Cheapest from of motorsport?

**gtimk5** · 03-09-2006, 07:57 PM

Hi! If you went back through my posts there are some pics with the rear wheel off the deck by about 300m/m! Or the classic one in Rally Tasmania (3 day sealed road rally) with the front wheel up about 18 inches +! I fear if I repost em I might be crucified by some! Go to gtimk5 and look up my posts to find some more. I have so many shots of the car (gunter) on discs, motorkhanas, classic rallies and cealed tarmac events. Hillclimbs and racing. I used to pick up the rear wheels a lot but when I took up circuit racing I fitted harder springs. I drove the wheels and tyres off the thing,sometimes literaly. One time the front hub sheared off which could have been very bad but I speared off the track and stopped before hitting anything! The dirt circuit was run on the Southern Safari (ARC) super special stage course. I ran G grids and finished 4th on the day against the local rally guys down here. They were very surprised as I hadn't competed in gravel events for years. I will post some more pics if the others don't get bored with em!
Amaroo was an awesome place, I went to a few meetings there in 1981 while I lived in Sydney. Nice tight technical place, a bit like Baskerville here. Cheers, Andrew

blackgti1.8 · 06-09-2006, 10:06 PM

Hi Andrew! Just stirring mate - it really looks like you having a pretty good go there. The car looks great too.
300mm? That's pretty impressive

Anyway, thanks for the tip - I'll go back through the posts when I get a chance. You must been pushing pretty hard to shear a front hub off.
Looks like you've got some serious rubber on there. Slicks?

I must have just 'missed' you in Sydney - got back from the UK on '82.
Amaroo was my favourite track (much more challenging than Oran Park),
despite having a major "off" there - came unstuck going a right-hand sweeper (used to be called Mazda House from memory), and launched the Golf over the bank at Honda. From the back mind you - landed back on the track...
Those Pirelli's P6's had savage breakaway characteristics...
Like you say - very technical. Little scope for mistakes wthout hitting something. A hell of a buzz when you get it right though. Going over Skyline flat-stick (a blind left hand off-camber sweeper) is about as good as it gets. Of course, washing off enough speed for the 'Loop' just after it just added to the fun factor...

I've never had a chance to try Basketville - I left Tassie before I got into motorsport (or Golfs). Got my fun instead by terrorising everyone else on the Huon highway (before they straightened out all the kinks...).
Life was simpler before speed cameras

Anyway, look forward to any new (or old) material Andrew!

**gtimk5** · 07-09-2006, 07:15 AM

OK, this a rehash of some 3 wheeled stunts again. Got the front guard between the wheel and door on 3 guideposts near Savage River. 3 days later Gunter was pristine again after the 3 day event and went out the following weekend to compete in supersprints. Oh, and after that excursion in Rally Tasmania, we still finished 9th outright. Win Percy, ex british touring car champ and Le Mans winner came 5th outright. Thats out of 60/70 cars. We did lose time finishing that stage as the front tyre was rubbing badly emitting plumes of smoke to the service break. I had no idea how badly the golf was damaged. Had another spin the next day (the back broke away on a steep downhill hairpin. Ended up nearly running over 4 photographers who were on the inside of the corner! Lucky they were quick to scatter!!!

Thats all the damage it did verses 3 dead guide posts!!

**Oneofthegreats** · 07-09-2006, 01:50 PM

Love those pics andrew.
Using a GTI the way it was intended. TO THE MAX!

**gtimk5** · 07-09-2006, 02:13 PM

To drive on the edge is only the starting point!!!!

**Oneofthegreats** · 07-09-2006, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by gtimk5

To drive on the edge is only the starting point!!!!

I like it!

You reckon you should have that as your signature andrew!

**gtimk5** · 07-09-2006, 02:32 PM

LOL Thanx mate!

**britchie** · 07-09-2006, 02:54 PM

i was in the passanger seat with dirt flying past my head, and all those guide posts slapping the door right next to my head...sliding sideways big thump...just select firts gear and....Whoooosh...we were out of there..hey andrew

**gtimk5** · 07-09-2006, 03:15 PM

Heard that before Ben!!!!!!! Where did that saying come from?
I think the funniest thing about that was the fact that when I realised we were in trouble, all you heard in the intercom was....... Nuh!
Thats when you finally took your eyes off the notes and looked up after 25kms of reading them flat out!

We had a rule that I wasn't to speak on the intercom but that time was allowed!
All caused by losing my concentration, seeing triangles put out by another crashed cars crew. Only takes the slightest lapse to put over the other side eh?
Still, We had a great time that weekend eh Ben? And got a good result and an easy class win. The trophies are good too! Wish we could still be out there.....
PS. Good to see you using the forum too Ben, welcome back mate

**britchie** · 07-09-2006, 03:57 PM

i have never been in a car going so fast so efficiently. we were just at the point where you are going too fast for your brain but still in control...just. it doesn't take much to loose it at that pace. awesome teamwork, awesome driving. scares me now to think how fast we were going...i'll have to scan in the photos of the dinner after drinks