Is V8 Supercars killing Australian motorsport

[glenac05]

This years V8 supercar calender has 3 OS races, and 4 local street races. With Wanneroo missing a round for the first time that I can remember, will that be the end for a race in WA?
Overseas races may be great publicity for the category and for Australia, but for every os race its one less circuit that gets a V8 supercar round. The same for street races. For many years, getting the round of the ATCC or V8 chapionship was the only thing keeping some circuits alive. And they are all slowly dissappearing, with no new circuits being built.
Will the V8 series one day, be all OS races and street races, with Bathurst being the lone circuit. I hope not.
All this might be good for entertainment as well as saving money perhaps, but it will kill Australian motorsport. If you are racing in a category that does not support V8's( and there is not much that does ) what do you do. Where are the young Webbers, Power's and Briscoe's going to learn there trade. Or will all young drivers go from Karting straight to V8's.
Australia needs more permant race tracks, that can host all the lesser categories througout the year and still host V8's.

[david5]

A man after my own heart, but prepare for bollocking.:p

[wazza002]

Well its not fair to say this but sydney only gets 2 rounds in a year lot like it use to be about a race every month it was, But now its 12 months apart or closed to it anyway :(

[Chev_350]

V8 Supercars isn't killing Australian Motorsport.

Many of the circuits have come time and time again and said without V8 they can survive just fine.

[El Cheapo]

I didn't know the V8 Supercars WERE Australian Motorsport.....

[bortall]

I didn't know the V8 Supercars WERE Australian Motorsport.....
SO TRUE!!!

I would say not KILLING it, but certainly not doing it any good either. :(

[El Cheapo]

I would say not KILLING it, but certainly not doing it any good either. :(

In the long term actually, if more international events were introduced in more westernised locations, and the series got a good rep internationally, the V8 Supercars could be a great little window for young drivers to the international Motorsport scene.

I can (nearly) imagine NASCAR teams following the V8 Supercars championship and picking the odd driver. DTM too maybe. That would do wonders for Australian Motorsport! :D;)

[grease]

I would not call bathurst a lone circuit as isnt it public roads, so it will mean there will be no circuits left. In saying that will the circuit that Lindsay Fox wants to build down at Avalon be a circuit that the V8 series would consider using as if the F1's use it will Albert Park be scraped.

V8's are not the only motorsport as there are a lot of other category's and not just circuit racing. Yes they are one of the most promoted in the sport but not the only.

[gab73]

V8 superars has been killing motorsport in Aus, os races has nothing to do with it, its street circuits that are responsible, as great as clipsal is look what's hapened to permanent tracks in SA.

[Holdennumber1]

V8 superars has been killing motorsport in Aus, os races has nothing to do with it, its street circuits that are responsible, as great as clipsal is look what's hapened to permanent tracks in SA. Out of interest, what permanent tracks are these?
Of course theres Mallala (and it is in a bit of a sorry state) but a track of that size couldn't cater for half the people that go to Clipsal anyway. Plus its kinda in the middle of nowhere with no decent accomodation or transport ect.

The only other one I can think of is Adelaide International raceway which I'm pretty sure Bob Jane owns and hardly runs any meetings there.

[rex555]

Yep, I can't think of a single thing (wrt infrastructure) that has been done at Mallala since the V8s left and I was only there on Saturday. Its a fairly sad and sorry place. As for AIR, I haven't been there in years, they tried to do some work there but with the VHT (?) on the drag strip, its just plain dangerous for circuit racing on.

[david5]

In the long term actually, if more international events were introduced in more westernised locations, and the series got a good rep internationally, the V8 Supercars could be a great little window for young drivers to the international Motorsport scene.



And where pray tell do these young drivers come from before V8SCs & where do they race if theres no permenent circuits ??

[malscar]

And where pray tell do these young drivers come from before V8SCs & where do they race if theres no permenent circuits ??

The local indoor kart track.:rolleyes:

[grease]

Not just that sort of thing will be the problem, we will have no support races as we will not have any tracks and those karts are way to slow for the spectators to watch as it will take about 10 times longer for them to complete 1 lap so there will be reduced laps to compensate, so in a way V8's are killing the sport.

[Graeme]

This years V8 supercar calender has 3 OS races, and 4 local street races. With Wanneroo missing a round for the first time that I can remember, will that be the end for a race in WA?

...

Will the V8 series one day, be all OS races and street races, with Bathurst being the lone circuit. I hope not.

...

Australia needs more permant race tracks, that can host all the lesser categories througout the year and still host V8's.


I'm lead to believe that despite V8 Supercar whinging about "third world" facilities at Barbagallo/Wanneroo, the racing in WA would still have gone ahead this year if the WASCC (circuit management) was willing to stump up the fees asked by V8 Supercar ... something along the lines that the club made this decision based upon the chances for the meeting to be a loss-making venture being too high.

I'm beginning to think that the only sure-thing Australian street circuit event venues for the long-term future will be Adelaide and Bathurst. All "street" events require government support, and governments have been known to be fickle ... much the same is true of the international V8 Supercar events (New Zealand excepted) where China and UAE have been the new boys on the block, looking real flash and cashed up, but not possessed of any real substance.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the much-publicised potential for V8 Supercar expansion overseas wither away ... and, if some state governments don't support street circuits, and if some of the few available permanent circuits can't make the funding, then where will the Championship find itself ?

[Buffalo]

Am not sure what OS races does exactly for Australian Motorsport but I cannot see any reason why V8SC's would be killing Australian motorsport other than people find it too easy to blame something instead of doing something about it - I think they are good for Australian Motorsport given that it is a high profile medium for new people to become interested in motorsport - ie 16 year old Joe Bloggs goes to a V8 race - goes wow this is cool and then goes and buys Datto 1600 to fang around a local track - how else is he going to be exposed to motorsport ? The club stuff is still happening - hence why Mallala is still there for the club guys even though it doesn;t have flash dunny's :) ... but then people probably whinge that Mallala is too far from the city :rolleyes:

There are lots of categories that support V8's - Fujitsu V8's,TCM, Mini's, utes, sportscars, GT's all with varying levels of expenditure required to participate.

Personally I think people need to get off their rear ends and support local club motorsport more .... go watch a clubround, hillclimb, sprint, rally - go and be an official - there are tonnes of events to go watch and get up close to the action yet people are happy to sit back and whinge about the V8's - forget about the V8's supposedly not supporting Australian motorsport and go support it yourself !!!!

[El Cheapo]

And where pray tell do these young drivers come from before V8SCs & where do they race if theres no permenent circuits ??

Well some have come straight out of New Zealand Motorsport (Van Gis, Murphy, Jason Richards etc).

Fujitsu V8's is an obvious choice.

Mini Challenge or GT's before that I suppose.

Don't a few of the Aussie championships still race at normal circuits? You'd know more than me :o

[DJRTOM18]

This years V8 supercar calender has 3 OS races, and 4 local street races. With Wanneroo missing a round for the first time that I can remember, will that be the end for a race in WA?
Overseas races may be great publicity for the category and for Australia, but for every os race its one less circuit that gets a V8 supercar round. The same for street races. For many years, getting the round of the ATCC or V8 chapionship was the only thing keeping some circuits alive. And they are all slowly dissappearing, with no new circuits being built.
Will the V8 series one day, be all OS races and street races, with Bathurst being the lone circuit. I hope not.
All this might be good for entertainment as well as saving money perhaps, but it will kill Australian motorsport. If you are racing in a category that does not support V8's( and there is not much that does ) what do you do. Where are the young Webbers, Power's and Briscoe's going to learn there trade. Or will all young drivers go from Karting straight to V8's.
Australia needs more permant race tracks, that can host all the lesser categories througout the year and still host V8's.

I think that this is a bit dramatic
Lets Remember that one of your OS rounds is in NZ, I beleive that it is a great addition to sent the V8's to NZ, I would even like to see a second round over there, Have them back to back as the do in the Middle East. As for no true circuits, Well we Have Bathurst, Phillip Island, Winton, Sandown, Symonds Plains, Darwin & Queensland Raceway, As I understand it, Mr Fox is trying to build another Circuit at Avalon. Lindsay is a very smart business man, and its men like him that invest in V8's and build circuits that will not allow the category to become just Street races. So by my count there are 7 current circuits, plus 1 if Lindsay gets the green light to build his, plus there are circuits around country that need just some investment from both V8 Supercars and/or Big business.
The reason that circuits have been abandoned is that the attendances when V8's race there are not large enough to justify the financial Input. Street circuits get the Crowds. I don't mind street circuits, Lets look at the current street Circuits:
Adelaide - Now its an Iconic Event
Townsville - Has just come to the Calander and is a great race
Albert Park - Just a support Category to the F1's, but great publicity for the teams to race infront of the Corporates
Sydney - Right in the middle of the biggest City in Australia, greta crowd numbers, was a good test of driver skills, Just compare the crowds last year to any year at Eastern Creek
Hamilton - Not sure on this one, might be better where it was, but maybe our NZ counterparts can comment on this one
Gold Coast - Same as Sydney, right in the middle of a hugely populated area, Compare this to Queensland Raceway

In Summary, If you want more Circuit racing, get the crowds to go to these events, Or go out yourself and support the other categories at there race meetings on the circuits. I love the Historics and other categories that raced on Phillip Island 2 weekends ago, and am planning to go to Sandown on May 22 & 23 to the race meeting then. And lets not forget that racing is going back to Lakeside, If I lived in QLD i would go to watch even if I had to travel 3 hours, so lets not right off circuit races just yet

[bortall]

In Summary, If you want more Circuit racing, get the crowds to go to these events, Or go out yourself and support the other categories at there race meetings on the circuits. I love the Historics and other categories that raced on Phillip Island 2 weekends ago, and am planning to go to Sandown on May 22 & 23 to the race meeting then.

Bring it on:
I'm hoping to get to 5 weekends this year at PI & 4 at Sandown and not a V8 supercar in site.

[Leigh]

Good posts Buffalo and Bortall.

Motorsport is alive and well here in Vic, without the V8's. With the V8's (including the F1) we get another 4 events!

PI last weekend had just about as many spectators as Calder had in the mid 80's for Group A, when apparently motorsport was in its prime...

[El Cheapo]

Hamilton - Not sure on this one, might be better where it was, but maybe our NZ counterparts can comment on this one

Hamilton itself is a great circuit. It's just not good for V8 Supercars. The NZ support categories put on a brilliant show during the weekend (One of the NZV8 races from last year would have to be the best race I've ever seen in person).

Facilities etc are pretty good too :)

[david5]

Well some have come straight out of New Zealand Motorsport (Van Gis, Murphy, Jason Richards etc).

Fujitsu V8's is an obvious choice.

Mini Challenge or GT's before that I suppose.

Don't a few of the Aussie championships still race at normal circuits? You'd know more than me :o

Missing the point mate, none of those classes are entry point classes & all are V8 supports, what about the grass root club guys that dont have a zac to rub together ?

[david5]

Not just that sort of thing will be the problem, we will have no support races as we will not have any tracks and those karts are way to slow for the spectators to watch as it will take about 10 times longer for them to complete 1 lap so there will be reduced laps to compensate, so in a way V8's are killing the sport.

Several karting categories are way faster than V8SCs

[El Cheapo]

Formula Fords? Karts? I don't know how they work in Aus so I can't exactly say..

But from Formula Fords, in New Zealand at least (assuming driver in question has $$'s), drivers can get drives in at least 4 or 5 championships and be reasonably competitive in any one of them, be it tin-tops or open wheelers.

Anyone who wants to get into motorsport these days needs money if they want to compete in something overseas. It's pretty much the way the cookie crumbles. $$ > Skill as we all know.

[David Towe]

I think V8 taxis are certainly not doing any good for motorsport unless you are connected to the bank balance of one Mr Cockbrain. I will read the replies but probably won't respond again as I've been through this before and am getting a weary of the abuse I'll get again for voicing my opinion.

[grease]

Several karting categories are way faster than V8SCs

I understand that but if it is from indoor they usually slower because of limited track space in buildings.

[malscar]

Grease, did you notice the sarcasm smilie in my post?

[sleepy]

I think V8 taxis are certainly not doing any good for motorsport unless you are connected to the bank balance of one Mr Cockbrain. I will read the replies but probably won't respond again as I've been through this before and am getting a weary of the abuse I'll get again for voicing my opinion.I dont really know anything about the management side of the v8 supercars but i can see it is all about making money. Most likely for a set few bigwigs and hangers on, once this happens all that matters to these people is making more money and if that means shutting out the original grass roots fan base they really dont care. Because it all about money.

[Buffalo]

Several karting categories are way faster than V8SCs

Whilst I know this to be true I must also say that you have been hanging around with Laz too much :D !!

[Leigh]

I think V8 taxis are certainly not doing any good for motorsport unless you are connected to the bank balance of one Mr Cockbrain. I will read the replies but probably won't respond again as I've been through this before and am getting a weary of the abuse I'll get again for voicing my opinion.

We can all name-call too David, but that is not going to help...'tis only going to belittle your own comments.

I dont really know anything about the management side of the v8 supercars but i can see it is all about making money. Most likely for a set few bigwigs and hangers on, once this happens all that matters to these people is making more money and if that means shutting out the original grass roots fan base they really dont care. Because it all about money.

Tony Cochrane is only doing what he is paid to do...and it's not a "few bigwigs", but the owners of V8Supercars, the very people who the fans that follow "teams" love...

[racer69]

It is taking alot of sponsorship from motorsport as a whole, because everything is now driven straight into V8s.

I'm personally not a fan of where V8s have gone, too much control componentry and so on for something that is considered a touring car category. It is now another Sports Sedan series..something we've had in Australia officially since 1973!

Sydney - Right in the middle of the biggest City in Australia, greta crowd numbers, was a good test of driver skills, Just compare the crowds last year to any year at Eastern Creek

Actually, the "Sydney" street race is nowhere near the middle of the biggest city in Australia! Its not even in the city, it is in the west at Homebush...

[david5]

Whilst I know this to be true I must also say that you have been hanging around with Laz too much :D !!

I know, he's a bad influence on me, had me looking at filthy open wheelers that much, I hardly looked at the touring cars at PI :rolleyes:

[whitlam]

Actually, the "Sydney" street race is nowhere near the middle of the biggest city in Australia! Its not even in the city, it is in the west at Homebush...

Homebush is pretty much the geographical centre of the Sydney metropolitan area