacks.

So, I look because in a pipe dream i would love to cut off the transfer case and run a Getrag behind the RB20...but i am full of all sorts of strange ideas

Anyway, my last post on the matter, i think enough has been said, especially by folk like me who know everything about nothing

[navdan]

LOL HAHAHA love Newtons work

It looks way better in that vid than it felt in the car. By that corner the rear brakes had warmed up and the handbrake had become almost non-effective. But yeah, he's a little crazy