General Chat...

[TotalF1-Nick 0]

I thought we could start a general chat thread where we can just talk about anything to whoever is around at the time.

So come in, sit down, grab yourself a beer [not if your under-age though:D] and just chill....

Catch ya later.

[nichosnz 0]

Good idea Nick. I'm not under-age but I don't drink. So I'll sit down with a Coke.

[TotalF1-Nick 0]

Yeah me too mate, i stopped drinking due to my racing. We haven't raced this year though, but i haven't really started up again though.

Only every now and then when i go into town, lets not mention that though hey.

Hell i'll have a Pepsi as it's nicer than Coke. Can't wait to go to Asu and have a nice big Milkshake from a milkbar. Oh nice!

[nichosnz 0]

Nah don't like Pepsi, too sweet. We have good milkshakes in NZ too, but only if you know where to go.

You mentioned Perth, where else are you going.

[TotalF1-Nick 0]

Oh what in another thread, yeah i'm gona visit a mate in perth. I'll mainly be in Sydney as all my relatives are there, but i may also go up to Brisbane as my girlfriend wants to go up there, aswell as everywhere else.

[nichosnz 0]

I've only been to Australia twice, once to Sydney and once to Melborne. For a grand total of about 12 days. Didn't get to see much of Melborne, it was race weekend, but what I did see I liked better than Sydney. So next time I make it to the Australian GP I will have to ensure I get a little more time off work, so I can stay a bit longer and see the city properly.

[GaySchumi 0]

OK, what's the verdict for Sunday ? I'm thinking of putting a few quid on germany for a shock win...their defense/Goalie is unbelievably great, whereas the rest of them are unbelievably average:)

[nichosnz 0]

I'm not really following the World Cup, but I hope that Germany win.

[sw4me 0]

naaa na na naaaaa na, sorry folks, it's Samba time. Brazil won. Germany made some horrible mistakes in today's game. Their goalie is unbelieveable. So were those 2 goals from Ronaldo.

Wonder, if it's time Cafu takes off.

[nichosnz 0]

I'm still happy with the result, two unlikely making the top 4, and no pre comp favourite obtaining a predictable result.

[nichosnz 0]

All this talk about circuits has gotten me to thinking about a strech of road near to where I live.

Winding road uphill, all corners sweeping none sharp. 3 lanes wide. Rises about 600ft over 1 mile. then Straight road downhill, 2 corners 1 sharp. 2 lanes wide. Falls 330ft over 2/3 mile. You can weave across all lanes if it isn't afternoon rush hour or shortly before a Rugby league game. Speed limit 50mph, never any cops or speed cameras so I often do near 60 up, 70 down. Surface type chipseal on the winding side, asphalt on the straight side, condition almost excellent.

I was wondering what you guy would think of such a road. As this one is the only access into the valley I live in, same road 2 lanes all the way out. And this valley has a bad reputation based entirely on people not wanting to use this road. I think the road is fun and the reputation is unfair.

The one downside in a pair of front tyres lasts 5-6 months.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

That kind of road is the best, none better. We have some over here that are great too, but I rather prefer the gravel roads in Finland where I go 'rallying'

[nichosnz 0]

Those speeds I do are not the limits of myself or my car either. But the tyres are right on the edge.

Just thought of another problem too but that is with my car most people don't have this. The shape of the bottom of my fuel tank means I need at least 1/4 tank to get over if going into the valley.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

In road cars the tyres do significantly limit the speeds that they can reach while cornering. The Saab 900SE I drive on the mountain roads has high-performance Michelin's, so I am able to go very fast up and down the mountain through turns, and straights are fun with the 2.0litre Turbo l4 commanded by a fast shifting 5-speed gearbox

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

BTW. what car is it that has the oddly shaped fuel tank?

[nichosnz 0]

1.9 Litre, Peugeot 405 SRi.

If I just make it over the hill I can do almost 100 miles before I need to fill up, but it is never that long before I need to return. It is only on the inward trip too not outward, inward is steeper.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Maybe you should just carry extra fuel in an external tank in your trunk!

[nichosnz 0]

No I just have to remember to fill up at 1/4 instead of E.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Oh well yea that would work too then!

[nichosnz 0]

That is the only problem with the model though.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Yea my friend has the same car, the 405 is a great one!

[nichosnz 0]

It is quite powerful for a 1.9, 4 cylinder. I can make V8's work for it away from traffic lights etc.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

My friend uses his for rallying. He rallies in a no-mod class where all that is different from the stock car is that a rollbar is added inside the car. The leader of the series also uses the 405.

[nichosnz 0]

I'm not suprised it was designed as a rally car.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

We took it out to a little hidden stretch of gravel roads in the forest in early August which we have made pace notes for. The speeds we do are crazy, luckily we've never even been heard by police because his license would be taken right there and then and mine would be delayed by at least 3 years. Great fun though, and you can feel safe because the trees are well clear of the road. Im not saying that is actually IS safe