Hosting change

Has been a while since I posted anything. My hosting provider for GT6.com decided to up their prices and drop email hosting - so I've just dropped back to Network Solutions hosting my email and using their web forwarding to just come to here rather than paying for web hosting.

Workshop

After getting all inspired I have decided it is time to start working on my workshop. But to start with, some pictures of what I started with.



The view in the door - looking at the very deep cupboards that stuff gets lost in.



The workbench my Father-in-law built for me - nice and sturdy and has been great, but too low for me.



The bit of pegboard, the carpet on the floor, the busted doors and the general mess. What would need to change...



This will end up with some custom shelving, as well as my sons tool cabinet going underneath.



Behind all this is the one solid brick wall in the workshop so the welding table will go over there.



A little progress. Workshop cleared out - and carpet gone.

Interesting GT6 Build

Just stumbled across this build on the GRM forum - no idea why I hadn't seen it sooner. Must need to spend even more time on the Interwebz...

Curmudgeon's GT6 build

Finally cracked the 47s

With the next hillclimb coming up this Sunday I realised I haven't mentioned on here that I finally cracked into the 47s at the last hillclimb with a 47.74 - and didn't ping the sound meter. Ended up with 4th Outright for the day - beaten by an Evo, a STI and a mostly stock FT86 (great driver in a good car). Stoked as really wanted a 47 before the PP comes out - Sunday's event should be it's last unless JW remains as busy as he's been.

New Host

Back up and running with a new host - Apexhost. Have had enough of Generalhosting and their constant inability to provide a functioning service and their appalling customer service. Have removed previous posts whinging about them - no point cluttering up the website. Will take a little while to get the site back in shape and redeploy the old content to the new environment - but should be much better running on SQL 2012 as opposed to Access... At least now my email should work and the site won't be disappearing every other day...

No interest from Sony?

I have to admit that I've been a little surprised that I haven't been approached by Sony to see about the purchase of the GT6.com domain - to tie in with the release of Gran Turismo 6. Ah well, they know where I am.

Plenty of approaches from dodgy brothers offering (in very broken English) to purchase it for peanuts. Nah.

Sony I would - GT6 has Bathurst on it. Almost tempted to buy a Playstation & GT6 just to have a run there. Could be good practice for when I finally make it to one of the Bathurst Hillclimbs...

Catch up...

Been a while since I posted anything on here. The Team Aardvark RX7 is now running a Reliance Automotive Services prepared 13B PP - and this is the real deal with MFR housings etc. Unfortunately only a loaner until Jon finds a new home for it, but I am definitely enjoying it while I can. Phenomonal engine!

The PP plus the purchase of some second hand soft compound 205/50R15 DZ03Gs (thanks to Bruce Power) have combined to give me a new PB of 48.08 at the last event of 2012. So close to a 47! Still chasing the class record of 47.56 - so still a bit of work to do.

Having experimented with some medium compound 225/50R15 A050s on the rear of the car (thanks to Bernie Wilson) I think a move to the same tyres in soft compound may just get me there... Need a sponsor!

Last hillclimb was the first event of this year, held last Sunday. There was a fair bit of rain during the day, but at least 2 "dry" runs - the last of which netted me a best time of 48.24, enough to give me first in class and 5th outright (looped the car on the other...whoops!) and I can claim that I beat a Nissan R35 GTR on the day. :)

Some photos from the event taken by Tyrie Starrs are here.

Selling old exhaust system

Putting these photos up here to help sell my old exhaust system that is now surplus to requirements due to Racing Beat System. 

More slow progress

Got a little bit more done on the Spitfire last night. Have one side of the front suspension painted and reassembled (except for shock/spring unit) - other side is painted and partially assembled.

Pretty much over having parts all over the house (as is my rather long suffering wife) so it really is time to get it back together or sell it.

New PB

Managed a new PB of 48.73 at the SDMA Hillclimb on the 21st of October. Mostly due to the weapon grade motor on loan from JW of Reliance - a 13B PP. That motor is a monster! JW and I enjoyed throwing the RX7 around the track, but more grip is required.

Of course JW was faster with a best of 48.24.

The most surprising thing was how effective the Racing Beat exhaust was - the PP was probably no noisier than my Bridgeport with the old exhaust system - but the note was so much deeper and less tinny. And before the anoraks comment - yes, I ordered the system with extractors for a standard 13B for my engine, but the PP was fitted with RB extractors for a PP that JW had.

Some in car footage from my fastest run.

So much fun!

A bit of bling

A Racing Beat Street Port Exhaust system. Posted from the USA on a Saturday, arrived in Canberra on the Wednesday. Big thanks to JW at Reliance for organising. Great way to quieten down a noisy engine - or allow a noisier one?

Incar footage from 27th May Hillclimb

Some incar from last Sunday's hillclimb - this is from my best run (49.05). Still off the throttle too much. And apologies for camera angle - had some cable ties trying to stop shake and they pulled the camera up... YouTube linkage

SDMA Type 3 2001-3000cc record holder

Found these photos I had taken of Michael Nordsvan's RX7 which I'm 99% sure is the car that holds the record in the class I run in - a 47.56 (my pb is 48.87).

The difference is that Michael can drive... :)

Photo of the 7

I really like this photo my Dad took of the RX7 at the NSW Hillclimb round earlier this year - think the photo was taken on my fastest lap too.

Incar footage from HeartKids Hillclimb

Start of the month ran in the HeartKids Hillclimb - what a fun event. Was a great day - particularly enjoyed the "parade" laps, especially with my son in the car.

Ended up with a 85.84 - coming second in class to JoJo who got a 85.55.

After watching this incar footage of my run I can see why - off the throttle far too much!

YouTube linkage

New PB

Last Sunday was the first SDMA event of the year, a round of the NSW Hillclimb championship. Despite the dire forecasts of rain for a change it didn't - was almost perfect hillclimb weather. PB was sitting at 49.58 after Novembers event - first run of the day was a 49.49 - a good start. Second was a 49.50. Played with tyre pressures following some advice and next run was...a 48.87! Woot! Don't know where I pulled that from. Next couple of runs weren't quite that good, but still low 49s. A great day.

Chainsaw on display

The Chainsaw (rally car my wife navigates in) on its way to being on display in town today for a couple of hours as part of the lead up to the Trussme National Capital Rally.

Update



In Garema Court

Post racing slump

In post race slump mode at the moment. Ran in the local hillclimb on Sunday, had a blast but seemed to be a bit off the pace. Managed a best of 49.94 (pb is 49.75).

Got beaten in my class by an AE86 and a KE25 both running turbo 4AGEs - and both good drivers.

Good vid of Joe's best run in the AE86 on YouTube.

Next meet (last of the year) is 20th November - hopefully the new front adj struts and adj lower control arms are in by then - might get rid of the pesky understeer through the top hairpin.

6mm JDM Valve stem - shouldn't be hard to find...

Recently bought a pair of Rays Fins - need a bit of a refurb but price was OK and I do like Fins. Only prob was that one was missing it's valve stem. No problem, I'll just buy one of the intawebz I thought. Hmm, OK, this is harder than I thought. The threaded section that bolts into the rim is 6mm in diameter. Standard is 11.3 and 8mm is relatively common for motorbikes - but 6mm is pretty much JDM rims, and 6mm with a long tube (approx 40mm long from rim face) and a slight kink (45 degrees?) is even harder. Just putting this up here so I can point some WTB ads on forums to this and the pic below.

Photos from June Hillclimb

Ran the June SDMA Hillclimb a couple of weeks back - didn't manage a PB but wasn't far off with a time of 49.85 (PB is 49.75). Had a load of fun though and was happy with the results - even though I lost to Joe's turbo AE86.

Some good photos others took of the RX7.



Mat S took the above - a great photo. Just goes to show with skill you can make anything look good.



An action shot taken by Lora I think.

Looking forward to the 2 lap event in August.

No real progress on the Spitfire - some parts purchased, and I've tracked down a spray gun to fish oil the inside of the chassis - so just need to do that and then start on reassembly.