2 weeks! 2 weeks to go! Just a reminder: Be sure to enter the Australian INfront’s WOMAN competition. Free entry, $11k’s worth of prizes up for grabs (!!!), winning entries are printed out in glorious A2 for a gallery show in Melbourne next month (can’t wait!), not to mention magazine coverage too.
You’ve got to be in it to win it. You can submit photography, illustration, typography… whatever you like! For more details visit: http://www.australianinfront.com.au/involved
Magic gold arm band.
Burnt paint from tyres getting crazy hot and scrubbing the guards (pic from last time when I also had -2 on different tyres).
Track damage is dead sexy (not my car!). Check the chunk taken out of the tyre too.
The Advan guys were representing and launching the Neova Cup Challenge (I did the logo design for it a while back).
A few weeks ago I committed to going to the next Circuit Club track day at Wakefield Park on the Queen’s B’day. I thought I had plenty of time to get my set-up right but as you might have read over the past few blog entries, it’s been a tight squeeze as things have gone wrong. Despite still having issues (the rear wheels are scrubbing on both sides), as well as the horrible weather today I decided to go.
I left late at about 9.30AM (most guys were meeting up at 5-6AM to get there at 8AM but that just ain’t my kinda style!) and it was non-stop rain all the way to Goulburn. I thought about turning around half way as there’s really not much point to tracking a front wheel drive car in the rain, but I forged on and when I got there the “dry line” that a few guys had earlier in the day was gone, and it was raining and miserably cold.
Narada and the boys hooked me up with a gold armband though, that special arm band let me go in any class on the day (A, being fastest and D being the slowest) at any time. I ended up doing only 2 sessions, one in with D, and one with the boys in B.
The first session out was wet, and the GTI surprisingly oversteery! I think the -2 degrees camber in the rear has made the car more fun, shame that has to change though as it scrubs really bad back there.
2nd session out I had Rob in the car, and I was surprised at how quick the GTI is. I could easily overtake an S2000, RX8, WRX and even an Exige on the straight.
I wasn’t at all going for a time though as the track was slippery and I was paranoid about damaging the rear guards any more than I already have.
Traffic on the way home was bonkers too. 60km/hr all the way from Picton to the M5 tunnel! I stopped off at McDonalds, chuffed down a Big Mac meal and now I’m home. Ultimately, despite all the dramas… I still had fun!
PS: Note to self: Book in a wheel alignment to push the rears out to -2.5 and see how that goes before going for -3.
Mum went to town with the baby decorations.
Cup cakes!
The nappy poo game! Christina had been busy in the kitchen microwave melting chocolate bars beyond recognition and packaging them into nappies.
They also had a custom singlet making activity by the looks of it. This is Suga’s one (I love it!).
And the rest of them.
Late afternoon I picked Christina up, many of the ladies had gone home but I snapped this shot of the few guests that were still around. That’s Jamie with her eyes shut.
My sister Jamie had her baby shower today. Christina helped to organise the day and threw in some fun games – guessing the diameter of Jamie’s belly by cutting a length of string, as well as pouring 10 melted chocolate bars into nappies and having guests eat and guess what chocolates were what!
Richie and I were there early on to help set up, but once the women started pouring in we hit the eject button and made a dash for the pub!
Holey moley. Cut strut tops.
There’s no real point to having camber plates if you can’t reach them to adjust your camber so I had the guys at Heasman Steering to cut off my strut tops. There used to be a cup covering the plates, now there’s a huge hole which makes camber and damper adjustment easy. They did a great job, it looks factory. I’m very happy.
We settled for -2 degrees camber all around and unfortunately I’m rubbing a tiny bit in the rear (wasn’t rubbing at -3) and I’m still rubbing up front on mid corner bumps. More mucking about needed.
I also bought and installed a Sprint Booster. I’m wary of gadgets like this, but I thought I’d give it a go as it was cheap, easy to install (or uninstall) and it’s in high demand on the Golf forum so I was sure I could sell it on no worries if I didn’t like it. My review is here.
We finally have the Australian INfront / Apple / Insight podcasts available on iTunes. They come with images while you are listening, so just download the podcast and in the bottom left of iTunes you will see a small triangle in a square. Click on that to see the images throughout the talks. The Moffitt.Moffitt and Patty Huntington talks are now available for download, Jeremy Wortsman is coming very soon. Enjoy!
Visit: http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/infront-presents/id443323405
Jimbaran 129 Avoca Street Randwick.
Bakmi Goreng Tek-Tek Anugrah – Stir fried egg noodles with vegetables, egg & chicken.
After Richie’s Citizenship Ceremony last night we went for dinner down the road at Jimbaran, an Indonesian restaurant we’ve eaten at many times before. Their chicken satay is awesome, beef rendang is awesome too but I’m always there for their Bakmi Tek-Tek. If you’re a Mi goreng fan you’ll love this dish, it’s like Mi goreng on steroids!
They printed out the national anthem for all, 2nd verse was on the other side. We sung it twice, once with a recording which sounded like the first ever recording of the anthem, lovely, almost as if it was playing on a gramophone.
Where’s Richie.
Richie picking up his certificate from the mayor.
Hey, nice stock! Congratulations mate :)
Each new Australian was given a native in a pot plant, nice touch I thought.
Richie & Jamie.
Last night Mum and I went to Richie’s citizenship ceremony at Randwick town hall. There were a lot of Aboriginal flags decorating the hall, and it was nice to hear the mayor welcome the new Aussies to land which belongs to the Aboriginal people past and present.
It was a slow start, felt a little like being at school again but once it got going I was surprised at how quickly and easily it all went. The crowd was split up with Aussies at the back, and soon to be Aussie’s up the front. They were all told to rise, swear a short oath and that was it!
Just spotted this photo I took at the BMU bike night at MCC on MCC’s home page! Visit: http://www.mccyclery.com.au
MKV chillin outside.
Live plants! Just makes me want to start up my succulent garden even more.
Linguine with crab meat, zucchini, garlic and chilli.
Barramundi with cannellini.
Spotted: Zoomer delivery scooter at the new Deus on Bourke St. Oury grips, disc brake set-up.
Had lunch with Christina today at The Beresford Hotel. House Made Pasta. I jump with joy (well on the inside anyways) whenever I see fresh pasta on the menu.
We’re having a huge 25% off store wide sale on Modern Pet this month. How’s the shop going? Well we’re getting a few sales a week, but we’re not getting enough food on the table for the 4 of us running it. We’re not losing money though, so it;s all good for now.
Spread the word on the discount if you know of anyone who has pets. I’d really appreciate it! Visit: http://modernpetshop.com
