HSV Maloo Breaks UK Record

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Just don't mention that it was the only commercial vehicle to EVER run the course.

Its not hard to hold a record when you are the only competitor. FAIL.

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

no one else has run the course....WHAT A LAME **** STORY

Where did you guys get this info from, I still cant find anything that says that the Maloo was the only Ute to ever run this Hillclimb.

Putup or shutup please.

[351capri]

for a minute there i thought it might have broken the record for the most overpriced bucket of ***** made by gm. oh well.

[Windsor220]

The plan was not just to set an LCV record time at Shelsley, but make it respectable enough to stick for a while

Reading that quote it sounds like the Maloo is the first LCV to attempt the climb. They wanted to set a benchmark time for other LCVs. The only thing is apart from FPVs, what else is going to be able to attempt it? I dont think anyone else makes performance commercial vehicles apart from us. If there is something out there I wouldn't mind knowing.

Edit - forgot about F-series Lightning and other US utes.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Where did you guys get this info from, I still cant find anything that says that the Maloo was the only Ute to ever run this Hillclimb.

Putup or shutup please.

News - Vauxhall Maloo HSV Maloo smokes hill-climb course

Record: Australian-born Autocar editor-in-chief Steve Cropley drove the Vauxhall Maloo to glory at the 107-year-old Shelsley Walsh tack.

Vauxhall-badged HSV Maloo the first LCV to tackle UK hill-climb
Gallery
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By MIKE COSTELLO
A VAUXHALL-badged HSV Maloo ute driven by Australian-born, UK-based magazine veteran Steve Cropley has become the first light commercial vehicle to tackle the world’s oldest purpose-built motorsport venue.

The Autocar editor-in-chief drove the 317kW/550Nm 6.2-litre V8 UK-spec Vauxhall Maloo – GM’s UK arm sells the Aussie icon on a special-order basis, with three sold so far this year – up the 1000-yard (914 metre), 107-year old Shelsley Walsh hill-climb in Worcestershire.

Naturally, as the first vehicle of its kind to be driven competitively up the hill, the Maloo established a record, laying down a challenge to other LCV marques with a best run of 38.6 seconds. For comparison, the current overall record, set by Martin Groves in an F1-style 450kW Gould, stands at 22.5sec.

Mr Cropley said the plan was not just to establish an LCV record time, but to “make it respectable enough to stick for a while”.

“Despite the track being dampish, and littered with wildlife that thought the hillclimb season had ended, we managed a 38.65 second run, “ he said.

“The Maloo’s huge torque, decent launch control and easy handling made the whole experience less of a chore than it should have been, too.”

Mark Constanduros, from Shelsley Walsh said: “We always welcome new ways of tackling the hill, and seeing such an incongruous vehicle blast up the track driven by one of our favourite journalists was quite something.

“I’m certain that it’ll lay down the gauntlet to manufacturers of other LCVs, though they’ll have to try hard to beat Steve’s time!”


Good enough???

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Good enough???

Thank you.
I wonder how many HSV ute owners will rip the Chebby badges off and put Vauxhall ones on ?

[blk6t]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Didn't I read in here somewhere that the commodore ute actually has a higher load rating the the ford?

Spot on for sport versions...

FG XR6 Turbo 570kg
VE SS 598kg

The FG also has a smaller tray area (side body).

Makes you scratch your head doesn't it, the one thing Ford had was a much better load rating, leaf spring etc etc

Sorry also the Ford has a much better brake towing capacity...

[XD 351 Ute]

Originally Posted by BigAL_250

I wonder if they'd ever tried taking that Ford Transit with the XJ220 drivetrain. Though I don't think that's set up for corners...

Supervan Four perhaps?

Ed

[Stazza_Brendan]

So it didnt break any record?

Just established one

[mash again]

any kind of tight uphill corner would give the independant rear a big advantage over the ford ute I would have thought and I own one.

[EVLKNEVL]

Originally Posted by blk6t

Spot on for sport versions...

FG XR6 Turbo 570kg
VE SS 598kg

The FG also has a smaller tray area (side body).

Makes you scratch your head doesn't it, the one thing Ford had was a much better load rating, leaf spring etc etc

Sorry also the Ford has a much better brake towing capacity...

Originally Posted by EVLKNEVL

Not sure how reliable online reviews are, but a quick google indicates the Maloo has a 500kg payload vs a GS Ute's 540kg.

http://www.carsales.com.au/reviews/2...ries-5352?Cr=0
http://performancedrive.com.au/2012-.../#comment-8917

Not sure what SS's and XR6 Turbo's have to do with it but you're right, leaf springs should afford a substantially better payload in the Fords considering the trade-off in balance/handling.

[Bossxr8]

Fords utes can handle 1.2 tonne in some models, Holdens ute would snap in half at those levels.

The carrying capacity of sport models solely comes down to the tyres load ratings, and the SS has tyres that can handle a little more weight. It has nothing to do with the actual vehicle itself. I'm sure that if you put the appropriate tyres on the Falcon and Commodore to handle big loads the Falcon would be able to carry significantly more weight having a leaf spring rear end.

[Windsor220]

Not sure what he said was wrong.
Maximum capacity for a FG ute is 1240kg.
VE is 794kg.

[F6E]

Originally Posted by monte.b

probably had a cheve badge on the rear of it too,bloody old dunnydore ,wouldnt pull the skin of a rice pudding,not only that but with a coil spring rear you couldnt put a dog in the rear without it bottoming out

If handling and chasis dynamics are the name of the game (ie: hill climbs ) I'd rather be in a coiled ,IRS rear Maloo than a dinosaur, live axle, leaf sprung FPV "anything"

Anyway, who buys a Maloo or a Pursuit to carry loads !!??

It is what it is....

[Windsor220]

Better question probably is what is the point of having a ute if you want a performance car? If its not to carry anything then what's the point.

[F6E]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Better question probably is what is the point of having a ute if you want a performance car? If its not to carry anything then what's the point.

6 of the 8 vehicles in my sig' are utes, add the D40 and it would be 7 / 9 ( we exclude the Mrs 'toy' )

Why ?
they are "work" utes
99.5% of the time spent driving you are on your own or 1 up .
you can carry 'stuff' with ease, not talking pallets of cement here
tax deductability (commercial vehicle, although this changes with the tides )
generally cheaper than the sedan equivalent
Maloo is line ball with Clubby in every respect (except pax capacity). Ford/FPV its is a different story sedan v ute. Leaf rear is the anchor.
If you have a dog then it belongs in the back of a ute
Chicks love doods in utes ! (so I hear, never worked for me )

I dont mind a good ute.. Cross 8 was a cracker !

[flappist]

Ok stop the bickering and keep it in topic.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Better question probably is what is the point of having a ute if you want a performance car? If its not to carry anything then what's the point.

What is the point in having a 5 seat GT if you don't have a family.........

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Better question probably is what is the point of having a ute if you want a performance car? If its not to carry anything then what's the point.

A poor man's Monaro with a trayback?

[EVLKNEVL]

Originally Posted by flappist

What is the point in having a 5 seat GT if you don't have a family.........

In case you want to drive anywhere with more than 1 mate with you........

[dieseltrain79]

My mate is a ford / Toyota import guy ...

His work car is a hsv maloo ute . Why ? Cause he said it drove the best and carries with ease . Plus resale is higher on hsv models ( so he says ) .