Muscle Car masters road trip

[HSE2]

Muscle car masters road trip.

The car
Andrews FG FPV F6 Ute. What a car. This was the first Ute I have been in for many a year and it was a bit of shock if I am honest. If it weren’t for the rear view mirror reminding you that there was no rear seat, one could be forgiven for thinking it was a sedan.
Extremely conformable and in Andrew's case very well specified. The top of the line info screen is a first class act. It makes my BF look like a cartoon that was done in the 70s. Better positioned for forward viewing, eyes closer to where the driver should be looking instead of looking down. Intuitive menus that would put many more complicated Euros to shame. The customisable features on the FG are light years ahead of any previous Falcon iteration.

In fact the entire layout is the best design since the high series AU dash in my opinion and that includes fit and finish. The only flaw had to be pointed out to me and to be honest it’s probably not something that would worry me.

On the road it was the comfort that immediately impressed. I expected the Ute version to have a slight front to rear mismatch in suspension tune, but if it’s there it would need a road far more challenging that the one we through at it.

For the first 300 kms I enjoyed soaking in the entire experience and I can tell you the passenger seat is a very nice place to be. Climate control taking care of the comfort and barely any road noise. (till we hit the NSW concrete versions). On the subject of noise, the only negative comment I could make about this car was the “booming resonance” that could be experienced with the windows down. That’s not something I have experienced before and I am not sure if it’s FG or Ute phenomenon.

The seats might seem initially on the soft side but after 900kms of essentially nonstop progress we arrived fresh enough to take in a NFL game. Seriously, I could have gone again, back to back. The only ill effects I had came from the boat crossing. Sure the driving was shared but the sitting down wasn’t. Comfortable and supportive.

I think it would be fair to suggest that Andrew was seeing some numbers for the first time. Like 800 kms plus range on tank and an average in the high 9s. Try as I might, Andrew just wouldn’t take this part seriously, so yes these numbers could have been better if I had driven the entire trip but I guess that has me leading into performance.

Cruise control was employed for the majority of the trip. I feel that my V8 GT would have been able to match the F6 if driven in the same way but with a performance disadvantage.

Like I have said many times on this forum, there is no point to a V8 and this is just another example that re enforces this opinion. : : :






This isn’t a sight we saw a lot of.
Here are the raw numbers.
Total trip distance 1976.3km
Total fuel consumed 204.6 litres as measured by the excellent trip comp.
Total travel time of 22.25 Hrs at an average speed of 88 km/h which gives us an average fuel consumption of 10.3l/100kms



These numbers are pretty impressive in there own right but they get better when you consider the way the car was driven. Cruise control was employed extensively by both drivers. These numbers included putting the car on and off the Ferry. This exercise hurt especially back in Devonport where the co driver made a poor lane choice costing us 20 minutes of stop start progress, if one could call it so.

We actually saw the total range head into the 800 litre region as we were going into Sydney. I think it peaked at about 820 something but was still getting better. It wasn’t used a great deal in Sydney. Given how it was looking when we parked it, one of us made the ambitious statement that we would see 850kms on the way home.

We didn't see that sort of progress on the way home. To start with there looked to be a pattern that indicated the driver was to blame or at least one of us was to blame. One driver embraced the spirit of the challenge, while the other just embraced the spirit of something completely different. Not that I complained mind you.
:

We had extra weight on the return trip and a different fuel brand. There was another issue that also might have had an influence on our observations, but the bottom line here is that this car is a performance car and was essentially driven as such. Cruise control accelerating up hills isn’t what you want to be doing if you are serious about this sort of thing.





First time at a rugby game. Must say thanks to Andrew and Jake for inviting me along.
Was an experience to be sure. I enjoyed being so close to the action and it was the most atmosphere I have encountered at a football game. Finished off a great days drive but there aren't too many cars, let alone Utes, that deliver one in the near perfect condition after nearly 900 kms and 10 hours driving.

The venue - Eastern Creek. This was my first trip to this marvellous facility. What a great place to watch motorsport. There really doesn’t seem to be a bad place to take vantage of.
Also didn’t realise it has such an elevation difference. Awesome track and for mine much better than Clipsal or tracks that are similarly enclosed. I can’t believe the V8sc aren’t taking advantage of this great track and patron friendly facility.



The stars of the show are undoubtedly the cars and drivers of yesteryear or combination thereof.
It was great to see these classics back on the road and doing what they were designed and built for.

The weather was certainly conducive to entertainment with near perfect conditions on the Saturday and not far from on the Sunday. The 5th anniversary of this event was said to have set an attendance record for its short history and will continue to grow in stature I am sure.

If I were to be critical, the last race on the card should have been about an hour earlier. The representation on the Australian side was sadly lacking and to repeat a display/demonstration that had been shown two times already didn’t help the cause. Australia v New Zealand should have had a bigger run than it did.

There are plenty of event photos on the forum in other sections so I have gathered a small sample of cars and display’s to give members an idea of what to expect if they wish to consider this event at some point.

For a muscle car event there were a couple of giant killing 6s getting about the place. Glenn Seton’s Capri certainly wasn’t short on legs down the chute that’s for sure. The best races in terms of entertainment were certainly the ones with Goliath verse David theme about them.

While I didn’t attend the legends dinner I have it on good authority that this first time innovation won’t be its last.

It’s also refreshing to pay the one fee and have the ability to not have the hand in the pocket to get to see the stars and their cars. Plenty of autograph opportunities but for me the track highlight was being able to see Glenn Seton race and win once again. The 97 EL championship winning car still looks as good today as it did in its day even though that was just a demonstration lap. Capri’s, GT s, HOs, GTS, Toranas, and nearly everything in between. It’s a growth category and after witnessing it first hand, in its full glory that is the Muscle Car Masters, it is no wonder.





















What a dangerous dangerous car!!! For my demerit points that is.
It’s a bloody good thing the FG cruise control is so good because it would have to be one of the hardest cars I have come across to maintain a legal speed limit, left to one’s own device. It just does it so easily, such light throttle applications end in a significant increase in momentum but it’s still deceptive momentum. What might seem like 10kph ends up being closer to 20kph.
I wasn’t really interested in sampling its potential as a performance car. There is plenty spoken of on that point better than I ever could, but in terms of drivability, something I rate highly, this car delivers in spades. Any gear, any time this thing just delivers. It makes you feel like its special without trying and I like that in a car. As soon as I have to go looking for response I get a bit shirty.

Ok it doesn’t have the sound or theatre and it might be too good, too clinical but that is starting to get into Clarkson territory. I think all current Ford products are pretty much perfect grand tourers, but I have to be honest. I never thought a six cylinder Ute would also qualify.

As you can see in this picture it is raining and the road is wet. Traction control or the lack of its intervention, was another eye opener. Stupidity would result in a mess no doubt but it never felt dubious under pretty horrid conditions on the return trip.



Couldn’t let a photo opportunity like this go by.



Tradition or a business opportunity? ;) With Andrew you can never be too sure.




I can’t finish a trip report without commenting on the company that essentially made this happen.
Lewis came up with the suggestion for this to be a club event and although it never eventuated in that guise, that suggestion certainly put the event at the forefront of people minds.
We had five club members attend this event in their own right or with family or friends. We were able to keep in touch throughout the event and for sure that contact did add an extra dimension for me.
It was especially pleasing to see FPV and their new cars on display along with Rod in attendance on Sunday. Impressive passion and dedication to the cause in my book and that is commendable and note worthy in an area we (ford) don’t get publicity or recognition in.
Lastly I must simply say thanks to my driving partner and car owner Andrew. Our clubs serves a purpose to bring like minded people together. Its times and experiences like these that allow me to experience things I might not normally attempt. That’s what it’s all about. You learn so much more about the people around you in this environment and I know I am richer for it.
For me the highlight will always be the driving. I know there are more efficient and cheaper options out there but that isn’t for me and I don’t actually enjoy the boat that much.

Thanks Andrew for the excellent conversation, the laughter, whit, hospitality for just making this trip what it was.