Lotus Carlton

So the question came up last night around the Aussie version of the Lotus Carlton.
This car

There is a reasonable wiki on it, so I won't belabour the point, other than to say it was an excellent car in it's day and remains an icon of it's era (1990 or so).

What's more, it's a pretty reasonable read around just how much was done to the donor car to make it the mad bit of kit that it was. Many thought that it just had a fancy engine added, not even close.
Read the Wiki, it's amazing just how much was done.

Specifications
Top speed - +176 mph (283 km/h)
Peak power - 377 bhp (281 kW; 382 PS) @ 5200 rpm
Acceleration - 0-60 mph (97 km/h) : 5.1 sec., 0-100 mph (160 km/h) : 11.1 sec.[9]
Peak torque - 419 lb·ft (568 N·m) @ 4200 rpm
Engine displacement - 3615 cc
Engine type - Twin turbocharged straight six-cylinder
Configuration - Front-engined, rear-wheel drive
Transmission - Six-speed ZF S6-40 manual
Weight - 3,666 lb (1,663 kg)
Production - 950 units

Tiff's review:

Australia tie in?
But is there an Aussie tie in to this car?
Yes is the simple answer, the LSD diff on it is from a Commodore V8 in fact,

But could you get something similar in Australia?
Short answer no, it's engineering excess at a time when it was OK to have bits fall off a car on a regular basis.

But...
Here's the conspiracy, check the first pic (of the Carlton):

Goodness

And then squint a bit and look at this:

Gracious

And that's the VR commodore (apparently), but that was produced in Australia after the Lotus Carlton. And you'll notice that the rear end is certainly different, but not by a massive amount.

If you start to search for VP Senator 5000i you start to see some very similar looking cars indeed actually, and they're from around 1992 - so right in the ball park.

Omega (eye) strain

But the true origins of the Carlton are for something that never appeared here, the Vauxhall Omega or Opel if you like bratwurst.

Here it is and the back end is somewhere closer:

My Eyes!

Thank god they did something to it.

So if you want something similar over here, I'd go with a VR (or if you're rich a VP Senator, they seem rarer), put a straight six in it and put a couple of turbos on it.

You might want to update your will too.

Afterward

I can tell you that searching for images, and perusing so many old Holdens, Vauxhalls and the likes I feel quite violated.. I need something nice to look at now...

Unreasonably excited

I am, I'm afraid to say, unreasonably excited about this:

What is it? It's all the clip things to reattach my headlights and ancillary lights to my car, which in turn means I can rebuild the front end, albeit with 'Ron' redness - if I so choose.

Certainly this weekend will be spent tidying up the wiring down the front (not a euphemism) as it's 24 years of no-touch badness.

And, I have ample spares to do all the other clips around the car too should I choose to - including the speed sensor on the replaced diff. Handy!

Racing tomorrow night

Hi Folks.

Action Replay
I've not uploaded the replay from the last race, it's sat waiting for some bandwidth. And if I'm honest it's not our finest hour as every time I swapped cameras I managed to catch the next crash. So here are some pics of the race to keep us in the mood...

Just past crash #2

Arty sort of thing, or something.

Race night

So the event that's coming up this week is the first TC500 race.

Remember the rules - 500pp, race medium tyres and either a four door road car or front wheel drive two door. Testing in GT6 suggests that the front wheel drive cars may have the edge this season - that and Callum's Pocket Rocket Renault.

Or, if you've had a sense bypass and the racing isn't going to eclipse 130mph, and is in a straight line (to cope with a 2000kg "lightweight"option), this:

Which I think you'll agree is stunning in every way except performance in either straight line or cornering... Oh and it has one gear, "D", which means that it's not fun to drive either.

I'm calling dibs on this:

The civic is epically fast, corners like a dream and of course is compact and FWD. So you'll see me a half lap behind in this then... 

Official details

I'm lazy, and it's easy, here are the details:

See you tomorrow night for the racing!

Race results

Quick update today with the race results. More on the next race when I upload the crazy Matterhorn replay!

Official Results

What these results don't talk about is how errr different these tracks were. I don't think any of us have ever enjoyed Big Willow (maybe in a different context). It's slippery, with tight corners and load of over brow badness. Actually, much like the 'other context'.

Other news
You'd think after so many seasons we'd have it sorted. But I'm going to amend the charter:

Issue: Disconnects in Qualifying.
Resolution: When a driver is disconnected during a qualifying the room owner/race organiser can call for a practice/race scenario with final qualifying order.
This means that qualifying will continue, with the disconnected driver(s) reconnecting and waiting. Once qualifying is completed the places will be noted and the race type changed to practice/race.
In open practice the cars will assemble on the first lap in qualifying order and disconnected drivers will assemble at the back of the line in disconnect order (first disconnect first etc.).
Once the grid is in formation the race organiser will start the race.
Where a driver passes the field (including the race organiser doing that sideways with full brakes and lock on, ooops) a verbal call will be made to continue or reassemble - assuming enough track remains on the open lap.

This would resolve the issues that Paul had, at least to the point of gaining a point. If you get my point.

Otherer News
In even more other news, we now have a domain URL! And being the stingy s.o.a.b that I am I used a/the free one: http://www.gtqld.co.nr/. Time to sit back and bask in the glory of being the top search result in Google. At least for anyone searching for GTQLD, which in fairness is just me.

GT5 End of Life
It's interesting reading comparision reviews between GT5 and GT6 - there seems to be a world of difference, but some might like to revisit their 500+ car garage...
If you do, then you need to read this:
http://eu.gran-turismo.com/nz/news/00_4372104.html
It's instruction on how to ensure that you can still use your DLC, which checks back to the servers, which are turning off in April.
Basically, add the family gaming download and all is good. I'll just be off to do that then...

Something different...

And here's an interlude...


This is a guy from my work (Alex) showing the world that bikes are good mmmkay. Whilst I can't endorse things with little wheels (I look like a clown on a BMX) and struggle with things without engines - this is a very cool bit of biking. Enjoy.

Season Race Results (13 Feb)

Hi Folks

Results
The results are in...

Great racing I think you'll agree. Certainly to get second place in Madrid was lucky. But some in-race discussion, a bit of tuning and my skyline became a lot more competitive in the second race (outclassed by the drivers I think). Pretty much on any straight in the first few laps I was staring at three cars, jostling for position. 

Then we had the pits - and the group split right out, actually it was hard to find something to watch in the replay below... But that changed in the final laps, and how close was that finish!

I know we have boost and pits which is counter intuitive, but if it makes the racing like this I vote that it stays...

Action Replay

Next Race
The next race is the last in the three set series for the HRC460s, but I do think we'll have to race them in the after races, they're such good fun!
Do check the tracks, they're not our usual haunts so some practice will be advisable.
Also, I do reserve the right to change the Matterhorn track on the night if this one is shear pants. Hard to know which one is which in a list online...

Race Update

Hi Folks.
Race update time...

Results from last week

Whilst we didn't have the fullest of fields (feel free to suggest an alternate night), the racing was still great fun.
For me Grand Valley Reverse was the track of the night, as although Evan dropped out the racing was pretty close up until then (and indeed the line).

Points have been tallied and added to the points board on the nav stuff on the right.

Tomorrow's racing official details

Notes

Check the tracks folks, city short course racing, a car that can stop will be king on these tracks of course.

Cheers

Andrew

League Race Tonight

Hi Folks,
It's league race night tonight, and in keeping with the season's style of 'work it through the numbers' we're starting this season with the slowest, but but by no means boring, HRC460 class.

The Cars
We know them well by now - 1990 or before, 460pp and racing hard tyres.
They've transferred well into GT6, even Evan's RUF it seems after last week's lashing we all got from it.

In this class a light car is king it seems, the last few seasons Callum's RX7 made our lives hard work to say the least - though my NSX once tweaked seemed to give it a run.
One topic for discussion though, do we allow the Lamborghini's to race? They're a class apart from any of the other cars, I have one, and whilst I am a clutz behind the wheel (see any online time trial scores) even I can muster a fast lap in it. It's almost too fast... But then perhaps I need the help.

The tracks
First up will be Brands Hatch F1 - this is fast becoming my favourite go to short circuit, albeit the long one (eh?). What's more it really suits these cars it seams, and for some reason seems to be in the same place in terms of nostalgia too. Certainly we've practised it a fair bit, it should be a great race.

Second up is Grand Valley East Reverse - a short track an no mistake, but really well suited to these cars. Turn one at the end of the start-finish straight is always a tiptoe the car around moment, wondering if the weight of the car will send it to the outside, round, or just straight on. Races are won and lost on that corner...
There's a couple of extra laps in this race, in recognition of it's short stature...

Official Details

Championship Race #1.
Track: Brands Hatch F1
Start time: 9:15 PM
Laps Per Race: 6
Cars: HRC460
Tyres: Race Hard
Boost: Low/Off

Championship Race #2.
Track: Grand Valley East Reverse
Laps Per Race: 8
Cars: HRC460
Tyres: Race Hard
Boost: Low/Off

Race Day Comments
I'm not sure if we should have compulsory pit-stops. The decision here will stand for the rest of the season, as I don't want an inconsistant set of races. I'm leaning towards yes, but Callum's comfort soft episode (that doesn't sound right does it) isn't racing either and I want it to be a fair race - though I may have commented that the rest of us on racing medium and his car being on comfort soft is in fact pretty much an even race... ;o)
Anyway. We'll try it again tonight, and see if it works - and if so make it a rule.

Season changes
The "Euro Super Special' race has pp set way too low @ 550pp. I'm thinking we'll got to 600pp, which will rule out older supercars, but will allow some proper money missiles to be launched...

League Business

So here it is folks, the season starts this next week...

Season Details

It's open for discussion of course, but it's not an easy thing getting an eclectic mix of cars for us to enjoy across the whole spectrum.

Note the "no point' races. This is so that we can race stuff outside of our regular classes, which as you'll know from the charter are:

Of note here is that we're not going to use the GB500 cars, they being a subset of the TC500 cars in any case. Exotique is our original league racers, road going 587pp, no plans to run those this year in any official capacity though happy to race in after races etc. of course.

The charter is up to date on the right hand link, I have yet to upload the season calendar, soon folks.

Also; I'll endeavour to do the pre-race post I always used to, time seems to be slipping away a bit more these days!!!

Pics

If you're still confused, here's a bit of an encyclopaedia...

GT590 - They don't all have to be green hornets though.

HRC460 - Well the Dino is, the other one is way over powered, but nice though!

More HRC460 - Though luck being competitive in them.

TC500 - This is the closest thing to a V8 Supercar I reckon.

650Open - If you can afford this...

European Supercars - nice innit.

Even more.... still eye candy.

Action replay
I finally got round to uploading a video of our racing the other night too - and figured out how to get GT6 vids to frame up properly too (GT5 was fine). Sill, a top race, I've got a few more for some time in the future too, enjoy:



See you online next week folks!