auzoom

Hymee, Trevor, Michael? Who is volunteering ?

jormatom

Ditto with all the thanks etc etc.

Fantastic weekend. Not only the action on the track, but also the friendships off it as well.

Cheers

DrewMan

Well I never!

hey i had the crappiest tyres for the track (Nangkang drift spec ftw!) and it was my first time at Winton.

Dont worry Trev, Ill get some practise in and get new tyres.


I was slipping and sliding all over the place with my tyres!

timbo

Tyres is always an interesting topic

If you look at the results, it is evident that adding track tyres (+ a modicum of driving skill) is good for a 4s/lap improvement at Winton over stock tyres, which is very interesting.

Of course, Brewer has shown the above rule does not apply if you're driving an automatic

Cromax

That's no excuse drew, my tyres were cactus and it was the first time I'd ever taken my 8 on a track! You've taken yours before!

ILIV48

Understeer for sure. Never felt it in the MX5 around Winton! Suffered it most of the day until I stopped trying to drive the Civic like the MX5. Once I altered my lines, played with tyre pressures and changed my use of the throttle towards the end of the day most of the understeer was gone, but in the morning ouch... My forearms are aching just thinking about it.

It does though make you really appreciate just how beautifully balanced mazda have the MX5 and the RX8... Although the sound of that Honda K20 engine screaming in 3rd gear at 8500rpm through the sweeper was just bliss! It's not as balanced as the original Tubby but my god did I have some fun out there with it!

auzoom

Back in your pants boys!! I had to laugh with Drew about his tyres. I have never seen anything like it. Of all the tyres there, drews had no rubber build up and he lost no visible depth in tread. Those nana's are just so bloody hard.

Also, as timbo mention, position 8->10 (lets ignore the miracle that was brewer ) was the difference between a few things, but mostly tyres and experience. Personally my morning was fantastic, I managed to drop enarly a full second from my previous best, but it was on 3 of the second session (I didnt have a beacon for the 1st session). After that I managed .43's the rest of the morning and what I did do in the afternoon I only managed 44's. The track was very greasy in the afternoon as the temperature rose.

Over all I think everyone did extremely well. Winton is a VERY technical track. My very 1st day on a race track was in the 8 at Winton and from memory I managed around a 1:58. Next trip I got around 1:52. Overall on stock tyres and suspension I managed about a 1:48 after about 4 or 5 visits.

On a very seperate note, can everyone check their goody bags as someone appears to have picked up ours which had 4 lovely emerald green 2007 RX-8 Nationals shirts in it which my kids are very upset about loosing.

Cheers

Andrew

Cronullarx8

Thanks to everyone who made the nationals once again an enjoyable experience. In particular I thank Andrew for pulling it together and organising the day well despite a bad dose of the "flu". See you in QLD next year.
regards.
BTW - I experienced deteriorating brakes to the point where by the end of the day I had great difficulty pulling it up. Trip home was interesting!. Thought it was just overheated fluid and/or discs. On examination this morning I found that the plastic non return valve in the vacuum line leading to the sevo assist on the brake master cylinder had been "eaten" by some sort of chemical attack (I am assuming coolant) and was allowing all the vacuum to "escape" which in turn resulted in no power assist to the brakes. See photo attached. I am having a new one sent from Mazda today ($51.00). Suggest everybody checks this valve. It is clearly visible about 6 inches from the master cylinder on the vacuum line.

auzoom

Holey COW! has your battery leaked or do you have a sealed one already?

timbo

Don't think it could be caused by a battery leak -- lots of space in between -- but something is definitely causing a problem there. Are you sure it is chemical and not heat/friction?

Ottog

Excuses, excuses. What do they say about a tradesman not blaming his tools: lol2:

MACCAA

When do you use the brakes?

enforcer

Who are the three blokes outside the Duttondirect photo...and whos that giving us the bird????????

Tim Tam

Well done guys, good to hear you all enjoyed yourself. I'm very, very jealous. Next year!
Brewer, I smell a rat! How many corners were cut to score that sort of lap time?
Otto, a good time by you too, and what's this about Timbo being back in an RX8 (on the timesheet)?

Brewer

Tim Tam as explained earlier the excellent tuition paid dividends but it probably helped that i got a good nights sleep as a result of not having to share a room with you in buzzsaw mode.

Ottog

Oh he does..... About 20 meters after the last break marker

Ottog

I've not been happy with the feel of my brakes since the end of the first session. Lots of rumbly grinding noises but still pulling up. Since then it's pulling up but it doesn't feel right. I checked the valve and it's fine.

I put my transformer wheels back on and took the opportunity to check the pads (50% gone) and roughed them up. If it's no better I'll change the fluid and see if that helps.

Cheers..... Otto

Oz RX-8

Many thanks to all the organisers. Thanks also to James for lending your helmet and Michael for the 200km spin in the car – she loved it! What an AWESOME weekend!

Here are a few pics

Cheers
Will

enforcer

Thanks kal...thats Dave on the left? Any misconceptions I had of the ruthless and greedy stereotype we tend to associate with lawyers has proven me wrong. It proves to me that lawyers can diversify their work forces and tastes in life...!

takahashi

Revolver presented half scaled version of him this year.
Well done mate... he passed on some weight loss tips that I must follow..

JAT1

Kall, me would like one please, can you let me know details thanks

Cronullarx8

Timbo,
I need to investigate further but at this stage I am blaming overflow coolant. All I can think of. Definitely not battery or friction. I will let you know