OLLIE

ah kiddies you need to get outside and play with your cars, pull them apart, put them back together etc, it's good for you! haha anyway online social networking is so misused it annoys me, bebo and myspcae are the worst

New Zealand's only race team in the 24 hour race in Germany have done the unimaginable by not only bettering their debut result but recording a competitive finish for both team's race cars. Contested at the Nurburgring Formula One venue, the combined Nordschleife circuit creates the longest race track in the world with 220 cars starting Saturday afternoon's race – the Kiwi's finishing in 60th and 68th places. A production car race with 864 drivers from 29 countries, over 200,000 spectators and a television audience in excess of 100 million, the Kiwi's were again proud to have travelled the furtherest. Qualifying 164th and 166th fastest time on Friday, the start to the race was postponed when a heavy thunderstorm flooded parts of the circuit. With racing underway nearly two hours later the mayhem and challenges placed before the eight driver team left many shaken at the worldly experience. Surviving the opening skirmishes in the pair of identical Honda Civic Type-R race cars – consistent lap times and pit-stop routine had them running as high as 71st when many teams had to pit to change the tyre style. Running Yokohama A048 tyres was a planned strategy by the Kiwi team – who have upstaged many more experienced teams with their attention to detail and contingency planning. The multi-purpose tyre allowed them to be competitive in all weather conditions – however what ensued was beyond the realm of practicality. At 4am in the morning the race was stopped – thick fog saw 25 cars lose their way on one lap alone. For the Kiwi Team Nurburgring cars, they reported slowing down to speeds of 30km/h in order to stay trackside. With racing resuming five hours later, it allowed many of the teams with damaged cars to retrieve them from around the circuit, and return them to the grid. Meanwhile the team's two cars sat alone in pit lane – not needing any attention – and only received a wash to return them to pristine glory. Reliably circulating without missing a moment, the eight driver line-up progressively worked through their shifts – John McIntyre and Stuart Owers the drivers to take the chequered flag at 4:51pm on the Sunday. "It's really hard to believe what we've been through – all those crazy moments like the rain, the fog – it all seems ages ago," said John McIntyre. "But the fog on my last night driving stint was the most difficult – it's one of those things in life you'll never get challenged with other than at a race like this." "But it's not just the circuit; it's the weather and largely, the actions of the other competitors also. We're playing in their backyard – and it's totally different to what we're used to in New Zealand." "It's definitely a special moment. Not only to have started the race but to have finished also – as well as that night stint in the fog. But most of all – to have finished both the 24hour races I've driven with the team here – and to have both cars come home. I guess a lot of it is luck, but so much of it is preparation and teamwork. That's where Richard and Craig Field are owed so much – along with Paddy Casey and the boys – for all their efforts in getting everything so well prepared we could take on the world's best like this and beat so many better teams." Owner of the team, Auckland's Dr Greg Taylor, and one of the eight drivers, was humbled by his team's achievements in its second ever year: "Good times, good mates, a good team - a great team – a real nucleus of expertise." "The key to speed is the Swedish flick – according to Timmy (Martin) – but it's all about planning – having a good crop of drivers with a team to match. They coped very well with all the conditions from the 30deg heat, the fog, minimal sleep and even the rain – everyone has been tested. It's really a proud moment when you can say as a Kiwi you've placed in the top third of an international series with the cars we run – it's really a measured accomplishment." Taking the first of the Kiwi Team Nurburgring cars across the finish line was Wellington's Stuart Owers in car #221: "It was the icing on the cake really – the guys just did so much and as drivers we put in an amazingly consistent effort." "It's a very emotional experience – to see the crowd really touches you – they are so happy, so passionate." The idea of trekking across the equator to the northern hemisphere venue in Germany, was a far-fetched dream by Dr Taylor – who can now boast a finishing record better than many of the fancied factory team efforts. Following tonight's prizegiving function, where they will be awarded 1st and 2nd in the Group N category, the team will return to the circuit tomorrow (Monday) to complete packing the shipping container to return the cars to New Zealand. The eight drivers in this year's team include two MotorSport New Zealand champions: Nelson's John McIntyre (NZV8s) and Auckland's Brian McGovern (Bridgestone Porsche). The six remaining drivers are: Dr Greg Taylor (Auckland), Tim Martin (Auckland), Gene Rollinson (Auckland), Michael Eden (Wanganui), Rhys McKay (Auckland) and Stuart Owers (Wellington). Support for Kiwi Team Nurburgring comes from: www.cosmeticart.co.nz, Advan Yokohama Tyres, Pengellys World Transport Specialists, GDM Group, www.wanganui.com, Racetech Seats, Oracal, Hella NZ, Spies Hecker, Smith and Smith Glass, CarGlass, Resene and Makita. Source www.nzmotorsport.co.nz

electrical or air intake problem. run a jump wire from the positive side of the battery to the positive side of your coil and turn the engine over, see if it starts now. this basically just bypasses the ignition and establishes whether the problem lies in the ignition circuit or if it's somewhere else. Or it could simply be that your battery is not providing enough current to fire a big enough spark on all the cylinders, fully charge up the battery and pull out all your spark plugs to check for fouling and electrode gap, make sure using a feeler gauge that the electrode gap is 0.8mm, if not reset the gap or replace your plugs. check your distributor, clean up all the connections and make sure all leads have continuity through them. Pull off the airflow meter and check that it's moving properly and not sticking, in the cold whether they can cease. this is one of those really annoying things to trouble shoot, but hopefully this gives you a base to start narrowing down the problem.

the thermostat is still the piece of equipment that reads the temperature and tells the gauge what to show, so if the thermostat is faulty (gives intermittent readings) then the gauge is going to flicker and do funny things.

And the Off Topic award goes to ..... James and Emma! Come along to the next club night to claim your prize

Gus i'll give ya what you paid for it and keep it until you come back to repurchase it from me for the same price again.

Welcome, it's good to have some more southerners aboard, get yourself a sticker - order form here

just noob customer service and sales

i just bought 2 complete control arms for less than $80 ea incl gst, so the best bet would be to replace the whole arms.

ah my bad, wasn't thinking too well then.

and consider the small case sold (to me) when you take it out

They just have (kind of) Orcon has a new parent; we have been purchased by Kordiaâ„¢ As you may have heard, Orcon has recently been purchased by the Kordiaâ„¢ Group. This is perhaps the most exciting development in Orcon's 10 year history, and we are thrilled to be a part of the Kordiaâ„¢ Group! We know that this raises two very important questions: what does this mean, and who exactly is Kordiaâ„¢? What does this mean? The first thing we want to make absolutely clear is that it is business as usual for us here at Orcon. We will continue to offer the same great products and services, at the same great prices. Most importantly, you will continue to receive the same great service that you have come to expect from us here at Orcon. Kordiaâ„¢ fully support us in our vision to deliver cutting edge communications and Internet products and services backed by the best possible service. The great thing about having Kordiaâ„¢ as a parent is the contributions that they can make over and above what we already offer. Think more products, new services, and competitive pricing, all with the same great Orcon service. We are also really proud to say that Orcon remains a 100% Kiwi-owned company! Watch this space... we'll keep you posted with what's on the way. Who is Kordiaâ„¢? Kordiaâ„¢ is a Kiwi company that works in the telecommunications, media, and technology sectors. We have been working with Kordiaâ„¢ for years as a supplier, and so they know our business really well. If you would like to know more about them, check out the Kordiaâ„¢ website: www.Kordiasolutions.com Thanks, The Orcon team www.orcon.net.nz

Welcome, best luck with food smearing vomit ejecting menace.

can we get rid of pink writing for ever!?

i need gus again

The E30 trailing arms i am refurbishing have been sitting for a while and are a bist rusty etc ... I can't for the life of me get the bloody discs off!! any bright ideas?

got the trailer sunday, cheers though.

there are a few loophole like this, with the ability to keep the same number with either provider you can switch back and forth and benefit from the freebies that they offer to entice you over from the competitor. sell the free phone you get each time and make money from the bastards.

they're just winding you up, i'm sure it was legit. from a sellers point of view i'd never withdraw an auction once it had reached reserve.

my telecom phone is up for sale on trade me if anyone wants to buy it LINK TO AUCTION no reserve

Telecom have good plans for off peak free minutes and 500 txt to anyone, i've been with telecom for about 4 years now and have had no problems, up until now the plans they have were much cheaper than vodafone, I was spending $40 month at telecom and getting the equivalent to a $60 a month vodafone plan. Tomorrow I am switching to vodafone because i need to make more calls during peak times and their plans are better, i have been waiting to be able to keep my same 027 number which i can now do. Summary: Telecom cheap plans for off peak and weekend calls ample free text to any number crap range of phones crap 3g network old technology (but who notices anyway?) Vodaone good business plans good you choose plans annoying that txt is only to other vodafones vast range of phones good 3g network it's not telecom better overseas useability by miles Their range/coverage seems to be on par and the customer service i don't really use. hopefully I will be happy with my move to vodafone, even if it is just because it's "not telecom"

haha I love the diversity here, why don't we get school girls who drive bmws signing up?

thats good to hear, will book in a trailer with a winchand I might grab a few mcdonalds trays to aid in the dragging. Is anyone in papakura area free next sunday the 17th to come and help get the thing on the trailer? also Jared I might swing by your place on the way back from chris's and hire your engine hoist for monday.

I am assuming you mean the inner ball joints? if so then from my experience the best option is to replace the whole control arm. New control arms are approx $100 each and include both inner and outer ball joints. Reason - the outer joints will need replacing soon anyway, there is too much messing around just to get a ball joint pressed in.Now while you're there you'll have to replace the control arm bushes too because unless you are very careful when you remove the control arm you'll damage the bush, and the rule is replace all rubber parts when you get the opportunity. Summary: Control arm x 2 - $200 bush x 2 - $100 Labour - FREE (do it yourself) Total - $300

i wish, would make it a lot easier for me to get it onto a trailer.