I wish them luck but I really don't know how it would succeed financially without coupling itself to a race weekend with another series, at least at first.

 

Your right there, in Oz they team up F1 and Indy (at the time) with the V8's to pull the crowds in to those events, so the opposite would have to happen over there.

 

Well Qantas is now flying direct to Dallas/Fort Worth (the cars wouldn't) so you could see two sponsors (they are partnered with American Airlines) who might get on board for sponsorship of a race in Austin.

They would definately need to get some extra support as I just don't see them selling enough tickets & a high enough price to make it worthwhile. They already link with the F1 in Melbourne and they used to link up with the (hmmm) IndyCar series (?) when they ran at Surfers Paradise in Queensland so they have tie ins with other racing groups already. A link with NASCAR would be good as they could cross sell Marcos Ambrose and maybe people like Tony Stewart if they were allowed/willing to race.

If GM does bring a Commodore over here (not the Caprice cop car) then they might also rebadge the Holden's as Chevy's as this has been done on some cars in the Middle East when they race there as Chevy is the local brand.

 

Hmm, yeah, if they've rebadged it as Chevrolet in other places (I didn't know that,) then it would make sense to do it in Texas. Not to do that would be... dumb.

A partnership with NASCAR would be awesome! I'd love to see Tony Stewart tear it up in the V8s... Or Kyle Busch. That could be so epic.

 

Like to see them run at California Speedway (there is a road course portion), maybe it will get Ford to offer a "Falcon" in the U.S. and force GM to get off their butts and make a decision on the Commodore.

At least they still run "stock" cars (with engine/chassis and race safety changes) which is more than I can say about NASCAR.

 

Actually I believe both the Falcon and Commodore in V8 Supercars have modifications to the body. IE, the Commodore's rear door is shortened substantially.

That being said, at least both look like the cars they're meant to represent.

 

In Bahrain, certain of the official teams run with Chev Lumina badging for obvious reasons. Holden and HSV actually have a lot of recognition - some Arab enthusiasts - guess what? - swap out the Chev badges for Holden lions! Like some GTO guys converted their cars back to 'Monaros' - the only LHD Monaros in the world apart from the one presented to Peter Hanenberger when he retired back to Germany. (M-E Chevs were sold as Chev Lumina Coupes I think).

In China, some of the official team cars run Buick badging in cross-promotion of the somewhat similar-looking Park Avenue:

It only makes sense. Now that the Commodore is scheduled to return as a Chevrolet SS, if they make it to Texas, guess why you'll see Supercar V8s with bowties (that, and the Caprice PPV)?

V8 Supercars is owned by the major teams - which means by Ford and Holden largely. They take cross-promotion to a new cut-throat level. Because Holden is into E85 with Coskata, the official fuel changed from Shell Ultimate 96 to E85 in 2009 - sponsored by Commenwealth Sugar Refineries!

If Ford has a special promotion, or Holden has a special promotion even if there's no value to the other brand, you will see the whole series change because they both know the intrinsic value to them. It's a great example of co-operation because everyone involved wants it to succeed.

 

Yawn.

 

One question are these real actual cars or fake crap cars like NASCAR ?

 

For the moment they are heavily modified Holden and Ford chassis

THey are built to weight and size constraints along with power and gearbox diff and even share the same live axle

When the car of the future hits they will have virtually nothing in common with the road cars bar that they look like them

 

The cars still start out with bodies-in-white. There is a very strict set of aero principles that govern the size of wings and ground effects. That is why the VE is shortened - to provide equalization so it gains no advantage from the longer wheelbase. Shows how flexible Zeta is: just cut a few inches out, line everything up and you've still got a car, capable of taking this

and the driver walking away. Remember, we sit on the right; he was sitting on the side that hit hardest. The driver's door still opens!

All the doors, bonnet, boot (hood, trunklid) still open on these racecars, the stock wiring loom is used and all lights (not stickers), the inner panels are there. The car below has a stock front fascia, grill support panel and even hoodcatch.

Of course they are hoping to drag crowds in: but it almost doesn't matter. The tie in for GM (Holden) is of course promotion of the 'new' Chevrolet V8. It's no surprise they go to Bahrain and China - two markets where Holden has a significant presence.

 

you've still got a car, capable of taking this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIns9MuwGpI&feature=related

and the driver walking away. Remember, we sit on the right; he was sitting on the side that hit hardest. The driver's door still opens!

IIRC the only walking involved was from the stretcher bearers carrying the driver towards the ambulance.
For poor Radisich it was a career-ending impact.

Radisich crashed heavily during practice for the 2008 Bathurst 1000, after the throttle jammed open at McPhillamy Park Corner, hitting the concrete wall in a gap in the tyre barriers.

Radisich fractured both ankles, reopened the fractured sternum sustained in an accident two years prior, fractured lumbar and thoracic vertebrae, cracked ribs and suffered bruising to his lungs. His recovery has been protracted and brought an end his motor racing career.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Radisich

All the doors, bonnet, boot (hood, trunklid) still open on these racecars,

Do the doors still fall off the car (literally) during pitstops?

 

Get Marcos Ambrose to drive a Ford.

 

Wow!!..I love this idea!! Putting a car on the track that has roots in the same car that I drive, this is what I want!! A rear drive race car with drivers that can turn left or right...send it to me!!! This is what it used to be here and now the Aussies and Germans remember these good ol' days (hehe) send it back!

 

Well the fine folks at Austin will know what a Ford is and wonder why they can't have that model over here. Then they will look at a Holden and say...I never heard of them before! Must be a new German brand.

 

Sounds cool, would love to see the new track. I don't understand the hatred for NASCAR, I don't hear anyone complaining that Formula 1 cars don't look like anything they can buy from Ferrari, Peugeot or other such manufacturers. I've never heard so much whining before, you would think this was a kindergarden class with a bunch of whinney little 5 year olds.

 

I might have to go to Texas if this is turns out true....

 

 

In response to " #11 (permalink)
BBDOS CV8
GMI Australia Correspondent

It only makes sense. Now that the Commodore is scheduled to return as a Chevrolet SS, if they make it to Texas, guess why you'll see Supercar V8s with bowties (that, and the Caprice PPV)?"

I am not seeing announcements of a Chevrolet SS being brought to the U.S. Has that import been announced officially? Only the police version thus far.

 

Ambrose usually does better on the Street circuits , i'd like to see a few NASCAR drivers try out Bathurst

Not sure many (if any) have come over for a taste

 

Ambrose has had a few good runs but he usually finds a way to screw himself out of a good finish. Like the embarrassing incident at Sonoma where he shut the car off to try and save gas for no apparent reason, stalled it, and lost the lead. UNDER CAUTION.

What's the total elevation change at Bathurst?

 

I'm in the minority. I wish that there was a sedan racing series here in the states. But NA$CAR has stolen all the sponsorship. IMO, they run their extra series not for the fans but to make certain that other series can't bring in any money. So sponsors send money to a second rate Nationwide series or a farcical Craftsman Truck series. Then they let the biggest clowns from their "name" series come in and devastate what little competition there is. Would you really want to see the Green Bay Packers pick a game with a lousy college team? They would kick the snot out of a U of M team week after week. And then take the gate out of the deal on top of it.

With that rant over, I just can't see anybody building anything new as long as the greed and insipidity of NA$CAR continues. They are the professional wrestling of motorsports and it's making money. And they can crush anything else that dares threaten their market (even if it is shrinking)

But I'm one that would go see a good series at Mid Ohio or Road America or even Watkins Glen. Got one?

 

Didn't the whole parity aero thing come out of the AU Falcon's release and the fact that the VT was so much more slippery. Then they had to give the Falcon a similar front splitter as the Commodore but it extended so far in front of the car that every time it hit the grass it would dig in and rip the whole front end off.

 

Parity has caused more arguments about V8 SC over the years than the drivers and races themselves

 

It's been a tin top argument forever. It was around in the group C in the 70's and early 80's and even improved production in the early 70's.

Red Hot Mike

 

Nascar is successful becouse its a reality TV soap set on a racetrack....

with an audience...

Its not about racing; really...

 

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com

The door-banging action of Australia’s popular V8 Supercar Series is the latest schedule addition to the Circuit of The Americas under construction in Austin, Texas.

V8 Supercars and Circuit of The Americas (COTA), along with Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, announced a five-year agreement Thursday to bring the globe-trotting series to Travis County beginning in 2013.

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/28278

 

It's official! Holden to return to US in 2013!!

It's official! Holden to return to US in 2013!!....

well, in motorsport form anyway!

http://www.v8supercars.com.au/newsa....au/newsarticle/everythings-bigger-in-texas!/tabid/70/newsid/11406/default.aspx

THE V8 Supercars Championship will make its debut on United States soil in 2013.

An announcement was made early today (Australian time) outlining a five-year deal for Australia’s premier racing series to compete at the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

The new arrangement will make the United States the fifth offshore venue to host the V8 Supercars Championship in its history, joining New Zealand, China, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

 

Re: It's official! Holden to return to US in 2013!!

.

Someone beat ya' to it a couple days ago:


http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f17/move-over-nascar-here-come-aussie-v8s-104013/

.

 

Re: It's official! Holden to return to US in 2013!!

They should possibly merge the threads - ths other one was speculation this one is fact

 

Re: It's official! Holden to return to US in 2013!!

Whats the bet the Holdens will be rebadged as Chevy's when they race?
Seems a coincidence that the Zeta Chev's might be on sale there then!

 

Re: It's official! Holden to return to US in 2013!!

Whats the bet the Holdens will be rebadged as Chevy's when they race?
Seems a coincidence that the Zeta Chev's might be on sale there then!

Exactly what I was thinking. Makes perfect sense to me. Need to get a few nascar drivers to compete to help draw interest.

 

Re: It's official! Holden to return to US in 2013!!

Tony Cochrane talks Texas