I originally posted this in the Aussie forum, but I got some encouragement about the pics and the story, so I have moved it here for a potential wider audience to enjoy! If you don't understand any of the Aussie slang - well just ask!

Day 1 - Thursday 1st April 2004
Brisbane to Goulburn.

Well I'm excited. Not much sleep the night before, which is not a good thing. I was pretty busy packing, and getting some Hymee Enhanced brochures printed for the trip. I had the car serviced on Wednesday, so it was pretty right to go. I just made sure the windscreen was nice and clean again - that is about the only thing the service car wash guys don't get 100%. I was also lucky enough to get the "proper" Rotary Oil at the service, and kept the leftover 300ml for top-ups. Packed it in the storage cover for the ski-hatch (thanks Sco for that tip!)

(Note: I re-fuelled the car the day before with BP Ultimate. The ODO was 19097, and I travelled about 13km before I left home)

I was aiming to leave at 4:00am. After running a little bit late and saying goodbyes to the beautiful wife and kids, I left home at 4:20am and straight on to the Bruce Highway then the Gateway Motorway. Who would have thought I would get stuck in a traffic jam on the Gateway Bridge at 10-to-five in the morning??? Big house on the back of a truck taking up most of 3 lanes. Passed him at the toll gates, and then smooth sailing to the first stop - meeting with Lock & Load at Mudgereeba. No time to stop and talk, so we hit the road. L&L just had his Hymee exhaust fitted earlier in the week, so we now had a convoy of 2 '8s with "my" exhaust.

It was a pretty uneventful trip south and over the border. L&L was happy he was following, as he didn't know what route we were following. The Pacific Hwy is much improved heading through the most northern part of NSW, before the hilly bits around Byron. 110km/h 4-lane dual carrigeway most of the time. Some of the double barrel tunnels reminded me of Lock & Load.

Somewhere near Lismore I decided to play my April Fools Day joke on L&L. We had handheld UHF radios, so there was some chatter going on most of the time between us. "Michael, one of your fog lights is not working." After 800km of head scratching and me juicing the prank for all it was worth, he finally clicked

I made an en-route decision that Grafton would be a good stop for breakfast. We did't quite hold out for Grafton, and had a short toilet stop at a small town. I forgot the name of the place, but here is a picture:



On to Grafton where a strategically positioned Golden Arches restraurant beckoned me inside for some hot cakes, and a liquid caffeine boost. I don't drink coffee, so that leaves the sweet post-mix taste of Coke as a booster for my No-Doz caffeine pills I had been popping every 3 hours. We made pretty good time to Grafton. It was 350km from home, and I have been on the road for 3.75 hours and made 2 prior stops.

We continued down the Pacific Hwy, and I planned I would need fuel at Coffs Harbour. The BP site showed me there was 98 RON Ultimate (my fuel of choice) available at South Coffs Harbour. I made it there we plenty of fuel to spare.

1st Fuel Stop - ODO 19559km, 50.36litres @ $1.089/l = $54.84
That Works out to 10.9L/100km

At this point I let L&L have a drive of my car so he could get a feel for the Hymee Enhanced tune. We had pre-arrange to meet Jax8 near Raymond terrace, and to call him when we left Coffs Harbour. That taken care of, on we went.

100km or so up the road we made a short stop at a Shell for some of that "other" fuel. L&L had been complaining about a dash rattle on the previous legs. When I drove his car I trouble shooted it for him. $4.50 of coin in the coin tray. D'oh.

While L&L fuelled, I cleaned the bug guts from both of the cars windscreens. Now L&L thinks I am a windscreen cleaning guru as well. I just know how to clean cars I guess.

Back in my own car now, and a bit more power on tap Plus I like the cloth interior better. I don't like the partially leather seats in the RX-8 (vinyl inserts!) and the leather looks too smooth and "plasticy". I prefered the leather seats in my SS much better.

Here are a couple of nice piccies I took en-route to Heatherbrae:




Notice how I accuratley timed my shot to get the wheel center logo correctly oriented :p

It was a pretty long haul from Coffs to Heatherbrae, and the Jax8 duo ended up waiting a while for us. I guess I wasn't travelling as fast as he planned. But we finally met them. Grabbed some Jackas on the run, and re-fuelled

2nd Fuel Stop - ODO 19932km, 38.81litres @ $1.089/l = $54.84
That Works out to 10.4L/100km. Even better

By now we had 3 RX-8s in convoy, all with the Hymee Exhaust Makes me a proud old Hymee! Jax8 escorted us down the M3 and thought some back streets of the north shore, then in through Sydney and eventually out the other side onto the M5 toward Golburn.

Here are a couple of pitures en-route with Jax8:



Jax8 left our convoy at Mittengong, and left L&L and Hymee to fend for themselves. Approaching Goulburn, I called the track-day organiser, "Adjust". He gave me some very helpful verbal directions to the "Sheep Station" where our Thursday night accomodation had been arranged. Got there at about 7:00pm, without missing a turn. No one else there yet, so L&L and I headed back into town for a quick bite to eat at one of the local Chinese restaurants.

Finally back at the Sheep Station, most of the RENEW guys had arrived and where starting to setup "The Bunkhouse". I met pretty much most of the people there with various RX-s or various description and even a R-100. Also 8A8Y 8 and his better half were there in a nice black RX-8 with a Stainless Steel Hymee exhaust. I can't remember everyone else, but I was pleased to meet and chat with: Don, Neil, Brad, Matt, Aleisha, Adam, Phil... Ended up hitting the sack close to midnight.

Stay Tuned for the next exciting epiosode: Day 2

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Some more pics of the stage fearlessly led by Jax8





Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Hey man, great post!!

A few of us Melb guys caught up with the legend last night.....

Thankfully, Lock & Load didn't show us the weapon that shoots!!

Great exhaust, by the way.....

Gomez.

 

Roll on part 2...

This could be BIG ...

Serial in the newspapers
reality show and spin off bloopers program
kids toys
adults only edition ( compared by L&L no doubt)
breakfast cereals ( shape of rotors with 8 vitamins and minerals)
Maybe even a disney feature in time or
even better
a movie !!!!

Who would Hollywood choose to play
Hymee ...
L&L ....
Jax ...


mmmm .......Suggestions please !!

 

Hymee

Your posting is right on apart from your comments re: the seats , id rather have a mixture of leather /vynil tailored supportive classy looking /seats .

.Without prejudice in comparison (shoes be it leather or a vynil / leather mixture are still better more supportive classier looking than a pair of cheap cloth thongs ) .HA HA HA

Sorry but thats just expressing my thoughts , no offence meant .

As for the Hymee enhanced Rickshaw guru tuned aftermarket unit installed in your car ?????,

IF there is a difference which i accept there is, i certainly could not feel it on the day i drove your car .

My butt dyno could not tell the difference , but everyone to their own decisions .

The photos are great especially the one showing my ride in Hymees side mirror .

CHEERS
MICHAEL

 

Hymee,
I shall contribute my 2penneth worth once you have completed the trilogy.
Jack

 

Yeah, butt you thought the CZ unit was good at first before we measured it, and prooved it actually worse. :

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Day 2 - Wakefield Park Track Day

Friday 2nd April, 2004


A new daw dawns - "The Sheep Station"

Most people started to rise and shine around 6:00am. A nice warm shower followed by some nice fat food (bacon roll) for breakky. Time to pack up. The daylight revealed some nice rotars of various vintage.



Just enough time to give the windscreen a really good debug after the previous full days interstate driving.

It was a short 400m hop to the Wakefield Park circuit. Looks a pretty good setup. Probably 50 or more open, covered pit garages, quite close to the track. Much better catered for than Lakeside, but not quite as good a QR. Still very impressive though. Quickly removed all loose items from the car (i.e. everything that was traveling with me!) before a saftey check.

We assembled for the obligatory drivers briefing from the Track Management, and we all paid our licence fees etc.

First out was the beginners, which included me. We would be shown around the track by other drivers who were experienced on the circuit, and were introduced to the racing drivers who gave up there time to be instructors for the day. I was lucky enough (forceful enough) to have Ric Shaw take me out in my car for a few laps. The smoothness coupled with the speed of Ric really amazed me. I felt very fortunate. Ric showed me the lines, where to aim for when braking, what gear to be in etc. etc. He just let the car flow around the track with a minimum of fuss and bother.

Soon after it was my turn to have a go by myself. My last few track encounters where on Lakeside and Queensland raceway in V8 Holdens. This was a different kettle of fish. A slower track than Lakeside, but probably on par technically. Slower but much more technical than Queensland Raceway. It combined the fun of Lakeside, with the safety of QR. There wasn't much to hit, with lots of run off area.


Timbo at speed down the front straight.

Time standing by the pit wall allowed me to experience the superb note from the 4 RX-8s with the Hymee "Catback" compared to the 2 stock ones. I was mightly impressed - but I am biased. The others liked it too. The stock exhaust cars sounded like they were driving down the freeway.

The HymeeEnhanced ones were a blast - a roar befitting the racetrack!

 

Day 2 - Part 2

After a few of these sessions for beginners as well as the faster drivers, we lined up on the

starting grid with all the cars present for a photo shoot. Every car on the track had a rotary

engine. There was even a RALT open wheeler with a turbo 13B and a rotary powered Clubman. The

2 RX-7 sports cars where impressive. Especially the 20B N/A beast. It screamed.

Here are a few shots of all the cars on the grid, and the ensuing parade lap:

 

Day 2 - Part 3

The rest of the day was just great, and I probably have the order all **** about...



Ric arranged a special photo session of just the RX-8s, and some video interviews with some of the drivers.

I had to make a trip into town for some more fuel, as I experienced fuel starvation when the tank got less than 1/4 and I kept going hard. Unfortuneatly, $25 worth didn't get me as many more laps as I really wanted.

I managed to get Ric in as my passenger to tell me what I was doing wrong. He was very helpful, and spend some quality time with me helping to improve my technique. I even got into trouble for not using the last track... "You still had 4 inches Hymee that you could have used". (L&L - Don't hijack this one - the in-your-endo is obvious ) After spending time with Ric and taking his advise he pointed out how I was taking corners easily in a higher gear than I was earlier, such was the extra speed I was carrying . Many thanks Ric!



I took Saru for a few laps - he thought it was a real buzz, and was impressed by the handling of the 8 compared to earlier RX's he had been in.

I had spent some time meeting a few people the night before, but did not spend nearly as much time following up during track day, which was sad. I did however get asked by Matt to take him for a spin, so that was my Birthday present for him! He really enjoyed it. After 5 or so laps I felt like a rest, so I let the car cool down for a lap - then I realised I really wanted to keep hook'n into it! That lasted for a few laps and I wanted to blast past Jax8 on the straight, until the low fuel issue put paid to that! Matt's partner Aleisha timed a few of our laps, and she said one was a 1:11 and one was a 1:08. I didn't have any other times, so I didn't really know weather that was a good time or not.

The day drew to a close, and we had some presentations etc. One was for the fastest street car lap, and if I heard it correctly, it was a 1:10. Maybe I didn't do a 1:08, but who am I to argue with my trusty timekeeper Aleisha!



ADJUST also had a nice White and Red RX-8 flag to auction. 8A8Y 8 was the lucky bidder!

Sadly, all good days come to an end, and it was time to pack up and start heading home. A few of us refuelled in Goulburn, and I was going to head back to Sydney in convoy with three other RX-8's. But stupidly I realised I had left my engine cover at the track, and had to wait for some of the other to get back into town with my missing part. Silly me. I should have stayed to have a few drinks with ADJUST, Neil and a few of the crew - it would have been a good chance to recount the day. But I had arranged to get back to North Sydney to meet Dez and fit grill for him, and another for Pricer01.

My sincere thanks to ADJUST for organising such a great day, and to all those others who made it possible. Well done to the RENEW crew!

So I hit the road at around 5:00pm, and cruised the Hume back to Sydney. Somewhere around Liverpool, I called Dez, and he gave some verbal instructions to navigate my way to my Friday Night accomodation at North Sydney. After some dinner, I met up with Dez and we had a few quite drinks, before he took me for a blast around some of his favourite roads in around Mossman. I think we woke up some of the animals at Taronga Park Zoo.

By Midnight, Dez was just getting started, but I was falling asleep, so he dropped me back the the hotel, where I went to sleep, thus ending day 2.

 

Saturday 3rd April, 2004

Day 3 - Sydney to Newcastle

The planned "Grill Fitting" was postponed till around 2:00pm. I took an early morning walk over the Harbour Bridge, and aftersome brekky went for a little drive to Hornsby to call in on some rellies.




The Sun rises over Sydney Harbour



Sometime after lunch, I met up with Dez and Pricer01 in North Sydney. Pricer01 heard my car for about 50m of driving when we all stopped in the carpark/garage, but that was enough to convince him that he should have brought his checkbook to order a Hymee exhaust!

Here is a pic of Dez and Pricer01 sitting their first prac exam in "Hymee Grill Fitting - 101"




Three well protected RX-8's

After that workshop was completed, Dez shot through back to family duties. Pricer01 and I spent some more time chatting, and he had a spin in my car to experience the exhaust, and feel the extra grunt in the Ric Shaw's Hymee Enhanced fuel controller.

Then it was a pretty uneventful trip up to Newcastle, where Wildcard navigated me to his abode where we caught up. We both went to the pub and got totally pissed. Only joking. We played cars He showed me his RE intake he had just done a major improvement to. Very professionaly looking work, Wildcard! We went for a spin to check things out. He was very happy with the results of his labour - but I will leave that to him to post and brag about himself! We grabbed some pizzas then went to try the piggy back on his car. I was concerned it might not work too good, as his car has the "D" flash, and the controller was tuned to the "E" flash. One thing we tried was just swapping my whole computer and piggy-back. As I expected, this did not work, as the BCM (Body Control Module) and the PCM are "linked" together so you can't just swap computers without doing some other messing around. I guess it is an anti-theft type of thing.

We then plugged the piggy back into the "D" PCM in Wildcards car, and went for a drive. He immediately noticed an improvement in the driveability. We cautiuosly pushed it a bit harder, but found the "tune-up" in the piggy back was not right for the "D" calibration. I check this with my OBD logging, and checked the mixtures produced where too lean.

When we finished playing cars, it was time for another midnight bedtime. Not enough sleep this trip...

 

Sunday 4th April, 2004
Day 4 - Newcastle to Brisbane

After a fairly uneventful morning, I left Wildcard to get ready for work, and I headed home around 8:00am. I took the short cut through "The Buckets Way" and "Thunderbolts Way" via Walcha, home of Jax8.

Lovely roads for streching out the '8. At this stage I was driving with the piggy back not connected. I really noticed the car was a lot slower accelerating over the last 2 thousand RPM in higher gears. In first and second you don't notice it as much as it goes quick anyway. In 4th and 5th it certainly gets there quicker with the piggy back installed. My previous experience in this "groove" showed the Renesis coupled with the Ric Shaw unit would rev freely making good power up top and wanting to keep going. Without the Ric Shaw unit it was noticably more sluggish.

Anyway - back on public roads now, so just be careful. 20km or so out of Walcha was a Mr Plod booking someone at the side of the road. Lucky his flashing red/blue lights from a distance gave me a chance to ensure I passed him at an acceptable speed. I think I lost 50 cents or more slowing down, but I still passed him with $1.00 and a little loose change.

Got a headlight flick from a car going in the other direction not far out of Walcha. Not another Plod??? No, but this instead:


Warning: Stop for big bastard cattle!

Moral - Be careful on country roads.

I didn't stop at Walcha, 'cause I new Jax8 wasn't home so I pressed on to the New England Highway. Next stop was at Black Mountain for a refuel.

Not much else happening. I stopped somewhere for a pee and took this nice photo:



Lunch was at KFC Glenn Innes where they buggered up my order. But it was nice to stop for a rest anyway. A few of the locals stopped to chat about the car. They hadn't seen one before - there isn't a Mazda Dealer in town. On the road again I pressed on to Stanthorpe where I had another 20 minute rest, then on to Warwick for a quick snack of drive through Macca's then onwards though Cunninghams Gap. It seemed like I was finally getting close to home. Then passed Willowbank. It is funny how close that seemed all of a sudden after countless 1 hr drives out ther and back.

Finally, I got home at 6:00pm Sunday Evening.

I'll lookup and document my total mileage and fuel useage stats later. In the meantime, I hope you had a good read!

Cheers,
Hymee

 

excellent posts Hymee, wish i could have been there

excellent photography. After you've finished with the hymee house of automotive parts what about a hymee school of photography

 

Great read. Post of the month, methinks

But am a bit worried that the artistic bridge photos suggest you may move your passion from cars to photography!

 

top stuff hymee, always a pleasure to read your posts.

P.S you forgot to mention your a photo guru aswell :p

 

Hymee,
Thanks for the great read and fantastic shots.

I guess the next addition to the hymee corporation will be a book on motoring around our great country roads.

skc

 

skc's comments seconded. Excellent posts and pics Hymee.


There aren't to many downsides to living in WA, but the difficulty of getting to meets like that is one of them...

 

BVD, I can imagine many downsides to living in the West (including getting lost on your bike) if your abode was anywhere near the spot that Eastmoon has located you on the 8 owner's map. That has worried me for weeks - but not as much as Gomez' new avatar has worried me these past couple of days!
jack

 

Yes Jax8, that avatar is a worry isn't it..... it's definitely not Morticia.... is old Gomez having a mid life crisis...

And fortunately I'm nowhere near the spot where my name is on Eastmoon's map. I'm near Mundaring which is in the hills just outside Perth.

Quite safe getting mildly lost around here.

 

So for those who are saying WTF is that... Heres' a map to help put it into perspective...



That is on the east coast of Australia

Cheers,
Hymee

 

anybody else catch that the yellow 8 has a different bumper?

or am i seeing things?

 

BIU

Since you have a good eyesite for detail i will post a better shot of my front bumper .

 

Heres a photo of WAKEFIELD PARK CIRCUIT , this is where we had our meet there was a total of 35 rotaries with 8 rx8s its a 2.2 KM CIRCUIT Tecknically quite difficult .

After the track meet i drove a further 100Okm to MELBOURNE AND STAYED for 10 days and then drove a further 1900km to get back to the gold coast .ha ha ha

The locusts (grasshoppers ) loved my yellow 8 luckily i was protected by my aftermarket Australian built and designed HYMEE GRILL.

CHEERS
MICHAEL

 

This original first trip to Wakefield April 04 is a great read .

A bit of history for the new guys who may have missed this thread .

Michael