Zephyr

Any of yous ever went to the twisty roads near the chandler eastern freeway exit with your 8? Gotta love those corners :p kind of reminded of initial D

takahashi

How long have you been in Melbourne? :p

Yarra bend is famous for hoons and cops... stay away as now a 50kmh zone is prone to lose your licence there.

I ride there on my bike when I live in Balwyn and I see cop catching a Holden or Ford or a motorbike nearly every ride.

But I still like to go there for pics (on top of Fairfield park) and stay there for 1/2hour. You will see a Ferrari or 2. Aparently owner of the Ferrari shop down on Bridge Road Richmond like to dine at the Boat House.

juikster

I'm a refrigeration,hvac technician from the U.S....is there a any jobs available for a middle aged RX8 owner down under..whats are the chances,eh...

labrat

Hi juikster, immigration to Oz is subject to a points system which is weighted towards people with desirable skills (ie, one that we're short of). It's best to contact the Australian Consulate in your area who can access the proper advice. There is an honorary consul in Houston. Here's the contact details:

4623 Feagan Street
Houston TX 77007
Tel: (713) 782-6009 / Fax: (713) 862-8364
Email: australianconsulate@houston.rr.com

Best of luck!

juikster

Your reply is well excepted, thanks....I will look in what you suggested.

Gomez

Three minutes from my place.....yes, beware of Officer Dibbles .

RXE16T

Sounds like you know him well......... met him a few times have we?

Gomez

Nope...got a full licence 12 points haven't been booked in 5/6 years. Which is saying something down here in Victoria, I give you the drum... :D

Got the speed bug out of my system when I had the bike....I rarely get over 120kph. Redlined it three times since I bought it, and one of them by accident!

RXE16T

That's wrong on so many levels..........

Gomez

Hahaha, yeah I know. I don't drive like a grandpa though, I just don't wring it's neck. It see's seven grand regularly......

Gomez

Why I don't speed through areas I don't know well.......

Be afwaid Victorians, be vewy, vewy afwaid.....

Zephyr

those are nasty looking bins but somewhat funky but i dont speed these days anyway, dont have much merit points left and im still a P plater but mind u i didn't loose those points in the 8, all lost in my my last ride

ILIV48

My father told me about a road he use to take his bike up to when he was in the police force. A lot of the bike cops would take their Jap bikes there on the weekends.

I have driven it a couple times now in the 8 and all I can say is WOW!

The stretch of road is approx 1.5-2 hours out of Melbourne. It was built apparently for the few local farmers to use as a way of getting between 2 major roadways. The speed limit is 100 all the way and the only way to describe it is 10km of Road exactly like Yarra bend.

The best part is this road just goes through fields so you get really good views of everthing around and can see anything coming a good distance away, plus it's deserted. If you see 2 cars all day it's regarded as busy.

It's used so little that althought the road has been there for 20 odd years it looks and feels brand new. Very smooth and no imperfections.

I will be going back again in a few weeks as it really is an amazing drive that really lets you see just how good the 8 is and all while barely going over the posted speed limit. It's great :D

Oh!.... and the roads to get there and back are also some great driving roads too. A great way to spend a morning.

Gomez

Hmmm, Uh Huh, Yep......now where the hell is it!!

ILIV48

I don't know the name, I just know how to get there. I was planning on getting road names next time I go.

To get there you go up through the 'black spur' (I think that is what it is called). Not too far after the black spur is a T intersection with a right turn that takes you to lake mountain. The road I am talking about is approx 20-25min past that turnoff to Lake Mountain (You keep going straight past the Lake Mountain turn off, don't turn)

Now as I said 20-25min after passing by that Lake Mountain turn you will come to a small bridge. Right before you go over the bridge there is a innocous looking road on the left. This is the road. Turn left nail it and have fun!

At the end of the 10km stretch of twist & turns you arrive at a T intersection. If you turn left here and follow the road/highway you end up, after a pretty good drive along long twisty stretches, coming up through Whittlesea and along Plenty Road.

Until I go again & get some road names that's the best I can do in describing how to get there.

Zephyr

A Melway reference may help!!!??? :p

Gomez

Maybe, but I'm sure I can find it . Thanks ILIV48

ILIV48

Once my sway bars and springs are done in 2 weeks I will be heading back up there to test it out. I'll take note and get much better directions with road names.

I'll post a bit before I go so if any melb guys have the morning free your welcome to come along

takahashi

I am thinking about Hillsville and surrounding area....

Do you see cyclists there?! If you do then I may know where it is exactly... or maybe not after you scared them away

ILIV48

No, it's well past Hillsville. The times I have been there I have not seen anyone. Come to think about it I haven't even seen any animals in the fields on each side either!

takahashi

Marysville - found Black Spur on the map near Marysville - lf turn left there is a small country road. Perheps it is a single lane with 2 way traffic???

Perheps we could close off the track with people at 2 ends holding CB radio.
Like in the Initial D.

8000rpm

Hi guys, this is my first post.

I've been looking out for roads to explore the handling potential of the 8 since I've had it last year. My fav are those with twisty sections and yet a speed limit of 100 so I could enjoy myself without worrying about the cops. It so happened I was in the "Black Spur" area (between Healsville & Marysville) just a few days ago. That section is great although traffic can be an issue. I also went on from Marysville towards Warburton via Cambarsville. That's also a great drive, more winding and much less traffic. However, many motorbike riders also use it for fun and also occasionally log trucks so I had to be more careful there.

I haven't read this post before I set off so I didn't look out for the road ILIV48 mentioned but I would be very interested to find out where it is as well cos it sounds like an ideal place for me.