My new LJ Rally car

[toad]

If anybody is interested, I have a new rally weapon under construction. LJ Torana for gravel rallying. There are not many of these left in this sport so I thought I should bring one back. We are building it super strong and light. I have a 202 engine under construction with all the good gear. For those who have seen my HQ, this car is even better in terms of quality. The fabrication work is unbelievable.

Its maiden event will be the East African Safari in December. The car has to ship on 15th August so I am hoping it will turn a wheel for the first time in July.

2nd event is called Carrera Sudameicana (basically from Argentina to Peru) across The Andes in May06.

No this is not a joke, I am actually doing it

I will try to post a pic, but am on slow dial up at the moment

[singer]

I can't wait to see pics of the LJ:)

Have you scored any brownie points with the Minister for War & Finance yet?;)

Can you go to Winton??

[toad]

Oh yeah....Winton is on. I am a salesman so managed to get that one through, it was just a matter of time :-)

We are putting a Monaro team together...myself and a couple of well known "surprise" Monaro's.

[wayno]

Excellent news. Is it going to be clashing with any other motorsport events like it did with Moto GP last year? Let us know when you have some dates in place.

[Footy]

Originally posted by toad
Oh yeah....Winton is on. I am a salesman so managed to get that one through, it was just a matter of time :-)

We are putting a Monaro team together...myself and a couple of well known "surprise" Monaro's.
Bugger and here is me thinking you did'nt want the monaro any more.:D :D

[brchi17]

Originally posted by toad
Oh yeah....Winton is on. I am a salesman so managed to get that one through, it was just a matter of time :-)

We are putting a Monaro team together...myself and a couple of well known "surprise" Monaro's.

Awesome news Steve, if you need help, count me in, just let me know all those nitty, gritty detail kind of stuff in due course.;)

As for this LJ, how many rule changes are you going to cause this time :D ???

Looking forward to seeing the images as they slowly appear.

cheers.

[Maximus]

Geez Steve, You just cant help yourself hey.
Will the missus be navigating in the rallies this time.

I read somewhere that because of the rally, not sure which one, you will be missing out on Targa 2006. Is this true???

Also, If you need a few hands again at Winton let us know.

Good luck & I cant wait to see the pics.

Cheers

James

[toad]

here is a progress pic taken at the weekend

[toad]

and another
once they are approved

[Maximus]

Steve, They look like the same pics to me.

[toad]

Try this for the 2nd view

[KiwiRallyFan]

I'm really impressed Toad. The East African Safari would have to be one of the great rallying adventures out there. I think this rally usually attracts some of the big name European drivers like Michelle Mouton, Juha Kankkunen etc. I wish you all the best.

Classic rallying is becoming more popular here in NZ all the time. You might want to consider coming 'home' to do the Otago Classic Rally which is held in May. In the past this rally has attracted Jimmy McRae (who won it this year), Juha Kankkunen, Ross Dunkerton, Greg Carr (and others I can't think of off the top of my head). There are several RS1800's competing, and one guy (Australian) ran a (HT/HK?) Monaro this year. A well prepared LJ Torana would fit in very nicely!

[toad]

Otago is in my plan. Keith Callinan who ran the Monaro in Otago is a friend of mine. We run Classic Adelaide and ran London Sydney & Midnight Sun to Red Sea together. You should see his animal De Tomaso Pantera Rally car!!

I have only heard fantastic things about the Otago Rally and the Southern Festival of speed.

You may not ba aware but CAMS is going through a process now to establish new rules for tarmac rally cars in Australia. The proposed rules have been published for competitor comment. If they get through without major changes then my Monaro (and Torana) will be inelligible for competition in Australia Tarmac Rallying from the end of 2005. So I will have to bring it to NZ and compete in your events only.

[singer]

Can anyone place a subbmission to CAMS regarding the proposed rule changes??

I think it'd be a real pity if we were not able to see your cars as I enjoy watching you BURN RUBBER:p

[wayno]

Haven't seen the changes. Anyone got a link.
Doesn't sound good.

[toad]

Originally posted by wayno
Haven't seen the changes. Anyone got a link.
Doesn't sound good.

Try this link..

http://www.cams.com.au/content.asp?PageID=About&ObjectID=3243

[toad]

Originally posted by singer
Can anyone place a subbmission to CAMS regarding the proposed rule changes??

I think it'd be a real pity if we were not able to see your cars as I enjoy watching you BURN RUBBER:p

I have already responded to CAMS. So have a number of other people as have various car clubs.

We just hope they will be listening.

[ferrari fan]

CAMS= Conspiracy Agains Motor Sport.

[wayno]

Originally posted by ferrari fan
CAMS= Conspiracy Agains Motor Sport.

Couldn't agree more! :mad:

[Footy]

Toad, Went to the link and after page3 of 40 I thought"wow"this is heavy reading,in a nut shell can you explain WTF cams is trying to acheive
:confused:
Is Tony Cochrane on the board?:rolleyes:

[brchi17]

Originally posted by Footy
Toad, Went to the link and after page3 of 40 I thought"wow"this is heavy reading,in a nut shell can you explain WTF cams is trying to acheive

I could be wrong, but I think the one about std engine size and keep rear drum brakes, carpet etc, could be a part of the problem. That said, there was a lot of things which my non-mechanical mind didn't understand. Also, after glossing over the three C categories I actually fail to find one which Steve’s car actually falls within, plus a lot of other cars I suspect.

I hope sanity prevails as the last thing we would want to see is pieces of automotive art like his Monaro sitting in a shed somewhere gathering dust.

cheers. :)

[toad]

CAMS are of the opinion that speed is causing accidents and injuries. So their simplistic response is to limit the modifications of the cars to slow them down. From reading the proposed reg's it seems they are of the view that less modified cars will have less speed, therefor cause less injuries.

In my response to CAMS I have explained that they need to look at other things...like roll cage construction (CAMS regs on roll cages are pathetically inadequate), fire bombs, HANS devices etc. and not making us race basically standard cars which will be even less safe.

I am encouraged that they have chosen to socialise these rules with the competitors before making any decisions on them. The problem of course is that there are hundreds of regular competitors and therefor hundreds of views on rules. Personally, I think they should just adopt targa regs (which most tarmac cars in Oz are built to anyway) and mandate these for all tarmac rallies.

But, hey, what would I know, just being a competitor an'all.

[Maximus]

Toad, I remember seeing on TV about 6 months ago a Porsche 911 that went off and the Co-Driver got killed. Not sure if it was here in OZ or Tassie or NZ though.
That was pretty standard if I remember right but once off into the trees they had no hope. Your car would have been heaps safer for sure.

They need to look at the safety side of things like you said and not the engine size.

[ferrari fan]

Cams rollcage aproach is Ahemm.
I have and can manufacture a propper rollcage, all tools and skill, I do inspect and asses them for them, but I cannot manufacture my own!
A company that does have the licence can and can let an apprentice do the welding etc.
It is licence based, not skill based.
I do understand that in the past every man and his dog had a go at making this out of anything that was laying arround on the farm,yard etc.
and so this is a better system overall.
CAMS seems to be more interested in making $$ from insurance etc. than actualy looking after the grass roots motorsport viability.
This was what CAMS was created for and is their motto and creed.
Look on the first page of their rulebook/bible that is available every year.
Their actions are not backed up by their printing.
A lot of volunteers are turned into "parkingmeter" inspectors with the rulebook as their weapon to be important and a nusance in lots of instances sadly.
Just my opinion and worth nottin.

[toad]

That Porsche that crashed was a GT3 and the guy killed was Douglas Briese.

The problem with GT3's specifically is that CAMS only have one rollcage spec, irrespective of the the application...ie rallying or circuit racing.

Porsche GT3's have an optional bolt in factory cage which is really designed for ciruit racing where there are large run offs, sandtraps etc. Not tarmac rallying where the most common impact it with a solid object like a tree or a bank. Add to the fact a GT3 has incredible grip and corner speeds, minimal suspension travel so there is a fine line to cross to loose the car on undulating tarmac roads. When they do go, the loose is at very high speed.

The consequenses of high speed crash, inadequate roll over protection, no manadatory fire bombs or HANS devises speak for themselves.

The problem is made worse by CAMS because they are going to force many people away from classic cars. So in future more people will dump their Escorts and Mustangs and jump into GT3's, which are off the shelf, and have double the corner speed they are used to having. Of course there are going to be more serious accidents in the future.

This is of course if the events run at all once the spectators disappear along with the classic cars.

[ferrari fan]

What about the WRX cars that are going to appear.
They are less $$ and require just as much skill.
4wheel drive and high cornerspeed go hand in hand and when these let go, there is NO way back, just a massive Kaboumm!crunchhh, and sadness.
The next step is banning this sort of event all together and another form of Motorsport that somehow was revigorated will be enyelated again.
most of the fat useless fatherless so and so's want is to sit in an airconditioned envoirment and feel important, while being entertained at no cost to themselfs at a high profile event.
No time for some of the blue shirted CAMS chicanes.
At home they are told where to sit and be VERY quiet indeed, at the racemeet they are elevcated to small dictators with so called power.
A lot of them have never competed in a motorsport event in their sad and sorry life:eek:
There are some very good ones as well and these good people do it for the right reason, we owe them a big thank you.

[Martin Thomas]

Originally posted by toad

This is of course if the events run at all once the spectators disappear along with the classic cars.

So does that mean we will see the LJ up our way in a Variety type Bash.. That may be all thats left for the classics, by the sounds of it...:eek: Best you get the boys to mount the revolving lights and PA system to it while its in the shop... :(

[ferrari fan]

Variety Bash as a Motorsport event is useless.
As a fun money raising booze guzling prankster sorta offa gettaway ; exelent.

[wayno]

Originally posted by ferrari fan
Variety Bash as a Motorsport event is useless.
As a fun money raising booze guzling prankster sorta offa gettaway ; exelent.

Lol! And the problem with that is?????

[toad]

Originally posted by Martin Thomas
So does that mean we will see the LJ up our way in a Variety type Bash.. That may be all thats left for the classics, by the sounds of it...:eek: Best you get the boys to mount the revolving lights and PA system to it while its in the shop... :(

Not a chance. But I have a Lighburn Zeta I could use for that.

[singer]

Originally posted by toad
Not a chance. But I have a Lighburn Zeta I could use for that.

I can really see you going for a spin in that;) :p

[singer]

Originally posted by toad
Not a chance. But I have a Lighburn Zeta I could use for that.

I can really see you going for a spin in that;) :p

[Footy]

What does CAMS do?
CAMS exists to promote, encourage, and advance motor sport in Australia through competition, ensuring that the sport is competitive and fair and is run in accordance with the spirit of the traditions of true competitive sport.

CAMS is responsible for all forms of four-wheeled motor sport which includes categories such as circuit racing, rallying, off roading, historic competition and other general motor sport activities (including motorkhana, speed, hillclimb, autocross and khanacross events).

In addition to this it is CAMS’ responsibility to ensure that all motor sport in Australia is conducted in a manner that secures and enhances the safety of all those involved, including participants, officials, spectators and the public.

In issue 19 Australian Muscle cars on page 115 there is an interesting article about CAMS and one Brian Callaghan,,it amazes me that a federation like CAMS starts out to help and then dictates, ..........its all about Control !!!

[toad]

CAMS is a group that can run motorport events in Australia. They are not the only organisation that can do that. It just happens that they have been appointed by the FIA to be the representative of FIA for FIA events that run in Australia.

Anybody is free to run a motorsport event in Australia providing they can prove to the govt's that they can meet safety, insurance needs etc.

CAMS use strong arm tactics to govern our sport because they are effectively the only viable body that exist to run motorsport in Australia. However, for Tarmac Rallying already Classic Adelaide has run outside CAMS last year and I think if these new proposed regs are bought in by CAMS other events maybe forced to run outside CAMS aswell in order to attract entries.