V8 Supercar discussion thread

[Shane001]

CAMS point of view.
https://www.cams.com.au/media/news/l...ene-arocca-(1)

So in other words the V8 mob weren't willing to pay enough for the rights.

The V8 Supercars franchise is dying. GT could easily become the premier category in this country, led by the Mustang and Camaro to keep all the Holden/Ford fans happy. But do we want this in the hands of the V8 Supercars management team. What have they done for motorsport in general in this country (that was not in their best interests first)?

[ButtaS15]

So in other words the V8 mob weren't willing to pay enough for the rights.

The V8 Supercars franchise is dying. GT could easily become the premier category in this country, led by the Mustang and Camaro to keep all the Holden/Ford fans happy. But do we want this in the hands of the V8 Supercars management team. What have they done for motorsport in general in this country (that was not in their best interests first)?

If GT was so strong then surely it should already be standing on it's own two feet and challenging Supercars in it's own right.......running it's own street races and drawing big crowds. Outside of the 12 hour though it's a joke. GT needs Supercars more than Supercars needs GT. I don't see this as Supercars trying to hobble GT though. Feels more like a lifeline for GT than anything, and anyway even if it's not, why shouldn't Supercars defend it's product? They built it into something bigger and have sustained it for a longer period than anything that came before it. I think Supercars has done more for motor racing in Australia than you probably realise. It's brought it into more lounge rooms. It's brought it closer to the people. It's had other categories on the support bill that probably wouldn't even get a look in other wise. Say what you like about it but you can't blame it for the ill's of Australian motorsport in general.

Speaking personally I hope Supercars continues on regardless of what body shells the cars wear. Given the dwindling ranks of things we make in this country I, and I'm sure many others like that fact that Supercars are designed and fabricated in this country. Still gives it an Australian flavour. Factory built GT cars will never have this.

My 2c anyway.

[sirhsv]

Gt will never become the main category in this country even if Supercars folds. It's a bit of a niche in that you won't find the cars of AGT in your local carpark, so that's one reason why people don't follow it. Look at Germany for example, they've got the strongest national GT series in GT Masters with full fields of strong pro driver lineups and yet still it plays second fiddle to DTM.

With Supercars managing it AGT could become a strong category by itself but it needs to appeal to the teams first and make them happy. Whilst the NZ rounds are fun do you really think the teams want to go there as part of the championship? Nope. The entry list for Hampton Downs hasn't been released yet but it's gonna make the SMP grid look full.

[Shane001]

The reason V8 SuperCars became so popular was because V8 and Ford vs Holden. This is what the fans wanted and loved.

IMO the reason Supercars has started to drop off is more to do with the changing cars and the change of focus to be more 'family friendly' than the loss of FTA. Don't believe me, you just have to look at trackside numbers. EC this year was probably not even a quarter of WTAC crowds. I remember going to a round at EC I think around 2005 and the grandstand and the entire hill around turn 1 was packed.

Of course they'll claim record crowds at Newcastle as they do every street round, but that's because of the concerts. Put on a decent concert on the Friday and Saturday night at EC and I guarantee you'll get good crowds there too!

So what I'm saying if they brought in the Ford Mustang V8, and the Chevy Camaro V8, throw in a Hellcat and the Corvette for good measure, all GT homologated cars (not sure about the Hellcat on that one), mix this up with the Ferrari's, Lambo's etc and suddenly you've got a pretty exciting grid with potentially a lot more than the pissy 26 car Supercars fields, and you've got a product to market to the Ford/Holden V8 enthusiast, plus you've got a bit of up town rivalry thrown in.

[Sloth]

only way to rejuvinate supercars is to ditch the name, and go back to its roots, multiple classes based off what you buy at the dealer.

[TJ]

If GT was so strong then surely it should already be standing on it's own two feet and challenging Supercars in it's own right.......running it's own street races and drawing big crowds. Outside of the 12 hour though it's a joke. GT needs Supercars more than Supercars needs GT. I don't see this as Supercars trying to hobble GT though. Feels more like a lifeline for GT than anything, and anyway even if it's not, why shouldn't Supercars defend it's product? They built it into something bigger and have sustained it for a longer period than anything that came before it. I think Supercars has done more for motor racing in Australia than you probably realise. It's brought it into more lounge rooms. It's brought it closer to the people. It's had other categories on the support bill that probably wouldn't even get a look in other wise. Say what you like about it but you can't blame it for the ill's of Australian motorsport in general.

Speaking personally I hope Supercars continues on regardless of what body shells the cars wear. Given the dwindling ranks of things we make in this country I, and I'm sure many others like that fact that Supercars are designed and fabricated in this country. Still gives it an Australian flavour. Factory built GT cars will never have this.

My 2c anyway.

This

"omg GT is da best"

Said by the 19 people who go to an event.

V8 attendance at EC is not the be all and end all to crowds - Wanneroo road is consistently high, we get no concerts. And yeah, they probably do help.

IMHO they need to get back to catering to their genuine market - males. Fuck this pc family bullshit.

IMHO no one wants to watching production racing with 15 second a lap time differences across the field either.

[BGTV8]

This is more about CAMS wanting to increase the CMA revenue rather than what about SuperCars might want to pay.

CAMS' view of the "Value" of its "commercial property" has not been met by what an potential new CMA holder is willing to pay (and they are trying to get an extension at the old rate clearly).

Remember, CAMS sold the rights to V8 Touring car racing to AVESCO in the 90's for $900K and they are simply trying to maximise their income from the lease of commercial rights.

This will come home to roost if/when Tony Quinn walks away from the CMA given his life is suffering some turmoil at present. Then the true value of the CMA will be known and CAMS itself may have to "manage" the category if no-one steps up with the monies CAMS are asking for.

There is at least one Eugene Arrocca letter doing the rounds in which he says "We very much look forward to your help and support in promoting the work of the Commission and properly protecting all CAMS properties." in respect of a CMA ...............

When a lawyer says "don't diddle with CAMS "property" " then it is pounds to a penny that the next letter will be "cease and desist on pain of penalty".

[sirhsv]

Mainstream media are a bunch of dumb fucks. Not that's any surprise

[Bob Vegana.]

Offers some of the best coverage in the country, gets no respect from the mainstream media.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/10/13...ge-best-sport/

[St00ge]

Motorsport as a whole is a pretty fucking niche sport, v8s have been punching well above their weight overall for some time.. The latest generation gives no fucks for motor vehicles let alone motorsport :w:

[TJ]

Yup viewing for most major series is down.

Indycar is up but they are recovering from the split

[SuperDave]

Motorsport as a whole is a pretty fucking niche sport, v8s have been punching well above their weight overall for some time.. The latest generation gives no fucks for motor vehicles let alone motorsport :w:

More series need to leverage the Cars movies, if they want to get kids hooked. And skids, kids love skids.

[Bob Vegana.]

More series need to leverage the Cars movies, if they want to get kids hooked. And skids, kids love skids.

Supercars have leveraged off it a few times, and it gets them a lot of mileage in the press, but still not enough to make the 6pm news.

[Bob Vegana.]

Meanwhile, the Aussie Racing Cars were a bit of a shitfight in the wet.

[sirhsv]

Heimgartners doing well, Premat and Campbell not so much