Morgan park rd4

[FalconEL]

Good stuff toranaracer, have a safe trip!! Same to all the interstaters running this weekend.

Can't wait! Should be some awesome racing at Morgan Park!

[sportsedan4]

As an adjunct to Mr Boosts comments I have forwarded a copy of an opinion I forwarded to the ASSA Vic.I think the comments have some relivence to your debate.


Thank you to the people who contacted me with a view to discussing the points I made in the last news letter.
To move the debate forward I guess the first point to agree on, is recognition of the fact that change does need to take place , do we all see that we are in decline and every positive step should be considered to save our category.
Money would solve most issues when you discuss low grid numbers with National competitors, that said change is needed to drive it to a point where those that can afford the costs are motivated to spend.
Of course the problem of low grids, and the difficulty of getting people into our group as well as the inability to sell cars at anything there real value has a lot to do with many things other than the cost of actually running a car. I believe we need to attract the young racer as well as keep the older car builder in our mist.
With that in mind I believe the real problems are many but things can be done around the edges heading to a greater goal as an end game. As you know I believe we need parity, so my position begins there. Secondly the cars need to be built to a formula that is simple current in shape and straight ford to construct with a known end result.
An example of what I mean is included in this article. To make it really clear we need current cars that are easy to manufacture to a formula that creates a level playing field. We need two classes smaller engines and large engines, achieving similar if not the same out comes.
The introduction of Trans Am cars tells us that good cars can find there way into the category . I think there are six Trans Am cars here now. When buying these cars you should at least understand the end possibilities. The example that I won’t to draw attention to are the Rolex GT class run in America. These cars are very similar to ours in lots of ways, but clearly all costs are controlled as well as performance out comes. There web sight is www.grand-am.com and is well worth a good look.
I do understand that I’m not offering any real concrete solutions to the path forward, rather just general vague views which I hope will lead to productive discussion.
Having said all of the above , my answer to most of what I see the problem to be would be for some dedicated person to build 3 or 4 cars to a formula I have considered for some time .This would be cars with a predictable performance out come, more under car aero, more replicating the donor car, common but real race car running gear that would be reliable and easy to maintain etc.
The next step is to put the country's best go karter in a car and watch his mates come along to challenge.
The car that I envisage would cost about 10K per National round to run, and would be capable of running close to the front, with a path way to the front, in a second division if the thing really got going.
If I was 20 years young the project would be well on the way already. look forward to hearing your thoughts. John Gourlay.

[Mopar358]

Damn it is such an absolute delight to hear from a stalwart of the class like John Gourlay. Seeing the competition between his Audi and the Sera Saab were fantastic. His knowledge of the car specifications and the racing is current and therefore relevant. I look forward to peoples input on his post. Transam, Grand Am and Road Course Stock cars would all be cost effective ways to compete in the class. A series 6 RX7 with an ls1 engine and Nascar 4 speed would be competive at a reasonable figure. There will be plenty of dry sumped Ls1 from Robert Yates Racing Engines available next year as there is a new spec engine comng. The ls1 make 650 bhp at 7500 and in package like an S6 Mazda will be quick. A 1.29 on radial treads at Eastern Creek prove that the dimensions and weight distribution of that car is close to ideal. There are lots of options and I hope that John and Ron Hossack put their very smart heads together and come up with a blueprint gor a repeatable yet individual basis for SS of the future.

[Toymax]

I think we're drifting off the subject for this thread, but I have a question Mopar:

Can you please define what a "reasonable figure" would be in this every-car-is-the-same future? I think the cost of the wheel nuts on John's Audi is higher than the total build cost of my car, so what he or you think is reasonabe may not appeal to everyone.

[Mopar358]

I can't speak for John Goulay and Ron Hossack but I'm confident I could put together an Rx7 with an Ls1 and a Nascar dog box with ex NASCAR brakes and Jap import style suspension and Porsche cup tyres(second hand or new) which would run in the 1.31 to 1.33 second laps at Eastern Creek. This car would be usable as a time attack car and a Sport sedan for under 50k. I travel to the US twice a year and see hardware at incredibly cheap prices at Auction. I've seen a number of cars that could with slight modifications run at the pointy end of the SS field for under 70k. I'm not naive to say that these cars will beat Tony or Darren but would certainley be in the next pack with the Calbras, Camaros and Monaros that make up the next bunch. I never want to see the hand fabricated masterpieces and clever home engineering that typifys SS historically but to keep the class alive we have to get new blood and new cars in the field. Using a live rearend withCambered ends with a turbo 4, 6 or ex Nascar v8 and ex Nascar brake hardware and ex V8 supercar uprights etc. You could certainley put together a competive piece using Speedway type Chassis. Speak to Phast Phil he has a Finite whatever program Lol which he uses to design a chassis which he could sell plans for or sell in Kit Form to be welded together by those capable. Please discuss!!!

[toranaracer]

Where were we, ahh yeah Morgan Park Round 4 :p

Don't forget to follow the racing on ITVLIVE.com.au over the weekend.

I promise I will give you a wave ;)

toranaracer

[Dasnowman]

Where were we, ahh yeah Morgan Park Round 4 :p

Don't forget to follow the racing on ITVLIVE.com.au over the weekend.

I promise I will give you a wave ;)

toranaracer

You now better toranaracer cause now I will be watching for sure LOL :D
Are they showing saturdays racing as well??

Thanks
Dasnowman

[Dasnowman]

Goodluck everyone!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Dasnowman :D :D

[Phast Phil]

Hows this for a committed real racer:

Scott Butler chews up a gear box yoke and some surroundiing parts in qualifying 1 at Morgan Park.
Within 15 minutes the car is without body panels and the gearbox is out. Team has a quick meeting and decides to drive back to Sydney and pick up some parts to return Sunday am to reassemble and race.

Now that is what I call a REAL RACER and the type of guy we want supporting the Kerrick series.

I bet he wins the Kerrick special award tomorrow! There is no keeping down the POM who wears the Towling Hat is there?

[MrBoost]

now thats a top effort, didnt bother to fly?