Skylines 1-2 Symmons Plains TSS R6 Nov 9th

What a great day. A 1-2 for the Nissan Skylines Of Ross Marsden and yours truly. Only thing wrong with that is I was number 2!!! But congrats to Ross. We were never more than about 50 meters apart all day (except when I had to back off a bit due to the ol girl getting a bit hot) We never even touched!!(well apart from me running into the back of him at turn one, but we wont mention that!!).......DOH!!

Before the meeting I had the car dyno tuned (again) using Sunoco GT fuel which is a higher octane fuel which allows cars like mine to be tuned to a higher level than with standard fuel. Costs a pretty penny too. Anyway, squeezed 222kw, up from 200(almost 300hp) out of it. Still not quite enough for a track like Symmons, but will be for Baskerville.
Unfortunately, there was a gremlin in the timing system and the first race starting order was a bit of a lottery, mad worse by yellows flag for the practice session which some drivers slowed down for( me ) and others didn't. I get better starts at Symmons than I do at Basky and made up 2 spots into T1. The race leader dropped out and it was on between Ross and I. We finished 2nd and 3rd as another of our front runners started way back and caught us with a lap or two to go. Good driving from him as he was only as fast as us!! That can happen though if the guys you are chasing are carving each other up.

Race 2 was the more of the same only this time Ross won, I was still 3rd.
Race 3-5 was left to Ross and I. The other two front runners had troubles (bad luck guys) and the rest of the pack didn't get a look in.

Race 3 was when I rear ended Ross. He started on the front row and I was on row 2 with the other spots vacant. I got a good start but he got in the way and I couldn't slow enough. It wasn't much, but felt like I hit him hard.

Race 4 was much the same. My car is 1/2 a sec slower still than his at Symmons, where mine is about the same faster at Basky.

But, Race 5 I managed to get in front and stay there for the first 3 of 8 laps and it was a wonderful feeling. At first I thought he'll get me here somewhere, then I started to think maybe I can hold him off if I take the inside line everywhere. But he snuck under me at the hairpin and that was that. I didn't give up but the car started getting too hot again and so I dropped the revs. We where going to do a Moffat/Bond 1-2 finish but 2 things stopped us. We didn't get a last lap board and I forgot and nearly passed him on the line because he slowed up a bit for me. Anyway I can say I helped him win since I Lent him some rear brake pads. So part of my car won.

So 2nd place for me. Best finish so far. Now its back to Baskerville in 3 weeks time for the final round. 1st place is taken but 2nd and 3rd is still open. At this stage 3rd is looking likely but I have a sniff of 2nd and Ill be out to grab it if I can.

P.S Photo's and video on the way.

Thanks to:
Cable Mate
David Clifford photography
Hard 2 Beat car parts
Benson Motorsports
Repco Moonah
Mum and particually Dad. (he does most of the work on the car)