Ambrose - Champion (again)

[Y2kGoofball]

Well I'm sure you either knew by now, or guessed going into Eastern Creek that Ambrose had the #1 for another year.

In a way I reckon its good, I mean it now gives Holden that extra push, which has been shown with Skaife trialling the 2005 spec car already.



From Race 1 - well I dunno what happened there, but I sure as heck wouldnt be giving Todd Kelly his pay check or Christmas bonus ^_^ . Also I get this feeling the officials dont like Skaife that much, it seems every visit to Eastern Creek he's pinned for jumping the start. Its not deliberate, what happenes is the track is on that much of a slope that just before the green light you take your foot off the brake to put it on the accelerator, and the car rolls forward ever so slightly

Anyways the battle for 2nd is still on. It looks like its going to be a nice day, on Friday it was raining at Eastern Creek and it looked like it was going to stay, yesterday it was cloudy then fine, then cloudy, but today it looks like its going to be a nice sunny day :D

[monaro]

that skaife jumping the start is crap, on the replay ambrose jumps at exactly the same time and as you pointed out, a downhill start doesnt make it any easier.

too bad about that bald guy winning the championship again, only because the SBR cars are absolute bullets and he is the only one that can steer them properly.

if skaife doesnt win the championship next year it will be lowndes, 888 engineering with campbell little, SBR engines, what more could you want? apart from a holden

[Y2kGoofball]

Well Skaife managed to go from the rear of the grid to 2nd throughout the 3 races, which goes to show that the 2005 VZ spec car is already ready to fight the BA

The problem is understanding the car, its taken ages for teams to understand the VY and only now have the majority managed it, thus why Skaife has been using the VZ spec car to get 2 rounds worth of understanding about it now while it doesnt matter

Ford teams caught on quick with the BA and there left with it for another season, possibly 2, and it seems that SBR have theirs down pat.

FYI Ingall made it a SBR 1 - 2 in the Championship, which I was a bit :? :mad: and :'( about, personally though Kmart seem to struggle at the pointy end of the deal (thus why Murphs on the move?) and Bright doesnt really care because hes too busy stuffing us all around with his move to FPR (he wont admit it but we all know ... duh) so really why put too much effort into spoiling a Ford 1 - 2 when you'll be there next year

[Y2kGoofball]

also (sorry had to jump off internet for a few minutes)

Lowndes - what a way to go out "closing the bonnet on my FPR car for the last time in 2004". I must say any other time I would really cheer it on, but I thought that was a bit :eek:

Finally the weather - :confused: Earlier today it was hot and sunny. My mum headed into Blacktown and on the way back when I was talking to her on the phone Channel 10 said it might rain or storm in race 3 to which my mum said it looked dark.

All afternoon it looked quite dark and stormy indeed, but on the telecast they said it was stormy in Penrith ... err I'm from Penrith and we only had 3 drops or rain about 30 seconds before he said that, it was hardly a storm.

However its now just after 5pm and its started to rain a fair bit with lightening and thunder ... a bit late =((

Anyways congrats to SBR I spose they do deserve it, but I'm hoping for either a Murphy @ PWR, Richo year or a Skaife year next year ^_^

[VQ]

Its not deliberate, what happenes is the track is on that much of a slope that just before the green light you take your foot off the brake to put it on the accelerator, and the car rolls forward ever so slightly

That only happens if you have the clutch coming out y2k because I doubt it would roll on that little a hill.

The reason the BA has been so good is because Ford have been using double A arms since the EA falcon, so all ford teams have expereince with double a arms compred to the holden teams and the macpherson struts, which don't adsjut as much.

[Y2kGoofball]

That only happens if you have the clutch coming out y2k because I doubt it would roll on that little a hill. true, as Crompton pointed out, however last year it was due to the hill so it does happen.

If you've ever been to the Creek you would be able to see that the main straight isnt acctually flat, and on some camera angles the TV also shows this, especially the first half of it where its at quite a slope.

Keep in mind the officials dont care whether the car takes off completely or only rolls forward 2 mm, if it moves before the green you are dead set gone for a 40 k drive down pit lane!

It happens with on road cars too, Ive had it happen to me in the Pulsar even where you can be in neutral and the car rolls forward, or backward on a road thats on a slight slant

I had to record the first race, and I must admit Skaifes car did roll forward ever so slightly - they were showing the camera angle out of ambroses car across to Skaifes car and it did move :(

Anyway dont matter how it was done, the fact is it was done (again)

Also hows this for annoying, at the end of the race when it started to "rain" is when it started, and it hasnt stopped. Right after the end of the race we copped a storm with lightening (although it was lightening throughout the entire 2nd race), but its eased off into a steady rain fall ever since.

As I sat down to watch TV tonight with the back door opened, I couldnt help to think what if this rain had've started only 10 minutes earlier during the 3rd race? Brights problem was crap tyres, and it meant all the cars would've had to come in for wets. It wouldnt have affected Ambrose because he was so far up the road but imagine had Bright come in for a set of new wets, it woulda come down to efficient pit work to secure 2nd place.

Anyways bring on '05 ^_^

[monaro]

i fell asleep in the last race, at about lap 12ish. it was bad news for holden fans so im glad i did anyway.

Y2k, didnt know you lived in penrith, im a panther man living in adelaide so there you go.

also as VQ pointed out, the AU-BA change was beneficial to all ford teams, only very very slight changes (even though ford teams still complain about bullshit rear downforce, how about the extra horse you guys carry?) while the holden teams had to re-read the book on balanced setups, how many times have you heard a holden team complaining about understeer? thank you ford front end.

give skaife ambroses car and ambrose skaifes car and we would see another sea of red in the stands, ist plain and simple.

[Mickcals]

that skaife jumping the start is crap, on the replay ambrose jumps at exactly the same time and as you pointed out, a downhill start doesnt make it any easier.



No Skaife didnt jump at the start, what happened was when they finished their warm up lap, Skaife sat on the grid and put the car into gear, which caused it to jerk forward, but he didnt gain any advantage from it.

It was a good race, Ambrose just kept on making very strong leads, first race 10sec, 2nd and 3rd 20+sec, that just amazing.

It was good to see Radisich back on the podium, and i guess Lowndes is pleased that Triple 888 was able to get a car onto the podium.

It basically was a carbon copy of last year, Ambrose dominating, Ingall/Skaife racing rather closely together, a rain threatened las race - 2003 in replay.

The only thing that i can say was disappointing about the whole weekend was the the night race, held in daylight hours &( , youd think that they'd take into consideration daylight savings and hold the race at about 8:00pm or 9:00pm where it would actually be dark or getting dark

[skaife_fan]

Its going to be tough to stop that blue car next season too. The thing just sticks to the track. But Ambrose didn't dominate this season as much. Its just that many Holden teams werem't consistant. Look at Steven Richards, Jason Bright and Rick Kelly they all had good shots but there seasons didn't come together. Look at Mark Skaife he qualified well in most rounds and either made a mistake or had a technical problem or someone helped him o
ff. And with all the driver movings next year it should be really interesting.

[Mickcals]

Well SBR and HRT should be strong next year.

There driver line up stays the same and Skaife has already began testing next years car.

It gonna be a good season, lets see if Ambrose can get a hat-trick of championships (in a row)

[Perko_Rulz]

As most of you know I am an Ambrose fan but I was disapointed to see him Wipe the floor in the first race. I missed both yesterday because I was at the cricket and saw NZ have a stunning come back. Kasprowicz was carted for 22 in the 46th over.

Ne way back to the topic, Skaife may rolled at the strat due o the hill and a heating clutch. Everytime there is a long red light, they complain because it destroys the clutch. The VZ is a new car and they may be having Clutch heat problems.

[Mickcals]

He didnt jump the start, the car just jerked forward it was no big deal, its just that the officals felt they should do something about it.

[Perko_Rulz]

I think that unless you make possitions from a little jerk or a jump start, you should be penalised unless you rectify it on the track. It is the same rule, well sort of, the CART had/have at indy when people cut the chicane. Let those who have you passed the go through or else.

[Brad H]

NZ didn't get to see the 3rd race till 1130pm had to tape it because of the news was more important then seeing it live grrr

[Turboginge]

I agree with Brad

What is the deal wif the news... the whole world must stop just so we can watch one news ffs

I was surprised that they didnt interrupt bathurst this year for it like they normally do :mad:

But if it were rugby that would be different. yeees then we all must stop and wait for the rugby. TVNZ needs to listen to their viewers opinions, its no wonder so many people go for sky.

Anyway enough about that. I have to say that even though i am a hardcore HOLDEN fan... erm well done Ambo and Ingall although how lucky could ingall have gotten. who'd have thought Murph and Bright would have a bad day.

But the real sad part of the race for me was Lowndesy blowing up, I really like him a lot and for that to happen on his last race was heartbreaking.
Shit he was quick

Well done Ingall and Skaife for not hitting each other and a nice gesture there with Skaife shaking Ingalls hand.. well done kids

BUT THE BIG NEWS.... Radisich goes to tkr. I have never been to big of a fan of him but you cant fault his experience. finally team kiwi have a quality driver in their car, no offence to the other guys. But if they can wrap him up with a good package then maybe we will see out team on the podium or on pole a few times next season. I cant wait. Put Murphy in the other car lol.

[Perko_Rulz]

I think that if there is a live event that runs over time, drop comething like A Current Affair or something. It is a shite show that hasn't had real journalism stories since Mike Wilassee (Spelt incorrectly I know) and I wasn't around then! They do exposes on Vets who ill animals, after the animal has been in a huge accident and is hemeraging and what not.

[VSV6]

Couldn't agree more
That show is terriable, I mean they pick on people for such stupid things!
Just as bad as fat people sueing McDonalds and smokers sueing tobacco companies
Seriously, some people have no life

Cheers
-Mike

[lewi]

About this whole Ford vs Holden thing, at least we aint got Jap cars ruining our series!! :P

Hey Monaro, do Fords have extra HP?