Parnelli's Online Magazine Thread issue 1 (Sunday Cup racing)

[shotamagee]

My dad had a suitcase full of his old lego which he gave to us, and lego is probably one of the main things that made me 'want' to be an engineer when I was younger, a string pull operated, home grown light on/off switch probably being my crowning achievement.
I still have 2 boxes of technic from my teen years in my cupboard as well.

 

[Skython]

Yeah, lego bricks are awesome, when I was younger, I made a roughly 1/18 scale Viper GTS-R, all my own design, not a set, I was sooo proud

 

[Parnelli Bone]

Ha ha, I had that same "suitcase full of Legos"! My folks probably bought it for us. But then I got that paper route and managed to expand far beyond the initial suitcase.

By the time I was in high school (age 15-16), I had stopped playing Legos, but they were still in my room. I remember I had a bunch of friends over and they saw them. Sooo embarassing!

 

[Parnelli Bone]

************NEWS UPDATE**********​

Good morning. This is Parnelli Bones, GTP Sunday Cup Media Consultant. Today is Thursday, May 12th, and we have some updates on a developing situation!

Nitrous oxide. Two nitrogen atoms paired with a single atom of oxygen. Any dentist or doctor has heard of it, some of them have used it on their patients. Others who know nothing about such uses have probably used it in less-than-healthy ways as they've altered their mind for short bursts of time! But today, we are going to talk about another form..uh...USE of nitrous oxide.

Any race driver or spectator nowadays has certainly heard of N20. That's nitrous oxide in chemist's terms, a-huh-huh-huh. It's a controversial substance. Controversial because it temporarily boosts a car's horsepower beyond what it would normally be. In certain forms of racing, such as drag racing and funny cars, nitrous oxide is sometimes accepted. Matter of fact, there are actually classes in such racing specifically used for nitrous.

But in circuit racing, nitrous is often illegal, along with a list of other such aids. Which brings us here, to the Sunday Cup.

The issue has been raised: should Nitrous be legal in the Sunday Cup? Sunday Cup drivers and a few spectators have been allowed a vote..."Yes" or "No" for Nitrous. Currently, there is an almost even division of votes, slightly the 'nos' have the lead...huh-huh-huh, interesting how 'nos' is also the abbreviation for "nitrous oxide system" huh-huh-huh...

Will nitrous officially become allowed in the Sunday Cup? This reporter will be keeping tabs on such! This has been Parnelli Bones, GT4 Sunday Cup, Gran Turismo Planet. Back to you, Ken...

Ken: In other news, the Orioles have lost again....

 

[BH-21]

** EXTRA ** NEWS ** EXTRA **
2nd Circuit Championship

​

 

[Parnelli Bone]

dun-dun-dun-dundundu-dun-dun-dun-dundundu-dun-dun-dun..

THIS IS THE GT4 SUNDAY CUP MEDIA STATION...​

TONIGHT! BREAKING NEWWWS
​

Here's your host, Parnelli Bones​

<-*plastic-looking fake grin*

Good evening everybody. I am your media consultant for the evening...Parnelli Bones. This hour! The news!

GT4. The Sunday Cup. Everybody knows the Sunday Cup, right? That slow entryway into the Gran Turismo world. Well tonight we have some in-depth, late-breaking news.

Lately our drivers have been perusing their options as several drivers have opted to shift rides! A Nissan Silvia has become one of these opts, yet was turned down from driver to driver. Driver shotamagee had this to say in a recent hidden-camera interview...

This is kinda funny, no-one wants the championship leading Silvia, at this rate car-less will be able to buy it back from himself, maybe car-less's driving skills are what need to be offered to trade instead.

But tonight's breaking news involves one driver who DID make a choice. Former Honda Civic driver Car-less has taken the plunge! And bought himself a 1989 Nissan Skyline GTS-t Type M!

*smirks at camera*

...Boy that's a mouthful! A-huh-huh-huh. Not just a GTS-t, but a GTS-t Type M a-huh-huh-huh I'd love to see the GTS-m Type T a-huh-huh-huh...ah shucks, we're having fun, aren't we Connie?

Well, anyways, Car-less had this to say about his new ride...

*snip*

...I then ran a single attempt at each track with the car exactly as I got it.

This car is about 20% heavier than the Silvia I just sold, and it feels it - the first priority for next week will be to put it on a diet, even before an oil change!

Luckily it is also about 40% more powerful than the Silvia was, so I don't think my times will have suffered too much.

*I will have a pic here to fill this space tomorrow...*

The Nissan Skyline! There have been many generations of Skyline, this one happens to be from the Skyline's "R32" generation. Facts and hype surround this car, of which racing versions were nicknamed "Godzilla" after trouncing other makes in the Japanese Touring Car Championship, and several other racing series long ago

*pans back to fake-tan toupe-wearing host*

So the question on everybody's mind, will it trounce the Sunday Cup? Will Godzilla make its way back to...trounce the competition? huh-huh-huh Only time willl tell....

This has been Parnelli Bones, GT4 Sunday Cup Media Host, now back to you Connie...


Connie: Well thanks for that in-depth report, Parnel.

Parnelli: Parnell..eee. There's an "e" sound on the end.

Connie (ignoring sportcaster): Up next? BABY DIAPERS!

>:-/ <-serious face.

We've all worn them before, most of us many, many years ago. But lately? A growing fad with ADULTS *pause* wearing..Yep! That's right! Luvs, Pampers, and other popular brands..

Creepy-looking Steven King-looking dude: Well, ya know. I was like sittin' in my porch rocker one day, and I like had to go. So like, I was like "yo, wouldn't it be nice if I could like go. But not go anywhere? That would be waaay cool. So like..."

 

[BH-21]

Point of order, Car-less is a former Nissan Silvia driver. Skython11 is the Honda Civic driver still.

Other then that it was ok, not your best work, then I got a bit creeped out at the end. Hehe, I guess I'm not an astronaut.

 

[Parnelli Bone]

Ah well, was having a bit of fun. Sorry it turned you off.

 

[shotamagee]

Don't worry Parnel I got a chuckle out of it, and car-less did threaten* to buy a Civic type R earlier.

* Just compared selling the Silvia for a Type R about a week ago, I don't think he was ever serious though.

 

[Skython]

I might need one of those diapers... Oh, that wet patch continually grows

 

[Korza]

You need a theme tune for your GT4 SUNDAY CUP MEDIA STATION NEWWWS! In all seriousness Parnel, I found your exposé on N2O very informative.


Two more posts till my 100th post!!!!!! Isn't it sad is it that I've been a member for coming up 4 years and I haven't made more than 100 posts don't you think

 

[Skython]

A theme tune, like a music tune, I could help with that, since I write music. Through the instruments are made on guitar Pro so are electronic trying to replicate real instruments... And failing. First I'd need to completely clear my Writers Block

 

[Parnelli Bone]

Yea, but BH-21 is right. It is a bit inappropriate and over-the-top. I was laughing the entire time I wrote it, but it's not really...well... I been thinking too much about Southpark recently, you know, that cartoon.

 

[BH-21]

(Opening logo of the Sunday Cup followed by SCM network graphics.)

Welcome to the Infineon Raceway. This is the opening of the 3rd Circuit of the Sunday Cup Invitational Series here at SCM! We have an exciting race for you today. The cars are at the starting grid. Some changes have happened since last weeks 2nd Circuit Championship. Car-less has sold his old '91 Silvia Q's and bought a '89 Nissan Skyline. This should greatly improve his performance folks; he has more horse power to play with. He isn't a shoe in by any means though; several of the other drivers like the longer tracks and their chances for some wins in the 3rd Circuit. We shall have to wait and see what strategy each driver has up their sleeves, as this 3rd Circuit progresses, in the next few weeks.

(Start with an establishing shot of the race track from overhead then cut to a ground level pan. From there cut to the wide shot of the starting grid. Use a slow zoom to move into to a close up. Hold that shot for 10 seconds then cut to the handy cam in the pit area.)

Listen to those engines revving down there, it is getting close to race time. Let us head down to the action on the track with the sounds of the race.

Vvrrrrrmmm, vvvvvrrmmmm!

The cacophony of revving engines begins to overwhelm the area at the starting grid. A starting tree’s lights begin to flash. Suddenly it shows a solid green light; instantaneously hundreds of horse power is unleashed. Tires start to spin upon the pavement, from the heavy torque of the transmissions, soon applying their full power to moving the once static cars into life. Each car quickly surges forward as the once neat orderly starting grid dissolves into a pack of race cars vying for the lead.

They are off ladies and gentleman and heading into the first turn. Dogbreath in the Toyota Sprinter came off the line quickly but here comes the RX-7 and the Nissan Skyline with the other cars close on their heels.

(Shot of the field of cars leaving the starting area and accelerating into the first left hand turn then up the hill as they make the second turn back to the right.)

It looks to be a very exciting race folks. We will be right back after this commercial break.

(Insert first commercial break here. A Playstation2 game called Grand Tursimo 4)

 

[BH-21]

(Shot of the field of cars exiting turn two and heading to turn three, keep action upper left of center. Insert graphic of the track into the lower right corner.)

Welcome back to the action here at Infineon Raceway. The RX-7 and the Skyline are closing on the Sprinter quickly but they are unable to pass, upon the exiting turn two the Skyline breaks hard to avoid the RX-7 causing him to drop back behind the Honda Civic which has come on fast to the outside. The RX-7 has gotten to the outside of the Sprinter putting him on the inside for turn three. Braking for the turn has put the RX-7 in the lead. Leading now out of turn three is the RX-7 followed by the Sprinter and Civic. Strung out behind the leaders are the Skyline, MX-5, Mirage, and CR-X. The leaders have reached turn four maintaining their order. Wait there is some bumping between the Civic and the Sprinter.

(Close shot of the Toyota Sprinter in the overrun area of turn four. Hold that for five seconds then cut back to the leaders.)

The Toyota is off into the overrun area just on the outside of turn four causing him to drop back behind the MX-5 who came through the corner very cleanly. With his new engine upgrades the MX-5 driven by Shotamagee is coming on fast down the short straight to turn seven, the track being configured for the stock car course. The Mirage is closely behind the Skyline now having passed the Sprinter as well. The Sprinter despite up rating his engine this week is having trouble today.

(Cut back to the Toyota Sprinter being passed in turn four. Hold that for 3 … 2 … 1…cut back to the leaders.)

They have made it through turn seven about a car length apart. The cars are really picking up speed now into the s-curves of turn eight. Still in the order that they exited turn seven, the RX-7 has had some trouble at the end of the s-curve allowing the MX-5 to come up even with him followed closely by the Civic who lost ground to the MX-5 in the s-curves.

(Close up of the action between the MX-5 and the RX-7 and Civic, use track audio.)

They are all moving through turn nine accelerating to the last moment before letting off the gas pedal and lightly applying the brakes to turn back to the right for turn ten, once around the corner they apply power again towards the hairpin of turn eleven. The MX-5 being on the inside for turn eleven has the advantage and out-brakes the RX-7 putting the MX-5 into the lead.

(Wide shot of turn eleven tracking the leaders back to the start line.)

Exiting the hairpin the cars poor on the power as they then fade back to left through turn twelve. Upon exiting they drift over to the outside wall and roar past the starting line and the pits. The leaders continue on through turn one and back up the hill to turn two.

(Cut to the Mirage making its move on the Skyline from turn eleven. Hold that, 1 … 2 … 3 … 4… cut back to the leaders.)

Back in the pack the Mirage comes out of turn eleven cleanly and is able to pour it on. He is just behind the Skyline and to the outside. Here the power of the Mirage comes in handy despite its usual gearbox troubles. The two cars race toward the start line with the Mirage gaining all the while. The Skyline brakes slightly to make turn one, but the Mirage carrying more speed and a better line and shoots past him to the outside then brakes hard going up the hill into turn two with the Skyline behind him.

The MX-5 now clearly in the lead followed by the RX-7 and the Civic are exiting turn four in line about two car lengths apart now. A gap between the leaders and the rest of the pack is widening. The second line of cars now lead by the Mirage aren’t gaining any ground on the leaders.

(Wide shot showing turns seven through eight.)

Boy, look at that MX-5 head through the s-curves! Shotamagee is really showing off his car’s suspension here today. He has widened the lead considerably now. The MX-5 is just eating the others up on the back stretch. There isn’t any movement in the rest of the field either; this may be the way it finishes.

(Wide shot showing turns eight through ten. Hold till MX-5 heads into turn eleven then cut to close tracking shot on the MX-5 as it exits the turn. Slowly zoom out as it heads towards finish line.)

Here comes Shotamagee in the MX-5 out of turn twelve roaring towards the finish, there is the checkered flag! The MX-5 wins here at Infineon. Coming in second is the RX-7 with the Civic in third, the Mirage fourth, Skyline fifth, Sprinter sixth, CR-X seventh.

(Hold at finish line. Show graphics of the order of finish and points to be awarded.)

What a race that was! Shotamagee sure did a fine job today really out driving the whole field on the back stretch of the track. We will head down to the pit area for the winners circle and post race interview right after this commercial break.

(Insert second commercial break here. A new carbonated soda, pineapple flavored.)

 

[Skython]

hey, I don't remember doing this

 

[BH-21]

Speaking of tornados, last night a town on the western side of my state was devestated. The worst ones come when everyone is asleep in their beds at night. At least 89 dead and likely to go up.

Video-Link
Story

Over the weekend there were 70 tornados in the mid-west United States.

 

[Parnelli Bone]

Yea I heard about that at work today. I couldn't imagine living in the midwest. We hardly ever get tornados in Maryland, and when we do, it's usually in the part of the state hardly anybody lives in.

 

[BH-21]

Post race interview during the second week of the 3rd Circuit of Shotamagee. Interview, at the Deep Forest Raceway
Interviewed by Parnelli Bone
(Written by BH-21, Shotamagee)

(Parnelli Bone moves into the pit area heading towards Shotamagee’s Mazda MX-5, as he is standing next to it taking off his helment and tossing it into the open seat.)
Parnelli Bone: Shotamagee do you have a moment for a few questions for Sunday Cup Media?

Shotamagee: Sure man what do you wanna know?

Parnelli Bone: What happened out there?

Shotamagee: Well you saw my heat, It went pretty well, none of the other cars held me up much, I overtook the Nissan Primera through T3, then went around the outside of the Corolla '98 through T4. I then got past someone who must have bought GrumpeOnes's old Mirage on the inside between T6 & 7. Then I used the momentum I had to get past the Lotus Elise on the left exiting T7 before jinking to the right to get past the Alfa 166 through T8. I then tried to drive as smooth as possible, I didn't even need to use 2nd gear for this race and then, well you all saw it, I just got a bit too greedy coming through the last corner on the 2nd lap and ran it out over the curbs, at least I kept it off the wall.

Parnelli Bone: So you ran the whole race using only 3rd & 4th gear?

Shotamagee: Yeah I was redlining in 4th at around 200 KPH coming into the first corner on the second lap, but I broke a bit late into T1 so the lowest speed I got to through there was around 78 Kph. I could have changed down and used 2nd as this car red lines at around 100KPH in 2nd. And using 2nd does give you a good push coming out of the tight corners, but it also means you lose momentum which takes a while to build back up again. So with a car this low powered, I find that a medium in, medium out cornering technique works better than the more traditional slow in, fast out approach.

Parnelli Bone: You’ve stuck with your MX-5 since the beginning of the season, how is it running?

Shotamagee: Its running better than I anticipated mostly, especially since I've had the Stage 1 Turbo in it, currently its got 159 HP, but it only weighs 911 KG and handles like a dream. Its the RB7 of the pack, down on power but it makes up for it (mostly) in the corners.

Parnelli Bone: Do you expect much in this Third Circuit?

Shotamagee: Hard to say, I think this cars main strength is its ability to carry good speed through medium - high speed corners. So tracks with plenty of corners and no long straights are its forte. So despite going off Deep Forest and miss timing a pass at Trial Mountain those are where I expect to be most competitive. Apricot Hill and Infineon should also be good, but I'll be surprised if I finish anywhere but last at High Speed Ring, my top speed there was 215 Kph.

Parnelli Bone: There is a rumor going around that your looking for a new car? With the field changing so much lately can you clear that up for us?

Shotamagee: That's true, originally I though I'd do the whole series with the MX-5, but the amount of money we are collecting in these later rounds means that while the MX-5 is competitive at the moment, it won't be for much longer & Fuji has a really long front straight as well. So these were the last races for the little Mazda, before it goes on sale next week. As for what I'm going to get, I don't wanna give anything away but I will give you some hints, I've already got enough money for a rotary powered sports car which I'm considering, but if I get enough cash this round I'll instead be opting for another 2nd hand convertible, but this one won't be Japanese.

For Sale Mazda Mx-5 '89
Price $3112 (5949+1000+1000+4500)/4
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/857/image0101v.jpg/

Parnelli Bone: There you have it folks, Shotamagee in his own words.

Parnelli Bone: There's Dogbreath, Dogbreath could I have a few words for the Sunday Cup Media?
(Parnelli Bone moves off after Dogbreath further into the pit area.)

 

[Skython]

Nice write up guys, and speaking of things happening at Deep Forest, I'm now having to work hard to get my one fixed after my practice there.

On the first lap of my practice run coming out of 13C, I ran two wheels onto the grass as shown here:

Causing my Mad little Subie to start doing this

One thing lead to another

Eventually the others caught up to my Subie which was still sliding sideways completely out of my control.

Then came the car breaker

Trying to hold my head in place the car was violently spinning in the air, eventually crashing hard into the barrier

And the car is now in a massive wreck.


I am now once again without a car, I made it through the rest of the round with my mates Subie which luckily was pretty much exactly the same, though he took it back afterwards, and I'm not sure if I will be able to fix the car this week. The suspension is proving hard to get out, the body preventing me from getting into the underbody, the cars not going to budge, the front left wheel is completely wrecked, along with the brakes and suspension, and the car refuses to start. It's been leaking for 3 minutes until it ran out of liquid, and I've got almost no money to repair the car with. I have gotten some professionals in to try and help fix it up, but they're not having any luck. I'm going through my contacts, looking everywhere for another Subie, the backup I mentioned before, has been taken back by it's owner. Wish me luck, but I might not get to the next round.

I'll keep you guys up to date on how we're going

 

[BH-21]

Well done on the picture story telling there Skython11, a bit rough on my 56k with the sizes. It will make a nice serial "The rebuilding of a Subaru". I hope it has a happy ending.

 

[Skython]

mate, anyway. We've been working for two days straight I think.

At the moment we've removed the body, gotten in new suspension, a new engine, which we're working on to make useful. The wheels are hard to replace though we may be forced to buy some racing rims, which will hurt my expenses. Also coming in is a rear wing which is (looks back to the car)... Just arriving. The engine might be able to squeeze out more power after this but the new engine is said to be in the same condition as the other one was. We also might get some Weight reduction in here or engine tuning. So we're going well. But the car still has no front end. Turns out the entire chassis is bent out of proportion and one side has large cracking, so that might be replaced, we got one in that was cheap, and is also in a similar condition to the original. We wanted to get one with better rigidy but it costs way too much. Anyway, we're going well, but we're going to be tired for the round. So I may fall asleep at the wheel and crash into Blitz Street just as a bomb's going off and get killed by German bombs from WWII

 

[GrumpEone]

I sympathize with your issues Skython11, during last week's run at High Speed Ring, I had a little issue on my last run. Luckily the travel arrangements got all screwed up and I had to do High Speed last, because I too had to do some repair-work.

On my last run, opening lap, going in for a pass on two cars (turn 3), the damned Camaro rubbed me off my line, and while I was trying to adjust, the Silvia shoved me into the grass and wall on the inside of the turn. So I did what any pissed-off, frustrated driver who has been behind on points all season because of a car that he couldn't drive well, would do...

I cranked the wheel back to the right, and in true road-rage fashion, drove that Silvia into the far wall, ending the race for both of us.

​

​

Needless to say, I had to put a used radiator in, fenders, lights, and fix the hood. But it is a good thing that mid 80's steel is strong, vs. late 90's plastic, and I actually think I straightened the frame with the, well let's just call it an accident.

Everything seems to have gone back together pretty well, and I got my Sponsorship stickers from Car-less today too.

​

 

[Skython]

That crash looked a bit mad, because it involves half the pack flying a lot higher than my Subie 👍

 

[BH-21]

Lol!



I surrender before I hurt something inside laughing. Race rage in the Sunday Cup. I too felt the crunch of side panels last week, but it was on Apricot Hill from a darn RX-7.

Just got the sponsor decals on.


Credits
Racing Stripes/Z28 side panel & License Plate: BH-21
Sponsor Decals & Racing Number: SVX

 

[Korza]

I love the Scamaro, BH-21!

 

[Skython]

Update on car condition

The guys are now sleeping still in the garage, it's been a massive job, and we fixed the car, with new suspension, some weight reduction (for some reason I still had to pay for it) and a racing chip, the car now has 280 HP, and we're weighing in at about 1160Kg if I'm correct, some suspension setup helped out the sliding problem, and the car now feels great, other than some understeer. during the races I was struggling getting the car into some of the turns, maybe the time travel machine damaged it getting it to the 80's circuit. Anyway, its power to weight ratio is a lot better now, I feel I can pull out some great results. We're thinking of getting sponsors, but I'm thinking of saving for a better car, as this isn't the most fun car to drive, as it's too much of a handful, to the guys, will have to buy them a beer, then they can deal with my beer, as I don't want to drink. Plus I don't see the point in it.

 

[BH-21]

** EXTRA ** NEWS ** EXTRA **
3rd Circuit Championship

​

 

[Skython]

Yay, my own bronze trophy (does Patrick Star trophy hug) Eeeeeeeeeee. Then throws it into wardrobe (to the noise of smashing and crashing)

 

[Skython]

I think Parnelli stopped with this so for now I think I&#8217;ll take the honours of providing a new interview, I&#8217;m gonna get to you

So what happened at Sarthe?

Well, the car was really bad. It felt terrible, no matter what we would end up in the dirt. It&#8217;s had a lot of traction problems and these just went too far at Indianapolis and the Porsche curves. In practice it took me out of the game at Indy. The back came out and sent me reversing into the wall.

The medics say you have injuries from the crash, is that right?
Yeah, it was a pretty big hit; I must have been going 150 KM/H when I hit the wall. Now my neck has been damaged, as well as my right arm. My arm flew side ways and smacked into the door, and it broke two fingers.

So you&#8217;re not going to be in for the rest of the season?

Sadly for me I&#8217;m not. But for some drivers they may just be celebrating right now. I&#8217;m not happy with what happened, these races were going to be the best part for me, since they&#8217;re home to my favourite races, but what can you do.

Do you hope the Sunday Cup continues next year?

Of course, it has been a lovely experience racing in this, the competition is great, the drivers are neat people and it has been great meeting them. However at the moment I&#8217;ve been getting offers from Audi Sport, who are participating in a new race series in the Audi R8 4.2 road cars, and I&#8217;m thinking about accepting.

What do you think of the current standings in the Sunday Cup?

I think Jet Badger has wrapped up a win, and Shotamagee will steal my third. So I&#8217;m not too happy about that, and I think the rest of the standings will stay the same.

Well, it&#8217;s been great speaking with you, I might see you next season.

Cheers, bye.