hi all.
a club i'm in had a mototkhana day at shepparton (vic) on sunday just gone.
i thought it was the perfect opp to take one of my cars for a run (189k's each way from my place, or 118 miles in real language). problem was which one to take.... neither had turned a wheel since march, so they both needed it.... the GT is nice to drive, but i always have a ? over it, being a 42 year old engine that's never even had the head off it.... and the Wasp is bullet-proof, but driving it is a short-haul option these days with the way my back is and how cramped u are in it....
the GT got the nod. i was to travel in convoy with 2 other cars, so all would be fine if dramas stuck.

big gav visited late.... late saturday nite, so 2:30am was bedtime, and up again at 5:30am.... joy of joy. this followed a 5:30am friday nite/sat morning bedtime mind u! don't ask....
meet the other guys at my factory, and off we go.
CD playing hendrix and the like, 60-70mph all the way, (obviously less thru the towns!). plus a bit in one spot tho....
the GT drove fantasticly. really happy with it, never missed a beat, and i was still able to walk when i got out!

had a good day helping out (didn't run the GT. usually do the event with the race car, but it's 'no-go' atm).
got a couple of shots of it with a good friends Prince Skyline GT-B up there too.
AWESOME CLASSIC JAPANESE GT'S UNITE!!


but had a quick squirt and saw this mark, so got a quick pic:

and did it easy.

then the drive home. exactly 2 hours, another 118 miles, 60mph thru the twistys, around 70 on the straights, had one group of knuckleheads doing well under the limit for ages.... so we rounded them up in one group. bit more than 70 at that stage....!
never missed a beat again, and then thought "wonder what the fuel ecomony was...." worked out to be 236 mile round trip, and used about 6 gallons, so is 39 miles per gallon in my book, or 7.3-odd litres per 100k in the new scale. pretty damn good i'd say for a 42yo unit.

so.... who says u need a new model car to drive a decent distance, in relative comfort, and get great ecomony?? drive a Bellett i reckon!!
cheers.

PR91,You are resonating every word I would say about our good'ol GT's !! That's a peeerrrfect weekend and worth a loose head. Great pair in the photos.

Similar experience last weekend bedding in the new engine mount rubbers and reconed radiator, new hoses and some under bonnett prettying up, and thanks again for the timing tips. You get such a wild squirt between 60 and 70 mph, 3rd to 4th gear, through the long sweepers. Then Brad and i headed back down the freeway, yes 80 + harrassing the modern traffic, with plenty left under the pedal. The tunnel is always a highlight. Open the window slightly and listen to her howl like a rabbid dog !! Again the fuel consumption or lack thereof is astonishing.

B.

we have driven 14,000 miles in the last two years . corowa 2008,targa tas. 2009. adelaide nationals 2009 and many trips to brisbane.we live about 200 miles north of brisbane. it has returned 44miles to the gallon consistantly and drives and rides comfortably .