V8 Supercars

[Trev]

G'day guys, I got a ride in a V8 Supercar and thought I would post this in here as I make a few compared to bike comments that some might find interesting.

I got a ride in one of the 888 Motorsport V8 Supercars piloted by Jamie Whincup at Wanneroo on Friday. When he came in pitlane and his crew were strapping me in the passenger seat, his engineer (some french sounding bloke) was talking to him about where he needed to find time and Jamie is just like I am absolutely on the limit through there as it is etc. And I get the feeling they are using the couple of rides they are giving people as some extra testing :->

I further get that feeling when we pull up at the end of pitlane and he tells me he is going to practice a race start, he holds the thing on the limiter for what seemed like ages then dumps it and we slither and slide for ages in first gear with him finding and breaking traction, then bang second and short shift to third for turn one, holy fucking shit, you really feel the bumps in these things, and the fucking noise is oh so glorious and about a gazillion times more horny from inside the car than outside, then through the esses clipping kerbs and lifting wheels, it feels like a go kart, I shit you not, a 1350kg, 600+hp go kart but it gave you that go kart feeling of being constantly sliding both ends and kicking wheels up in the air etc. through the left hander and they don't stay as far to the left as the bikes, and make the switch to the right much earlier, gets very taily as you head towards the crest of skyline (I say very, but it is basically sliding everywhere the whole time, it is just more apparent at some points, and you certainly don't see them slide on tv and from the fence as much as you feel them slide when in the car), another lightning shift before the basin where you enter so deep and wide compared to a bike, you also exit much, much wider, the cars seemingly heading straight for the outside for the drive up the hill while the bikes stick to the right as long as they can, the crest over the hill is quite tame compared to a bike (even a standard litre bike will crest this at 230kph and front will come right up in the air, fark Wanneroo is awesome on a bike with so much camber and elevation changes), braking for the final turn (coincidentally for a bike the second hardest braking point in the country they reckon, #1 being the end of the back straight at Mallala), so yeah braking for the final turn, fark me dead these things have some anchors and very controlled under brakes too, not too much dive could be felt but a nice sound heard and you come forward on the straps a bit (the seat was amazing, so fucking unreal, didn't move an inch strapped in like that, I really, really want some for the Pacer as at the minute you use the steering wheel more as something to hold on too rather than actually pilot with), and out of turn one we drift so wide that the middle of the car is under the big ripple strip for so long I thought me must be entering pitlane but we weren't as we actually did about four laps, then down to turn one and farking ridiculously late on the brakes again, and the car feels shitloads more bumps here and on entry than I have ever felt on the bike (guess because I ride like a nancy, I feel the bumps there a bit, but they felt huge in the car) and basically slide the front and rear all the way around the long turn one and we are at it again.

It was so much better than I had ever imagined and some other surprises were.

Fuck it is hard work driving a V8 Supercar, the man was hell busy and while a lot of the times the V8s look on rails, they aren't, only the straights was the car not sliding all the time.

And man it is hot in there. And if you thought you had felt the performance of good brakes before, you haven't. Can't begin to imagine the insane braking of the premier open wheelers like F1 etc.

And I have much more respect for the V8 Supercar series now. It is a slick show, crowds were MASSIVE, the entertainment was bloody great.

Oh yeah, and I want me a V8 Supercar :->

(The reference to the Pacer is courtesy of my Mopar habit, have a VG Pacer with 340 <being stroked to 386 at the minute>, five speed, Brembos, all new adjustable suspension with Konis, custom made Torsion bars, biggest sway bars, is is quite quick as it did 11s first time out with the old engine so gonna be scary with the stroker - Also used to have a 39,000 mile E49 that Biante bought from me to make the 1:18 Charger models they just released etc. won trophies at car shows etc. with the E49)

[Fastgirl]

WOW! Great write up!!Thats better that PORN IMO!!!

Fastgir1

[Dingo]

Hmmm, I need to put one of these rides on my Birthday List I think

Great Write up Trev, Watching them on TV I alyways had the impression they were amazing machines and sounds like they are even more so in the second hottest seat!

Ill go ya halves in a v8 supercar?

[Old Dung Beetle]

Nice write up, its something not everyone gets to experience. Well done.
Those G-forces would have been a trip, ya cant get them looking at porn, well i hope not.

[reddog]

1stly - You lucky bastard.
2ndly - Did you pay for the ride or did you win it? If you paid how much does it cost for the experience?
3rdly - Pity it wasn&#39;t a Holden

[FJ Steve]

nice write up Trev. Your excitement is noticeable, and I can relate to it...I had a 4 hr sortie in an F/A18 Hornet when I left RAAF Williamtown on posting. As they strapped me in, I heard one of the crew say "This is better than sex". I thought..."pffffft...yeah right."

It was true, it&#39;s an adrenalin rush you just can&#39;t get anywhere else. I bet you felt the same.

Well Done

Steve

[Old Dung Beetle]

4 hours in a FA/18 ? OMFG .

I bet the ol FJ has never felt the same after that.

[Daise]

i&#39;m guessing your post would&#39;ve been about the same as a normal conversation - didn&#39;t even stop for breath!!

[FJ Steve]

4 hours in a FA/18 ? OMFG .I bet the ol FJ has never felt the same after that. [/b]

Yup...an F/A18 on full military power takeoff (ie...both afterburners at 110%) pulls harder than a 12 year old in the backshed. Unfuggenbelieveable

[mesaboogie]

you SOLD ur E49.... couldn&#39;t you have lent it to him... i shed a tear when i read that....

the VG sounds mint, if it ain&#39;t mopar it ain&#39;t no car...

and as for the ride in the super car.... bastard...

[Trev]

2ndly - Did you pay for the ride or did you win it? If you paid how much does it cost for the experience?
[/b]

Tis not what you know but who you know, LOL.

[Foofie Foofie]

Trev, You like that whine of that Hollinger straight cut box huh ? Its lovely isnt it .....

And now stop for a moment and spare a thought for 2L engine&#39;d JGTC (Japanese Grand Touring Car) Supras where Wayne Gardner on his website forum replied to a member who asked , whats quicker a V8 Supercar, or a JGTC car ..... with Waynes reply "About 10 seconds a lap quicker on a decent sized track, that being in favour of the JGTC" . Insane ...

[Rick76]

If anyone is cashed up and wants to go for a ride the HSV K2 ride car is going to be at Barbagallo on 24th May. I would love to do it but not at $500 for 2 laps.




Price is a $495 which includes:

- 2 Laps of the Circuit with either Todd or Rick Kelly. - The driver cannot be chosen
- K2 Dress Shirt.
- K2 Cap.
- K2 Digital Photo.
- K2 Certificate.



Vic - Phillip Island
February 8, 2006.
December 13, 2006.

South Australia - Mallala Raceway
March 17, 2006.

Western Australia - Barbagallo Raceway
May 24, 2006.

Queensland - QLD Raceway
October 17, 2006.

NSW- Oran Park
August 22, 2006
August 22, 2006

Tasmania - Symmons Plains
November 14, 2006

Please note that passengers must be over 18 years of age. Due to the confines of a racing chassis, height & weight restrictions will apply. If you require further information on this please contact K2 on (03) 9427 0519. Indemnity forms will be required to be signed on the day by passengers. Notification must be given of any pre-existing health conditions prior to taking your ride.

To book on-line using credit card HSV site or contact 03 9427 0519 to book over the phone and send a cheque or money order.

[Yoshi]

yeah like you said not for $500. maybe if i got to drive it

[brendon_zx]

You lucky bastard!!!!!!!

Great right up Trev. 55 second laps they did in practice so it fairly moves. Is this quicker than the superbikes that are coming in a couple of weeks?

Oh and FJ steve.... you have lived my dream... i have one wish before i die and that is to get to ride in a fast jet.....

[Flyboy]

Did someone say they wanted to drive a V8 Supercar?

V8 Race Day

[Rick76]

Did someone say they wanted to drive a V8 Supercar?

V8 Race Day
[/b]

They may look like V8 Supercars but they are a looooooong way off...... although a little cheaper and at least you get to drive.

My friend did a few laps after getting a gift certificate for his birthday and afterwards he was convinced the car he was driving was actually a V8 Supercar. I didnt want to burst his bubble so I didnt bother arguing.

[mystery]

Did someone say they wanted to drive a V8 Supercar?

V8 Race Day
[/b]

Those things are virtually stock, run on street tyres and have traction control - Rip Off.

You&#39;re a lucky bugger trev, were you the guys out there late in the day after the long practice session?
We wondered why they were out there again, looked to be going full noise too!

[Trev]

Those things are virtually stock, run on street tyres and have traction control - Rip Off.

You&#39;re a lucky bugger trev, were you the guys out there late in the day after the long practice session?
We wondered why they were out there again, looked to be going full noise too!

[/b]

Yep that was it, a little after 1630 on Friday.

And in answer to Brendan, the Superbikes will get down to similar lap times I expect if the weather is good.

[djnitrous]

A handful of great shots can be viewed here