Bathurst 12 Hours

"JGrabowMSt" (jgrabowmst)
02/07/2015 at 16:47 • Filed to: Bathurst, EnduranceRacing

Who else is watching? Im quite entertained by this. Quite the exciting first couple hours.

DISCUSSION (32)

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 16:49

Is there an online stream? Would love to watch it, but can't find a channel here that'll broadcast it.

whoarder is tellurium > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
02/07/2015 at 16:58

See if this comes in http://www.bathurst12hour.com.au/live-int

I honestly forgot about this race. Thank-you JGrabowMSt!

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > whoarder is tellurium
02/07/2015 at 16:59

It does, thanks mate :)

whoarder is tellurium > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 17:03

Noooo the speedsource RX-8 is downn

Muh rotary :'(

JGrabowMSt > whoarder is tellurium
02/07/2015 at 17:04

Im about to change into my Merc-McLaren shirt, seeing the SLS starting to really haul ass.

JGrabowMSt > whoarder is tellurium
02/07/2015 at 17:27

Yeah, thats sad. I am glad the Bentley cars have avoided major damage, those things sound scary good. Absolute monsters.

I know the SLS AMG race cars are hugely durable, I'm just seeing way more than I expected.

desertdog5051 > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 18:25

At 4:25 pm MST, it has been a great race. Bentley is amazing.

JGrabowMSt > desertdog5051
02/07/2015 at 18:34

Its been a clean race thats been very eventful. All of the saves have been positively amazing, especially the save by the Evolve Technik Audi R8.

No one getting hurt and the care to the Bentley driver Bell means that theres no funny business, its being taken very seriously.

This is easily one of the most professionally executed races Ive ever watched. Both the officials and drivers have been doing great.

I am also incredibly interested in the Daytona Coupe and how well its been doing as well.

desertdog5051 > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 19:34

I know. The Daytona Coupe is not shown much but is an amazing entry.

How do we have a Mazda V8? in this field? I thought this was based on production cars. Maybe I am missing something?

JGrabowMSt > desertdog5051
02/07/2015 at 19:47

Im not sure what the deal is with the Mazda 3 V8, but theres also at least one Focus V8 too. Maybe its just an Aussie thing.

The one bit I cant really figure out why Bentley keeps getting black flags. Four so far...I think they're having transponder issues, but I dont know, there isnt much detail about it.

What are we on now? 8 Safety cars, with the one lambo waiting to get picked up now?

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 19:55

I always enjoy the Aston racing cars. Such good looking vehicles imo.

JGrabowMSt > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
02/07/2015 at 20:02

The only Aston that doesnt quite do it for me is the matte black one with a somewhat plain livery. It just doesnt look half as good as the other Astons with full wraps and more colors.

The black SLS AMG looks great as well. The race is just barely halfway over and I dont think its been more than 20 minutes without excitement. There have definitely been much shorter races with no excitement in comparison.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 20:09

I completely agree, I think that more colors and actual liveries make the cars look better. That black SLS is an exception though.

It has been pretty exciting the parts I've watched. I'm excited that some BTCC highlights are going to start being shown on American television, hopefully enough interest gets generated to pick a few races each year.

JGrabowMSt > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
02/07/2015 at 20:14

I am really happy to see Donut King on a car though. Id like to see a modern interpretation of it on anything, but especially a lambo.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 20:17

I very much agree.

How are things going by the way? I was lurking/inactive for a long time.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 20:20

Very entertaining race so far. The circuit is incredible

JGrabowMSt > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
02/07/2015 at 20:27

I feel bad that the Erebus Motorsport white SLS (#63) is now limping around, for their age, those drivers have been doing amazing work, I hope they're quick to get back in and keep racing.

I do want to see more dogfighting between the Bentley, black SLS and that GT-R again. The lambos and ferraris are fast, but they're not putting up a fight for the lead in comparison. Maybe theyre just saving it...

JGrabowMSt > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
02/07/2015 at 21:03

Things are going pretty well. HEMIWagon is back on the road and running very well, had a minor hiccup with the power steering, but all taken care of.

How's everything been for you?

desertdog5051 > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 21:06

I have missed a bit of the race due to normal weekend things. I did notice they (Bentley) had several BF's. Just loving it to see endurance racing again.

JGrabowMSt > desertdog5051
02/07/2015 at 21:09

The Bentley team has been doing very well, for sure. Rocky start and theyre just getting back into endurance, but by the end of the season, they'll be very prepared for next year.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 21:18

Pretty good, things were down for a while but got better recently. What happened to HEMIwagon? I saw something about an engine swap in your comments?

Stuck between getting Legacy GT or my own Magnum. Both have very good qualities, but the I feel like the wagon would have better longevity since it is naturally aspirated. If things work out I'll be buying in mid March or sooner.

JGrabowMSt > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
02/07/2015 at 21:30

Check out the tag , it'll explain all of the HEMIWagon.

In the next few weeks we'll be putting it on a lift again to plan out the custom exhaust setup thats on my to-do list.

I would be torn, but knowing what I know now about my Magnum, you would absolutely need to be careful about it, and you could certainly avoid the problems I had. For a Legacy GT, Im just not sure I could recommend it. they arent bad, but Subaru has left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth regarding maintenance and durability. Had I not been so stubborn about my Magnum, I never would have had to replace the motor. Live and learn, right?

If I may ask, whats the budget you're considering for a new car?

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 21:51

I just read through some of the stuff you posted. Ouch, things have been tough with that beast I see. That's unfortunate but it appears that you are hopefully gonna have a healthy car now. Maybe I should avoid a Magnum for now since my budget couldn't accommodate possible repairs that could crop up.

What left you with a low opinion of Subaru?

My budget is up to $25K, since those are payments I could afford but would prefer to be closer to $20K. I've been told by more than a few people to look at a Mk6 GTI, FiST, and FoST. I want something that is reliable, fun, and will be comfortable for being 6'4". A friend insists that I would be very comfortable in a GTI, others claim I could fit in the Fords.

Cars that are too small: CTS, TSX, Dart, most midsize or smaller, passenger side of a base Fiesta

Cars I fit in: Crosstour, Outback/Legacy, Charger/Magnum

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 21:58

Kinja'd!!!

For your reference: Myself in a Chevy Sonic with the seat as low and back as possible.

desertdog5051 > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 22:00

Yeah, I forgot about the Focus V8. Another anomaly. Not sure about Bentley BF's because I have had other things going and have missed some of the race.

desertdog5051 > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 22:06

I am impressed with the performance of all the teams. This is endurance racing at its best. (I have friends who question my sanity). :)

matcha > JGrabowMSt
02/07/2015 at 22:13

the mister and i have been watching all day! the Bentley's are doing amazing. i love them so much!

JGrabowMSt > desertdog5051
02/07/2015 at 23:24

Nnnnnnoooooooooooooooo the Mazda 3 V8 is out, major contact with one of the GT3 cars at the top of the hill. Only 2.5 hours left...

JGrabowMSt > matcha
02/08/2015 at 00:26

Bentley has absolutely turned up the heat now, with 90 minutes left, about 40 odd laps left.

I really liked the pace of the R8s 10 hours ago, but at this point Ill be quite satisfied to see the Bentley place on the podium. They're driving well enough now to secure that gap if they can keep up the pace.

desertdog5051 > JGrabowMSt
02/08/2015 at 01:59

What a fucking finish. What ya think?

JGrabowMSt > desertdog5051
02/08/2015 at 09:56

I couldnt make it, I have the DVR page open so I can catch up today. I know the battle was GTR v Bentley, but I need to see it for myself before I say.

JGrabowMSt > desertdog5051
02/08/2015 at 11:07

Holy crap that was a goddamn finish if I've ever seen one. That GT-R is an absolute behemoth, those Nissan drivers have been doing an incredibly good job. Serious congratulations to the GT Academy for finding them and getting them behind the wheel.

I'm a little sad that the R8 and Vantage got past the Bentley though, that last little bit of contact really threw them off, but a 4th place finish for their first race back is nothing to be disappointed about. Their car is definitely ready for a full season of hard racing. I definitely think they could squeeze more out of it, but it was doing incredibly well just as it is right now. Here's hoping they get their second car back together and the driver is doing well after that last bump.

I'm definitely glad to see a V12 on the podium, those Astons really pushed, despite some of the drivers saying during interviews that they were lacking some power. Aston should get those cars tuned and dialed in, because owning a V12 myself, they shouldn't have to feel like that unless it's all the motor can do. The R8 V10s definitely put up a huge fight from the get go, and I'm glad they made it to podium, because they were fighting hard for all 12 hours to get on top. Those cars are properly sorted out, there's no doubt about that. From when Winkelhock was running in the first couple hours, he pulled an absolutely massive lead, and that team certainly didn't let it go without serious fighting.

If this race was any litmus test for this years GT3 season, they've certainly got my attention for the year. I would just really like to see McLaren start to run harder because I expected those cars to have a presence in the top 10 at the finish, and you hardly heard the name McLaren past the 8 hour mark. Mercedes also put up a huge fight with the SLS AMG cars, but those also need to turn up the heat a little. They were fighting extremely well for the 3/4 of the race but seemed to fall back a little, and those are the last cars I would expect to see struggling to keep up in the fight for the podium.

Very good race, and very much worth watching from start to finish. I missed the first hour of racing, but did get to see 11 hours of it, and it was completely worth every minute. I'll go ahead and add the Bathurst 12 Hour to my bucket list.