(G) Toyo Series Motorkhana (NZ)

Today was Round One of the Toyo Series - the Motorkhana (what you folks in England would call an 'autotest'...)

It was obviously an event of national importance, since SteveNZ brought down several entries from Auckland in a convoy of three Tipos and an Uno Turbo (don't you guys run these things up there? )

I dragged jjhepburn along with his yellow Uno (actually not quite true - he got there before me!) Must have been keen for his first event! Though I have to point out that most entries were LATE due to the Mafia Night before for existing club members (we dressed up with guns and stuff for a secret meeting at a residential location...)

Anyway...
Here is an attempt at a video (I did, of course, leave my DV camcorder at home, and my IXUS 400's memory card was near full... still, better than nothing )

http://www.quickstream.com.au/launch...9B2705&style=2
-Alex

Link does not work for me . Do you have any pics?

There was also 3x 130TCs that entered

Not working for me either

What are the next events in the series? In particular do you know when the Taupo track event is?

3 September

Yeah well, that's just typical of my bastard-of-a-day...
Spent two hours putting the pictures and videos together, using Windows Movie Maker. Wanted to simply save the file and upload to a website... but typical Microsoft, I now have four simple choices: Write a CD, Publish on the Web, Something else (show a friend), or Write to a DV Camera.

Like the stupid mug I am, I chose 'Publish to the Web'. I'm registered with Quikstream (Australia) which are part of the Microsoft scheme, and so WMM uploaded my 10Mb file. I then went to the Files Area (after logging in), ticked the 'Share' box, etc. Then I obtained a link, pasted it into the forum post, fiddled with it until it was clickable (stripping off the tags etc.) and then finally, I clicked the link, a Quickstream player window opened, and the file downloaded and played.

See, simple?

I am not at my place right now, and so there is nothing I can do about it, sorry chaps, I tried - really I did - but I'm just useless... and it's been like that for the whole day really!

Thanks for looking up that date, Steve...

-Alex

Is the Taupo event a Sprint format or is it an actual race meeting, and is it on the old circuit or the new circuit?,
Cheers,
Slapper

Dual sprint format. Im not sure which circuit but I believe its the new circuit.

Right - here's a second attempt at the video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRuMY7SzPmk

There were more than 60 other entries who are not featured in my video, due to the difficulties of camera work while taking part in the event (queues, bad weather, etc) and also because I only had 80-odd MB of memory card space to play with.

Don't get your hopes up too high - it's a pretty bad effort! but things can only get better. Next time (one month from now, Tauranga Autocross) I'll be taking my camcorder (DV, with 3CCD technology!)

Results attached, if anyone's interested. As you can see, I got slaughtered - and in particular by jjhepburn... his first event, my first event was five years ago...

-Alex

Great stuff Alex! I love the intro

It's a bit one-sided (*me* and *my* Uno Turbo, kinda blowing my own trumpet) but it was just to prove a concept as much as anything. I'd never used Windows Movie Maker (or YouTube) before.

My DV camcorder (assuming I can get it working with my PC!) can record for much longer than my still camera (obviously) and I've got two of the super Li-Ion batteries, so I have high hopes for covering more of the entries for the Autocross (hope that includes you!)

Cheers,
-Alex

Photos now available from a professional photographer...
http://www.pwphoto.co.nz/motorsport/...na/page_01.htm

-Alex

Just had a chance to look at this, looks like a fun day. Good to see a number of Fiats and especially Unos as entrants. The Fiat 130 Abarth was right up there.

That guy in the black car was crazy, love the way he overcooks it and spins the car around showing off, valuable time lost there, and I was just waiting for him to clout that lamppost looked like he got close on a couple of occassions!

Looked like James car need a bit of suspension work to stiffen it up and reduce bodyroll, I like your slide the back round technique making use of the extra power

It has got me thinking I really want to do something like this!

Looking forward to the next installment.

Thanks thepottleflump!

I've just noticed in your signature - the line of text - you own a Mk2 Turbo! I had no idea, since you've spent so long on the Mk1 45...

Tell us about the Turbo...

-Alex

Ah Ha, I wondered how long it would take for someone to spot that.

Well here is a picture of the beast with the Mk1 in the background, anyone recognise it? It has a years MOT/Tax and Insurance on it so is good for a while. The Mk1 in the background was jacked up at the time while I was fiddling around with it. My brother-in-law will be round in a couple of weeks to do the welding on the Mk1 and then it is MOT time......

What do you reckon?