"Go west, young man..."
Discussion
I'm doing something that hopefully doesn't turn out to be a gigantic c**k-up and am moving to Perth from Auckland NZ in January next year. I have a graduate position with Woodside and will most likely be based in Perth unless I draw a short straw and get sent to Karratha.
What I'm wondering is if anyone can give me a run down on what the motorsport scene in Perth is like? I'll be spectating for a while until I can scrape up some funds for a car suitable for track use, but am interested in at least associating with motorsport. I also have more of a background in tuned Japanese Import cars but love my Euros too so hopefully there are enough of both floating around? Any advice on this Novated Lease thing that you lot do would be much appreciated as well. Cheers all.
What I'm wondering is if anyone can give me a run down on what the motorsport scene in Perth is like? I'll be spectating for a while until I can scrape up some funds for a car suitable for track use, but am interested in at least associating with motorsport. I also have more of a background in tuned Japanese Import cars but love my Euros too so hopefully there are enough of both floating around? Any advice on this Novated Lease thing that you lot do would be much appreciated as well. Cheers all.
Very late reply I know (only just joined) I assume you are now in Perth?
Join the WA Sporting Car Club, ( www.wascc.com.au ) they run Barbagallo Raceway at Wanneroo. Apart from 8-10 proper race meetings a year including the V8 touring cars (I refuse to use their marketing name V8 Supercars, they are taxis not Ferraris or Ultimas!!) they also run drift events and 'tuning days' where members can use the circuit in their road or race cars.
There is also a track for sprint type events (1 car at a time) near Perth airport. I am competing in the Sprint Championship in a RX7 turbo. www.dtec.com.au/mc-motorsport/index.htm
Tim
ps novated leases are best discussed with your accountant, a lot will depend on your personal tax situation, usage of car, milage (kilometerage just doesn't sound right) etc.
Join the WA Sporting Car Club, ( www.wascc.com.au ) they run Barbagallo Raceway at Wanneroo. Apart from 8-10 proper race meetings a year including the V8 touring cars (I refuse to use their marketing name V8 Supercars, they are taxis not Ferraris or Ultimas!!) they also run drift events and 'tuning days' where members can use the circuit in their road or race cars.
There is also a track for sprint type events (1 car at a time) near Perth airport. I am competing in the Sprint Championship in a RX7 turbo. www.dtec.com.au/mc-motorsport/index.htm
Tim
ps novated leases are best discussed with your accountant, a lot will depend on your personal tax situation, usage of car, milage (kilometerage just doesn't sound right) etc.
A couple of blokes who work at Woodside hang around here
www.ozclubbies.com/phpBB2/
As you will discover they are 7 replica owners
>> Edited by suthol on Wednesday 5th April 12:14
>> Edited by suthol on Wednesday 5th April 12:15
www.ozclubbies.com/phpBB2/
As you will discover they are 7 replica owners
>> Edited by suthol on Wednesday 5th April 12:14
>> Edited by suthol on Wednesday 5th April 12:15
Hey,
Thanks for your replies. I am now in Perth, and got myself an '01 Golf GTi. I'll probably join the VW club at some point. I'm also hoping to do some track training with an outfit near the airport www.dtec.com.au . Any other suggestions welcome too. The budget probably doesn't quite stretch to the WASCC just yet but I'll keep it in mind.
What a city, I love it here. If the locals would learn how to drive, and stamp duty and luxury tax were revoked, it'd almost be perfect. Are there any good driving roads that you could make a day of near Perth? My only out of town trip was up to Lancelin and its pretty boring most of the way.
Thanks for your replies. I am now in Perth, and got myself an '01 Golf GTi. I'll probably join the VW club at some point. I'm also hoping to do some track training with an outfit near the airport www.dtec.com.au . Any other suggestions welcome too. The budget probably doesn't quite stretch to the WASCC just yet but I'll keep it in mind.
What a city, I love it here. If the locals would learn how to drive, and stamp duty and luxury tax were revoked, it'd almost be perfect. Are there any good driving roads that you could make a day of near Perth? My only out of town trip was up to Lancelin and its pretty boring most of the way.
htsd said:
The budget probably doesn't quite stretch to the WASCC just yet but I'll keep it in mind.
The WASCC @$200pa is very good value if you are going to watch racing at Wanneroo; free entry to all their events including the v8s. Also if you are going to do any sprint events you will need a CAMS licence and be in a CAMS affiliated club (eg WASCC)
htsd said:
If the locals would learn how to drive
That's one of the worst things about Perth. I have driven in the UK & Europe and never seen anything as bad as Perth drivers. They are not taught how to drive, only how to pass the test. The aggro tough guy thing is really bad here, as is the famous Aussie attitude "she'll be right" translates to "I don't give a sh*t and I'm proud of it"
htsd said:
My only out of town trip was up to Lancelin and its pretty boring most of the way.
And the downside of living in the "most isolated city in the world" you can drive for hours or even days (yes really) without seeing anything worth looking at. Head South West for the best of WA.
Have just come back from a weekend in Perth, and agree about the standard of driving. But still seems better than the overly cautious approach I've seen in other Aussie cities.
As already mentioned, some good roads SW of Perth, just watch out for the doddery-types coming out of the wineries. And if you're down that way, the Bootleg Brewery at Margaret River is worth going to - their Raging Bull porter is pretty good.
As already mentioned, some good roads SW of Perth, just watch out for the doddery-types coming out of the wineries. And if you're down that way, the Bootleg Brewery at Margaret River is worth going to - their Raging Bull porter is pretty good.
Yes the aggression that I'm talking about doesn't amount to good "confident" driving, more for example deliberately preventing you from changing lanes, refusing to use indicators on roundabouts, tailgating and belligerently blocking the outside lane of freeways. 
If you put WA drivers on the roads in England the whole place would quickly grind to a halt.
If you put WA drivers on the roads in England the whole place would quickly grind to a halt.
I have never seen aggro here - in fact i think perth drivers are some of the most relaxed ever. i am constantly amazed how they will wait for someone to do a stupid manuover without beeping, let other people not indicate and never complain, are slow off lights without giving abuse etc etc. That said the driving IS apalling - how they change lanes and use roundabouts without indicating, undertake, veer across three or four lanes and travel over the chevrons to exit a freeway etc. Its downright dangerous if not bloody stupid..!
I'm pretty sre anyone driving like that in the UK would soon get shot or something! I hope when i come back to the UK for a holiday in may i haven't picked up too many bad habits from the igiots...
I'm pretty sre anyone driving like that in the UK would soon get shot or something! I hope when i come back to the UK for a holiday in may i haven't picked up too many bad habits from the igiots...
lol, yes driving here is shocking! I have even found myself picking up bad habits! Have to keep rectifying myself or when I go back to the UK for a visit i'll lose my license pronto!
If you go out towards Mundaring on the Great Eastern Highway and then turn right in Mundaring, there are some pretty good fun roads to be had out there!!, A few are always used in the WRC.
Where abouts are you based in Perth??
Rich
If you go out towards Mundaring on the Great Eastern Highway and then turn right in Mundaring, there are some pretty good fun roads to be had out there!!, A few are always used in the WRC.
Where abouts are you based in Perth??
Rich
RCA said:
lol, yes driving here is shocking! I have even found myself picking up bad habits! Have to keep rectifying myself or when I go back to the UK for a visit i'll lose my license pronto!
If you go out towards Mundaring on the Great Eastern Highway and then turn right in Mundaring, there are some pretty good fun roads to be had out there!!, A few are always used in the WRC.
Where abouts are you based in Perth??
Rich
Not sure if you were asking me or Buffalo? I'm in Forrestfield. Mundaring Weir Rd is a good 'twisty' in spots and there are lots of gravel roads around the dam which see a lot of hooning apart from the (soon to be lost?) WRC round.
I read somewhere that the State Government decided to let the rally go as there was only $1.60 return for every $1 invested and could get better return on other events? Sorry, only a 60% profit?? So take the $1.60 you now have & sponsor something else as well!! (Probably yet another "Arts festival" or something?
Only in WA (and only with a Labour government)
Like the pic in your profile
is that in Perth? Tim
RCA said:
Which one?
The Impala and the Landcruiser are in Perth.
Typical about the WRC eh? Not making 'enough' money........
Despite the fact its a world event that puts Perth on the map!!!
Ha I wasn't talking about the cars... you have a pic with some girlies
I'm just preparing some pics to add to my profile... later tonight maybe
>> Edited by madazrx7 on Sunday 16th April 12:51
Tiger Lil's has been our haunt for many a friday after work, our being the grads at Woodside. Everything seems to end up at Carnegies though at some point.
Spent the easter weekend in Kalbarri, great scenery, was camping on sand and rocks though which isn't really my style! I didn't drive up, and am glad I didn't because most of it was dead boring unless you were prepared to take your license into your hands and speed. Once you got there though a 4WD would be ideal. Anyone else go away?
I must say though that I saw more dumb driving on that one trip than I have seen in the last 5 years in NZ- passing 5+ cars at barely 10km/h faster than traffic, passing on blind corners, passing on brows, no wonder the road toll here is massive compared to the population. 271 deaths for barely 1.5 million people? Thats heinous. NZ is about 100 deaths per million people and our roads are far worse.
There don't seem to be many serious exotic cars here, would that be fair to say? I've seen barely any Porsches, 2 Fezzas, a few M3's, one E49 M5, a few Maseratis, and I think one Elise. Nothing that really floats my boat... although I did see a new AM V8 at the weekend that had me open mouthed and knees shaking. Glorious car.
Spent the easter weekend in Kalbarri, great scenery, was camping on sand and rocks though which isn't really my style! I didn't drive up, and am glad I didn't because most of it was dead boring unless you were prepared to take your license into your hands and speed. Once you got there though a 4WD would be ideal. Anyone else go away?
I must say though that I saw more dumb driving on that one trip than I have seen in the last 5 years in NZ- passing 5+ cars at barely 10km/h faster than traffic, passing on blind corners, passing on brows, no wonder the road toll here is massive compared to the population. 271 deaths for barely 1.5 million people? Thats heinous. NZ is about 100 deaths per million people and our roads are far worse.
There don't seem to be many serious exotic cars here, would that be fair to say? I've seen barely any Porsches, 2 Fezzas, a few M3's, one E49 M5, a few Maseratis, and I think one Elise. Nothing that really floats my boat... although I did see a new AM V8 at the weekend that had me open mouthed and knees shaking. Glorious car.
Matthew;
Exotics are few and far between in Perth, and usually (though not always) in the hands of the rich as status symbols rather than us enthusiasts.
Kalbarri's not a bad spot, had my honeymoon there (although that hasn't completely turned me off the place) just a shame it's 6 hours of nothing to get there...
You will see a few decent cars being used properly this Sunday at the dtec track at the airport, round 2 of the sprint series. I am running in a friend's FC RX7, but you will also see Elises, even a 340R, many Porsches incl my friends GT3CS, as well as the far more common Jap performance cars (funnily enough, VERY few Australian cars ) Probably a good place to meet some fellow enthusiats, although I may be the only other PHer there?
Come & say Hi if you are there, I will be driving the blue FC3S in my profile (in the fantasy car column)
Cheers
Tim
Exotics are few and far between in Perth, and usually (though not always) in the hands of the rich as status symbols rather than us enthusiasts.
Kalbarri's not a bad spot, had my honeymoon there (although that hasn't completely turned me off the place) just a shame it's 6 hours of nothing to get there...
You will see a few decent cars being used properly this Sunday at the dtec track at the airport, round 2 of the sprint series. I am running in a friend's FC RX7, but you will also see Elises, even a 340R, many Porsches incl my friends GT3CS, as well as the far more common Jap performance cars (funnily enough, VERY few Australian cars
) Probably a good place to meet some fellow enthusiats, although I may be the only other PHer there? Come & say Hi if you are there, I will be driving the blue FC3S in my profile (in the fantasy car column)
Cheers
Tim
I reckon I've seen more boxsters here than anywhere else i've been!!! Mind you they aren't really porsches are they?? 
There are a few fezza's around and i've seen 3 DB9's, one being a convertable.
Barbagallo's has a lambo in the showroom but never seen one on the roads.
And I've seen a few TVR's about but only because I know the owners!
There are a few fezza's around and i've seen 3 DB9's, one being a convertable.
Barbagallo's has a lambo in the showroom but never seen one on the roads.
And I've seen a few TVR's about but only because I know the owners!
RCA said:
I reckon I've seen more boxsters here than anywhere else i've been!!! Mind you they aren't really porsches are they??
There are a few fezza's around and i've seen 3 DB9's, one being a convertable.
Barbagallo's has a lambo in the showroom but never seen one on the roads.
And I've seen a few TVR's about but only because I know the owners!
My friend (no name dropping, although it's actually his son that is famous) who recently bought a GT3 and was competing on Sunday, previously drove a Boxter; must be "quite a difference".
There are usually a few exotics in Barbagallo's showroom, Alf was a long time racer both in Sprintcars and then Touring cars at Wanneroo.
You must be in the know with TVRs, I have lived in Perth for 35 years and been involved in Motorsport since 1978, I can't remember ever seeing even one!!
If your ever up near Balcatta, There is a Green Chimaera parked outside APG Homes on Balcatta Rd most week days. Belongs to one of the directors.
In Welshpool the is a blue tuscan on division road at the chokeby rd factory.
We have a TVR meet at O'Reillys on Cambridge St, either the first or last Wednesday of each month in the evening.
Will drop you a message when I know which the next is going to be, more than welcome to pop down if you feel like it!!
In Welshpool the is a blue tuscan on division road at the chokeby rd factory.
We have a TVR meet at O'Reillys on Cambridge St, either the first or last Wednesday of each month in the evening.
Will drop you a message when I know which the next is going to be, more than welcome to pop down if you feel like it!!
RCA said:
I reckon I've seen more boxsters here than anywhere else i've been!!! Mind you they aren't really porsches are they??
There are a few fezza's around and i've seen 3 DB9's, one being a convertable.
Barbagallo's has a lambo in the showroom but never seen one on the roads.
And I've seen a few TVR's about but only because I know the owners!
I know a guy who owns a Murcielago and his wife owns a 360 Spyder. They own a restaurant in Gidgegannup and I'm designing their website!
Damn I wish I had my old Tuscan over here! The only one I know of is Richard at Chokeby Road but he was trying to sell it (AUS$100K!) and I couldn't get through on his work number as he promised me a look when I emmigrated last year.
I'd love to see a TVR compete in the Targa West Rally this year which I believe is being held in September.
PS. I live in Toodyay so no chance of seeing nice cars this way
stin hambo said:
I know a guy who owns a Murcielago and his wife owns a 360 Spyder. They own a restaurant in Gidgegannup and I'm designing their website!
...PS. I live in Toodyay so no chance of seeing nice cars this way
I can't even imagine a restaurant in Gidgey, let alone one succesful enough to support those cars!! Things must be improving out that way since I last ventured into Deliverance country Actually I came close to buying 5 acres in Gidgey a few years ago when the blocks were about $100k, can imagine what they are worth now...
So how long have you been here? (Your profile still has you in UK) Been to the York Motor Museum yet? www.yorkwa.com.au/Motor.Museum/index.htm (SouthEast from you, via Northam)
Although it's been many years since I went and I have heard that some of the cars have been moved to the new Fremantle Motor Museum?
Do you do website design as a business? Have your own site I can look at? I need a simple site for my business.
Edited by madazrx7 on Monday 5th June 10:02
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