More news on Ingall ????

[brchi17]

In todays AA Glenn Seton has said that Besnard will not be racing with him in 03, but he knows where he will be. Does this mean that David has lost his drive at SBR ????
There has been a lot of talk regarding Ingal going to SBR to drive the Caltex car (the reason he can't comment on his new drive for 03, is because it will cause a conflict with Castrol) & this is now almost plauseable.
Any thoughts ?????

[Grubby]

Apparently Besnard has resigned with SBR for 2003. So I don't know where this leaves Ingall.

Havoline was going to withdraw their sponsorship if Besnard was not driving at SBR. Maybe SBR will run 3 cars.

Grubby

[brchi17]

If this is the case, the only other Ford team that could have a sponsor conflict with Castrol & is located in Qld, has to be Shell at DJR.
Does this mean that the rumors of the Rat going to Briggs may be correct ???
I just love the V8 silly season !!!!!!

[mustang1966]

Well, a friend of mine in NZ told me they had an interview with the Rat. He says he is happy & staying at DJR next year.

Now with Dick making a few changes at DJR this year, it would not surpise me to see one of the drivers being given the flick.

Maybe Steven is on the way out. The again I would have throught that Ritter would have been the first choice for driving next year in the team.

The hot rumour has always been that Rusty will sign with a QLD based Ford team. Another intersting point I read somewhere is Neil Crompton is with 00 next year but not sure at what level. Maybe Neil has been kept only for the endurance events and Rusty will get a full time drive next year.

Sure Rusty has left CPR for more money but I cannot see him driving for a second rate team. He is still a driver who wants to win.

[Senator1]

The old saying in motor racing "The bull**** stops when the flag drops"
I guess none of us will really know till the last chequered flag falls at Sandown, only then will we know who's going where & who's driving what
But it's enjoyable listening & reading all the possibilities

[Earnhardt-3]

Owen Kelly will be in a second Seton car for 2003...

[SWRT]

The Daily Telegraph had a story saying that Ingall has signed with 00 motorsport.
If so maybe old Bob has found a job for Rodney somewhere alse of Bob Forbes will have Crompton sacked.
Keep Cromly I say.......

[Grubby]

Ingall was supposidly going to SBR until Havoline said they would pull out the sponsorship if Besnard was not the driver of the Havoline car.

Where does this leave Ingall ??

Maybe 00 is now in the picture.

Rumours are that Crompton is gone. ( may drive enduros )

The other rumour was that Ingall after all the talk about him changing teams might stay with Holden and drive the second car for Paul Morris. Who knows ??

Grubby

[brchi17]

I remember reading earlier in the year (can't find the exact atricle) that Ford announced that all of its' factory drivers would have factory support in getting the Barra competitive. It then went on to list it's 03 Factory drivers & Ingal was in this list, so I think we could be save in saying he is going to change sides.
I would hate to see Neil lose his drive as i think he is a very underated driver, who has just had the unfortunate luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
cheers.

[SWRT]

I'II be easy on Rodney this time,
He'e consistonly been faster than Cromly and now I see that Cromly will probably get the sack or stay on as an enduro driver.
00 motorsport Bathurst 2003 line up
#00-Lowndes/Ingall
#7-Forbes/Crompton
Thats my predition.

[Hati]

Bezzy was negotiating with 00, he might even have signed the contract by now.
Ingall is tipped to replace him in SBR.

[SS Commodore]

In the Telegraph it didn't say Ingall had gone to 00, it stated he was doing the same as Lowndes and going to leave Holden.

He will be racing out of South Australia for Toyota.

[SWRT]

What do you mean SS comodore,
Are toyota racing new camrys in V8 supercars next year with Neal Bates in the other car?
These rumors just keep on coming.........

[lindsay]

I read that Shek Allydiddoher had signed Rusty to ride in Suadi Arabi in next seasons V8 Supercamel Series:D :D

[brchi17]

Originally posted by lindsay
I read that Shek Allydiddoher had signed Rusty to ride in Suadi Arabi in next seasons V8 Supercamel Series:D :D

Well isn't it funny how a forum can deteriorate so quickly.
First some serious posts then we start to slip down the gutter into utter stupidy.
Things around here are starting to sound like the fordforum where if you suggest something that may be a bit different, then all that happens is utter reticule of that topic.
This was once a good forum where people who had irrelevant comments kept them to theirselfs!!!!

[Graeme]

Query for Lindsay :

Will that be one hump or two for Ingall in 2003, or is humping a free development area in SuperCamel racing ??

If it's free under the championship rules then I reckon Ingall is a sure starter for the series. It should also be good for spectators and fans generally.

And, if my memory serves me correctly, wasn't Allan Moffat the last of our touring car racers to win Bathurst on a Camel's back in 1977. It won't ever happen again, since Government authorities deemed it illegal to race with a Camel in Australia as of the beginning of 1995.

[AMBER ROSE]

Jeesh,

I thought it was a good hearted comment on the subject, a bit of light hearted banter if you like...

I didn't think it was riticule of this topic.

A pretty good source told me Bezzo would not be driving SBR Caltex next year at Bathurst.
It was a really good source actually now I think of it.

Time will tell I suppose.

[Graeme]

Two class members have misplaced their sense of humour and spelling competency.

RIDICULE : language or behaviour intending to humiliate or mock.

I thought we were just having a little fun ??

[Glen Alexander]

The last time I spoke to Besnard's father, who is a member of the snooker club at the Club I work at, said David was having talks with 00 Motorsport before Bathurst this year. Russell Ingall was more than likely driving for SBR next year. Mark Larkham also wants David for his second car, and the Birrahna?? spelling?? team are campaigning a Commodore next year based in Adelaide, and they are also interested.

[rusky26]

My guess is that Ingall will go to SBR into the Havoline car. Russell cannot say anything yet because Havoline is in competition with current sponsor Castrol. Time will tell

[SWRT]

If Rusty is going to SBR he doesn't want to tell anyone yet so th
e crowd won't boo him in his last races in the Castrol #8 car.
The Daily Telegraph haad a big story that Brock was going to return 2-3 weeksbefore the official announcment came.
The Daily telegraph could be right the 2003 will
be Ingall/00 motorsport.Who knows?
SBR might run a 2nd Caltex car for Rusty so Ambrose and Rusty take over.
I hope that SBR might go to 4 cars with a 2nd Pirtek car for Lowndes.

[brchi17]

If the rumors regarding Ingall going to 00 are true then, it would have to be the most pontential team next to HRT & Oze-mail in terms of driver talent & expirence.

I have heard that David is out of SBR & going on the Rat's past form his seat could be in danger (I think he still has 1 year to go on his current contract though) With the amount of damage he has caused DJR over the past 2 years it may be better for Dick to cut his losses & pay him out if he could get a Ingall/Besnard type driver (Ritter full time would be a very good move too!!!)

Anyone know of where Bargs is driving for '03?

food for though
cheers.

[Grubby]

If Ingall does drive for one of the Ford Teams ( which is most likely ) Bargs could be the driver of the second car for Paul Morris.

I would put my money on Ingall to 00 due to the rumours we have heard about Besnard staying with SBR and the Havoline sponsorship stuff.

Grubby

[brchi17]

Good point on Bargs.

Is there any more spare franchises for Morris to expant to be a Level 1 (2 car team) ?

I hear from a very good source that HRT will have 6 cars (2xHRT, 2xK-Mart, 1xHYL & 1x ?????? - not allowed to say who the sponsors is as yet, however they (2) will share the levery on the car) on the track in V8 Supercar next year, with the possibality of a Konica car as well.

cheers.

[Grubby]

I thought that the 6 TWR cars for next season were :-

HRT x 2
KRT x 2
John Faulkner Racing ( JFR ) will drive his car getting help from TWR resources

??? x 1 ( rumoured to by Nathan Pretty if Rick Kelly does go. )

Rick Kelly is rumered to be driving with the new Adelaide based team. ( If this happens apparently he has TWR backing and uses his current TWR car )

I personally would hate to see him go. His second half of the season has been great. Improvement has been enourmous.

And there is liklyhood of HYL running a car in the Konica series.

Grubby

[Glen Alexander]

You can all stop wondering, I have the real deal here. I emailed Jeff Besnard, and these are his words

"Ross put his arm around Dave on Sunday as said its the biggest mistake he has made. The deal is done for 00 Motorsport ...just waiting for contracts to be done..catch u soon...JB"

So obviously Russell is driving the Havoline car, and Dave will be driving next to Lowndes next year. Watch out for them at Bathurst!!!!

[brchi17]

Wow,
that certaintly big news Glen.
So if Ingall is moving to 00, who's major sponsor is Ford, where is the conflict with Castrol ?
I know there are Mobil signs on the front bar of the 00 car, but arn't they a minor sponsor (is this the sponsor Russell can't talk about)?
cheers.

[Hati]

Originally posted by brchi17
Wow,
that certaintly big news Glen.
So if Ingall is moving to 00, who's major sponsor is Ford, where is the conflict with Castrol ?
I know there are Mobil signs on the front bar of the 00 car, but arn't they a minor sponsor (is this the sponsor Russell can't talk about)?
cheers.

Umm wasn't Besnard going to 00 and Ingall possibly to SBR driving the Valvoline car? Or is my english upside down?

[brchi17]

OOPS !!!!!

see what happins when the fingers on the keyboard go faster than the brain!!!!

With Ingall going to SBR to drive the Caltex car, no wonder they (Castrol) want him to keep his mouth shut about it.

So with Besnard going to 00, does mean the end (again) of Crompton's driving days ???

At least he has his commentating to fall back on!

[Glen Alexander]

I heard, I don't think Jeff told me, that Forbes wasn't driving next year either. Cromly is not with 00 next year.

[brchi17]

Glen,
with your connections, do have any idea of just how much these guys are paid ?

I've heard that Mark Webber is on $3.2 million for next year with Jaguar, any suggestions on what a driver like Bessy, Ambrose, etc...

Would we be talking $500K + or $150K for example ?

With all of the extras the drivers get (cars, boats, sunglasses, clothing, etc...) from sponsors, I just wonder how much they get paid compared to other sportsman (an good AFL player gets around $300k).

I have a contact who sponsors a couple of the V8 drivers & he said that they really don't given them much money, rather they hand over an amount of product instead.

cheers.

[Glen Alexander]

I never ask Jeff those sort of questions, it isn't really my business. But he does pretty well I'd imagine.

[rusky26]

it would be a bit of a pity if Forbes isnt driving next year. he has been getting some alright results lately - not a Lowndes or anything but getting much better.

[V8superModelcar]

Rusty is driving for SBR in 2003 and David Bes will replace Crompton at 00. Cromely will be testing & long distance - he can earn lots of money in the comentry box, I for one would pay for some good quality TV comment.
Prodrive should end up owning 00 soon once the little legal matter behind the sceens is sorted out with Mr.W

[V8superModelcar]

I know one driver with the initials starting in J andlast name with B who gets $250 base, plus $25k for each sponsor's name sewn on the overals.
There's also some free samples from the sponsors too - would depend who they are, beer companies would be good.

[mustang1966]

Would that same driver also works for Tickford aka FPV. If it the same driver he has a fair amount of input into the range of cars they offer and I would assume that is on a good package with them.

Good luck to him I say

[drof]

You people have it all wrong, I am driving for 00 Motorsport next year, as long as I wash their car's, socks, overalls, driving suits, underwear, sweep the workshop, go for their lunches, do the dishes etc.....
Sorry Guys, I just woke up in the real world and am still Dave from Kiwiland and still haven't got a drive for next year.

Regards

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[fordfan5]

It wiil be interesting if he goes to ford if he gets the same treatment of holden fans as lowndes. just a thought

[V8superModelcar]

I know of 2 JB's racing full time and its actually the other one.
Rusty will be welcomed with open arms when he debuts at the Melb GP in March with Stone Bros. Holden fans will naturally be disapointed, but Rusty fans will follow him where ever he goes and what ever he drives - just like the Lowndes fans, they still love him no matter what he drives.
I wonder if Rusty has a Cortina in his back shed after all these years. Just remember he won the Driver to Europe in a Formula Ford sponsored by a Melbourne Ford Dealer!!!
Have fun and roll on 2003
Regards V8superModelcars.com

[mustang1966]

Well good luck to the other JB. I think he deserves it.



Watch out Rusty will bring out his Mk1 Escort out and it will find it home down Geelong way ;)

[Glen Alexander]

There's actually 3 drivers with the initials racing full time, Bright, Bowe, Bargs, take your pick!!!

[V8superModelcar]

Glen, its the one who's currently looking for a contract next year.
Cheers Dale

[Glen Alexander]

I'm sure he'll get a drive. I hope he does anyway.

[brchi17]

Originally posted by V8superModelcar
Rusty is driving for SBR in 2003 and David Bes will replace Crompton at 00. Cromely will be testing & long distance - he can earn lots of money in the comentry box, I for one would pay for some good quality TV comment.
Prodrive should end up owning 00 soon once the little legal matter behind the sceens is sorted out with Mr.W

Who is this Mr W?
I thought it was Bob Forbs that owned 00Motorsport, after he bought it from Fred Gibson.
I know the Prodrive deal with 00 fell through, I though they were looking at starting a new team with an new franchise, when one became avaliable (maybe they will purchase Paragon - I hear the whole thing is for sale for around 1/2 a million). Until then i though they would assist DJR, 00 & BJR (these teams were mentioned in AA a little while ago) in development of the Barra racer.
cheers.

[brchi17]

Did anyone see yesterdays RPM ?

Neil Crompton announced that he was leaving 00 Motorsport because they haven't given him a car as competitive as Craig's.

Now, I hope they improve the 27 car so that David Besnard can be competitive when he drives it next year.

I'm sure Glen might have some insight as to what 00 have told David about the 27 cars improved performance for 2003 ?

Other than an endurance, drive I can't see Crompton getting a drive for '03 if you look at his reasent reasults, which is a shame because i'm sure if he was given a competitive car, he would do very well.

Roll on the Barra !!!!!
cheers.

[brchi17]

Does anyone ever look at Conrod.com.au ?

I do & today there is a rumor that Prodrive have taken control of 00 Motorsport.

What interested me, was that in this thread it also mentioned that a lot of the Qld teams were going to do some driver swaps.

Glen, I wonder if the ink has dried on the 00 contract for Bessy, as his name appeared in just about differnt senario that was rumored/suggested.

cheers.

[Glen Alexander]

I can tell you the ink has dried, and the rumour of Prodrive is not a rumour, it's fact. Jeff told me last week. They should be an extremely good team next year and a dominant force at Bathurst as well. Can't wait, I lean more towards the Holden fence, but I still list Craig Lowndes as my favourite driver. Bring on 2003!!

[mustang1966]

Thanks for that info Glenn. I think Geoff has done great things with Ford. The new BA is an outstanding car and has taken it to Holden.

I think Prodrive will be great for Ford but I think many people are expecting them to walk in and be battling HRT from race one. I seem to remember it took HRT a few years to where they are now and success did not come over night.

As far as a top Ford team next year, we cannot go past rosco and jimmy Stone, I expect the Ozemail team to move forward even more as JB has added so much to the team. I hope the Mighty Dick Johnson's team will do better next year, the broom has gone through the place and I still feel that one driver will be gone. I guess we will all have to wait until Jan 1 2003 when Rusty lets the cat out of the bag and other rumours will be confirmed or denied.


Come on 2003, and go you mighty Fords.

[brchi17]

thanks for the responce Glen,
Now I wonder if Prodrive will share their great wealth of informaton & knowledge to all of the Ford teams (main ones like, DJR, SBR & BJR) ?
Hopefully they wil be able to set up the Falcon so that it can be competitive over a race distant, rather than one lap which appeared to the case with the AU.
The Barra simply has to better in anyone's hands let alone Prodrive.
cheers,
2003 just got that little bit better for the great blue oval.

[loste_treasures]

Originally posted by mustang1966
I think Geoff has done great things with Ford. The new BA is an outstanding car and has taken it to Holden.


huh????

have i missed something?

Lets wait until the end of next season before we start to say that there is a new king amongst the V8 Supercars......

At least its put the Ford fans on a high pederstool. The higher the better i reckon. They will do more damage that way when they fall from it !!!

Dont you just luv the Ford vs Holden battle?

[mustang1966]

Loste, where did I mention V8supercars in my thread?

I love the V8supercars, but I don't buy a car just because Holden win on the race track, do you?

I tend to look past the efforts of a racing team, drivers, etc when buying a car for the road. Maybe Wheels the ultra biased Ford Magazine got it wrong with the BA Falcon. Maybe Wheels car of the year should have been given to Mark Skaifes 1 Car.

Can you please explain the things the V8supercar and your family Holden Commodore/Ford Falcon share in common, say besides the shell, headlights, rear blinker and brake lenses?

It's good to see the old win on sunday, buy on monday still lives ripe in some peoples minds.

I think those looking at buying a new car could not go past the XR6 T for a great buy, then again that is just my opinion.

[Goggles Pizanno]

It's good to see the old win on sunday, buy on monday
still lives ripe in some peoples minds

I think that saying is just as relevant today as it was back in the late sixties. Why else would Holden throw truck loads of money at V8 Supercars? I'm sure it's not just for the fun of seeing all that money go up in tyre smoke and a haze of petrol fumes.

I think they do spend the money because it's good marketing, they know people like to be associated with winners, wether they are V8 Supercar fans or not, and I reckon that helps sell cars. Alright, I agree, not on Monday but I reckon by Tuesday there definitely flying out the showroom door. :D

Now were was Ingall going again?

[brchi17]

Did anyone see the V8 awards on ten last night (shown in Melbourne) ?

During that show there was an interview with the head of Holden Peter Han(can't spell the rest of it) & he was saying that the 'Race Relations' that were on the TWR cars is the new slogan for Holden Motorsport. I think Holden believe that there is a direct & relevant link between what happens on the track & the road.

It appears through Holden's latest advertising campain that they (the race cars) are having an influence on the road cars.
cheers.

[frosty]

Latest rumour... with some truth.

Ingall to SBR

Besnard to OO

Max Wilson to DJR and the Rat to Betta Electrical.

Bargs to Mark Larkham's 2nd car.

[BATHURSTFAN]

I've said this previously, but I agree that it wil take a bit of time for Ford to catch up on the race track, maybe not 2003 but hopefully in 2004. I hope I am wrong.

Off the track - Ford will always be behind Holden on sales for along time, why? Because most buyers have a brand set in their minds as to what car they'll buy.

A lot of people are raised with this thing about Holden - Australia's Own campaign. (what rubbish!) and so on. Its this mindset that is hard to change.

And a majority of buyers are Holden buyers. Irrespective which is the better car.

Its like politics, some people are set in their ways as to what party they support, its the same with cars. Ford need to win over the people in the middle who sit on the fence.

[the_goldie]

Hey Bathurstfan - I don't know about Holden buyers buying Holden because it's "Australia's Own campaign" ... I bet most people who buy either a Holden / Ford is due to the fact that their parents bought/follow Holden / Ford, it is like saying which Football (Rugby League) team you follow. Most people follow the team their parents follow and so on...
Also the people who sit on the fence probably drive Toyotas or Mitsubishis......

[BATHURSTFAN]

I was watching an interview with Peter Brock on TV and he was asked about the very early days and the old Holdens and why he favoured them and the interviewer asked is it because it is an Australian car, and he said yes.

My point is that a lot of people buy Holden because they think they are buying/supporting AUSTRALIAN. Its the loyalty factor.

Its like that old saying MEAT PIES, KANGAROOS AND HOLDEN CARS used in some advertisement years ago to promote be a proud Australian or something like that.

FORD has to break through that barrier.

[Ford Boy]

holden will dominate the sale charts for years to come. all you have to do is simply look at the amount of little kids, and impressionable teenagers ( i should know, im one of them), and young kids, boy and girls, who think that holden is the greatest thing since the sliced bread. it wont be until ford again stamps there name and stmaps it hard that the buyers, and future buyers will take notice and tip the sales charts fords way!

[brchi17]

Perhaps the fact that there was no V8 Falcons between 1984 & 1992 as the main reason for the great number of young guys driving V8 Holdens.

Anyone who got their lience in the early to late 1990's would have had to payed a small fortune to get a V8 Ford, so the 1980's models V8 Holdens were a more attractive purchase.

Once you've driven a Holden (or Ford for that matter) most people tend to stay with what they know rather than change to the other brand.

Oh yea, did I forget to mention that thing Ford released called the AU.

I bet it played another great part in the current success of Holden with young blokes - oh and the fact they haven't done very well on the track since 1997!!!
cheers.
one can only hope that the Barra will see the return of the mighty Blue Oval !!!!!

[SWRT]

I'II do a "where are they now" with the original 4 Holen young lions from 1997.
Jason Bargwanna-set provisonal pole at Bathurst 97 with the young lions.Graduated to join Gary Rogers VCRT/GRM team in 1998.Joined by Garth Tander mid year after Steve Richards got a job as Nissan 'BTCC tester.Been with GRM till the end of 2002 and since joined Ford's Larkam motorsport.
Todd Kelly-After his 97 stint with Young lions he stayed with HYL in with thier formula holden team in 1998 with fellow young lion Mark Noske.Did Bathurst 98 with John Falkner.In 1999 he campained in selected rounds in a revamped HYL with Mark Noske after Gibson motorsport took HYL for a year with driver Steve Ellery.Had a big crash at Eastern Creek and returned at Sandown.HYL got cut to 1 car in 2000 with Mark Noske axed.Todd won the reverse grid race at Canberra.In 2001 he joined K-mart racing and remains there today.
Mark Noske-after 97,Noske stayed at HYL and raced in thier Formula Holden team.Was in HYL's 2 car operation at selected rounds in 1999 and got a 6th at Adelaide.Got axed by HYL in 2000 and joined Prancing Horse racing.He scored 3rd in the first season of Nations cup in a Ferrari 360 Mondea and won Adelaide Le mans supports.Stayed with PHR in 2001,at Canberra while driving John Bowes Mustang he rolled it and injured himself.
Craid Baird temorarily substituted.He returned to race PHR V8 Supercar AU falcon at Mallala but didn't get past Friday.
Raced Bathurst 2001 but only lasted 1 hour in the race.After that Noske quit PHR.Currently Mark Noske is preparing for a assult on the 2003 title in a all new team with a expansion to 2 cars in 2004.
Stephan White-Drove 2 rounds of the 97 title with HYL.After HYL he left to go overseas in a open wheeler category(can't remember what it was called-Formula ?),had some success but didn't have the budjet.He's been getting minor drives here and there like in Victorian Historics Shelby one make races.Got a drive in a 2nd Paul Romano car at Adelaide 2002 but he's searching for a Enduro's/Konica drive for 2003.
CC's made a model of the 1997 HYL car and mine is signed by all 97 HYL drivers exept for Stephan White.
Other HYL drivers have been Steve Ellery,Nathan Pretty,Owen Kelly(tester for 98 season when Gibson motorsport owned them and Bathurst 2001),Paul Romano and Rick Kelly(during this year and Formula Holden in 2001).

[Malik]

With regards to the info on Mark Noske being 'axed' from HYL and joining Prancing horse racing... found this on the old HRT site listed as official statment by HRT...

HRT Clarifies Noske Statements


Media Release : July 19, 2000.


The Holden Racing Team was disappointed to receive a media notification yesterday from Segal Media Services and Prancing Horse Racing regarding Mark Noske. The release accused HRT of “dumping� Noske from its driver line up for this year’s FAI 1000 at Bathurst. The Holden Racing Team wishes to clarify various inaccuracies in the Segal Media/Prancing Horse statement.

Last Wednesday July 12th, the Holden Racing Team released its driver line up for both the Queensland 500 in September and the FAI Bathurst 1000 in November. That same morning, Prancing Horse’s Mark Coffey contacted HRT General Manager Jeff Grech to advise that a round of the Nation’s Cup – in which Mark Noske competes – had just been added to the Bathurst schedule. Coffey then asked, would HRT allow Noske to drive in both his Nation’s Cup Ferrari and also the HRT-entered, Holden Young Lions Commodore at Mount Panorama.

Mr. Coffey stated that he felt that this was appropriate, as Noske was “only� driving the HYL Commodore at Bathurst. The Holden Racing Team does not feel that it was appropriate for Mr. Coffey to downplay the Young Lions’ program, or Mark’s involvement in it.

Given the year-long commitment Mark has made to winning the Nation’s Cup Championship – in which he is currently well placed - the Holden Racing Team felt it would be unfair to deny him, his Team and his sponsors, the opportunity to win the title. Mr. Grech therefore advised Mr. Coffey in writing that same day, that HRT would release Mark from his Holden Young Lions’ commitment to allow him to focus on his Championship aspirations, and HRT would seek the services of another endurance driver.

HRT General Manager Jeff Grech and Holden Young Lion Team Manager Rob Crawford met with Mark Noske on Monday morning of this week to discuss the matter. At that meeting, Mark (Noske) freely admitted that the Managing Director of Prancing Horse Racing Mark Coffey had acted independently in approaching HRT. Noske also clearly acknowledged to Grech and Crawford that Coffey had “ruined� his chances of driving for the Holden Racing Team and was highly critical and disappointed with the manner in which Mr. Coffey had handled the matter.

The meeting was conducted in a cordial manner and concluded with a clear understanding between the parties that the decision was in the best interests of Mark’s Championship aspirations.

The Holden Racing Team continues to wish Mark Noske success in becoming the 2000 Nation’s Cup Champion.


So he wasnt axed then joined PHR... he was already racing with them before he was released by HRT so he could have his chance at winning The Nation's Cup....

[brchi17]

Hey guys check out www.stonebrothersracing.com.au on the 1st of Janurary as they have put out a press release stating that they'll be releasing thier 2003 paint scheme & announcing their 'new' driver line up - looks like the worst kept secret of 2002 is finally going to be confurmed.
cheers.

[SWRT]

12:01 am on Jan 1.
Like we saw with the VY,keeping a secret until you release it doesn't work.

[brchi17]

Found this on the net & though it might be of interest to someone.

http://www.stonebrothersracing.com.au/images/photo s/news/BA_SNEAKPEAK/sneakpeak.jpg

Doesn't show any driver details, but the cars looks like it could be a real 'head turner'
cheers.
ps waiting for 12:01am on 1/1/2003 for the rest of the car !!!!

[BATHURSTFAN]

i thought Besnard was taking the Caltex/Havoline sponsership with him ???????

Thats if he's going of course.

[SWRT]

Looks like a similar paint scheme to what Possum Bourne ran on his Sub at NZ's version of Pikes Peak.
SBR had 2 Caltex cars at 2-3 rounds this year with DB and WG in them.
Will Wayne Gardner run a 3rd SBR BA?
If so,will it be a Caltex or Pirtek sponsered one?
Love to see what Rustys race suit will look like.

[brchi17]

With the changes to the franchise rules I would not expect WG to be driving in anything other than the enduros in 2003.

If SBR want to run 3 cars then they will have to acquire a level 2 (single car) franchise, which they currently do not have.

This is also the reason why Briggs will only be running 2 Betta cars in 2003 rather than the 3 cars we have seen this year. This was Irrivelant of CAT pulling the pin on thier sponsorship of the 3rd Briggs car.

As for CAT there are 2 strains of thought so here they are,
1./ They are switching sides and sponsoring TWR - possible the 6th car.
2./ They will be sponsoring the 3rd Prodrive/00/GSR car along with Ford Credit.

Don't you just love silly season !!!!!
cheers.

[brchi17]

Hey guys the wait is over !!!!
Ingall is now offically a FORD man & you'll soon see him comming - check out the new paint scheme !!!!!
http://www.stonebrothersracing.com.au/
Only one question about the race car in the photo's. Where is the boluge in the bonnet gone ????
cheers
happy new year everyone !!!!

[BATHURSTFAN]

the bonnet bulge is missing because (I don't really know);

1) The car is still being developed as in meeting project blueprint standards.
2) HRT has complained about it
3) it affects the sponsor advertising
4) The BA has not yet been produced with the bulge as yet until early in the year.
5) Maybe the aerodynamics are better without it

Those are my guesses.:D


seriously, it would look good on the BA's but it may not be allowed or benefical in anyway.

[GRPIII]

the reason the bonnet bulge is missing , is due to a rule avesco made it has nothing to do with the areodynamics of the car (in which ford & avesco are supposedly having troubles with, worse than the au the rumors state.)
back to rule.
the bonnet bulge has been taken out due the threat of a form of cheating.
with the bonnet bulge in place its gives the teams a lot more space & possible freedom for larger inlet manifolds, which is one off the only freedoms teams these days have of devoloping.
so by taking away the scoop it also takes away any height advantage & the possabilties of any teams bending/breaking the rules on this issue.

[GTSCoup]

Originally posted by GRPIII
the reason the bonnet bulge is missing , is due to a rule avesco made it has nothing to do with the areodynamics of the car (in which ford & avesco are supposedly having troubles with, worse than the au the rumors state.)
back to rule.
the bonnet bulge has been taken out due the threat of a form of cheating.
with the bonnet bulge in place its gives the teams a lot more space & possible freedom for larger inlet manifolds, which is one off the only freedoms teams these days have of devoloping.
so by taking away the scoop it also takes away any height advantage & the possabilties of any teams bending/breaking the rules on this issue.

I thought the intake manifilds, air box, and intake trumpets had to be within a set a guidelines. The teams are free to work within these guidelines howver are not aloud to exceed the emasurements. I know for sure the intake trumpets have maximum and minimum lengths and they cannot exceed these measurements and I was sure the air box had a maximum volume that it could be manufactured at.

Maybe as Ford hasn't started to release the bonnets with the bulge they may not be produced as yet and no teams have them.

[oldxr]

Most likely the holden teams (hrt) have complained about it after seeing it at Bathurst so it has been deemed illegal by AVESCO so the status quo is kept for this years commadore cup.
lets all look forward to another one sided boring championship.

[GRPIII]

GTScoupe
yes you are correct about the min & max measurements for inlet manifolds but avesco doesnt want bonnet scoop for the reason stated. theres old saying of give an each take a mile.
as ford ford mo co not having any bulged bonnets.
do some people really believe this could happen, i dont think so.

[GRPIII]

DOH!!
GIVE AN INCH.

[GTSCoup]

Originally posted by GRPIII
GTScoupe
yes you are correct about the min & max measurements for inlet manifolds but avesco doesnt want bonnet scoop for the reason stated. theres old saying of give an each take a mile.
as ford ford mo co not having any bulged bonnets.
do some people really believe this could happen, i dont think so.

I have heard from people here in Melbourne that the GT on show at the motorshows had a hand built prototype bonnet and the mass manufactured bonnet has not yet been completed (manufacturing problems), hence no bulges on the race cars as yet.

Also, from the sounds of things Ford didn't want the BA body kit to be as bad as the AU but it has happened. They are designed by humans afterall and things go wrong.

[drof]

Being a True Blue Man I have a gut feeling that the BA Racecars will be the GT version rather than the XR8 version, or even possible the mighty GTHO!!

Regards

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[Graeme]

We are yet to see a production version of the BA XR8 or GT, so let's wait and see what eventuates.

As for what the new Ford V8 Supercar will be called, I reckon it might just be a simple BA Falcon V8 Supercar. I know that some of the AU's ran "XR8" badges on the bootlid and that Glenn Seton variously ran "GSR" or "XR8" logos on some of his ( Ford / Tickford sponsored ) cars, but in the final analysis it was really a sponsor-influenced marketing ploy.

Most of the Supercar fans would also realise that the Holdens are simply VT, VX, or soon to be VY Commodore V8 Supercars, with no particular allegiance to any road registered version, be it "SV8", "SS", or any HSV model such as the "GTS".

[brchi17]

dorf,
I've heard the same thing about the GT being the basis for the race car, but I've no further than it was being suggested to try & improve the awareness of the GT & FPV.
cheers.
ps. I hope they race with the bonnet bougle as it will make them stand out from the Holdens !!!!

[GRPIII]

its not just the clearance of the inlet manifolds but also engine clearance operation blueprint states engine heights must be the same height in holden & ford, hence another reason, give an inch take a mile.

[SWRT]

Ford deserve the inch to take the mile because of Holdens clear dominance for the last 4 years.

[brchi17]

Have any of you guys seen the results of the areo testing of the Barra & VY ???
From what I have read, it appear that the status quo will remain in 2003 as it appears that the Ford still has a dramatic lack of front downforce, but massive rear downforce.
Hopefully, some sainty will provail as the last thing we need is another Skaife/HRT domination - unless your a HRT supporter !!!

Glen - any new news of what is happening with Bessy & 00/Prodrive/GSR thing ?

cheers.

[GTSCoup]

Ford had better get their act together and design a better body kit then. They should step up to Holdens level, not the other way around.

[wombat]

Thats interesting Brad, coz the first thing that Dicky said after unstrapping himself from the pilot seat of the factory BA supercar at Bathurst was that "they finally fixed the front end".

You would think that Ford would start with the kits from the HRT's and adapt, improve and modify to make them work better on the Barra.

It's a worry.

[fordfan5]

make me laugh when ford was a force to be reckoned with in the early to mid ninties they were draged back becuase holden couldnt keep up . now its the other way round things change
and the commodore has not been affected be any backward changes . cant wait for the tables to turn ford way again
and watch how they want to drag them back again so holden
can keep up.:cool:

[GRPIII]

a lot of ford fans forget that that the holdens also got nobled in the early 90's with winfield,skaife & richards dominating early 94 the holdens were penalized, ford were given there silly little front vents this all happened just before the eastern creek round in the middle of the season.
with all the complaining ford & its fans are doing about previous aero packages they have know one to blame than themselves, with the introduction of the vr/eb & than the vt/au both camps had limited freedoms in design within certain design rules set by avesco
as brchi17 stated ford is having major dramas with the project blueprint aero package.
the first thing a car needs to be aerodynamic, is to have good aerodynamic body then you can work on on the rest of the bodykit. holden had a few dramas when switching from vr to vt.
with the vt being wider then the vs, so this proves different bodys will play a major difference with racecars even if it doesnt affect the roadgoing version .
just look at the walkinshaw.

[Dazz]

The really really funny thing about the parity issue, was that last year, even on the V8 Superstars show, almost all agreed that parity had been achieved and all was well with the world in that area.

Funny then that this year, Skaife comes out and has a blinder of a season, although scores no more poles and Ambrose (so both must be equal in shootout mode?) but suddenly there is no parity again?

Ambrose showed at Sandown that when you get it right you can take it up to HRT, they just need to do it more often, IMHO.

[GRPIII]

Fully agree with you dazz

[BATHURSTFAN]

It would be interesting to see the results if Skaife was deleted from the series from 2002 and where the points would be then.

Are the other Holdens teams performances any better than the Ford teams if you took HRT out of the picture?

Yes there are probably some issues on parity, but to me its not Ford Vs Holden its been HRT vs The Rest.

The circle will turn, now it's the Ford fans complaining, one day it will be the Holden fans complaining.

I just hope the people running the show can sort everything out and keep all the politics out of it and Ford and Holden are treated equally.

[brchi17]

I think most people would be happy for Skaife to be deleated from the results, but it isn't going to happen (unfortunally for most of us). It is true, that once you remove HRT the field is very close, but I fear the HRT are just a little bit worried about the Barra Racer when it finally hits the track (late Jan, early Feb).

What is interesting to note, was that it was Skaife who was making a lould noise about the 'power boluge' on the bonnent of the Barra that Dick drove at Bathurst. Now suprise, suprise, the SBR car which was unvailed on Wednesday no longer has the boluge on the bonnet.

This may be a conspirisy theory, but I just wonder who is running V8 supercar at the moment, Skaife & HRT or Tony C ???

Personally, I would love to see the Falcon with the bigger bonnet, as it gives it a very agressive look & at least this year if the Ford's are not competitive at least they will look good.

On a serious note, hopefully the current aero problems with the front of the Barra will be fixed before the start of the season,so that the Barra will be able to be quick for a whole race distance, rather than just qualifying & in a straight line like the AU was.

cheers.

[wombat]

The details of project blueprint for 2003 and 2004 are expertly outlined in this most recent issue of AMC (the one with the phase 4 article) including techy pics.

Its worth close examination, coz it's written from a perspective that leaves a definite impression that the Holden gear is being paritied with the Ford gear, not the other way round. It reads as though the Holdens will have extensive changes, particularly to the Chev motor to make it as good as the Ford engine.

Equally, the McPherson struts on the Holdens frond end are discarded in favour of the Fords (superior) double wishbone.

Many issues regarding the bodywork and aero kits are unanswered, including the bonnet issue coz they are still being developed both both new models. We'll have to wait and see.

[GRPIII]

why do people think the wishbone are more superior?
how often do you see a mcpherson strut let go compared to the falcons.
not very often