Skaife's Dream Run

It seems to me that Mark Skaife and the HRT get a dream run! Granted Mark had the fastest car on the track, and seemed destined to win. But why doesn't he cop the same penalties as everyone else? He turned Murphy round and nothing happened and there was no mention let alone an explanation of the incident, no stewards report, no nothing. Instead of a drive-through penalty or demotion in the finishing order like Russell Ingall he gets away Scot free.
Chris

Kiwi Konflict

I'd just like to write in about the letter from Dan from NZ in your last issue and I must say that it's w***ers like him who put out a bad name for the rest of us Kiwis.
He thinks by putting the little rhyme 'only girls wear red' makes him all smart, well I've got news for him: babies wear blue. Holden aren't just sitting on their arses - the VY is going to carve up the BA.
Simon (NZ)

Ford's Revenge Is Coming

Let's face some facts here, shall we. The V8 Supercars are known for running in cycles, sometimes Ford are winning and then it gets turned and Holden are winning, which has been the case recently. Ford will have their day soon and Holden fans should not be so stupid as to think the winning streak will go on forever. It will stop soon and the tables will be turned, Ford fans will also have their revenge.
Daniel (NZ)
It may have come quicker than you thought after Lowndesy's win at the 'Island'. FPR haven't stopped, they're saying that when they really sort these new BAs out they will practically be unbeatable - Ed.

Happy Customer

The one and only Clipsal 500 has failed to disappoint me again. What a great opening race for this year's season! I was on the edge of my seat the whole race. Let's hope that all this season's races can be as exciting.
I am glad the ownership problems with HRT have seemed to have been resolved. I read somewhere that a UK based company was going to buy HRT. Let's hope nothing happens to them. I know some people are going to disagree with me but HRT are a great asset to the V8 Supercar Championship.
I hope everyone thought the first race of the best racing cars in the world was a blast like I thought it was.
See Ya @ the Races!
Shaun
I agree with you Shaun - Race Two at Adelaide was one of the best V8 Supercar races I've ever seen - Ed.

HRT's Deal

What is the current standing regarding the ownership of HRT? I thought that they weren't going to be allowed to race unless the issue was rectified but it went quiet real quick which leaves us Ford fans to believe that the usual Holden favours have been done once more.
Steve Selwood
Steve it's a live issue, believe me - see the V8X feature on page 40 for all the latest mail. - Ed.

Oceans Away

Hey there, I just wanted to thank you for your great coverage. Being an ocean and a continent away in Canada, I'm glad I finally found a source to help follow V8 Supercars. I think the concept would work in North America, but alas, we're stuck with NASCAR wannabes. I look forward to a new season following your coverage of one of the world's best racing series.
Gregory
AVESCO are trying to get Supercar to the rest of the world so maybe we'll see you one day - Ed.

Fair Dues

Much as I admire Murph's driving capabilities, he clearly was blocking Ingall in Adelaide and deserved to be punted off. If Ford ever wants to win the championship they might have to get a few of the stewards on their payroll...
Henri
Isn't that part of the appeal of the sport, one driver trying to fend off a faster rival? Some drivers are just better at it than others. Richo & Bowe spring to mind - Ed.

Too Many Ads

Isn't it good to see the V8s roaring on the telly again, with all the new cars and new teams (it's V8s at its best). With all the excitement watching Channel Ten's telecast at the Clipsal 500, it is a great race to watch and brilliant work by Ten's crew, but then they threw in 9 or 10 ads in the breaks which was really pissing me off.
When you see other sports like football they get 1 ad during the breaks. So here's to Channel Ten, great telecast but please have more racing and fewer ads.
GO THE FORDS.
Mark and Maria
Unfortunately guys it's the advertising that helps us get it on telly. I'm not a fan of them myself but it's just a fact of life. What I do like is seeing more advertisers wanting to advertise using V8 Supercars which means that we're being more accepted by the mainstream public - Ed.

Murph Stiffed

How stiff was Murph at Adelaide? Apart from Russell's 'mistake' costing Greg a podium on Sunday the Network Ten coverage on Saturday showed the radar gun used to ping him twice for pitlane speeding. The brand name on the gun was 'Falcon'. Hmm...
RJ

Windscreen Coverage

My husband loves his V8 racing, so I have been watching it with him lately. While watching the races I have noticed that the Ford cars have their sponsors across their windscreens, but Holden's teams have Holden across their windscreens. When I asked my husband why, his answer was so the Holden fans knew which car is a Holden because they don't know what they look like. Then I asked a Holden fan and he hadn't even noticed that it was across the windscreens. So could someone please tell me why?
Jane
OK Jane, the windscreen is advertising just like the rest of the car. Holden have a policy that when they negotiate a support deal with any team they get the windscreen. Ford aren't as anal about it at the moment - Ed.

It's The Pits

It seems unfair to me that the pit crews seem to do all the work and the drivers get all the recognition and money. Do the members of the pit crews get paid at all? If so what percentage of the prize money do they get?
Someone said to me the other day that they don't get paid at all, surely that is not so.
Rowan
The person who told you they don't paid has 'lost it'. Nearly every crew member is a full time employee of that team with a few (very few) part timers. Some of these blokes are on 'Mega Bucks' - Ed.

Howdy Audi

How ironic that Audi, a German marque, is becoming involved in V8 racing. The Commodores are originally based on an Opel, another German car, so German cars have been in V8 racing since the 1990s.
I wonder how many Aussie Holden fans knew that they have been supporting a German car.
John

Pick of the Mailbag Where would Tony Longhurst be now? Under the new AVESCO points system, drivers are rewarded for consistency, not just winning. Last year Tony Longhurst was the only driver to finish every race and ended the year in the championship top 10. However Betta Electrical/John Briggs Motorsport boss John 'the toecutter' Briggs decided to give Tony the chop. Where would have Longhurst finished if the new system had been released one year earlier and would that have prevented him from having to show up at Centrelink every Thursday this year? Nev & Lisa Sounds interesting guys, have done the maths on that. In defence of Briggsy I'll ask you this question - if you had the choice between Paul Radisich or 'No baloney' Tony Longhurst who would you pick? I wouldn't like to choose - Ed.