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The track day at Vaaler was great,
and 3-4000 people showed up. There was about 200 cars either on
the track, or just showing off in the pits. There was prices to
be won for best shine, engine room, etc, but for the Mazda guys,
it was just all go, and not so much showing off. All we wanted was
“world domination” – at least on the track. We ate Audis for breakfast on Saturday, and the rest of the
day, “nibbled” on some Ford Cossies (they are hopelessly
over-rated). OK, I admit there was a few cars that were faster,
but if you’re counting “value for money”, the Mazda
GT-R really stood out.
We were about 9 GTX/GT-R cars
during the weekend. Only 3 made it on the track for some serious
racing, but I think everyone enjoyed the event.
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Another “play-weekend”
is over, and as always, we had a lot of fun. But the fun was interrupted
by a “surge in my wallet”. Going to a track day requires
a fair amount of cash in any case. You’re going to burn at
least one set of tires, cook the brakes, and a complete oil-service.
Not to mention a ALOT
of fuel ! These are all more or less calculated costs, and you learn
to live with it. But the calculated budget was suddenly “torpedoed”
by the hood opening in about 100 kmh. The windshield was smashed,
and urgently in need of replacement. The reason for this hood-opening?
Well, eh….we kind forgot to lock the hood locks…. Ok,
I know it’s stupid, but we were in a rush, and, and….
I am sure we’ll never do it again !
The windshield was replaced in 1,5 hours at a local Mazda
dealer, and we were back on the track, like nothing happened.
Take a look at the photos, and
see how it looked “before” and “after”. The
hood got an extra “scoop” from the accident. It didn’t
make it go noticeable faster, but it sure scared off a few Fords,
as we were introduced as a Ford-eater by the speaker.
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| Øystein from Trondheim experienced the
“China-syndrome” in his GT-R. He was in doubt of coming
to the track, as he had a leaking radiator (It was cracked). We doubted
his sanity when he tried to explain his perfect field fix for the
problem. “I just tape shut the hood vents to stop the coolant
from reaching the windshield, and making a mess” – he said.
We tried to argue that he needed a perfectly working coolant system,
and the hood vents for the track (it was a hot summer day), but he
was “going to take it easy and watch the temp-gauge”- he
said. We are no doctors, but general people know how, says that you
shouldn’t argue with “cases” like this, - just call
for help ! |
| He went out, forgot all about the gauge, and had
a ball. At least for a few laps. Until his engine started running
funny? The gauge couldn’t really tell the temperature, but I
could hear the engine being VERY hot! It “pinged” as it
cooled down, and although he made it home, a piston was melted pretty
bad. He has ordered new pistons now (forged), and a new radiator.
We’ll see him and his nice RS-blue GT-R soon. |
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