Last Friday of the Month Mt Nebo/Mt Glorious Night Run

[apegrip]

Encountered the galaxy's slowest driver. Apegrip and I passed him/her a few mins before Jolly's (doing about 40km/h), and even after a 15min chat there, we came up to him/her again literally crawling down the uber twisty bit just after My Nebo village.
Didn't see any L or P plates, car seemed to be in good order.

A few cops around but not near the mountain.

Some roadworks fixing the shoulders.

The few 80 signs are no longer there. I don't think they've been replaced by 70 signs, simply removed.

They have finally posted a 40 sign and lots of reflective yellow/black arrows on that one semi-open left hander to replace the very inappropriate 80. Even in an mx5 you'd have to be quite brave to take it close to 80.
.

Man that driver was crazy slow hahaha, even if you were driving normal slow which would be understandable, they were almost at a standstill!

Already got my new radiator ordered ;) I'm going to sparta kick the sh*t out of the one in there atm.

[apegrip]

Anyone going ?

[mattyredlocks]

Only if I can magically fix my clutch hose before tonight (not happening) and it stops raining (probably not happening)

[The American]

I saw mx5ers on Bookface talking about this drive, and covering the distance between The Gap and Jollys Lookout in under 8 minutes. That's full cage, HANS, harness, helmet closed road and standby ambulance material. For the sake of your kids, partners, parents and friends, be safe!

[Trackphotos]

It's a joke. There's one guy who claims to be an epic driver and super fast, but has never taken his car to an actual track to prove his skills. Everybody just hangs sh*t on him for it.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[Steampunk]

Sorry I couldn't make it as I was otherwise occupied and only just got home.

I saw mx5ers on Bookface talking about this drive, and covering the distance between The Gap and Jollys Lookout in under 8 minutes. That's full cage, HANS, harness, helmet closed road and standby ambulance material. For the sake of your kids, partners, parents and friends, be safe!

It better be a joke. Numbnuts who even half-consider pulling sh!t like this will be made unwelcomed in no uncertain terms.

I've considered meeting with some "higher-ups" in the QPS department targeting "hoons" up Mt Nebo to get what their state of play is and try to get in their good books in case we're ever pulled over and placed in the same basket.

In case anyone is curious, in the nine or so years I've been doing this, there's only been two cases where we've attracted Police attention. Around 2008 a patrol car came up to us at the car park even before we started and just had a friendly 5 minute chat. Just asked us what we were up to, no checking of cars or anything.

A couple years ago we were stopped at the start of The Gap after we finished our run, did an RBT, they checked our cars, bonnets up, checked licences and after another friendly chat with a couple of us who had "interesting" aftermarket parts, they let us back on our way without warning or anything.

[The American]

It's a joke. There's one guy who claims to be an epic driver and super fast, but has never taken his car to an actual track to prove his skills. Everybody just hangs sh*t on him for it.

One guy is talking about having done it in 8 minutes something, and the other guy is claiming to have the log of 7minutes something on his phone. Didn't sound like a joke. At least not enough that someone might not think it would be a bright idea to give it a try.

[plohl]

Andrew, we had our cars looked over a year or so ago at jolly's by an unmarked car on one of these meets.

Let's not pretend that everyone on these thing is well behaved, or even drives within their own limits 100% of the time. Pretty sure a few cars have come back in worse condition then they started with these meets.

I think it is best to let silly talk of timed runs be forgotten, considering it's a type 2 hoon offense and you don't want anyone trying to repeat it.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[Steampunk]

Shane, if when saying "in worse condition" you mean wear & tear and the occasional part failure, then yes there's been several instances. Apegrip sprung a radiator leak last time, a few months ago someone found out their wheel weights were rubbing under cornering.
But I hope you're not suggesting (in your own words when Nick just got his car) we "tap a bank" every now and again , because that's definitely untrue.

Having said that though, honestly there has only been one occasion where a newbie a few years ago did clip the side , only because it was literally his first time going up there (in any car) and the running order got shuffled and he ended up being 2nd car following someone who's both skilled and knows the road very well. Front car wasn't speeding, he simply maintained flow through a very tricky corner.

I can't say if people are driving less than 100% because I obviously don't know, but myself I only ever go 8-10ths at the very most at certain sections.
I always remain in my lane, never cut corners or take racing lines, and neither do any of the others.

I wasn't there when the cop was at Jolly's. Was that when someone got a ticket for displaying the wrong rego sticker? It was an up-to-date rego sticker but it was for his other car which was an innocent mistake.

[Steampunk]

Come to think of it, last time it was only Apegrip and myself and we both drove quite casually.

No braking at all. Didn't need to.

It was very enjoyable as it highlighted the ease with which you can drive MX-5s maintaining a somewhat enthusiastic pace.

[Vat]

Come to think of it, last time it was only Apegrip and myself and we both went quite casually. I don't think we even did 70 when signed.

No braking at all. Didn't need to.

It was very enjoyable as it highlighted the ease with which you can drive MX-5s and maintain a somewhat enthusiastic pace.

Haven't done the run at night but I wouldn't describe myself as ever being more than 6 to 7 tenths up there. Generally rule is keep to the speed limit but try and do it everywhere (within reason). I think it's too variable an environment to push harder than that - the only time I've pushed harder was with a modified Soarer leading the way with around a 100 to 150 metre gap, so he would come across any issues first, but he was of a similar mindset in that he'd keep roughly to the limit (this was last year when it was predominantly 80) on the straights and push the corners.

You're spot on,though, it does underline the beauty of the MX-5 that you can sail through there close to the speed limit at an enthusiastic pace and have it be fun. Which for me was kind of the point. I had a late '90s Mirage that had had a bit of suspension work but no power mods that was hilarious up there - you could basically pin the throttle in third at The Gap and hold it flat for most of the run - sailed past the cops somewhere along the run right up the Mirage at about 15 km/h UNDER the limit.

I don't understand the mindset of the motorbikes pushing hard there and I've no doubt that's what's leading to the high fatality/injury rate amongst them up there. It just takes a half decent fallen branch, someone bringing gravel across the surface or a concealed wet patch and you're done.

The biggest fear for me would be to involve someone else in my accident if I did something stupid. Dunno if I could live with that.

[Steampunk]

I'm surprised you've never come up with us. Could have sworn you have once.

So many nails hit square on the head with the points you've made.

We had a few riders come up with us one night (mates of yours Apegrip?) They were talking themselves up only a little bit saying that they corner hard enough to put a.knee down and they'll probably leave us behind. So I told them they can lead, but they were happy to follow mid-pack.

When we got to Jolly's they were very surprised they got left behind. That illustrates your point that no matter how good you think you are, especially on a bike, you're limited to amount of grip and condition of road, so drive/ride accordingly and prepare for all possible contingencies.

[Vat]

I'm surprised you've never come up with us. Could have sworn you have once.

I keep threatening to. Might actually make it one night!

[mattyredlocks]

It's a joke. There's one guy who claims to be an epic driver and super fast, but has never taken his car to an actual track to prove his skills. Everybody just hangs sh*t on him for it.

One guy is talking about having done it in 8 minutes something, and the other guy is claiming to have the log of 7minutes something on his phone. Didn't sound like a joke. At least not enough that someone might not think it would be a bright idea to give it a try.

No really, this is a long running gag.

[Steampunk]

Donts forgets this fridays peoples