WooHoo Going to see the Indy Race

[bentalphanerd]

O.k so I already knew I was going but only got the ticket today so now it feels real.

Will be teaching my boy the ancient & delicate art of taking a sick day so we can go on Friday & avoid the crowds.

I have no idea whats happening in the championship as we dont get the races televised here but really looking forward to seeing the open wheelers in the flesh (carbon?)

Heres the days action:

Friday October 24
8:00 – 9:30 IndyCar® Series (Practice # 1)
10:10 – 10:35 Nova On-track Entertainment
10:45 – 11:05 Coates Aussie Racing Cars (Race # 2)
12:20 – 12:20 IndyCar Series (Practice # 2)
12:30 – 12:50 Formula 3 (Race # 2)
13:05 – 13:55 The Coffee Club V8 Supercar Challenge ( Practice # 1)
14:05 – 14:30 Nova On-track Entertainment
14:45 – 15:30 The Coffee Club V8 Supercar Challenge ( Practice # 2)
15:40 - 16:10 Nova On-track Entertainment
16:55 – 17:15 The Coffee Club V8 Supercar Challenge (Qualifying # 1)
17:20 – 17:35 The Coffee Club V8 Supercar Challenge (Qualifying # 2)
17:40 – 17:50 The Coffee Club V8 Supercar Challenge (Qualifying # 3)

Go Will Power - stoopid name but hes a local here & I used to watch him race the Formula Fords & leave them all behind.....now if someone can just NOT crash him off the track this year that'd be good ;)

[talas]

Love it !!... Will be teaching my boy the ancient & delicate art of taking a sick day so we can go on Friday & avoid the crowds.

Hope you guys have a great one ;)

[Pepperfreak]

I'm so jealous. Sounds like it'll be a blast!

[bentalphanerd]

Gold Coast (QLD) street circuit....it always gets messy lol

Will be driving down & parking at the in-laws place nearby who will drive us in close & pick us up after. A nice gesture considering we haven't heard from "mum" in about 8 years.

[RingburnDave]

Hehe I grew up on the gold coast, managed to walk in one of the entry gates without showing a ticket or anything during the 2nd ever gold coast indy - was a bargain! damn those things are loud.. take earplugs

[bentalphanerd]

Hehe I grew up on the gold coast, managed to walk in one of the entry gates without showing a ticket or anything during the 2nd ever gold coast indy - was a bargain! damn those things are loud.. take earplugs

I like loud :hell:

[bentalphanerd]

Hmmmm - you'd want to be tuned up for this bit:

12:20 – 12:20 IndyCar Series (Practice # 2)

[Sickmont]

Awesome! I'm soooo jealous of you.

[Davetaylor]

nice one Bent,
You can't beat a bit of live in the flesh motorsport. Me and the brother like to get to a couple of the british touring car meets each season, brilliant day the noise (nothing on the V8 supercars though) and smells.
We get some of the V8 highlights over here on telly. But one i do enjoy watching is the Bathurst 1000, up one side of the mountain then snake down the other side and plant the go faster foot down conrod straight

[ring sting]

I like loud :hell:

WHAT DID YOU SAY!?!

Shame the 'fun-bag' police are gonna be out. No more looking up to the balconies for a free show... :(

Premier orders sleaze crackdown on Indy revellers (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24181674-952,00.html)

If you saw our premier....

[bentalphanerd]

nice one Bent,
You can't beat a bit of live in the flesh motorsport. Me and the brother like to get to a couple of the british touring car meets each season, brilliant day the noise (nothing on the V8 supercars though) and smells.
We get some of the V8 highlights over here on telly. But one i do enjoy watching is the Bathurst 1000, up one side of the mountain then snake down the other side and plant the go faster foot down conrod straight

Agree totally - Bathurst is one of the greatest racetracks in the world. The 1000 race really breaks cars...one of the few races in the world where they have to change brake pads at a pit-stop lol.

Hope to make it along & see that one day. & the F1

[chilliman64]

hey mate, get the young bloke some ear muffs

[Chiliac]

Never ever been to something like that so I can't say if I'd be into it, but I hope you guys will be having a blast!!! Enjoy and tell us how it was!

[DickT]

Hey Bent, take some pics, I went to the Long Beach Gran Prix, it was a blast.

[Davetaylor]

formula 1 used to be my favorite motorsport. But it's boring as hell to watch nowadays, for the best racing your better watching tintop way more racing. F1 now lacks everything that racing is about overtaking for starters.
I could go see at least 4 BTCC meets for the price of a race day ticket to a grand prix

[imaguitargod]

The race cars go "Vroom vroom!"

[Sickmont]

The race cars go "Vroom vroom!"

And the drunk guys go "Whoo Hoooo!"

[bentalphanerd]

formula 1 used to be my favorite motorsport. But it's boring as hell to watch nowadays, for the best racing your better watching tintop way more racing. F1 now lacks everything that racing is about overtaking for starters.
I could go see at least 4 BTCC meets for the price of a race day ticket to a grand prix

Yeah the aero stuff has made it hard to get close to the car in front for overtaking unless you've got a bunch more horsepower. Its changing again next year with greatly reduced rear wings, a return to slicks & 'energy recovery' from braking??

Will take plenty of happy snaps if I can get my head around my new camera phone...:shocked:

[bentalphanerd]

Survived it WooHoo - dammit those things are quick.
Wrestling with a new cam phone & largely unused vid camera I managed to make a mess of most things lol.

Seems I managed to get it together to catch these clips of this guy practicing. {3 MB download} >>click (http://www.alphanerdz.com/Indy300_F111_practiceSML.wmv)<< Turn the volume up ;)

The full quality version came it at 25 MB...if anyone has some tips on reducing the size without so much loss I'd be glad to hear it :)

[bentalphanerd]

Its up on YouTube :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNctQS4y2N4

[talas]

Nice bit of filming my friend you got to love the speed of that damn plane and that beach at the side is lovely,Cam looks a good one..Looks like you had a great day :)

[ring sting]

did the young fella get a taste4 for motor sport? did he enjoy it? I wont ask if you did, coz i think thtas a given!!

[bentalphanerd]

Nice bit of filming my friend you got to love the speed of that damn plane and that beach at the side is lovely,Cam looks a good one..Looks like you had a great day :)

Cam is a cheap internet buy. Its not very intuitive & was halfway through the day before I realised I didnt have it set right to take video.
Vid I took of the cars came out very jumpy...like the cars were there, then not, then a bit further along, then gone. A real pain in the ...

Had a great day despite only being able to get mid-strength bourbons :( :lol:


did the young fella get a taste4 for motor sport? did he enjoy it? I wont ask if you did, coz i think thtas a given!!

Ahh yeah, he's already well into it. Although the Indy cars were a bit too loud for him even with the ear protection.
What a note those things hit at full tilt :cool:

[Sickmont]

nobody noticed the tags here *sniff*

[imaguitargod]

nobody noticed the tags here *sniff*
No, nobody comments on the tags. I notice them all the time. ;)

[DickT]

Nice shots Bent, you guys have a beautiful ocean.

[Davetaylor]

the thing that always gets me everytime i'm at a meet is that how rough the cars always sound when idling on the grid, they sound like someone has forgotten to make sure all the engine parts are in the right place, but god can they shift when they get going
So them Bent whats you next
Race Day?

[bentalphanerd]

Will be at Stillmanz party when the race is on - thats o.k I wouldn't have gone anyway. Charge a fortune & cant move for plebs.
I think next for me is the Sprintcars championship (http://www.worldseriessprintcars.com/default.asp) round at the local speedway. Its always funny watching people who like to drive at 150 km/h into a wet clay corner - 3 wide -!

Whats happening over there Dave? They used to show the British Touring cars here but not anymore. It was very entertaining...they all drive like they stole it lol.

[AlabamaJack]

great you and your son enjoyed the race and just being there Bent...

That airplane (F-111) was built at the plant where I work...first flight of that aircraft was in 1964...I was in the ninth grade...it is still a hell of a workhorse for you guys...

[chilliman64]

great you and your son enjoyed the race and just being there Bent...

That airplane (F-111) was built at the plant where I work...first flight of that aircraft was in 1964...I was in the ninth grade...it is still a hell of a workhorse for you guys...

it would have been quite an outstanding piece of technology in it's day that's for sure. they keep upgrading ours but at 40 plus yrs old how much longer can they last? I was born in '64 and I don't know how much longer I'll last. eating bhuts gives me a similar afterburner effect to the F-111.

[bentalphanerd]

Yeah they keep refitting it with new stuff every few years for a few mill a pop, so it's not a lot like the original version anymore. I know the DoD has had orders in a few times for a replacement but it keeps falling through. Problem with Oz is that we need a very very long range fighter lol.

Hope you cranked the sound up while watching it - cant hear the thing coming at all Then Blam lol

[AlabamaJack]

yup...he was close to the sound barrier...he passes before the sound gets there...I listened for it carefully...

the replacement you are going to get is the aircraft I am working on now...the F-35...I think you guys are a level 1 partner in our program...meaning you have contributed a bunch of money and have commited to buy a bunch of them...

[bentalphanerd]

yup...he was close to the sound barrier...he passes before the sound gets there...I listened for it carefully...

the replacement you are going to get is the aircraft I am working on now...the F-35...I think you guys are a level 1 partner in our program...meaning you have contributed a bunch of money and have commited to buy a bunch of them...

lol is that the one that was supposed to be delivered about 5 years ago & we're already paying regular servicing fees even though its not out of the factory yet.

I get confused - we have helicopters, naval boats & subs all on order somewhere & all late lol

[AlabamaJack]

lol is that the one that was supposed to be delivered about 5 years ago & we're already paying regular servicing fees even though its not out of the factory yet.

I get confused - we have helicopters, naval boats & subs all on order somewhere & all late lol

nope, not the one...we are still in flight test with the aircraft and only have two flying at the present time...first operational squadron deployment will be somewhere around 2012 or so...maybe 2011 but that is the US Marines flying the Short Take Off/Vertical Landing Model...you guys are interested in the Conventional Take Off & Landing (CTOL) version...a lot of people are afraid of what is going to happen to the program after the election in a couple of weeks and who is going to be president...but...with all the international participation in the program, I feel it is safe....

[bentalphanerd]

Actually our "new" "Tiger" heli was there

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5383/tigeryt0.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tigeryt0.jpg)

[AlabamaJack]

Is that an attack heli?...I can't tell from the view?...

I went to the airshow two weekends ago here and got a close up look at the apache helicoptor...damn, what a war machine...I would hate to know they were looking at me from over a mile away and plotting on how they were going to take me down...you would never know what hit you...

[bentalphanerd]

yeah it is - it was quite happily flying along on its nose & doing 100 km/h sideways. Its similar shape to the apache but bigger, again for the extra flying range needed here.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2438/photo0057lr5.jpg (http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0057lr5.jpg)
the curved rotors are a bit freaky

[AlabamaJack]

I am sure the curvature of the rotors have something to do with noise reduction (part of the "stealth" technology) and performance for sure...

have a great day Bent...I am off to get something eat then to bed my friend...later...

[chilliman64]

hey bent, at 1:28 it looks like it just skims that apartment block

I remember going to an air show in the 80's and seeing the Harrier do all kinds of stuff including a vertical climb after hovering about 50 metres off the ground.

[chilliman64]

and yeah - the clip sounded awesome with the volume cranked up!

[bentalphanerd]

Then there was some other noise.

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/4422/photo0048qv7.jpg (http://img505.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0048qv7.jpg)

Then the drift boys got their hands on some V8's

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6619/photo0044jc4.jpg (http://img185.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0044jc4.jpg)

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7638/photo0041rh8.jpg (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0041rh8.jpg)

Then the main event - or practice at least

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/269/photo0080fy7.jpg (http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0080fy7.jpg)

[bentalphanerd]

Glad I brought some ham rolls along though

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/4792/photo0082ei3.jpg (http://img519.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0082ei3.jpg)

Man is not a camel

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/8471/photo0040xh9.jpg (http://img159.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0040xh9.jpg)

It doesnt get much better than this

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6277/photo0068wo1.jpg (http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0068wo1.jpg)

[chilliman64]

the food is always a rip-off at those events. how much was the can of Jimbo?

[bentalphanerd]

the food is always a rip-off at those events. how much was the can of Jimbo?

lol - $8 for mid-strength.

was 5.50 for a can of mid-strength beer. Crazy stuff when theres pubs 2 blocks off track.

[chilliman64]

eight bucks!?!?!? that's un-Australian! that works out to $192 a case.

[bentalphanerd]

Well yeah - but you know where the money goes. Don't want to know how much it costs to set up a stall at the track.

[chilliman64]

I think they have to buy licences to sell grog for those events I'm sure they would be a bit pricey

[bentalphanerd]

Yeah - I heard its a several thousand $ just to set up a table & sell hats.

[Chiliac]

You are lucky it was allowed to bring in food! I've been to a lot of events like festivals where you couldn't bring anything in and were forced to buy the expensive stuff or walk back miles to your car/tent to have some food.

What is this "No more. It's the law." sign on the 2nd pic about?

[bentalphanerd]

You are lucky it was allowed to bring in food! I've been to a lot of events like festivals where you couldn't bring anything in and were forced to buy the expensive stuff or walk back miles to your car/tent to have some food.

What is this "No more. It's the law." sign on the 2nd pic about?

Not allowed to sell more alcohol to someone whos obviously already hammered.

[chilliman64]

Not allowed to sell more alcohol to someone whos obviously already hammered.

that's also very un-Australian!

[Chiliac]

So that is a law in Oz? They are thinking about making it one here, too after a few teenagers drank themselves into coma, one actually died and they want the barkeepers to act more responsible.

[Davetaylor]

Not allowed to sell more alcohol to someone whos obviously already hammered.

At them prices who could afford to get smashed!
Some of the circuits i've been to the beer prices ain't to bad,
Nothing to special though usually fosters, carlsberg as your 4% choice of stella if you want a bit stronger.
Some places are rip off with high prices and beer that tastes like watery piss.
I always take my own food and some hot sauce!

[bentalphanerd]

yeah its the bartenders fault for continuing to do what the customer asks for, because obviously the customer is too stupid to be responsible for their own actions lol.

[AlabamaJack]

"The Law" has been like that here in the states for many years now and the bar owners AND the bartenders are liable....many law suits have been filed and won claiming "you served him and he was already too drunk"....to me that is someone blaming someone else for his/her actions...

[chilliman64]

I agree AJ - this 'diminished responsibility' plea is crap - people aren't accountable for their own actions any more