matespace
06-12-2013, 10:52 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxnxowKZJS4
I’ve never done a grip race. Not a Supersprint or even hillclimb. I drive sideways. So when Yokohama asked me to do a Supersprint on their new ADVAN Neova AD08Rs I thought it was a stupid idea. But, as it turned out, I was so wrong.
Yokohama Tyre Australia has history with Nissan Skylines (Maybe they haven’t noticed that my car is a Soniva, not a Skyline. We’ll just keep that quiet shall we?).
Yokohama worked with Gibson Motorsport on the all-conquering Group A Godzilla Nissan Skyline GTR R32s to win the Australian Touring Car Championship from 1990 to 1992. In recent years, Yokohama ADVAN sponsored the Nissan Skyline GTR BNR34 GTR of Mark Berry in Superlap and which became the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge.
Each year Yokohama Tyres sponsors the SAU Nationals (Skylines Australia Nationals). The Sydney based marketing team travelled to Winton and Shepparton, VIC for SAU Nationals 2011 and then Goulburn for SAU Nationals 2012. But the SAU Nationals 2013 was a bit too far away in Adelaide, SA. So they handed the responsibility over to me. Fortunately, the supersprint was held at Mallala Motorsport Park. My backyard.
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx270/go2spacebucket/image001-17.jpg
At least the ADVAN Neova AD08Rs will last longer 'grip racing'.
My mate Furby and I prepared for the SAU nationals like we prepare for a drift event. We went to town on the car. We cleaned it and spanner checked it. I got the new ADVAN Neova AD08R tyres fitted up to some ADVAN Racing RZ rims and bolted them up to the Sonvia.
Like usual, it was late the night before, when I loaded the car onto the trailer with all my tools, fuel and spares. Then I stopped and thought "I've never actually done this grip racing before.
I’d better suss out some footage on YouTube of how other people are driving around Mallala". This was a basic thought I had. But it never eventuated. I decided sleep was a better option.
I arrived at Mallala early on the Friday morning. While waiting for the gates to open I noticed many of the other competitors drove their cars to the track rather than trailer them. I thought that was crazy, but I guess they don't break stuff as often as I do (haha).
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx270/go2spacebucket/image002-10.jpg
How DriftSquid normally drives around Mallala Motorsport Park.
We finally rolled into the track. As soon as I got into the pit area the Mallala Motorsport Park ute comes straight up to me. The driver hangs his head out the window and says
"And what do you think you’re doing here Squid???"
”Grip racing of course" I said.
“Hmmm yeah right, I’ll be keeping an eye on you mate" said the supervisor.
“Hahahaha sweet" I replied
This happened before I even got out the Sonvia off the trailer (haha).
Next was the driver’s briefing. They emphasized that there was to be no driving like an idiot (I don’t know why they were looking at me?). They said if one person decides to be a fool then everyone suffer the consequences. The last thing I wanted to do was upset everyone on my first outing (haha).
The morning was far too relaxed for me. I unloaded the car, gave it a wipe down and spanner checked the wheels nuts to make sure I was ready to rock n roll. Not many people arrived before 9AM. These latte-sipping circuit racers were casually rolling in and seriously just chilled out.
Drift days, by comparison, are insanely rushed. There are people running around all over the joint. If these circuit racers have the same pace on the track as they do off the track I’ll come first for sure.
My good mate Beno Crawford was also doing this Grip day in his Drift car (RB26 SIL80) so he gave me the run down on what happens. More chilling out. We pretty much chilled out till 10AM, got the cars scrutineered and then they put us into groups. There were 7 groups. Cars are placed in groups with other cars of similar speed. So ideally they have a clear track to do a good lap time. Ideally you don’t catch anyone. And they don’t catch you. Boring!
Having never done Mallala grip days before I had no idea what my car could do. So they put me in group 3, the third fastest group. They had "high hopes for the squid" (haha).
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx270/go2spacebucket/image003-13.jpg
DriftSquid exits the Mallala Pits for his first ever attempt at a lap time.
Read the full article on the Official Yokohama Australia website (http://clixtrac.com/goto/?149246).
I’ve never done a grip race. Not a Supersprint or even hillclimb. I drive sideways. So when Yokohama asked me to do a Supersprint on their new ADVAN Neova AD08Rs I thought it was a stupid idea. But, as it turned out, I was so wrong.
Yokohama Tyre Australia has history with Nissan Skylines (Maybe they haven’t noticed that my car is a Soniva, not a Skyline. We’ll just keep that quiet shall we?).
Yokohama worked with Gibson Motorsport on the all-conquering Group A Godzilla Nissan Skyline GTR R32s to win the Australian Touring Car Championship from 1990 to 1992. In recent years, Yokohama ADVAN sponsored the Nissan Skyline GTR BNR34 GTR of Mark Berry in Superlap and which became the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge.
Each year Yokohama Tyres sponsors the SAU Nationals (Skylines Australia Nationals). The Sydney based marketing team travelled to Winton and Shepparton, VIC for SAU Nationals 2011 and then Goulburn for SAU Nationals 2012. But the SAU Nationals 2013 was a bit too far away in Adelaide, SA. So they handed the responsibility over to me. Fortunately, the supersprint was held at Mallala Motorsport Park. My backyard.
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx270/go2spacebucket/image001-17.jpg
At least the ADVAN Neova AD08Rs will last longer 'grip racing'.
My mate Furby and I prepared for the SAU nationals like we prepare for a drift event. We went to town on the car. We cleaned it and spanner checked it. I got the new ADVAN Neova AD08R tyres fitted up to some ADVAN Racing RZ rims and bolted them up to the Sonvia.
Like usual, it was late the night before, when I loaded the car onto the trailer with all my tools, fuel and spares. Then I stopped and thought "I've never actually done this grip racing before.
I’d better suss out some footage on YouTube of how other people are driving around Mallala". This was a basic thought I had. But it never eventuated. I decided sleep was a better option.
I arrived at Mallala early on the Friday morning. While waiting for the gates to open I noticed many of the other competitors drove their cars to the track rather than trailer them. I thought that was crazy, but I guess they don't break stuff as often as I do (haha).
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx270/go2spacebucket/image002-10.jpg
How DriftSquid normally drives around Mallala Motorsport Park.
We finally rolled into the track. As soon as I got into the pit area the Mallala Motorsport Park ute comes straight up to me. The driver hangs his head out the window and says
"And what do you think you’re doing here Squid???"
”Grip racing of course" I said.
“Hmmm yeah right, I’ll be keeping an eye on you mate" said the supervisor.
“Hahahaha sweet" I replied
This happened before I even got out the Sonvia off the trailer (haha).
Next was the driver’s briefing. They emphasized that there was to be no driving like an idiot (I don’t know why they were looking at me?). They said if one person decides to be a fool then everyone suffer the consequences. The last thing I wanted to do was upset everyone on my first outing (haha).
The morning was far too relaxed for me. I unloaded the car, gave it a wipe down and spanner checked the wheels nuts to make sure I was ready to rock n roll. Not many people arrived before 9AM. These latte-sipping circuit racers were casually rolling in and seriously just chilled out.
Drift days, by comparison, are insanely rushed. There are people running around all over the joint. If these circuit racers have the same pace on the track as they do off the track I’ll come first for sure.
My good mate Beno Crawford was also doing this Grip day in his Drift car (RB26 SIL80) so he gave me the run down on what happens. More chilling out. We pretty much chilled out till 10AM, got the cars scrutineered and then they put us into groups. There were 7 groups. Cars are placed in groups with other cars of similar speed. So ideally they have a clear track to do a good lap time. Ideally you don’t catch anyone. And they don’t catch you. Boring!
Having never done Mallala grip days before I had no idea what my car could do. So they put me in group 3, the third fastest group. They had "high hopes for the squid" (haha).
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx270/go2spacebucket/image003-13.jpg
DriftSquid exits the Mallala Pits for his first ever attempt at a lap time.
Read the full article on the Official Yokohama Australia website (http://clixtrac.com/goto/?149246).