Bathurst needs a makeover!
October 12th 2008 12:08
AUTOLOUD can take or leave the so called Great race-AKA-Bathurst 1000.
Watching it is a bit like that scene in “National Lampoons European vacation”. The scene I refer to is the one where the Griswald’s get stuck on a roundabout in London and with every lap you hear the comment ‘There’s Big Ben!”
There’s a Holden, There’s a Ford, There’s a Holden There’s a Ford!
Anyway the Bathurst race used to be infinitely better when Group A was around. The grids then consisted of BMW, Nissan, Rover, Jaguar, Holden, Ford Sierra and even a Volvo 240 Turbo ( Be still my beating heart!) plus the addition of a smaller class of cars ( normally populated by Corolla Sprinters!) made the race far more entertaining. In case you have forgotten a Jaguar XJS did win Bathurst in 1985!
The old adage of “What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday!” is no longer true. The cars that race in the V8 Supercar are for all intents and purpose being ignored by new car buyers. When was the last time you saw anyone other than a government department buy a new Falcon?
The six cylinder and V8 market is slip-sliding away and even Novoted lease buyers are ignoring in droves!
Its time for a new formula, a class of touring cars that are relevant to today’s new car buyers. Adopting the European led " World touring car championship" could be an option.
Times must be tough as even Bernie Ecclestone has passed comment on making F1 more relevant and less expensive!
Watching it is a bit like that scene in “National Lampoons European vacation”. The scene I refer to is the one where the Griswald’s get stuck on a roundabout in London and with every lap you hear the comment ‘There’s Big Ben!”
There’s a Holden, There’s a Ford, There’s a Holden There’s a Ford!
Anyway the Bathurst race used to be infinitely better when Group A was around. The grids then consisted of BMW, Nissan, Rover, Jaguar, Holden, Ford Sierra and even a Volvo 240 Turbo ( Be still my beating heart!) plus the addition of a smaller class of cars ( normally populated by Corolla Sprinters!) made the race far more entertaining. In case you have forgotten a Jaguar XJS did win Bathurst in 1985!
The old adage of “What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday!” is no longer true. The cars that race in the V8 Supercar are for all intents and purpose being ignored by new car buyers. When was the last time you saw anyone other than a government department buy a new Falcon?
The six cylinder and V8 market is slip-sliding away and even Novoted lease buyers are ignoring in droves!
Its time for a new formula, a class of touring cars that are relevant to today’s new car buyers. Adopting the European led " World touring car championship" could be an option.
Times must be tough as even Bernie Ecclestone has passed comment on making F1 more relevant and less expensive!
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