End Of An Era....

[JAGR33]

Well as most of you would know i recently put my car up for sale due to basically not having the time to enjoy it. Family and business commitments have taken a priority so unfortunately it had to go. Well on Thursday the new owner took delivery of the car, and walking away from it for the last time left me kind of empty inside. It was a hard decision to let it go but after 3 years of minimal use I had to be logical.

After retiring it from track duties in 2008 I had the intention of building a 'dedicated' track car as I could not cope with the punishment and wear on the exterior, it was too nice to destroy the front of the car with chips and scratches from flying debris at over 200km/h. So I bought another rolling shell to transfer many of the quality parts required to build a track car (brakes, suspension, seats etc.) and had decided to use the 'ex-track' car for street duties. I inteneded on going 2.8 stroker with new track car, aswell as putting it on a serious diet.

Well during this process plans changed in the form of 'acquiring' a cheap Evo 7. Yes I always bagged them and had never considered buying one but for the price I was offered to buy it was too good to let go. Plus by this stage the cost of finishing the track car was becoming very scary and unattractive, and being in the process of building a new house the logical thing to do was can the GTR track car project and keep the Evo to get my 'fix' on the track. After all it had been 3 years since I has driven on a track in anger, so it was a cheap way of getting back into it, even though the Evo was going to be slower and putting up with the 'hair dresser' jokes.

Having bought the car back in 2002, it went through many different stages, from being a bone stock car to one of the quickest street registered full trim track cars in Victoria, the journey has been memorable one, and spending copious amounts of cash along the way I can honestly say I don't regret it. The amount of satisfaction I've had from this car definetly outweighs the bad times (yes there were quite a few). Over this time the car has won many awards, from both car shows and track days. In 2007 I came first in the SAU Motorsport Championship, as well as the WRX Club Championship.

Anyway. enough of the bragging, the main purpose of this thread was to look back at the different stages the car had undergone, and to remember the good times (for me anyway). Most of you would have seen the car from cruises back in the early days to the track days it was attending on a regular basis from 2005-2008. I'm assured the new owner will look after her just like I did over the years, and frankly, got an absolute bargain. I won't say who it is but it is a fellow club member and somebody I've known for many years through the car scene. I'm sure you will find out soon enough...

The car is also featured in the current issue (No.141) of Performance Imports magazine for those interested.

OK, onto the pics.....

Early days, back in 2004..

My wedding day in November 2004

First track day, fun day at Winton in December 2004

SAUVIC cruise in 2005

New bonnet and CE28N 's in late 2005

Calder 'Twilight' track day in February 2006

Phillip Island track day in March 2006 with 'the boys' ('Crazy Frank (White 33GTR), Aaron Panozza (White 34GTR) and David Heskin Blue STI Spec C)

Autosalon show at GP 2006 - trophy for 'Editor's Choice'

Winton track day July 2006

Sandown track day at Sandown August 2006

Eastern Creek track day November 2006

SAUVIC Show'n'Shine December 2006 - trophy for 'Best R33 GT-R'

Colour coded bonnet and painted LMGT4's black in January 2007

Winton track day July 2007

[JAGR33]

Sandown track day August 2007

SAUVIC Show'n'Shine December 2007 - Trophy for 'Best R33 GT-R'

November 2008 re-sprayed the front of the car due to 'battle scars' from track days, fitted aerocatch bonnet pins and colour coded the front lip

November 2010 fitted the Alcon V8 supercar brakes to the car

May 2011 photoshoot for Performance Imports magazine

Well that's enough photos for now. Over the years the car punched out the following times:

Calder - 1:02.4

Phillip Island - 1:46.3

Sandown - 1:18.7

Winton - 1:33.4

Eastern Creek - 1:47.1

Oran Park GP (Superlap 2008) - 1:20.2 (on street tyres)

I'm going to hold off buying another car for now, since I have the Evo to play around with on the track. Maybe in 4-5 years time I will look at getting another GT-R, R35's will be much more affordable by then...

[N1GTR]

Awesome way to say goodbye to something that has been a big part of your life. Well written. The ending has a mistake though; replace R35 with R34 and the years to months

Seriously though, that was one GTR that will be remembered and respected for a long time around here!

[Count Grantleyish]

Jack, pity you're selling it... Never get to ride in it

She was really nice car, always admired it when I see it.

All the best with future for you.

[blah_blah]

Sad to hear you letting the car go Jack.

Already seen the new owner post pics on Facebook

[Daz]

New owner should be wrapped

[N1GTR]

Sandown track day August 2007

Just noticed the wheel angle here - very nice

[white180sx]

Nice work Jack. Some great transformations you went through. Especially with the different wheel choices lol...............

[krzysiu]

Good stuff mate. I'm sure Brandon will love it!

[JDMKiD__/ⓞⓞ-33]

i read about it in pi magazine, new owner would be ecstatic as!

Deffs one of the best GTRs around.

[dan_the_man]

awesome car mate. Loved the story-by-pics !

[SABBAi]

Glad it sold mate, but sorry to see it move on. Does Brandon fit in it with your seat setup....

[Downforce]

Congratulations on the sale Jack

[Ant97GTR]

End of an era indeed mate...Shame to see you let her go but onto bigger and better things

[JAGR33]

Cheers for the kind words guys, good to see your enjoying the pics.

Some of you are in the pics aswell if you look closely..

I'm told the new owner is enjoying it very much...

[adis]

fark!

[Ronin 09]

[Piggaz]

Such a nice car!

Well done on the guy that bought it!

[femno]

Love the pics!

Its awesome seeing some that have all the old guys around, Dane, Bris' 32 equipped with enkeis and the miscoloured front bar, Chris and Matts cars without stickers....ones that i remember when I first did driver training at Sandown many years ago

The car is a credit to your dedication and will be remembered forever; well i will anyway. Farken beautiful car!

p.s. im sure ive got some white stuff around that wasnt there before i saw the rolling pics on the highway

[Bec]

Awesome read Jack!!!

Love all the old pics