Just a quick post as I am typing this on my phone while waiting for this mornings first group S race....as a spectator :(
The attrition rate of the Alfa's this weekend has been terrible, like nothing I've ever seen. The all Alfa races started with 23 entrants, this morning we are down to 12!
Anyway, must go I can hear the group S cars starting and about to do formation lap.
Oh dear. I did a diff first race yesterday, Neil did a diff first race this morning.
Going home early >:(
Engines,,gearboxes,diffs,clutches,waterpumps,stuck in 4th gear,no gears,no drive,rattles in drivelines,lets chuck a rod and put oil on line at turn 2,,,,1 destroyed Alfetta GTV.,,fountain out of No1 plug on removal,5th gear not wanting to play,tyres crying no grip after 2 qualifying and 8 races..I dont want to start,,Ive had enough.
A cruel weekend of racing.
On a positive side= I had fun.
BBQ at Billys (enforcer) place on Sat night ,all worshiping the the heater -fire and good food and mates and stories.
Thanks also to the 2 Victorians ( Phil B and Neil C) and the 3 Qlds guys for making the effort and joining in the spirit Of VELOCE racing and their mates
When the flag drops= NO MATES.
Robert
Sorry to hear about the destroyed GTV Rob :( Hope no one was hurt.
Actually it was an Alfetta GT that was written off. There aren't too many left now... :'(
Driver Peter Tillett was fine, but lucky... Thankfully it hit the wall on the passenger side.
The Tilletts (father and son) have an Alfetta GTV bodyshell gathering dust in the shed that they planned to build into a Group S car.
Well, I guess that plan now has the green light... ;)
Hi aggie57.
Yeah,,was a super hard hit with the front and Lh rear quarter.
Must have been a wild ride.
Most disturbing to me was the solid mounted race seat that moved about 6 inches to the middle of the car + still solidly mounted.
Driver Peter,was in good spirits after the incident,so thats the most positive
Im sure he will have a few aches n pains.
Thats motor racing.
Phil B and Niel C (victorians) were enjoying themselves untill gearbox or diffs cried enough.
2 great guys that you can take anywhere,,cause they have great attitudes n great company.
Robert
Good to hear Peter is OK; shame about the GT though. As Paul says they are getting fewer and fewer......
Here are some pics of the Alfa's still running Sunday morning.
Some more.
And more.
And those not running.
'Tis the moment my weekend ended.
Quote'Tis the moment my weekend ended.
If its going to end its always nice that it ends near the pit entry. Bad luck. Must have been something Damon did to it at Sandown last month.
Quote from: Neil Choi on May 21, 2012, 04:13:07 PM
'Tis the moment my weekend ended.
Sounds expensive... ::)
Bad luck Neil and Phil. I know from my experience of Philip Island 2010, it's a shit feeling to tow your car interstate and have the damn thing break. Hope to see you at Winton.
Cheers,
Brent
Apart from the mechanical woes (and other woes) everyone suffered. What a great weekend. No doubt the VRA boys are very accommodating. Us Mexicans need to reciprocate at Winton later in the year.
My personal thanks Bill Magoffin for opening up his house for the BBQ on Saturday night and particularly to Robert Panetta and his family for being so kind to Neil and I, it made the weekend for us.
I see you lowered your lap time again in the last race Robert, so you beat my qualifying time easily :) Lets resume that battle on my turf at Winton ;)
Hi Phil
Was a pleasure for you + Niel to stay with us.
At least my wife knows who I hang around with.
I was amazed at the lap time also.
Once in the leed on first lap= turn 2,,,,I drove it like I stole it for 7 laps till that quad cam V6 out horespowered the poor little second hand engine twin spark.
Beaten by .4 (point 4) of a second,but im sure Dougy was only playing.
2nd outright was good enough for me.
Phil,,,dont tempt me to buy new tyres for Winton.
Hopefull John P (hollywood) or David H (apprentice),will give me some more of their second hand tyres again.
Billy (enforcer) has driven the 75 a few times.
He keeps saying= if I put some pistons n cams n new tyres on it,,= you will all be in trouble.
Name of the game is fun,and for some of us= not expensive race car repairs.
75 will stay on the trailer till a week before Winton in September,and all it will get is a full checkover and some new brake fluid.
Your turf at Winton ?
Are we playing in the grass ?
Track goes anti clockwise from memory.
My car seems to like LH corners
I will bring the secret wepon= bucket fulla lollies.
Encourage more Victorians to enter this event,and more Queenslanders= State of Origin= East Coast Challenge
Robert
I will ditto Phil's thanks to Bill's and Rob's generous hospitality, they made the entire weekend of racing all the worthwhile despite the mechanic problems.
All the VRA guys were fantastic and extremely friendly and great to get along with. Race with you all any day. I will be back to Eastern Creek anytime, great track.
Rob, please keep thinking Winton goes anti-clockwise.
To all the Victorian Racers, start getting ready now for what is expected to be a great weekend of racing at Winton in September. Lets show the NSW and Qld guys what we Vic's are made of.
So many many thanks to Bill, Rob and all the VRA guys.
Thanks Phil also for the road trip, I broke my gearbox in sympathy to your's.
Neil
Is this a private love-in or can anyone join in...
Thanks again to all those who entered the Sports Car Carnival and particularly to those who travelled.
It was a shame about all of the injuries, unprecedented in my time racing Alfa's..surely a record. Luckilly it was only metal that was hurt. The racing as always was keen but clean.
It was an honour to host the BBQ (sponsored by Manning Motors) on Saturday and to spend some quality time with you guys.
Roll on the ECC.
Regds
Bill
Just like to say i had a most enjoyable first time at the track and look forward to the next.
It's a shame their was so many DNF's on such a sunny weekend, but those car's will be back stronger and better next time.
Some great photos Neil.
Great bunch of guys also.
F*%K, What a weekend, its been my worst weekend in motorsport. Hopefully we will get it together for Winton, and catch up with all you Alfa Racers. Great to see the guys travelling from interstate, and hope we can catch up at Winton.
Hollywood
Good news, I lied and in a way to make Phil feel better during the weekend, inspected car this morning and only a broken CV joint, all fixed now. But just as well didn't go out again, no rear brake pads left and a broken muffler. Though all could have been fixed in a couple of hours to keep racing and fly the Vic flag, but oh well, it happened and all the distraught.
Cheers all, good racing.
Neil
PS Thanks Hugh for helping.
Good news Neil.