With the AIM Solo none of us have anywhere to hide Walter, however live telemetry and a team radio would take it to another level

 

Can't speak for others but I don't think that a team composed solely of 10/10ths guys is a winning formula, and very happy with my investment to date. The 'cup isn't billed as entry level racing for nothing, but it's still close and competitive racing, and I'm learning a lot - whether on the ownership and preparation side, in the pits, or on track. I'm reading a great book on the racing days of the 956 too at the moment and it all has that bit more relevance when you're part of a racing team yourself, no matter how humble the series. For instance, Porsche generally avoided signing F1 stars and the hotter young drivers for their endurance cars, in favour of slightly slower but more consistent pilots like Derek Bell. Stephan Bellof being a notable exception and one of my driving heroes. Getting pole helps little towards winning an endurance event, but generates the extra press coverage that sponsors and manufacturers love so Porsche couldn't resist the extra second or two he'd regularly find even on a short 90ish second course like Silverstone, never mind somewhere like the Nurburgring where he (and Porsche) still hold the lap record over 30 years on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Bellof

 

The is for posting that Walter. The informal session gave me an insight into what we need to have, and that is a car prepared with no known weaknesses. There's no time to fix things on the day. You can be sure that we will learn more on the 13th, but we're a long way on in the journey. Chris B is going to take the lead on driving etiquette and racing strategy. I'm going to take the tech lead. Everyone else will no don't get some part in the circus on the day. It will be manic but very rewarding. I'm still amazed at the way we all work together.

 

I like the idea of a privateer 24 Nurburgring assault. It has the same bucket list appeal to me as a ride on Bransons private Virgin Galactic space flights or Space X. Either of which I will gladly spend my last pennies on if the end is nigh.

A couple of seasons in the '86 Cup series would be a mandatory pore cursor for me to attend an international event like the 24Hr. I think the etiquette is very important here for safety of yourself and fellow competitors.

My belief is a consortium assault could be put together for under 250K NZD. However, Tim as much as I love your idea of an old Relic with character the $$$ in these events is getting to them and entering. I understand this well. Relibaility is always top of my mind when I return to NZ for something as simple as a NITT, SITT, or Targa Tour. I have to re arrange my life for a minimum of two weeks, pay entry fees, flights and accommodation so an early DNF isnt acceptable on grounds of preparation and reliability and as such have always invested heavily in the equipment to get me through the event.

My choice for a purely budget assault would be something like a newer version of the Seat Cuora cup car below for 45K NZD on Trademe right now. Alternatively fielding a 997 GT3 Cup would be possible economically because it would be an easy vehicle to resell after the vent and recoup the money from (these tend to be cheaper in NZ where there is no real series from them when they are a previous generation.

One day, once Pete and Neil have become wheelmen extrodinaire through the Porsche series, I have completed a season or two in a one make series we may float on here the idea of such an event. John McM will without doubt qualify as team manager! Nice dreams to have

 

can rent plenty of cars Macca with insurance ...


This is the stage that claimed the Lamborghini - the offending 'ford' is right at the end, the approach is flat and dead straight so most reasonably powerful cars will be approaching at 190kph+. I was lifting and braking to about 120-130khp. 2 cars didn't lift and the rear bounced off the rising road on the other side of the dip causing the cars to spear off the side of the road - you can see black lines

will post the crown range later

 

the first car off was the mark 1 escort and he took out a rental car parked on the side of the raod

 

I hadn't thought of rental Graeme. That would makes Johns job easy!

Interesting stage. I can see how it may have caught some unaware. Lots of straights then an airborne moment...

 

yes lots of straights - I think in some ways whilst the roads were scenic there were to many fast roads sitting at 200k just waiting for the corner to arrive. That was a common view amongst the race competitors

 

Nice smooth percentage driving. This also reminds me to give due attention to double cautions. Already the section off the start line looked open enough for the more powerful cars to hit 200kph plus too and I'm with Macca in marvelling at all the dips and crests. Usually it's the corners that dictate sensible speeds but here it often looked to be the bumps, even with the extra suspension travel of your Subaru!

 

Yes that's the impression I get too from what I have read. nothing as long and twisty as the 45km in/45km out Whangemonoma stages then?

The in car footage belied your speeds really. Looked slower than Im sure you were going. Actually looked like you were taking it real easy although I know its deception. Calls like "no more notes for 1/2/3 or 5km" are something Ive not heard from a navigator often in the NI Targa....

 

Agree about R comps. I used them in the NI Targa and the extra grip was great. However, while I wasn't particularly looking at the tyres being worn in the SITT I think most appeared to be running road tyres. Overall, I'd prefer road tyres, especially in the NITT where the roads are more technical and there's more risk of rain.

Paul, wasn't meant to be complaining about your encouragement to chase the Lambo.... You were a great navigator and coach that resulted in my driving improving and extending me. It was a blast. I'm still coming down from the South Island buzz and I wasn't even driving. Got in the drivers seat of the GT3 several times while touring but couldn't try it in anger.

So, who's interested in having a crack in the North Island Targa Tour next May?

as far as I know we have.... Ron, Patsy, Richard, Macca, Doug

What about Chris B, Paul, Chris M, others???

 

yes Macca its the corners that give you the sense of speed and a lot of the roads had humps, crests so the fastest stage times were gained by NOT lifting. But as we saw there is some risk to that strategy. Mostly we were not charging over crests. 200kph on a longish straight doesn't feel fast or look fast on video.

 

Happy to be a co-driver for someone :-)

 

Paul, how the respray going?

 

Macca the Catlins stage was 42km but not tight like Whanga. Much more like the Gentle Annies high speed and rewarding power cars. The only other long stage was Moa Flat which was supposed to be repeated but that got cancelled.