Yet another newbie from SA

[damian]

Hi all,
my name is Damian, live on the southern side of Adelaide, and I have just started to get into Rallying.

Been stalking these forums for a while now, loads of excellent info on here, and everybody seems very friendly and helpful, with big doses of humour thrown in! So thought I'd better join up and say hi.

Hi

This seems to be the site a lot of people congregate to, I guess because even though it is ACT based, Rallying is Rallying is Rallying, and you do all seem to cater for people no matter where they are. Help and advice seems to be very free flowing here too, and prompt!

Basically I have bought myself a Tarmac Rally car from someone in NSW (Mudgee) who built it for, and ran twice in, Targa Tasmania. I've had it for almost 2 years now, and have only just started using it in the last 6 months. Done a bit of motorkhana, hill climb (Mt Alma Mile) and track day stuff. Got my NR licence and all the gear. Have got a ride with an experienced SARC competitor in a WRX as a Navigator in the Adelaide Hills Tarmac Rally coming up next weekend (21st - 23rd May) and can't wait! Although we will only be doing the Friday night and Saturday as per SARC entries.

I have always wanted to be a Rally driver, so when a mate saw this Celica for sale and showed me (despite me begging him not too - "don't show me, if I see it I'll want to buy it!"), I couldn't resist. And thus the bug has firmly bitten. Licence and gear organised as mentioned above. Just need to get Dedicated Rally Car Reg underway. Oh, and find a Navi (possibly a brother or cousin).

Haven't done it before, and have no experience (other than Colin McRae on P/S, and watching ARC & WRC for as long as I can remember...). But I have found so much useful and helpful info on these forums, so thanks to all!

Looking forward to being a member of this community, and hopefully won't post too many dumb newbie questions



...and I think I may have found a sig if Jme will kindly allow me?

Originally Posted by Jme

People are interested in rallying because of its dynamics. Rallying is 'mad', the drivers are 'crazy' and there is an 'extreme' element which draws interest.

and that's exactly it. No matter whether watching, Navigating, or actually Driving, there's something special (read crazy / mad / extreme / skillful) about flying down a narrow road lined with trees and all sorts of obstacles on the side of the road, with no run-off areas as per a Track.

[Rallyray]

Welcome Aboard Damian

Chuck up some pictures of your car mate. I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves looking at pics of rally cars.

Theres quite a few Sth Aussies on here and they are bound to show up sooner or later. Have a talk to them about what rallies are coming up and how to get involved.

One more thing, don't be shy about asking questions. Rally people are newbie friendly and will help out when they can.

Anyway, Good to see you on here and hopefully we see you out and about in your Celica.

Cheers,

Ray

[damian]

Hi Ray

thanks for the welcome! From my brief contacts so far with the Rallying community I've found it as you say, everyone is very friendly and helpful. That's one of the things I love about this sport.



my baby climbing Mt Alma
it'a only ~65kw atw, but it's enough for me for now
finished 101st, but at least I finished, plenty didn't...

http://sport.mwp.id.au/Hillclimb%20E...b/_MG_8230.jpg

here's a link, I can't seem to get the pic to work?

[flat04]

Hi Damian,

Good luck this weekend. Who are you navigating for?
Are you planning to run the Celica on the dirt at all or just running tarmac events?
Just remember, on saturday have lots of fun and enjoy it for what it is, a flat out blast on some of the best tarmac roads in the country that hoons could only dream of.

Andrew Gooley

p.s. Give the officials a big thank you and smile when you see them, they deserve and appreciate it.

p.p.s. The reason your photo didn't work is you had the address of the page the photo was on and not the photo itself. If you right mouse click on the photos and go to the properties it will show you the photos address, that's the address you need to use.

[damian]

Hi Andrew,
thanks for the luck and the help!

I will be Navigating for Chris Bennet in a WRX. Can't wait! Scrutineering tonight, and my race suit still hasnt arrived!! Autosport have said they will lend me one to take to scrutineering, and if mine doesn't come in by Friday morning, will let me use it for the weekend. Nice work guys!

The Celica will only run Tarmac events - don't want to get it dirty!!

Was talking with my brothers the other day saying I need to buy a 3rd Celica so I can dirt Rally, just need to find somewhere to store it...

Originally Posted by flat04

Just remember, on saturday have lots of fun and enjoy it for what it is, a flat out blast on some of the best tarmac roads in the country that hoons could only dream of.

spot on, that's one of the things I love about Tarmac Rallying. Hopefully Classic Adelaide is rescued, but maybe I should start another thread on that?

and yes, on the couple of events I've done so far, I have always made sure I thank the officials, without whom we wouldn't be able to enjoy our pride and joys.

[flat04]

Will you be navigating for Chris all year or just the Tarmac?
He's a good guy and really meticulous with his preperation etc so you knw you're getting into a good safe car.

My wife navigated for him a few years back at Robertstown and enjoyed it, apart from a short trip they had through a farmers fence.

I'll pop past at some stage on the weekend and say g'day and see how you're going.

Andrew

[damian]

Hi Andrew,

will just be for the one event. His usual Navi (David Rowe) has bought himself a Taramc Rally car and is entering this event with his own Navi. David will be back for the rest of the year, but David does have work commitments which may make him unavailable sometimes, so Chris has asked if I would be happy to Navi if David is unavailable. Of course I said yes!

Yes, Chris is a really nice bloke, we spent last sat washing and prepping his car. I like the bit

Originally Posted by flat04

He's a good guy and really meticulous with his preperation etc so you know you're getting into a good safe car.

My wife navigated for him a few years back at Robertstown and enjoyed it, apart from a short trip they had through a farmers fence.

he he. We'll be right, as long as I get the pace notes correct we'll be fine! (touch wood)

Looking forward to saying hi if we catch up on the weekend!

Regards.
Damian

[Catie]

Hi Damian,

Autosport are great like that, they lent me boots for last year as mine were still enroute from Melbourne - nowhere in Adelaide had anything (blue) to fit my midget feet! They arrived at 4pm on the Friday so I can completely sympathise with that last minute rush!

Hope you have a great weekend (no doubt you will!), we'll probably see you at some point..even though you'll be much higher up the SARC field than us

Catie

[damian]

Hi Catie

did we just meet at Autosport an hour ago (i let you buy your socks in front of me)?? If so, god Adelaide is a small place! otherwise there is someone else with your name and small feet as well running around

Peter told me they are sponsoring the SARC this year, so we will have their banner on our windcreens.

See you tonight at scrutineering maybe, or definately on the weekend somewhere

[Catie]

Yep, that was me! Hehe...my feet aren't that midget,it's just that there aren't particularly many chickies in need of 2000-spec boots, so anything under an EU42 is hard to find

Black Excel is my vehicle of choice for the weekend, we'll be there at 6.30 tonight - no doubt will see you at some point!

[damian]

well nice to meet you again!

Originally Posted by Catie

Yep, that was me! Hehe...my feet aren't that midget

and hang on, I believe your exact words when asked what size socks you needed were "S for Small, or M for Midget"

[Catie]

Cheeky bugger!

[flat04]

Originally Posted by Catie

Black Excel is my vehicle of choice for the weekend.........

So how did you end up choosing Dave's multi colour work of art?

[damian]

scrutineering last night - we were failed for first aid kit (4 bandages out of date by 12 months). Damit, I checked the kit but didn't check dates - silly me

also failed for my brand new race suit - loose shoulder strap! off to exchange that now (no blame to Autosport - they are helping me out as my suit is still in transit - nice work guys)

also failed for roll cage - CAMS sticker wasn't good enought - scrutineers want to see original application lodged with CAMS to gain said sticker!

what time did you get out of there last night Catie? we left at 10pm (got there at 7.30)

[flat04]

Originally Posted by damian

scrutineering last night - we were failed for first aid kit (4 bandages out of date by 12 months). Damit, I checked the kit but didn't check dates - silly me

They actually look in the first aid kit? Well there's a first for me. Had no idea there were expiry dates on the bandages. Can't remember the last time I used an old bandage that failed....... Anyway, happy to learn something new. I'll have to check before our next event.

Originally Posted by damian

also failed for roll cage - CAMS sticker wasn't good enought - scrutineers want to see original application lodged with CAMS to gain said sticker!

That's just rubbish. Possibly, just possibly, fair enough with an unknown car but a car that has done every SARC event for the last 5+ seasons. Was the car less safe last night than it was at any of those other events? Were they doing it to every other car? No one carries their original application to SARC scrutineering. Would love to know why it was demanded and from whom but I really don't want to know......

Oh, joy. What a great start for you to be a part of....

Andrew