Island Magic

Crash Test · 24 Nov 2002, 11:23 (Ref:435727)

How was the event?

Any results on the net?

CooperS79 · 25 Nov 2002, 10:02 (Ref:436214)

Crash Test · 25 Nov 2002, 12:50 (Ref:436345)

I take it that it rained, because WW was on pole by a couple of secs, then Ambrose beat him by 25sec, then he reversed that in the finale... After this weekend, you can send some rain to QLD

Vandas · 25 Nov 2002, 13:08 (Ref:436357)

Crash,

Yeah the 50K Race was very wet and slippery.

How do I know, because after regaining positions after a big spin on the first lap, I got back to 9th then went over Lukey Heights and down into MG. The car decided it wanted to continue dead ahead, and Head First I went into the wall.

Several hours later they let me out of hospital and advised me to see my physio in the morning.

Big Weekend!

I finally got to race Mr Wayne Wakefield!!!

I never knew that thing was so fast!!!!!

Oh well, looks like I gotta find plenty of dollars to start catching Rohan, Wayne, and Ken.

Cam

Buckshot · 25 Nov 2002, 20:44 (Ref:436665)

Everything o.k Vandas ?

How bad was the damage to yourself and your ride ?

Cheers, Buck.

Crash Test · 25 Nov 2002, 22:49 (Ref:436746)

Sounds nasty Vandas, hope you get back out there shortly.

It seems as though it took them all of the Nationals to sort out the shagger... it's amazing that the thing is so fast, but it does it all in the corners...

Vandas · 26 Nov 2002, 00:09 (Ref:436811)

It is a pity however that the rain decided to fall on Sunday. Although provided me an opportunity to keep up with the top 5, also an opportunity to headbutt a wall.

We were having dramas all weekend with the rear end of the car. My times were significantly slower than I wanted, and we were trying everything. Then we made one drastic change on Sunday morning, and found a second!

I had been fighting hard, and was lucky enough to qualify 11th. Very suprising considering the dramas we were having with the car.

Yes the arse was sliding around through Honda (Turn 4), and that happened whenever I tried to carry slightly more speed through the corner (less speed than I used to be able to).

Anyway in the preliminary got myself up into 8th position. Then in the main race got an awesome start and was running somewhere between 5th and 7th. I turned into Southern Loop and had a very fast spin, but managed to grab a gear and drove out of it. It looks awesome on the in-car footage.

Anyway I lost a few spots and started to gain them back again. I was chasing Tom Allen, who was having some major difficulties and finally got him around the outside through MG (Turn 10).

The next lap I was chasing down Tom Prentice (apparently I was going quicker than many of the other cars on the circuit, which probably led to my downfall) and was catching him. The in-car footage shows that I carried a fair bit of speed over the top of Lukey Heights and then as I tried to pull it up, the car wouldn't turn, wouldn't brake and just took me on a roller-coaster ride directly ahead to the tyre wall.

I tried everything, but it continued to carry me forward.

I sat in the car catching my breath for a second then got out. I climbed over the fence, and immediately had a sore neck.

The Victor Vehicle from RACESAFE was onsite immediately, and they put a collar on me because of my neck pain.

I went to the Medical Centre and was treated very well by Doctor John and his team at the centre.

They checked me out and kept talking to me, which is a big thing when all you can do is look at the ceiling.

I was going to be transferred to Dandenong Hospital for x-rays on my neck, but luckily Mal the Circuit Ambulance driver (also emergency co-ordinator at the Cowes Hospital) teed up the x-rays to be done at Cowes.

Anyway after a couple of hours I was released from the Cowes Hospital, and advised a couple of trips to the Physio would be worthwhile.

I checked the car out yesterday and the boys had already stripped the front end, and advised me we can have it ready by a sprint on the 7th and 8th of December. Which made me realise how lucky I am to have the team I do.

I would really like to thank the team at RACESAFE, for their professional and caring manner. It wasn't the nicest time for me, yet they were superb and kept everything nice and calm.

Although Jimmy up in Race Control really shouldn't have suggested a Cavity Search. Thank goodness they didn't take his advice.

Cam

Vandas · 26 Nov 2002, 13:45 (Ref:437190)

http://210.15.254.254/~laurent/vandas.net/VandasMG.wmv

If you want to see the crash here is a little thing my videographer put together.

I think he was trying to be funny.

Cam

PEPSI · 26 Nov 2002, 22:49 (Ref:437575)

Quote:

Originally posted by Vandas
http://210.15.254.254/~laurent/vandas.net/VandasMG.wmv

If you want to see the crash here is a little thing my videographer put together.

I think he was trying to be funny.

Cam

Cam, I reckon he succeeded brilliantly

Vandas · 27 Nov 2002, 04:38 (Ref:437678)

Well if you want to see more, he is putting together a DVD of footage.

Cam

PEPSI · 27 Nov 2002, 05:45 (Ref:437686)

Quote:

Originally posted by Vandas
Well if you want to see more, he is putting together a DVD of footage.

Cam

Forgive my ignorance but what sort of a car is/was it?

Alan Jones · 27 Nov 2002, 11:28 (Ref:437820)

Classic stuff!! Thanks for sharing that with us!

Crash Test · 27 Nov 2002, 13:03 (Ref:437896)

Pepsi- Improved Production RX7

I love the clip Vandas!

Vandas · 27 Nov 2002, 13:03 (Ref:437897)

Pepsi,

It is the Forty Winks RX7. I currently run it in the Victorian Improved Production Championships, but once I get my new engine, gearbox, and off-the-body watts linkage I shall be taking on the Tri-State Series and the Nationals.

I'll post a couple of pics for you, if you would like.

_______________

Alan Jones,

That's alright. I don't mind sharing my mistakes, along with my triumphs.

I have some really cool footage from different angles, which is being put together into a DVD.

It is part of sponsorship proposal, and also part of my package I send to the various teams.

Looking for dollars to run in F3 next year.

Catchya

Cam

Vandas · 27 Nov 2002, 13:08 (Ref:437901)

Thanks Crash,

I have some footage of racing with WW.

Not sure how it came up though. Hopefully you can see the dust storm he and Chris Bailey provided for those of us following closely!!!

Every person I have spoken to about the event, thinks that WW is a nut bag!!!

Great event, except for my crash. I was absolutely caning, but that was the problem at MG.

Cam

Crash Test · 27 Nov 2002, 13:10 (Ref:437905)

Do you think the wall should be as close, or there be a sand trap or something?

WW a nut bag- well he has to be to get that old hunk of junk honking! It's amazing how different he in a Supercar... but to get an old nail going, he gives it a right royal caining..

Vandas · 27 Nov 2002, 13:12 (Ref:437907)

Crash,

Well I think they should at least make the run-off go up hill, rather than helping you to speed up going down hill.

Not too many people hit that wall, I was just unlucky I guess.

But yes they could push the wall heaps further back, add a sandtrap, or even build it up so it goes uphill before hitting the wall.

All good in 20:20 Hindsight.
________________________

WW did a couple of silly things right in front of me in regards to other competitors, however never made any contact with my car, and he was heaps quicker than anyone else, so I can't say much.

Although he provided plenty of entertainment for the spectators with the way he entered the main straight.

I nearly smacked into the rear of his car at the start of the first race, because they found he had a 6-speed hollinger and you are only allowed 5 forward gears, so he had to block off 1st.

Hence a very slow start.

I am still dark on myself for the crash, but we have now taken receipt of a wreck with an immaculate front end, so the boys will be stripping that tomorrow, and I think I may join them.

I love pulling cars apart.

But I hopefully have my final physio appointment at 1pm tomorrow.

Back on track in a weeks time. WOOHOO

Cam

Crash Test · 27 Nov 2002, 13:16 (Ref:437915)

oops, you're best off attahcing a photo, hit the reply button and all of the features come up

Vandas · 27 Nov 2002, 13:26 (Ref:437925)

Thanks must go to Justin Deeley for these pics.

He has some awesome ones of my spin at Phillip Island on the Saturday, that he is yet to show me. I wouldn't mind buying a few for my team.

Cam

PEPSI · 27 Nov 2002, 22:15 (Ref:438294)

Thanks for posting the pics Cam and I hope you get the ride you want next year

Alan Jones · 27 Nov 2002, 22:21 (Ref:438302)

Car looks very nice indeed, great colour and paint job.
The motor sounds the goods as well Vandas.
Good luck.

Vandas · 28 Nov 2002, 01:26 (Ref:438387)

Pepsi,

Well I am doing everything I can to secure the dollars to go racing in F3 next year.

Improved Production has been a fantastic category to learn good, close, hard racing skills in. There are also some very good drivers running around out there in our class. Wayne Wakefield, Adam Macrow, Ken Douglas, Rohan Ambrose, Dennis Gallagher etc

However I used to be sponsored by U-Drive Performance Cars (A Formula Ford Drive School) and after playing around in their cars I realised I want to race open-wheelers.

I have a couple of very good offers on the table, with some very good F3 teams, but it is all a matter of what sponsors I can find.

But everyone else in the game, has the same problem.
_______________________________

Alan Jones,

The car looks fantastic, and it does sound very good as well.

It also helps that I have a very strong team behind me that keep the car moving forward, and I have complete faith and trust in their work.

I am about to head down to the workshop to see if everything is okay with the new car we have bought. I am desperate to get out on the track again.

Catchya

Cam

Onlooker · 28 Nov 2002, 07:26 (Ref:438446)

Quote:

Originally posted by Vandas
Crash,

________________________

I nearly smacked into the rear of his car at the start of the first race, because they found he had a 6-speed hollinger and you are only allowed 5 forward gears, so he had to block off 1st.

Hence a very slow start.

Cam

Must have been big prize money to cheat at that level!!!What happened to the punishment for presenting an illegal car? An extra gear is a fairly big one fingured salute to the club.Did it get found during scrutineering or when it was on the track?

Crash Test · 28 Nov 2002, 07:46 (Ref:438450)

They've been running that gearbox now for a fair while, and it has passed through scruitineering in QLD, NSW, VIC, NT etc with 1st blocked off... It just depends how much you want to push the envelope. Why bother with titanium bolts holding on your bumper bar? If you can, why not?! People out there do some wild and whacky things, which make Improved Production a lot more like Sports Sedans..

Onlooker · 28 Nov 2002, 08:03 (Ref:438460)

Consistantly inconsistant rules eh???

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