greg g Posted January 4, 2008 Report Posted January 4, 2008 For our friends down under, I wonder how many of you follow the V8 Super car racing series? I happened to be able to watch coverage of the 1000KM race from Bathurst in October I think. What a great contest. Door to door and bumper to bumper, pit stops with driver changes and brake pad and rotor changes. The narrow track with amazing elevation changes, and basically you could throw a blanket over the first four cars at the finish. 6 speeds, 600 hp 5 liters, speeds in the 210 KPH range on a road coarse. Makes NASCAR look like professional wrestling . No orchastrated yellow flags, iminimal pace care usage. Are only the Fords and Holdens allowed or are they the only thing that comptitive? Quote
rearview Posted January 4, 2008 Report Posted January 4, 2008 I wish they'd show more of that, it is really a good racing series. They run the hell out of them. FYI, you can get the holden in the states: 2004-2006 GTO and the new G8. I got interested in that racing series when I had my GTO... wanting to see what the "foreign version" could do on the track. Quote
martybose Posted January 4, 2008 Report Posted January 4, 2008 I've been watching it on the Speed Channel, and enjoying it immensely! Marty Quote
Guest rockabillybassman Posted January 4, 2008 Report Posted January 4, 2008 V8 Supercars is like a religion in this part of the world. It has a season, but the Bathurst 1000 is the biggie. It used to be open to any make, used to get Nissans, BMWs, all sorts. Over the years they wittled away the crap and it became a Ford vs Holden competition. Folks in these parts are very much Ford or Holden, and staunch with it. It is exciting racing, very, very tight on interesting circuits. That's one thing I dont like about American racing, the circuits are just ovals...... they need to incorporate a few hairpins, chicanes etc. (IMO). Quote
daddyo23 Posted January 4, 2008 Report Posted January 4, 2008 Sounds interesting, but you can make mine straight line! 8000 horsepower, the smell of tire smoke in the morning, a little nitro is good for the soul. Wayne P. Quote
Merle Coggins Posted January 4, 2008 Report Posted January 4, 2008 Sounds interesting, but you can make mine straight line! 8000 horsepower, the smell of tire smoke in the morning, a little nitro is good for the soul. Wayne P. I second that, Wayne. There's nothing like the smell of nitro in the morning. I get dizzy watching those NASCAR boys chasing their tails around an oval track. Road courses are much more exciting. But Drag racing is my favorite. I haven't seen the Aussie racing yet. I'll have to check it out. Merle Quote
rockerbillykat Posted January 5, 2008 Report Posted January 5, 2008 there is a web site for those interested in v8 super cars, www.v8supercars.com.au, its got some interesting vidio footage from last years rounds...........but i digress.....nothing beats a funny car on launch, the smell of nitro and tyre smoke and the big kick in the chest from the exhaust.....aaaahhh! Quote
62rebelP23 Posted January 5, 2008 Report Posted January 5, 2008 the Argentines do some serious sedan racing too; what they do to a Falcon will blow your mind. of course, Bathurst is the shangri-la of saloon racing; it just doesn't get any better than that. i keep looking for a 67-69 Falcon sedan i can turn into an Aussie 351GT.... four doors, four speed, four barrel....mad graphics... mmmmmmmm... Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 5, 2008 Report Posted January 5, 2008 look no further..got a 67 Falcon here for a super good price..very solid body..the newly rebuilt 200-6 and C4 will not impress you I am sure..and the ultimate death blow. 4 door still can be had cheap...lol pure shamless plug ...... Quote
62rebelP23 Posted January 5, 2008 Report Posted January 5, 2008 you kidding? how'd you like a 71 Torino GT in trade? 302 4v w/C4? (picture evil grin, snidely whiplash laugh...) and that 200-6 would stay in there after all gas is 3 bucks and climbing... Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 5, 2008 Report Posted January 5, 2008 we will take this off line from here..will send you some pics in a few day of the yellow beastie...have not photographed it yet...PM me your e-mail so I can send them along... Quote
Normspeed Posted January 5, 2008 Report Posted January 5, 2008 These are the same folks that brought us those V8 powered aluminum race boats that run on a closed "road course" at mostly full throttle. Quote
Guest rockabillybassman Posted January 5, 2008 Report Posted January 5, 2008 Jetsprint boat racing is the marine equivalent of V8 supercar racing. Bloody awesome! A supercharged big block Chev putting out 1000hp in a 12 foot alloy boat racing the clock in a twisting, turning 12" deep trough of water about 8' wide, usually in a quarry. I've watched all forms of boat racing, and jetsprint leaves everything else in its wake! Regarding dragracing.... I find contemporary dragracing boring. They've got too good at it. Give me nostalgia drags any day. Front engine diggers, mile high gassers, brutal altereds like The Winged Express, Jungle Jim (and of course Jungle Pam ), Big John Mazmanian, Big Daddy Don Garlits, Stone, Woods, Cook, Linda Vaughn.... that was the hayday of drag racing to me. Today it's too scientific, too corporate, too slick, too predictable. Quote
62rebelP23 Posted January 5, 2008 Report Posted January 5, 2008 the Aussies are lucky to have all that "empty space" to do FAST THINGS in... and few law enforcement personnel to stop them! we have a lot of room to play in but the Gestapo is too prevalent. Quote
greg g Posted January 5, 2008 Author Report Posted January 5, 2008 I have seen that or something similar. I would have to throw that pointer dude overboard. Quote
Normspeed Posted January 5, 2008 Report Posted January 5, 2008 I'm with bassman, probably the most hair raising boat racing I've ever seen. I once set up a 12 foot aluminum with a new Yamaha 15 and I thought that was a hot rod. LOL. Quote
Normspeed Posted January 5, 2008 Report Posted January 5, 2008 I agree, drag racing has gotten too high tech and expensive. But, the latest edition of Hot Rod magazine (Feb 08) has a great article on the "Flashlight Drags" being held at some small airports in Pennsylvania. 1/8 mile, no timers or Christmas tree. No sticky stuff for traction. Street tires only. Seatbelts required but nothing else. Helmets and rollbars not a requirement. No trailered cars. No classes, no dial in or breakout. Just a win/lose beam at the end of the run. Starter is a young lady with a flashlight. Jumping the start (pun intended) is not tolerated, Whining about your opponent jumping the start is not tolerated. That's drag racing like it used to be, and it's legal. Quote
Guest rockabillybassman Posted January 6, 2008 Report Posted January 6, 2008 It seems there's a parallel here between other aspects of rodding and dragracing. The winners in dragracing today are the guys who can put a million into the car. The winners in shows (SEMA, GNRS, the Ridler etc) are the guys who put a million into the car. Which all leaves me completely cold. That's why I dig the Hamb..... it's all about low buck rodding. That's why I dig this place.... most of the guys here are low buck car guys. I have $10K NZ (about $8K US) in my car including the purchase price, and that's my idea of car fun. The day I first drove my Plymouth down the road, I had an incredible adrenalin rush and a stoopid grin on my face a mile wide. I know every single nut and bolt in that car intimately, and I'll bet there's not a 1-800 chequebook rodder on earth that would have that sense of satisfaction. Same goes with dragracing.... there's only four or five guys in the US licensed to build chassis for 8000hp AA/F dragsters. At least the nostalgia racers can say "yeah, I built it in my shed". And I guarantee they get more satisfaction from running what they built than the likes of John Force gets from writing out a cheque. Rant over. Quote
daddyo23 Posted January 7, 2008 Report Posted January 7, 2008 While what Bassman says does seem to be the way of rodding and all racing, i.e. more bucks, more trophies, it should be put into context. I spend time at the NHRA tracks in Minnesota and Iowa, working with the NHRA. I get a chance to talk to the men and women who own, wrench and drive these cars. While the best to me is still the sportsman classes, even with the breakouts and all, just about everybody from the stocker to the pro are hardworking, humble everyday folks who love what they do (with a couple of notable exceptions). They really appreciate the fans and are more than willing to talk to them. John Force, who does have money, started with nothing. Drove his old pickup to the track with an old open trailer. Yes, he can write the checks, but he's earned it IMHO. When Eric Medlen died last March, the whole drag racing community came together. It is like one big family. In my line of work at the track, you see all sides. Not trying to start anything, just thought I'd clarify my passion for fast. Wayne P. Quote
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