Delta Goodrem... no!

I’ve been a long-time supporter of the V8 Supercars and was unable to be at Bathurst this year so watched the coverage form 9.30am to 5.30 pm on Channel Seven.

I was very disturbed to find throughout the coverage Delta Goodrem (not only once) and Christina Aguilera were taking me into ad breaks. Now I know the music is a small part of the television coverage but I want to feel pumped up and excited about what I’m watching, not feeling like I should be at a teenager’s slumber party. After all, I don’t remember seeing either of these artists on the track listing of the V8 Supercars Full Tank of Rock music CD.

Come on Channel Seven, take some tips from Channel Ten and get me fired up and excited about my V8 Supercars.

Also, I would like to commend V8X on doing a great job in giving me all the inside information about the sport I love. Keep it up.

Veronica Fastaharda

Ed: Thanks for the compliment on the mag. If you’re unhappy with the way the V8s are handled on telly this year, may I suggest you have your say with the V8X Ultimate Survey at www.v8superstore.com. There is a section on the TV side of things so you can express your opinion.

Awww, thanks guys...

I just wanted to thank V8X for their generosity in including the Bathurst book with issue #41. I thought it must be a mistake at first until I rang your subscription people and they informed me it was a little bonus from your magazine. Thank you for that. Your generous gesture is greatly appreciated by this reader. What an excellent book it is, too, full of fantastic photos and very useful reference information and a bargain price to boot! Keep up the terrific work at V8X!

Annie

Seven not heaven

When I heard that Channel Seven was going to take over the V8 Supercars, I never really liked the idea. And it seems I was right.

Channel Seven has just got worse and worse in these last couple or years. But they hit rock bottom when they didn’t show any of the podiums after the races, and make it worse when they advertise footy on V8Xtra.

Now I don’t hate football. It is just that they said that before the first show of V8Xtra that they would only show stuff about V8 Supercars. And what is with them saying that Seven is the home of motorsport when Channel Ten has had it for ten or so years? Go Ford!

Ford Man

No sequential boxes please

Klint’s comments about the gearbox issue (V8X#41) are spot on and I, as a V8 Supercar fanatic, agree with him 100 per cent and urge all other fans with the same views to make themselves heard.

I think if they change to the sequential gearboxes (limp-wrist boxes) they will be taking away a lot of the excitement and skill that is involved in V8 Supercar racing, and one of the things that makes way it better than any other motorsport we see on our TVs.

I thought that V8SA wanted to add entertainment value to the sport, not take it away. I wish they would make up their minds.

Channel Seven might as well remove the in-car cameras that show the drivers changing gear as they will become boring and not worth watching.

As a Kiwi fan who spent the best of five hours in the rain lining up to buy some of the first tickets for the Hamilton 400, I will be a bit pissed (to put it lightly) if they change. Are our drivers not strong enough to carry on using the H-pattern box?

I also agree that we have enough talent down under and don’t need these weak European drivers. If the teams can’t find a driver good enough in Australia and New Zealand then they shouldn’t be racing.

It would be interesting to find out what all the drivers think about this (except Max Wilson as we already know his views). Can I suggest that V8X does an article to find this out for us fans, fanatics and loyal readers of your fine magazine?

And, if it is a cost cutting measure for the teams, then surely they can cut costs in other areas?

Please don’t ruin our great sport!

Paul (NZ fanatic)

A long, hard thirst needs...

Having read the article on the official Bathurst 1000 website about how they are increasing the security and police presence at Bathurst this year, I couldn’t help but send this email. They should realise that without the hard-core Bathurst supporters, V8 Supercars won’t be that super and will die.

This article said that security would only allow each person take one carton of beer each. Now we were there for four days last year and had a total of two cartons each and never really got that pissed (well, some of us did, but they were Nannas). So if we were allowed only one carton each, this would equal six beers each per day. If we had gone to the mountain on the Saturday earlier (like a lot of old-time supporters do) we would have been able to have 2.7 beers each per day. Now if they want trouble on the mountain, that’s a good way to start!

No-one was causing any trouble that we saw. In fact, I felt safer on the top of the mountain than I do walking through central Melbourne. Yes, some of us had some fun that would probably be frowned upon by some people but everyone goes there to have a good time for f#@k’s sake!

So I say up the rules. We may never (sob, sob) experience one of the best experiences of a lifetime again. I hope I am wrong.

P.S. I made the decision to not go to Sandown with my family this year, too. It was going to cost me $230 to take my wife and two children on Saturday and Sunday (just to get in), and if we had just gone on the Saturday only it would have cost us $110!

Look out V8 Supercars, I feel that your fan base is going to die off...

Corey

Holdens losing the plot

Come on Holden! Why are we continuing to hand out Bathurst wins and now the championship lead to Ford?

Maybe it’s the cars, maybe it’s the drivers, but it’s more likely to be the silly driver pairings. We all know the 2006 driver swap didn’t work for Garth Tander, but what about Bathurst this year?

Why would you put the four top drivers in just two cars? The Skaife/Kelly car showed promise but did not finish, while car #22 did.

The Kelly/Tander car did not finish, while car #16 did. Team managers and others, please, the top drivers need to be spread.

It’s simple maths – we need to increase our chances of a win, not decrease them. How much harder is it now for Rick and Garth?

My other point is about Project Blueprint, that magic ‘formula’ which was supposed to create a level playing field. All it has done is benefit the Ford teams as the Holden’s must use many of the components Ford were already using.

Let’s not forget that Ford was threatening to pull out of V8 Supercars before this as the Holdens – in race trim before Project Blueprint – were a far superior product.

No wonder it called Project ‘Blue’ print.

L. J.

Bring on V6 Supercars

You are right about more races and less whingeing.

How about switching to V6 engines and tube-frame chassis, too, considering that Ford and Holden will eventually withdraw most of their backing? Think of all the companies in the world with a V6. Ford has the Mondeo motor and Holden has plenty in the states.

Then, maybe, they can finally get some extra carmakers in. And not just all the ‘third manufacturer’ rubbish with Toyota and Mitsubishi.

And here’s a story idea: a profile and interview with the man who has turned DJR around. Yes, Adrian, the ex-F1 team manager.

No-one knows him but he has done a great job. And it would be interesting to hear what he has to say in comparing F1 with V8 Supercars.

Paul

Ed: Cutting costs is a big issue right now but we reckon selling the whole V6 thing might be a tall order in a sport with ‘V8’ in its title. As for your story request, we’ll see what we can do!

Pick of the mailbag Safe and secure... sort of We recently returned from holidays to a distant location. When we arrived our luggage and belongings were searched, looking for contraband they said. All okay so far. Once we arrived at our accommodation we were unsure whether to feel safe or scared as armed guards walked the beat every few minutes, some with dogs, some without, always ready to jump on anyone who looked the wrong way or said the wrong thing. Any time we wanted to go somewhere we had to go through a checkpoint with another search and ID check. I’m starting to feel quite paranoid by now. Thank God this sort of thing doesn’t happen in Australia... except for BATHURST... Marie and Bruce Ed: I hear your pain as I reckon Police attitude was a bit over-the-top. It’s a bit rough when the teams and media are subject to car searches, especially when all they are trying to do is their job.

ArmcHair Firstly, how good was that Bathurst race! One thing about the Supercheap Auto 1000, it always seems to pull out the unexpected. If you want an example of unexpected, just look at the list who didn’t finish the 1000 kays. The biggest names not to finish were Garth Tander and Rick Kelly, which has now blown the championship wide open. Now that the two Toll/HSV cars and the two TeamVodafone cars of Craig Lowndes and teammate Jamie Whincup are practically ‘level pegging’, it will be interesting to see if all four drivers can keep up the pressure. I believe this is the point in the season where Garth is the most dangerous. There is a bit of ‘street fighter mongrel’ in him and he knows how to handle the pressure, so keep an eye on him. Changing the subject, I wanted to give the V8X Ultimate Fan Survey a plug as I think it’s a good way for the fans to have a say in how things are being run in our sport. So get online at www.v8superstore.com – the time you take to give us your opinions will send a message to the bosses at V8 Supercars Australia. While on the subject of the V8X Ultimate Fan Survey, the reason we put together this initiative is to give the fans a greater voice in the sport. Part of V8X’s promise to you is the fact that we will give a copy of the survey to V8 Supercars Australia, plus print the results in V8X#44 for all to see. It will also help us to understand you better so we can deliver more of what you want in V8X in the future. This issue of V8X marks an exciting time in the series, with the 2008 calendar released and the driver silly season in full flight. Those who feel that V8 Supercars finishes at Bathurst – yep, some people think that – are sorely wrong. Bathurst just marks the start of the dealing and politics as drivers, teams and sponsors really start haggling for next year – and, believe me, there is no shortage of rumours. The real trick is sorting the scuttlebutt from the real thing. One thing’s for sure, come January 1st most of our questions will be answered and some of those ‘worst kept’ rumours will be confirmed. Personally, I love this time of the year as this is where the ‘pointy end’ of V8 Supercars is as a business, and while all this is going on there are still teams and drivers battling it out for the championship. All good stuff.