mx5cartalk.com

Hi,

Im super excited to be heading down to phillip island for my first sprint day, anyone else going?

Yes, another 20 or so mx5s from the Vic club will be there, myself included...
Last hurrah for the season..

Actually just checked the entry list. There's 41 MX5s entered... (38 from the club)
That's an impressive turnout....(for a Vic event. I'm sure the NSW guys would be disappointed with only 41 entrants)

Yep disappointed, but I'm assuming there are other cars entered as well. So much the same amount of MX-5's as one of our State Supersprint series.

Out of curiosity, what website do these Sprint events come up on and how do you enter. And costs.

As a NSW member I am interested in doing a Supersprint at PI one day.
I'm not interested in the regularity run every year. Not interested in regularity events at any track.

I ideally would like our interstate challenge to be at PI, but I just can't see it happening as I gather you need a a lot of officials to run the place.

yes other cars. 120 entrants which is a full quota. (and a standby list)

We mostly run with the Alfa Club events (https://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/), which this event is one..
They run a very slick operation, with lots of track time.

Interstate Challenges at Winton are a relatively recent thing. Up until 2012, they were always held at Phillip Island. It's a MUCH longer drive to get there than Winton and generally the attendance from NSW was very low (only a few cars - exception was 2010). If there is enough interest in doing the Interstate Challenge at Phillip Island, and it aligns with the rest of our calendar, then we can certainly look at returning to Phillip Island. For 2018 it is currently set for 14 April at Winton. Luke, I suggest you raise it with Ian.

Hey I'd be very interested too ............... I'll also contact Ian
Phil

I can't justify the extra cost of doing an MX5 round with Aroca. The last PIARC round I did a couple of weeks back was $200. AROCA/MX5 entry is $280. I genuinely wonder why the MX5 club do not go with a much more affordable option. I won't be attending any MX5 Vic club rounds any time soon.

I`d be in that Luke/Phil!

I think the SE is going to be too fast for the 6hr, unless I can choke it down somehow. So a Supersprint at PI would be a high priority for me, the more so if a few of us were going down.

Weather would be a big issue, not to keen on a wet PI! You regulars there, how safe are winter events, are there particular times of the year that are more likely to be wet than others, or is basically random? (I have been going to the 6hr for five years or so, and only had one really `wet` event.)

Luke, if you are a contender for a 2C pot this year, it may be that we defer to you regarding the date?

greenMachine wrote:Weather would be a big issue, not to keen on a wet PI! You regulars there, how safe are winter events, are there particular times of the year that are more likely to be wet than others, or is basically random? (I have been going to the 6hr for five years or so, and only had one really `wet` event.)

Ed, I've done about a dozen track days at the Island. I think I can say only one of them was completely dry but there was never a day when I didn't at some stage get perfect racing conditions. Basically it's like Melbourne, only more so, the weather changes every half hour. I've had sessions wiped out completely in the morning to be followed by a fast track with half the field gone home in the afternoon. I've been completely whited out by a hailstorm that hit me out of nowehere at 190kmh on the start/finish line. I've followed a Randy's car around the last bit of the long bend onto the main straight to see him hit by a rain squall that looked like a giant bucket of water dropped on him and still found a dry line around him.

If you go to the Island you should expect to lose some time but that track is so brillient that the sessions you do get make it all worthwhile.

Agree Manga!

Strangely, there is a track day booked into my calendar on 9 December at, wait for it, PI!!

I spoke to Neil C at the B12Hr (he was running the Alfa there in GpS), he said the entries open around a month before.

It is a long way away now, but I guess you could say I am a definite 'maybe' ...

greenMachine wrote:Weather would be a big issue, not to keen on a wet PI! You regulars there, how safe are winter events, are there particular times of the year that are more likely to be wet than others, or is basically random? (I have been going to the 6hr for five years or so, and only had one really `wet` event.)

PI can be wet any time of the year. I reckon you've got about a 80% chance of it raining at some point over any weekend.

If its heavy rain it can be scary. There are rivers that flow across certain parts of the track, one being the last corner onto the front straight. As you hit it the car lurches about 2 feet to the right. But if you know its there you allow for it.

I've been following another car down the main straight that was a ball of spray until the spray disappeared to reveal a Celica spinning off the straight into the earth embankment.

I've also touched the brakes at turn 1 in the wet and had the car rotate 180 degrees and exit the track backwards at 160 kph.

But having said that its got to be one of the best and most fun tracks in the country. Its can be scary, but is extremely satisfying when you get it right and I miss it now I'm in Queensland.