[cruiserfied]

Enjoyable but disapointing at the same time.
Cross ram intakes are cool. Most famous being the Max Wedge Hemis.

[ibrokeit]

-Saturday night in Ipswich is crap. Got a feed but spent more time walking around trying to find somewhere good to have some drinks.

Sorry - if I realised you were going to be up this way I would have advised about that.   Brisbane has more good places to have drinks on a Saturday, probably more expensive though.   Having said that the other issue is it is a bit of a train ride to Brisbane from Ipswich - about 45mins half-hourly... but the flip side is that gives time to wind-down.

[PhireSideZA]

Everyone in here still alive? Anybody?

+ almost weekend!
- I am working on Saturday and probably Sunday, but at least Monday is a public holiday
- My Moto G gave up the ghost so I have been forced to move over to my new Lumia phone. Lots of data lost, unfortunately. Funny how these things always last until right past the warranty date...
+ The weather is slowly but surely improving, we had a nice warm 22 degrees today
- I also had to visit a chicken farm where I had a brisk walk through the -17*C storeroom wearing chinos and a button up shirt. That'll teach me to prepare for my jobs

[Dazzler]

+ Trip planned for next few days
+ Weather warming up and snow clearing just in time. 
+ Never fear, Dazzler is here...

[Lakes]

Thanks for the Pic of the old Hemi 426 Tim I remeber them well from the Mustle Car erra in late 60's
Never had a close look but always wondered what the throtle linkage looked like.
I was fortunate enough to drive a 67 GTO Pontiac 4. Speed with Hurst factory shifter it had the factory Tri power three two barrel carb with the last two opening via vacume, when the last two carb got wide open, what a rush of power!!!!!

[ibrokeit]

- Got a traffic infringement... was at lights (unmarked cops in next lane) and was setting up sat-nav (on phone - but it turns out it wouldn't have mattered if it was pure sat nav... it was in my hand)
-- ~$350 (and three demerits - but not too concerned about that at this time)
+ They didn't try to do me for my quick take-off (phone away - both hands on wheel) - no loss of traction but it was really quick

- Currently unemployed - 7 years experience Software QA, last position for web e-commerce site with niche requirements.
+ Getting other things done - such as sorting stuff, dusting off bike, writing posts on a certain forum

[PhireSideZA]

- Got a traffic infringement... was at lights (unmarked cops in next lane) and was setting up sat-nav (on phone - but it turns out it wouldn't have mattered if it was pure sat nav... it was in my hand)
-- ~$350 (and three demerits - but not too concerned about that at this time)
+ They didn't try to do me for my quick take-off (phone away - both hands on wheel) - no loss of traction but it was really quick

- Currently unemployed - 7 years experience Software QA, last position for web e-commerce site with niche requirements.
+ Getting other things done - such as sorting stuff, dusting off bike, writing posts on a certain forum

Sucks that you got a present from your traffic department...but at least you know your tax money is going to use. Over here our road fatality statistics are horrible since all our cops want to do is sit on their arses and accept bribes instead of catching the people that jump red lights, speed, have unroadworthy cars or worse. So I would write it off as school fees and take consolation in the fact that they are putting your money to good use

Do you maybe feel your previous employer, due to their niche requirements, prevented you from growing skills-wise in the ever changing IT world? That seems to happen quite often around here and it is so difficult to stay abreast of all the happenings and developments in technology these days. By the time you get the hang of one service it's almost being phased out again...

Best of luck and hope things work out for you

[cruiserfied]

+ Made top 10 again this year. Found out today.

[Dazzler]

+ Made top 10 again this year.

 

[Doggie 1]

 

[The Gonz]

+ Made top 10 again this year. Found out today.

Onya, Cruisey!

Nice to have you as our very own Master Tech!

[CraigB]

+ Made top 10 again this year. Found out today.

Well done

[Phil №❶]

Congratulations

[Shambles]

+ Made top 10 again this year. Found out today.

Congrats, though we'd prefer to hear you made the top 3, or top 1

[Surferdude]

Well done, Tim.

[Dazzler]

+ Made top 10 again this year. Found out today.

Congrats, though we'd prefer to hear you made the top 3, or top 1

Hopefully no other forum has those guys! 

[cruiserfied]

Thanks everyone.
The top 10 will compete in the National Skills Comp for placings end of next month then 1st & 2nd place head to Korea 3 weeks after that for World Skills Comp.
5th last year, no messing around, I plan to be on the plane to Korea.

[CraigB]

You can do it Tim we have faith in you...and if you have doubts then take the other contestants out to the pub the night before and get them smashed

[wbm00]

Congratulations Tim, all the best for the next stage.

[Shambles]

Don't forget to brush up on your diesel spark plug tolerances.

[ibrokeit]

Go Tim!

[Asterix]

Congrats Tim..     

[eye30]

Well done....
Ps
I've got the answers so what is it worth......

[Dazzler]

Thanks everyone.
The top 10 will compete in the National Skills Comp for placings end of next month then 1st & 2nd place head to Korea 3 weeks after that for World Skills Comp.
5th last year, no messing around, I plan to be on the plane to Korea.

If you need any last minute help to go to the next step just PM me. 

[Phil №❶]

What is the nature of the competition and how are you judged, Tim.

[ibrokeit]

- Got a traffic infringement... was at lights (unmarked cops in next lane) and was setting up sat-nav (on phone - but it turns out it wouldn't have mattered if it was pure sat nav... it was in my hand)
-- ~$350 (and three demerits - but not too concerned about that at this time)
+ They didn't try to do me for my quick take-off (phone away - both hands on wheel) - no loss of traction but it was really quick

- Currently unemployed - 7 years experience Software QA, last position for web e-commerce site with niche requirements.
+ Getting other things done - such as sorting stuff, dusting off bike, writing posts on a certain forum

Sucks that you got a present from your traffic department...but at least you know your tax money is going to use. Over here our road fatality statistics are horrible since all our cops want to do is sit on their arses and accept bribes instead of catching the people that jump red lights, speed, have unroadworthy cars or worse. So I would write it off as school fees and take consolation in the fact that they are putting your money to good use

Yup - I thought I was doing the right thing, but I wasn't.  Live and learn. 

Do you maybe feel your previous employer, due to their niche requirements, prevented you from growing skills-wise in the ever changing IT world? That seems to happen quite often around here and it is so difficult to stay abreast of all the happenings and developments in technology these days. By the time you get the hang of one service it's almost being phased out again...

Not really - though there wasn't really opportunity to grow skills... always much to do.   Was always push back against the experience/methods from larger corporations - though slowly growing into one, could have been faster - seemingly because people would loose 'empires' they had built. 

Best of luck and hope things work out for you

Thanks! 

[FatBoy]

What is the nature of the competition and how are you judged, Tim.

 

I know a guy, who knows a guy, that could ensure that the "competition" has an accident on the way to the competition.  That would almost guarantee your trip to Korea!!

+ Head home tomorrow from another busy tour.
+ Two weeks holidays.
++ Six weeks holidays after the next tour.
+++ It is during the school holidays.
- It is "forced" leave.
+ I am happy to take it.
+ It helps the company out.
+ If I help the company, I am more likely to keep my job.

[Doggie 1]

Good luck, Tim.
Brush up on the EPS.   
It might be a question. 

[Dazzler]

What is the nature of the competition and how are you judged, Tim.

 

I know a guy, who knows a guy, that could ensure that the "competition" has an accident on the way to the competition.  That would almost guarantee your trip to Korea!!

+ Head home tomorrow from another busy tour.
+ Two weeks holidays.
++ Six weeks holidays after the next tour.
+++ It is during the school holidays.
- It is "forced" leave.
+ I am happy to take it.
+ It helps the company out.
+ If I help the company, I am more likely to keep my job.

^^^^ 

[cruiserfied]

There are several parts.
There is a written general knowledge of HMC test 60min and 10-12 stations over two days to rotate through.
Each station is either a vehicle with 2-3 faults of any nature (immobiliser, smart key, abs, engine management etc etc) or a component I.e. engine, gearbox which you need to do something with (last year it was a bare long engine. Had to identify engine and vehicle it was from by engine number and replace timing chain using correct method by workshop manual including torque settings. Then move to an auto box remove pan and identify each solenoid and their function. All within one station)
Each station is 60min and full jobcard stories are required.

Judging is out of 40 and is based on efficiency,  procedure (by the book, how and if you get to the fault), protections (guard covers, seat covers, gloves, scantool not placed on vehicle etc) and a bunch of other stuff, all of which I have made everday practice since last year so it becomes second nature.

Speed isnt going to win it, you could fluke the diagnosis and repair the vehicle but if you cant explain the correct steps on how you came to the fault you loose points. But you need to be quick to get through each fault in the 60min.

Hehehe im getting all excited thinking about it. 5 weeks out, time to buckle down.