Quote from mookie427 :

oldskool stuff like FSOL, DJ Krome & Mr. Time, Acen, Hardfloor, Neuromancer are awesome

Now that's more like it.

How about a bit of Yolk too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djHwq2sHGbY

That cheesy happy hardcore rubbish destroyed the rave scene. Encouraged by shit DJs who couldn't mix breakbeats.

Blimey, some people really crave attention on this forum don't they.

Hey, here's a thread I'm not interested in. I shall tell everyone that I'm not interested in it, and also go to great lengths to tell them why they're all wrong for being interested in it.

Oh well.

Haven't heard of this before but it looks quite cool. Advanced physics has brought a whole new element to gaming and it's good to see it being exploited in different and original ways. It could be a good laugh with a bunch of mates if you can set up proper traps for each other.

Quote from Shotglass :

it just isnt

http://cybernetnews.com/2008/0 ... -performance-comparisons/

Quote from Shotglass :

i think weve been over this before (might not have been you though) but ie _is_ the web standard and opera has tons of issues displaying stuff

No, as Dajmin state, W3C is the web standard. IE is just the most popular browser (since it comes with Windows).

The problem with IE is that you have to use non-standard code to get a lot of things to work properly across browsers (something that W3C is supposed to prevent). That often means more code per page, which means each page takes longer to both write for the developer, and load for the user.

Now multiply that problem by millions (billions?) of web pages, and it becomes a big deal.

I mean, imagine if the United States refused to conform to international law, simply because they are the most powerful member. Oh hang on...

Quote from Shotglass :

...all i really want from a browser is just what its intended to do... open webpages and offer some very basic userfriendliness (which chome completely fails at by not having any recent urls type thing on the addressbar btw)

You really should try Opera then. It's much faster and safer than IE, it conforms to web standards (which IE6 and IE7 absolutely do not), it already has a lot of the features Chrome is using and it has mouse gestures, which is a brilliant way of interacting with an interface.

It'll be big, this. People are finally starting to see what a godawful browser Internet Explorer is, and Firefox was on the way to becoming the prominent browser. This will almost certainly change things once they've got all the issues ironed out.

And I see they've nicked a load of features from Opera

I've been tazzing round Bathurst in the Corvette and it's great fun. Nice work Neils

If this is your first car, you are a long way from being able to recognise the difference between a highly tuned car and a stock one.

Your concentration should be one hundred percent on racking up experience in all conditions and types of roads. Absolutely nothing else matters right now. It's irrelevant what car you have when you're new to driving, so I'm all for having something crappy to start with until you've built up the experience.

Best to start slow and build up. I've just put new adjustable shocks on my car and have left it as standard for a month while I adapt to it. It's only now that I feel like I've learnt enough about the car as it is to start making adjustments and be able to tell what the difference is.

I don't mean any of this in a derogatory way. I absolutely love driving but I always take it very seriously, because the moment you forget that hurtling along in a ton and a half of hot steel and glass is an incredibly dangerous act, you are in serious trouble.

Young drivers do have a lot of accidents, which you'll probably hear a lot of, but that's not simply because they are all shit drivers. Often it's because they don't spot a danger in time, or their concentration is elsewhere, such as on their shiny new DVD player in the dash

Quote from spookthehamster :

We got a Eunos in the end, but I'll never be able to drive it. My Dad's insurance company won't take an under 25 on it and he refuses to leave them because he's been with them so long, even though it would be cheaper to go ANYWHERE else.

That is really a terrible reason to rob yourself of a good insurance deal. How on earth does he think he's getting rewarded for loyalty? As if they give a monkeys!

Or maybe that's just what he tells you

Excellent choice though - what year is it? Pics?

So you're flying into and out of Sydney? The coast road is a bit of trek compared to the highway but well worth it.

Oh, if you do fancy seeing the local wildlife there's a nice little koala sanctuary on Philip Island.

You'll also see the 'penguin parade' advertised everywhere, which is basically a small grandstand on the beach where 300 people sit and watch the penguins come in at night. The penguins clearly aren't too keen, since most of them try and avoid the enormous spotlights by sneaking up the side of the beach, but it is quite cool to watch them right up close, heading up the hill from the beach.

But if you talk to the locals they'll probably point you to places on the island to see them away from the crowds (and for free) but I'm not sure where exactly.

If you stop to Narooma, I know the owners of a nice motel there

I just spent a couple of years driving all over Australia so might be able to help

Really it all depends on how long are you going for, and what you're after. If you just want to party then... err... stay at home - you get just as drunk but the beer's better here

You're best getting out of the cities if you want to really see something of Australia. Have a day in Sydney and Melbourne of course, but once you've seen the sights you'll find the cities, zoos, aquariums, theme parks etc., are exactly like European cities, zoos, aquariums and theme parks so I really wouldn't bother spending too much time there.

And unless you are there for the partying don't bother with Bondi Beach either. It's absolutely packed and there are miles of better and quieter beaches everywhere along the coast.

From Sydney the Blue Mountains are an easy drive and worth seeing. Quite touristy but still pretty. There's a fantastic YHA hostel in Katoomba too.

Then I'd suggest heading back and taking the coastal road from Sydney to Melbourne rather than the direct road. That whole coastline is great: you can see dolphins in Jervis Bay, stingrays in Narooma, Eden, Pambula, Lakes Entrance etc.

There's also a couple of rainforest bits if you wanted to see them on the way and it'll take you straight to Philip Island too.

From Melbourne, definitely do the Great Ocean Road as planned; it's really a great drive (we did it twice ).

The Grampians are a couple of hours drive north west from Melbourne and are really pretty. You get a good idea of the size of the country looking out from those hills. Stop at Ballarat on the way to the Grampians too. It's an old gold mining town so it's a bit of history - Oz style.

If you're going for longer than a few weeks, I have plenty more

Oh, and in Frankston, you'll find that the Mullet is alive and well

You can only get paddock access if you're a member or guest of a team or the FIA, or a member of the media.

If you know somebody on the inside it is possible to wangle one (particularly after the race when the celebs clear off and hand their passes back), otherwise it's impossible.

Your best bet is to write and release a best selling album.

Quote from samjh :

Oh frak, you're right!

Proof-read, proof-read, proof-read...........

Edited for correction.

Hehe, I knew you'd just made a slip-up as you clearly know what you're talking about.

Quote from ChiShiFu :

I remember reading somewhere that heel-toe was coined when most cars still had the thottle pedal in the middle and the brake pedal on the right. Thus, you really did in-fact use heel-toe with the toe on the brakes and heel to blip the throttle. Was wondering if anyone could confirm this info? Forgot where I read it so can't cite anything.

Maybe, but it might just be because there's no other determinable name for it. Top left of right foot - bottom right of right foot isn't quite as catchy

Quote from hagenisse :

Both are used, but I think heel on brake is more common. I use heel on throttle though.

Really? I've never seen somebody using the heel on the brake and I can't find any examples on You Tube.

Edit: In fact, now that I think about it I'm not sure you could even hit the brake with the bottom half of your foot, as it sits higher and further forward than the accelerator.

Last edited by durbster, Thu 7 Aug 2008, 21:37.

Quote from samjh :

...Take note that while heel-toe is most commonly applied with heel on the brake, and toe on the throttle, some cars have weird pedals that require toe on the brake and heel on the throttle. But that is quite rare. Usually the heel is on the brake and toe goes to the throttle. Some people with big feet may be able to do with with just the sides of their feet, instead of heel or toe....

Erm, you've got that the wrong way round there. You brake with the 'toe' and blip the throttle with the 'heel'.

There are three engines for the mk1, the original 1.6 (115bhp), then a lower powered 1.6 (90bhp) that was introduced with the 1.8 (128bhp).

Quote from tristancliffe :

I assure you it isn't. I've driven about half dozen Mk1s, and they all had it to some degree.

:rolleyes: Sigh.

Fine. I'll let others else decide whether to believe your typically baseless comment or the thousands of members of the MX-5 owners clubs around the world:
http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/articles/viewarticle.aspx?id=11

Quote from tristancliffe :

Clutch judder affects NA cars too.

Nope, it's just an issue on 2001 - 2004 cars.

Can't beat an MX-5. You won't find many better all rounder cars and because there's so many of them with a huge aftermarket you'll struggle to find two the same, so it's worth shopping round and finding one that you really like. The owners club is a good place to pick up one that's been looked after too.

The clutch judder mentioned is only an issue with mk2s (aka NB) btw. The only major thing to worry about on mk1s is rust on the rear sills, and general wear and tear, particularly on the roof.

One thing that crops up regularly with them is alignment, as even out of the Mazda factory they can be odd. A very badly aligned one feel be a bit scary, especially at motorway speeds.

Quote from Michael Denham :

Glad to see you still have yours durbster What springs/shocks did you get?

Koni shocks and springs. I was surprised to learn that what I thought were standard shocks were actually Bilsteins (painted black for some reason), so what I've been assuming was a standard Mazda car wasn't at all. I loved how it handled before but it was pretty awful over bumps and the rubber bushes were worn to MOT failure.

The new setup isn't as instantly responsive but I think the balance is better and there seems to be a lot more grip now. I have reached that conclusion because the seats are now incapable of holding me in properly

I'm booking in to do an autotest type of thing in September, so that'll be the first proper test. I can't wait, it's been years since I was on track :hyper:

Quote from Töki (HUN) :

@ durbster

Looking good, but I think that rear fog light should be removed.

Can't do that unfortunately, it's the law.

Well since we're talking MX-5s

photo one
photo two

Mine's buried in this thread already somewhere but I've just put a twin exhaust on it so it sounds like it should have done in the first place. I love it - tunnels are glorious

I've also replaced my tired old suspension with adjustable shocks and stiffer springs. The ride is massively improved and there's more grip but it's lost some of its responsiveness so I'm still getting used to it. But that's the beauty of adjustable shocks, I can change it in five minutes!

I haven't been on track with the new setup yet but I accidentally entered the supermarket car park in a neat four wheel drift last week. I got caught in a torrential downpour with the roof down, so was trying to keep the speed up to keep dry. That first exploration of the new limits was most entertaining

He sounds like a reliable source. :alien2:

Anyone who's had to work with Government departments knows that they're in no way competent enough to organise cover-ups.

Quote from tristancliffe :

The same applies in road cars in my opinion. A car designed for fun driving should be about fun driving, not having a computer do all the complicated stuff for you. A shopping trolley can have electronics like that, but a sports/super car shouldn't.

So how far do you go with that? I don't for a minute believe drivers today are any less skilled than previously. They certainly have an easier life, but that's not to say they're any less skilled. Kimi, Alonso, Hakkinen, Hamilton and Schuey would be quick whether in old cars or new.

An MX-5 is a very easy car to drive on the limit, whereas an MR2 is trickier, but that doesn't mean MR2 drivers are more skilled.

Motorsport is always going to be a balance between engineering progress and sport. The perfect racing car (in performance terms) would be a doddle to drive on the limit, capable of banging in fast and consistent laptimes without any bother. Car designers and engineers strive toward this because engineering is as much what F1 is about as the driving.

Also, to limit the technology would limit the spectacle. I enjoy seeing historic F1 cars but they simply do not compare to the modern equivalent. I would never want to be robbed of seeing a modern F1 car at full blast through Copse in exchange for the drivers having to change gear.

However, the rule changes this year have been brilliant for the sport. TC was clearly a step too far.

That reminds me of a Donkervoort.

Erm, surely a Caterham is a modernised Seven?

Quote from Shotglass :

well thats the entire point of putting tons of electronic in it... keep in the state it corners the quickest most of the time
the tc frequency on top of the tyre squeal does sound ridiculous though

Yep, that's basically the optimum way to get a car round a track as fast as possible. Quite incredible really.

This forum reminds me of being at school.