Gatesys SW20

Got a few vids of me spinning out with the iPhone in the cabin pretty decent quality..

Glad I wasn't the only one - first decent off for me and I think I did a good job of it.
Footage here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSDiJ-OwR4Y 
Great event though, glad the car was working for the 2nd day, and I did shave 1.5 sec off my (fairly slow) PB.
Great job Steve and everyone who made it along.

MR PLOW

Gatesys SW20

Got a few vids of me spinning out with the iPhone in the cabin pretty decent quality..

Glad I wasn't the only one - first decent off for me and I think I did a good job of it.
Footage here: http://youtu.be/NSDiJ-OwR4Y
Great event though, glad the car was working for the 2nd day, and I did shave 1.5 sec off my (fairly slow) PB.
Great job Steve and everyone who made it along.

 
 
AHA!!! It was you who put the bloody grass over that section!!

Congratulations Steven for both the concept and the execution. This was an ambitious project that took a lot more time and effort than most of us will realise and for your time and efforts you have to thanked and commended. And it was cheap. Do the same thing on a couple of track days with accommodation, garages, BBQ, two track days with heaps more track time than you will ever see at a Wakefield Speed off the Streets day and it already costs you more. Then you throw in access to the short circuit and two hill climb circuits and it keeps value adding. 
  
But wait there's more. Nearly everyone there has been afflicted by the MR2 bug and wants to use their cars in the manner they were designed for. There were tyres, wheels,spanners, jacks, helmets etc in abundance but I didn't see one tin of polish. Not that some of the vehicles weren't immaculate but the drivers were there with the express intention of using their cars for the purpose they were designed for - to be driven quickly and enjoyed in the process = none more so than the street NAs of Adrian and Iain who put up some great times and overshadowed many more powerful cars - and anyone who had a passenger ride with either of these two guys knows that they are definitely "licensed to thrill" - although the "James Bond Smokescreen Award" must go to Steve for reasons obvious to anyone who was there. 
  
Information and assistance was freely given to those of us with less experience than others. Bits and pieces were loaned and exchanged although I think that borrowing tyres is somewhat akin to borrowing a match. Bit hard to return in the same condition you borrowed it. 
  
I'm still learning my car, driving it like a grandma and hoping to upgrade my skills to a level to drive it like a grandpa. Loaned the car to a couple of guys so I could see what they thought of it and what needed to be improved. Patrick tought me how to square tyres (good thing they were already stuffed). Steve set the record for the fastest ever pit lane exit at Wakefield as I mused "And I thought I was a good judge of who to trust with my car". 
  
Then Travis took me for a gentle ride as a passenger to give me an idea of the car's capability. Gentle till about Turn 2 that was. Then his eyes lit up as away we went on a slipping, sliding rev limiter testing (tacho doesn't work) few laps. My dodgy brakes didnt worry Travis because I don't think he knows the car has a middle pedal. Seriously Travis, congratulations on two fronts - firstly some seriously quick laps and really justifying my decision to go the 2GR route and secondly, for fitting into the driver's seat. 
  
My only complaint was about the residents of cabin 3, who either through a bad case of 2GR envy or big city nervousness.  locked me out of the cabin leaving me know where to sleep in night time temps that got down to well below 10 degrees. Sure enough, in true MR2 community spirit, the kindly residents of Cabin 2, although sound asleep after seriously depleting the world's supply of scotch and coke, and solving most of the world's problems in the process, were kind enough to (actually unbeknown to them) allow me to sleep on their couch. Luckily good country raised boys never lock their doors at night. 
  
Overall, it is easy to sum up the two days. If you weren't there, for whatever your reason, then you really missed out. Great cars, great people, great track, great weather, great facilities Masterchef surpassing BBQ and for most, comfortable accommodation only a 100 metres or so from the pit garages. 
  
Bring on the MR2 Challenge 2. I am sure if you poll for the best month to hold it, there will be plenty of debate over which of the 13 months in the year is the best time. Steve, do it like you drive. Pick a date Steve and go for it and I am sure you will find volunteers ready and willing tio help you refine your wonderful concept. 
  
Thank you again, and I am sure I echo the sentiments of everyone there, for the opportunity to have so much fun and to meet so many great people. 

This one will be ready to watch tomorrow

Here's the EVO9 doing the special stage

Ken if you go to winton, put your wheels in the back of my ute so you can fit a passenger seat!

ah thanks for that list Pat. i wonder who had a full tank or not.

The Pearl had full everything tanks.

looks like a heavy lady looking at that list!