[ Total Views: 810 | Total Replies: 6 | Thread Id: 39285 ] |
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fullnoise
Fahrvergnugen
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posted on May 17th, 2005 at 02:04 PM |
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Eastern Creek with Alan Grice
Work was good yesterday.
I got the opportunity to duck out to the creek for a hot lap in a V8 racing ute.
The Autobahn ute came into the pits and the previous hot lapper was helped out of the passenger seat. I hopped in and the driver in a full face helmet
said "Hi where are you from?" I shook his hand and explained that I worked for Yokohama Tyres (the series sponsor).
The car said "Small" was the driver on the side windows and I was wondering if it was the famous racing car engineer Les Small. So I asked the
driver "Who are you?" which probably wasn't the best way to introduce yourself to a legend. When he said Alan Grice I felt like a twit.
Anyway we did 3 hot laps that were about 1:55 at a guess. We got a little bit sideways on the exit of turn 5 but other than that it was quick late
braking and controlled understeer. Gricey made it look so easy. We were doing 200 down the straight then he'd turn into turn 1 quickly stab the
brakes to drop the speed back to about 175 and then plant it through the corner.
It was a great thrill. The utes could do with a bit more grunt but they are still an entertaining category. The cars at the track on the day all had
panel damage from the previous day at Wakefield park.
Just thought I'd gloat.
Anyone else been for a hot lap with a famous driver?
CYA CT
esratrams
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J&SBlue
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posted on May 17th, 2005 at 02:39 PM |
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Sad to say no. But would love to. But...
my wife got me a 5 lap drive around Easter Creek in a "V8 Supercar" for my birthday. Someone comes with you and talks you around for 5 laps while
you are driving. Should be good fun. Just hope I can keep it off the walls and not embarrass myself!!
Pretty sure they are not real V8 Supercars but, still better than anything I own.
Mark.
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sax
Insano Dub Head
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posted on May 17th, 2005 at 06:29 PM |
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Ive been in a fast moving alfa with Freddie Fender. That can be .....um, interesting.
" You're not a team player "
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amazer
Bishop of Volkswagenism
kombi pilot
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posted on May 18th, 2005 at 04:10 PM |
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Hmm my experience is pretty lame. I got a few Hot Laps in a Satria GTi when they were first released. Went out for a couple of laps observation with a
'pro' driver, which I paid no attention to because I know Eastern Creek from TV. I was just checking out the stereo, the controls, the seat, leg
room etc. Pulled into the pits and it was my turn to drive. I got over the back side of the circuit and kept turning left instead of right and vice
versa, always on the wrong side of the track to go anywhere within sight of an apex. Then back to the pits and swapped seats again. This time was flat
out. The Satrias dont have much grunt but holy jeezus chrysler they have some grip. Good value for money I would say.
My ultimate fantasy would be a WRC. Probably the category I find least interesting but I reckon it would be the biggest thrill.
Chris.... kombi pilot, oval dreamer... finisher #26971 2005 city to surf
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fullnoise
Fahrvergnugen
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posted on May 19th, 2005 at 11:42 AM |
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The V8 supercar drive sounds like it would be fun. What a great present (hint). Just hope it has a normal gearbox with syncros. But then again perhaps
not. I hate the gear shift in commodores. I drove a Monaro and an SS around the Holden Performance Driving Centre and I had so much trouble with the
heavy, clumsy gear shift. The 1956 beetle shift is so much nicer even though the gearstick is further away from the box.
Sax, who is Freddie Fender? Any relation to Freddo Frog?
Amazer, you're Satria experience isn't that bad. When I had the run in the ute we had to wait for a whole bunch of Mercedes commercial vans to
finish their hot (well warm perhaps?) laps. That would only be fun if you were blind folded in the back with nothing to hang on to.
CYA CT
esratrams
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J&SBlue
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posted on May 19th, 2005 at 11:51 AM |
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Yes I am really looking forward to the V8 Supercar drive. I am booked in for the 1st of July. Apparently you can pay $50 extra and get an in car video
of the 5 laps....should be interesting!!!:thumb
The cars at Eastern Creek are all Fords. I'll let you know what it was like.
Mark.
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blutopless2
Veteran Volks Folk
DAMSLO
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posted on June 8th, 2005 at 01:19 PM |
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i went on a drive day at Calder Park in January (as a Xmas pressy) got to drive a V8 commodore (mechanically the same as a supercar) for about 30
minutes or so... was great... loved the noise of the car when inside... unfortunately we only drove on the short course coz calder park is now full of
pot holes on the long circuit coz they dont look after it anymore... but still managed 180k's on front straight... and we were only alowed to use 3rd
and 4th gears as the gear selection is so damn close they didn't want us missing gears etc... still lots of fun... then at the end we got to go on a
hotlap with the pro... so much later on the braking etc... make you think they are not gonna pull up to take the corner..
Mark - you'll love it.
see.... air and water do mix
1974 1300
1997 MK3 Golf GL
2003 NB Cabrio
2012 Golf VI GTI
2014 Audi A4 Quattro
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