GTP MONARO to not race at adelaide

[chups]

this is from www.grmotorsport.com.au

looks like someone is trying to force any successful holden teams out of the sport.

"GRM up in arms over Monaro parity process

18 March 2003

The Just Car Insurance Monaro may not make it to the grid for this weekend's opening round of the Nations Cup in Adelaide.

Currently unbeaten in five race starts and already penalized with RPM reduction, the fitting of air restrictors and additional weight, the Procar officials have insisted that Garry Rogers Motorsport fit even smaller restrictors to the Monaro.

"The rule book clearly states that a minimum of ten days notice must be given to teams to make major changes like this one;" said team owner Garry Rogers.

"We did not received that notice and it is now impossible for us to achieve the changes in the required time to be on the grid in Adelaide," Rogers said.

The Monaro left for Adelaide this morning and will be on track later this evening in readiness for its scheduled racetrack appearance on Thursday morning. It will be driven by full time Nations Cup driver, Nathan Pretty who was part of the Bathurst 24 hour-winning team back in November 2002.

"We will not risk blowing an engine and doing in excess of $100,000 damage by not doing this change in the right lead time;" Rogers said.

"We will take whatever action is deemed necessary or is required to run in Adelaide," Rogers said in response to rumours of possible legal action.

"We don't have a problem with the process of parity as long as it is done within the rulebook," Rogers concluded.

"I think it's about time certain people stopped wasting their time and others, whinging about the Monaro and focussed on preparing their own cars and drivers better."

There is no doubt that the on track appearance of the Monaro was going to be one of the major attractions of this weekend's Clipsal 500 meeting.

Procar officials were unavailable for the comment this afternoon.


Should you have any further questions email us or telephone (03) 9560 4711"

[Markj]

Good

It should never have been allowed to race in the first place.
Its totally against any of the rules set up for the category!!

[Grubby]

I don't know what the rules are for this catergory, but the bottom line is that people want to see it race.

In what catergory I don't know..............but race....yes

Grubby

[brchi17]

Markj,

I tend to disagree with your comment on the following lines

1. The Monaro is a road going performance vehicle, which makes it avaliable to race in Nations Cup.

2. The Monaro may not be it is not in its road going form, but look at the field & you'll soon see that there isn't many cars (if any) that are in their std road form. Take the Supercharged Honda NSX for example, try ordering one of them from Honda.

3. Since the break away form the V8 rounds, they (procar) need a cult car like the Monaro to generate interest in the series. Sure the Ferrari's, Vipers & 911's are good to watch, but the greater public want to see Australian cars racing for glory.

4. If you've see the car in the flesh, yet seen it turn a wheel in anger I'm sure you would love it. The sound from the 7Lt V8 is awesome !!!

Sure you may disargee with my opinion & you're intitled to it, as I am mine.

I like the Monaro & it would be good to see JB in the Ferrari going head to head against Brocky (or Nathan Pretty) on a track like Phillip Island or Winton for example. Where each car has its' strengths & weakness at different parts of the track.

Only time will tell & hopefully it produces great racing as at the end of day if we see a good race then we all should be happy.

cheers.:)

[mustang1966]

Interesting article in this weeks Auto-Action about Robert Logan, who runs Roaring Forties. He has applyed to run one of his kit GT40's at the Bathurst 24 hour.

According to the story they will run the mighty 302 Windsor engine and are quoting 500Hp figures. They are currently building 4 racing gearboxes for the race as well.

Seems there is quite an amount of interest from drivers as well and Carroll Smith who was a key player in Shelby's 66 Le Mans win, will be there to help out.

I wonder if this goes ahead, if the car will have to run at the Indy event as to apply any penilties that may need to to make it an even event.

[brchi17]

Mustang,

you should see Roberts cars go !!!

They look & sound awesome !!!

If you didn't know it you would think his cars are the real thing !!!

They are that good !!!

check out his website http://www.roaringforties.com.au

it worth the look.

cheers.

[GTSCoup]

Originally posted by Markj
Good

It should never have been allowed to race in the first place.
Its totally against any of the rules set up for the category!!

I think it was built to the rules they were given but the rules keep changing.

I agree that ethicaly the car shouldn't be there but then again no cars in the series are production cars anymore. I say take it back to the original GTP days with the 911 RSCS, Mazda RX7 SP style cars. When they were standard showroom cars with numbers on the side. Not like today when you probably couldn't buy a 360GT, Diablo SVR etc even if you did have the money.

The Monaro is a real crowd pleaser and (going by the rule book) should be there. It will be brought back again and again until it starts to lose. Then everything will be fine.

I just hope I get to see it race before it gets taken off the track for good.

[Markj]

brchi17

I have seen the car from top to bottom.
Im a motorsport official and am lucky enough to get to crawl all over the vehicles before & after they race.

The fact is that it is possible to buy any other car in the field.
I do understand that some mods need to be made but I dont think Mr Holden would be all that willing to sell you a 427 Monaro even if you had the money but I think it is possible to buy any other car (even the Mozler) in that field.

[brchi17]

fair call Markj,

I think it is the main motivation behind the HRT 427, so that that problem can be addressed.

I really think at some point procar should actually try enforcing some of their rules as this flexiability creates a lot of amositity & duress amoungst some of the competitiors.

cheers.

[mustang1966]

Brad I don't doubt what it can do.

The original cars came equiped with a 289 Windsor, then moved up to the mighty 427 side oiler. I assume these new Aussie Kit cars will run EFI 302 over the original carby 289 donk.

If this GT40 kit car is allowed to race will it be seen in the same light as the 427 Monaro. It is not exactly a production car as such.

I remember on Ford forums I asked the Team Yamaha guys what they would be racing this year, they said the GT Falcon. I also asked why Ford had not given them the new GT-40 from the states and they said "We Wish".

At the time last year, I thought it would be nice to see the new American version racing, but as I said can we call the aussie GT40 a true production car?

Say in the off chance it does race and pull off a win, I wonder how much bleeting will go on as with the 427 Monaro.

[brchi17]

Yea the aussie GT40 are running a EFI 302.

I don't know how they got around the rules for Targa. I don't think they will be racing for a win, as it looks like a couple of gentlemen racers will be driving them.

I think the motivation behind this is more from a publiciticy point of view & the likely hood of it being an outright contender is quite remote.

Most of these cars (kit GT40's) head over to the states & very few of the complete cars are staying in the country.

If they are allowed, I just wonder how long it will be until other builders like Robnell (replica Cobra builders) & the like follow the same parth. Perhaps they might need their own caterogry (in the future) if other kit builders make a rush on these types of events.

cheers.

[terrine]

2003 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - ROUND 1
ADELAIDE PARKLANDS CIRCUIT

Nations Cup - Practice 1...lap times
427 Nathan Pretty 1:55.5226 1:35.0163 1:30.5691 1:30.4454 1:28.4815 3:30.8059p 1:33.4320 1:29.0535 1:27.4913 1:28.0211 1:28.4241 1:53.3497

4th fastest

[brchi17]

And they were worried about the Monaro dominating.
Better not speak too soon as there's still a chance the oposition can take each other out in the race.

Results of 1st practice session
1. Greg Crick Dodge Viper ACR 1:26.5135
2. Paul Stokell Lamborghini Diablo 1:26.5323
3. Jim Richards Porsche 911 GT3 R 1:26.7379
4. Nathan Pretty Holden Monaro CV8 1:27.4913
5. John Bowe Ferrari 360 GT 1:28.0905

Looks like it could be a good weekend for Nations Cup & an interesting race.

food for thought,

cheers.

[Grubby]

Was this practice session while the track was still wet or was it dry ?

Grubby

[brchi17]

On the procar page (which is where I found the sesson times) it said that it was a wet/dry track. One would have to assume it was a drying track.

cheers.