Don't be shy. Lightning fast reflexes and incredible racing instinct. You can admit it.

V8 races at Eastern Creek were today about an hour after the Skodas...

Well race 1 wasn't what I had planned, I had much more pace in the practice sessions I had done leading up to the race and started mid pack as a result of failing to match my earlier times... Made one of my classic standing starts and was 2nd last at the end of lap 1... I pushed hard to get by the 2 in front of me, while Steve pushed 2 hard to stay in front of them and ended up in the kitty litter at one point before suffering connection issues and dropping out... I was struggling to get by the 2 in front of me even though they were a second or two slower than my pace was, so I started pushing them a bit until a mistake in turn 1 saw the guy behind me try a move into T2 but he over cooked it and almost took the 2 guys I was battling with out as well... Luckily they both missed him and because they had slowed up for him left a gap on the inside and through I was... A couple of other people were kind to me as well having offs in front of me making my recovery job easier... Then in 7th I was hounding down 6th while he was catching 7th who was struggling on his tyres... After a few lap battle I managed to make a move stick... I was in 6th now with a 9 second gap to Sheppard in front of me and then closed that gap within 3 laps because his tyres were shot. I tried a move on the inside at the right hander before the final 2 rights we rubbed doors all the way on to the straight and I think I hooked onto his front right and which gave me a huge oversteer moment, almost caught it but I think Sheppard tapped me again sending me into the grass... He did a drive through so no real harm done, but Andy got back past me leaving me 6th...

2nd race, the 60 minute reverse grid race, saw another crap start by me but I managed to only lose 3 spots and make one of those back... I think I was 5th by the end of lap one and for the next 4 laps made my way up to 2nd... Then I had Darren Adams on my tail so I pushed for 1st from Thirsk... Got him through the final turn and tried to gap him before DA got past... Which was only one lap... Managed to keep DA behind me for a few laps but a mistake through T1 saw him through into T2... I tried sticking with him but couldn't really managed it... Then Bolter was behind me trying to get through, I was holding him off pretty well until another mistake through T1 saw us go side by side through 2 and 3, he ran a little wide in 3 which caused him to lose a spot to Heinz... I then kept Heinz behind me until lap 19 which was also my pit lap and came in and kept my position in front of Bolter, but lost a spot to the other Adams, Carl... Sitting 4th behind the 3 fast guys I knew I wouldn't catch them, but I also knew I had a battle with Bolter on my hands, until he served his drive through for speeding in the pits... Then I just consolidated 4th and just kept the tyres as fresh as possible... With a handful of laps to go Carl had a disco promoting me to 3rd...

After losing a 2nd in the Skodas I'll take 3rd and my first CORE podium...

More V8 Supercar races were today, and I had some damned good fun around Homebush... Not the greatest track in the world, but it's a street circuit with some interesting corners mixed in with some chicanes and rollercoaster braking zones...

here's a onboard so those who don't know the track get a idea...



Got on the server with 15 minutes to spare before qualy and noted I was just under 2 seconds off the pace from my practice earlier in the day and the rest of the field were matching that my times... Managed to find 0.8 of the missing time and qualified 4th... And after the 30 minute race that's where I remained...

The reverse grid 60 minute second race though gave me a opportunity... I got a ripper start and was 3rd coming out of T1, pushed hard to get into second and did so through the rollercoaster... I had 4 seconds to make up to the leader, over drove the car for a couple of laps and made nothing on him, while the guy in third made enough mistakes for me to have a 3 second gap behind... I kept pushing and reeled in first after 5 or so laps, he made a mistake coming out of chicane and I put my car up the inside of the sweeper to take first... I had 8 seconds on DA at this point and if Shepard had of continued I would of had a nice buffer come pit stop time... That wasn't to be as he suffered a suspension related problem and was out with 7 laps before my stop was due... DA narrowed it down to under 2 seconds before stopping a lap before me, and when I came out of the pits he flashed by into the lead... I kept my head down determined not to lose to much time to him, and to keep the 15 seconds barrier I had over Heinz... I ended up right in the middle of them with 10 seconds either side as I crossed the line 2nd...

My best result in the series to date and on merit with no disco's like last time, just a hard fought and deserved podium...

Awesome. Sounds like a fantastic race and you really earned that second place! Looks like a real serious track too! Great job Pumbaa but a real shame Steve had even more bad luck . Thanks for the updates guys - i do read 'em all even if i don't always reply.

I didnt run, forgot with all the trouble i had with rfactor i hadnt redownloaded the mod and stuff and just couldnt be bothered and didnt have enough time to either, will be running in the F1 there though this weekend, trying to keep my challenge for the top 4 going, hoping i dont miss out on some vital points there cos i reckon come seasons end every point will be vital for my cause!

Also for anyone interested, next season i plan on having a team but require a team mate to take the fight to the big guns in the series, im just short of them and so far with my team mate in the Ferrari only showing for 1 race the teams standings are pretty much useless for me!

Damned serious little street track...

here's the videos...

Wow what a race!!!! 3rd place!!!!!!!

Qualied 9th, stayed out of trouble got up to 5th via retirements, then followed Steve Gamble around for a while and started closing just before he stopped for stop 1, i was 1 stopping so i knew i had him nailed, and rocketed off in 4th, ended up being a minute ahead from Gamble in 4th but just 23 seconds off of 3rd, then with 5 laps left i was crossing the finish line and Thirsk was exiting the pits, nailed him through turn 1, just, and held him off, i did drive mega defensive and i think i pissed him off a bit but he gave me a whack in the second last corner, trying to dive bomb around the outside into Rascasse, thankfully managed to save it, not to much damage from the wall and he also went wide into the wall and i managed to get across the line 3rd, man those last 5 laps were like 10 million races all in one!!!

Literally those last 5 laps were the only time i actually was racing properly against anyone, the rest of the race i was alone, apart from a fleeting glimpse of Steve Gee's Jordan the lap he pitted, and i was one of 3 drivers to not make a mistake and keep it out the wall, well until i was pushed into it at the end!

VIDEO!!

Good run, Mr Hill....congrats on the podium. Gotta tip my hat to you on the strategy of a one-stopper. I knew when you went past L30 and were still out it was going to be rough for me to catch you. I ended up losing the rear through the Swimming Pool chicane and decided since I had 5th well in hand, I would just settle in until the end.

I came up on Tom after he bobbled and tried to push him as much as I could to see if he'd make another mistake or not. I know you're fighting for a Top 5 for the season and with all the retirements, figured another place would help you if I could pressure him into another incident. When he pitted in front of me, I knew you'd have a chance to catch him.

My Top 5 moved me up into 10th overall...I figure with missing the first 2 races, that's not all that bad. That DNF at Barcelona's could hurt me overall, but there's still a long ways to go.

It only took about a hour for the feeling to come back into my ass and legs afterwards...damn that place and 78 laps!

I miss racing at Monaco