Now hear this!

I am writing in response to the letter sent by Lawrence (V8X #32). I have a few points to make. What do you expect – drivers to race all year and never get home? They have families too, you know. As my father suggested, why not keep Adelaide, Sandown, Bathurst and Indy as the mains and change the others from year to year? For example, say this year do Queensland Raceway and next year do a track we have lost because of the new ones instead. Get my drift? That way they still get to popular tracks as well as having some time to relax with their families.

As to sponsorship, aren’t cars backed by non-motoring companies already? Fujitsu, CAT, Smorgen Steel Recycling, LG, Jack Daniels are not motoring companies and are major sponsors.

Why restrict the numbers of team personnel that go to each track? Every one on a race team plays an important role and without them nothing will function right.

Reverse grids? Well, there is a good side and a bad side. The top drivers who get sent to the back have to get past the slower ones without having a demolition derby. The good side is the ones who are never winning get the chance to do so. But on the whole, I agree with Joshua – it’s the wrong idea.

If you think V8s are getting boring, Lawrence, then maybe they’re not your thing.

Sheena

P.S. Good luck to Skaife, Murphy, Todd, Rick and Garth.

Courtney needs more time

Before I query your prediction, love your mag, it’s a great read, but why is James Courtney in the top 10 to watch? Sure, he’s got raw speed and talent but all he’s shown us so far is that he can put a HRT car into the wall early in a Bathurst race, which doesn’t really earn him a top 10 berth to watch. Also, if he plans to pass people with two wheels on the grass he’s going to give Ross and Jimmy a few panel beating headaches in his first season. Give him a year to at least get accustomed to the Australian race tracks and I think he will be one to watch in 2007.

For my money I’d be including Rick Kelly in the top 10 as both him and his team finished strongly last season and with new sponsor Toll on board this will strengthen their competitiveness. The other name I would include at the expense of Jason Richards is Cameron McConville. Although considered a number-two driver he is consistent and the better equipment he has the better he goes. Bring on 2006!

Greg

Cut to the core

Unfortunately I was unable to take my four kids to Clipsal this year. So we went to the V8 street parade. It was great – grid girls on the back of Harleys and the V8s smokin it up in the street.Unreal.

Then we got to the autograph session. One of my sons took his 1:18th scale Bathurst Castrol Commodore to get signed by Richo (his favorite driver), while the rest of us took our Holden flags. After standing in line for a bit over an hour we were finally near the start of the queue when the drivers (Richo, Garth, Rick, etc) got up and left while other drivers came in, none of whom we wanted autographs from. I was pissed off because my kids were so disappointed after waiting so long and then seeing the drivers up and go. We got no autographs...

The autograph session went for two hours. Why can’t all the drivers sit and sign for the whole session? At least then all fans could get their favorite drivers autographs.

If it wasn’t for fans there would be no V8s and it’s the young fans who will help take the V8 Supercars into the next generation. Great mag, keep up the good work.

Rob

Ed: Sorry to hear you didn’t get all you wanted from your day at the V8s, Rob. Indeed, making drivers more accessible is one of the main goals of series organisers in the future.

Rick Kelly an innocent

I’m 16 years old and I am a very massive fan of the Holdens. I just recently watched the Adelaide race, round two, on Sunday, March 26.

The reason I am writing to you is that Rick Kelly was penalised for apparently jumping the start! What the hell? As if he did...

If you go back and watch it again, you will find that Craig Lowndes left the starting line before Rick. I know that the decision has been made but to us Holden fans that was totally unfair and as a Rick Kelly fan myself, Rick should not of been copping the consequences for something that was not true. No matter how many times you replay the so-called jump start you will find that Craig Lowndes left the starting line before beautiful Rick Kelly. You just sit down and watch it and you will soon see that Rick Kelly is a sexy, innocent man. Anyhow, I just have to say "Go Holdens: Fords Suck".

P.S. Here’s my response to Beth for the letter she wrote in V8X #32. I don’t think Mark Skaife should pull his head in, he is just a normal driver. You see, the SBR team is not the best team honey. You need to open your eyes and you will find that Holden Racing Team, Toll Racing Team and Jack Daniels Racing Team are the best. You see without those three teams there would be no such thing as V8 Supercars.

So I guess I will rap it up with...

Tamara

Ed: Rick’s penalty was due to him creeping on the grid as opposed to actually jumping the start. Unfair? Perhaps, but that’s the rules. Either way, we still reckon "sexy, innocent" Rick, as you’ve described him, is a top bloke.

Right on, Garth

I can’t help but agree with Garth Tander’s column in V8X #32. There was a four-month gap between the last race for 2005 and the first race for 2006. Admittedly this has been increased by two weeks due to the change of date for the Melbourne F1 GP as a result of the Commonwealth Games, something that won’t happen again, but nevertheless, a third of the year without any real action is in my opinion detrimental to the sport, from a spectator and fan point of view. I accept that the teams need a break at the end of the season, and that budgets and costs play a role in how many rounds there are in the championship, but isn’t it about time AVESCO comes up with some ideas so that us fans don’t have to go so long without a race in the off-season?

While AVESCO is pondering that, here’s a thought. Why not make the official pre-season testing days like the one held recently at Winton – where five or six teams, both Ford and Holden, participated – a spectator event? Charge a modest entrance fee, give the fans some action, and provide a chance to meet drivers. Having a couple of these in the off-season would help keep the interest level up.

I would be interested in your thoughts.

John

Ed: Not a bad idea at all, John, though convincing punters that a test session is worth attending and as exciting as a proper race is likely to be a hard task.

Pick of the mailbag Nathan receives a copy of V8 Supercars 3 from our friends at Atari Get off Junior’s back I am sick and tired of people bagging poor Steven Johnson. He is a talented steerer who has outgunned his team mate in equal machinery every year except his debut year. He has a pole and two round wins to his credit, including the Queensland 500. Granted, they were a few years ago but he also has had a number of top 10s at Bathurst, with a best placing of fourth (twice.) Steven has talent – he is head and shoulders above other son’s driving for their fathers. Does anybody remember Rodney "Mr Crash" Forbes – he was a shocker. Do you think that Steven would receive this criticism if he drove for another Ford team or, heaven forbid, a Holden squad? I think not. I just hope that future V8 drivers such as James Moffat, James Brock and Jack Perkins have an easier time with their critics. I do understand the backlash with Glenn Seton’s sacking – that was wrong and I would not have done it – but people have been insulting Junior for years. It’s just a pity that he did not get Ambrose’s seat as he was considered the Stone’s second choice, which everyone seems to have forgotten. Also, if Steven is such a bad driver in finishing in 12th in 2005, all the drivers who finished ahead of him must not be much then, must they? Go DJR and stick it to them Junior – I have faith in you and your talents. Nathan