Great News for Ford Fan's

[drof]

Finally something for us Ford Fan's to get excited about, Paul Radisich and Mark Pederson winning the NZ Yellow Pages 500 in a Ford Falcon. Only 7 Falcons entered vesus 21 Commodores, so a fantastic result for Ford. The NZ V8 Tourers don't have the same spec as our Aussie counterparts as this added up to much better and closer racing. The cars use a 5 stud on the rims, no air jacks during pit stops, they use manual jacks, pit stops with Driver change, fuel and a brake pad change took about 3 1/2 minutes, sounds primative but as I said, made up for with great racing. The great thing about this race was, physically these cars looked no different to the the V8 Supercars, you think that the Aussie V8's have good paint schemes, they are dull compered to some of ours, but because of budget and class restrains these cars are made to be driven. Even beats the Konica Series hands down. Finally NZ has a motorsport series to showcase what Motorsport is all about, very similar and close cars with everybody on a level playing field and not the Team with the most money always winning.
I'll try and download some pictures if I can find some.

Regards

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[mustang1966]

Drof,

Yeah it does make for great racing. I watched it last year on pay TV. I seem to remember several VL Commodores in the field. When they lifted the bonnet on one of Falcons, I thought I saw a carby sitting a top the inlet manifold. Do they still run carbs, or was my eyes playing tricks on me?

Well done to the Rat as well. Did Kleenex turn up for the race? No use crying over spilt fuel.

Drof have you heard any rumour concerning the Rat wanting to head home next year and not race in the V8 Supercars next year?


Cheers
Mark

[drof]

Yes, they still run Carburetters. Most of the field is made up of VX's and AU's with a couple of Vs's and 1 EL. Heard nothing of the rumor about Paul, but am going to talk to him when he comes over for the Pukekohe round.
Probably a bit hard on Murphy, I would have done exactly the same if I was in his shoes, Murphy is a top bloke and a good driver and for his race to come to an end because of the car controllers mistake is tough to take. I am a Ford man through and through but Murphy is one of my top drivers mainly because he is a Kiwi.

[mustang1966]

Drof, you are right. I was to harsh on Murph. He is a talent and I think behind the HRT car he would be every bit as good at Mark Skaife.


Talk current kiwi driver and it's the Rat for me.

I like the idea behind what they do in NZ with the Carby cars. Brings the costs down a heap and I am sure make racing more affordable in NZ.
As i said I watched last years race and very much enjoyed it.



Cheers
Mark

[terrine]

i am afraid i cannot agree with the premier racing platform using substandard equipment. we wouldnt be getting all the fancy retail opportunities without development on the racetrack.

r/peter

[Esses]

Um, am I missing something or does substandard not apply to pushrod V8 engines, especially when Ford will now have Multi-OHC/Multi-valve engines in their ROAD cars. The most common complaint I've heard from Drivers & Team Owners is that the sheer cost of V8 Supercar Racing is spiralling out of control. Those old tech. V8's are horribly expensive for what you get & now don't even share capacity with the street cars. Go Kiwis if you've developed an affordable form of high quality motorsport.

[SWRT]

I saw last years NZ 500 on Optus's now extinct C7 sport and was laughing hard when Paul Morris stuffed it with 5 or 10 laps to go.
I hope Optus sport (technically fox sports because of a Optus/foxtel merger) or Channel 10 show highlights of the race.
NZ motorsport sounds real exciting and I hope channel 10 show highlights of the 2002/3 NZ touring car championships with Tranzam as well........wish there were some Subs in the NZTCC.
SWRT

[Richard Poole]

Dave.

Please post pics as .jpg files within the set limits. .zip files are not suitable.

Thanks.

[ET351]

Yeah, well done 'Rat!'

Nice coverage of the even, drof. Good to see some back to basics racing.

With the result being better and closer racing, I'm sure the fans would have enjoyed it.

Nice comments from Steve too. Rising costs, F1 wannabe pitstops, and still using pushrod V8's?? Don't get me wrong, I love the old bangers, but let's keep it in perspective, just as it appears the Kiwis have.

Cheers, ET351

[drof]

Hopefully some pictures of the race to show you all. I am currently doing some info gathering on the specs for the NZ V8 Touring Cars and will post it when I have found enough.

Happy viewing

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[drof]

And more

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[admin]

Dave.

I let a few through to show you how the pics turned out.

They come up 75 x 50 pixels which is way too small.

[SWRT]

Here's an good idea Mr Admin,
Make New Zealand V8 supercar models,I'm sure all kiwis would agree.

[terrine]

gee drof...they must make the grandstands a long way away too....just the way we love it...
when will they be showcasing this racing in australia?

r/peter
back to the future

[brchi17]

Isn't it funny that the Rat can keep a car on the track for 5ookms, but when it comes to 1oookms, he always seems to hit something - wall, backmarker, people in front of him, etc, - i think the only car he has not hit lately is the safety car.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Blue oval - DJR in particular - but the Rat needs to relearn his driving skills, maybe this was the start of an 'all new' Rat - one that wins.