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V8 SUPERCARS: TELL ‘EM THEY’RE DREAMIN’
With the wrangling over their television rights continuing, and faced with falling ratings and crowd numbers, you might think that V8 Supercars Australia might be keen to make as many friends as possible in the wider media. However judging by the new terms and conditions imposed on those requiring media accreditation for the 2013 season, it would appear that VESA is intent on making coverage even harder and more restrictive. With accreditation opening for the 2013 season, the updated terms & conditions make for some very interesting and sometime concerning reading. First cab off the rank is this gem: "V8 Supercars only accredits publications and agencies: a) with a minimum circulation of 20,000 for magazines and 50,000 for newspapers" That one is bound to send a few shockwaves through the ranks of those at Australia's longest serving motorsport publication "Australian Auto Action" With a ACB audited circulation of only "10,370" per issue, Foges and the AAA crew will have to get used to the somewhat less rarified air of the Shannons Nationals Media Centre, as by my very basic maths they fall about 9630 short of the minimum requirement. Oh and whose figures are we using here? The independent Audit Bureaux of Australia or the notoriously unreliable "publisher's estimate"? If we are looking for audited, independent figures, then that pretty much rules out all those publications who are not a part of the ABA system.
Continue reading...WHO’S JOSEPH KONY ? AND WHY THE HELL SHOULD I EVEN CARE ?
8. March 2012
This story has nothing to do with cars, or the people that race them. It's not about new and advancing automotive technology or stunning works of imagination and artistry inspired by the automobile. No, this story is actually important. You may not have heard the name Joseph Kony, or like me, heard it in passing, read a story in a newspaper or on-line, and shook your head and then promptly forgot all about it as you focused your attention on how truly hideous the current crop of Formula One cars are. No, you want hideous? Want something really ugly to get upset about?
Continue reading...THE RISE & RISE OF GREG LOWNDES: RACING DRIVER
28. April 2011
"Australians Warren Luff and Greg Lowndes contest fourth round of VLN endurance championship" Audi Media Release. Great news for Australian races fans as Audi announce the pairing of Warren Luff and the hitherto unknown Greg Lowndes as their drivers for the next round of the VLN at the Nurburgring. Lowndes, a 43 year old unemployed father of 7 from the Melbourne suburb of Frankston said that he was both surprised and delighted to hear the news. "It's fuX%&ng unreal mate" Lowndes said from the main bar of the Pier Hotel. " i mean I've never even driven a racing car or like, but the chick from Centrelink reckons if I knock it back I could lose me dole money." Mr Lowndes said the invitation came from out of the blue and was especially surprising seeing that he'd lost his road licence for 12 months after blowing 1.74 at a Booze Bus following Collingwood's win in last years Grand Final.
Continue reading...WEBBER: Welcome back to the nanny state Mark
10. March 2011
In the wake of Lewis Hamilton's public flogging from the Melbourne media after last year's "Burnout" scandal, local hero Mark Webber described Victoria as "A nanny state". These comments provoked mock outrage from the talkback radio demi-gods of Melbourne and their loyal army of lonely housewives, bored loners and senile geriatrics. Now Webber is caught up in another controversy that again proves his original statement 100% correct. The Melbourne Grand Prix, and Red Bull want Mark to drive an F1 car across Melbourne's less than iconic Bolte Bridge.
Continue reading...WEBBER FACES HIS TOUGHEST OPPONENT: HIS OWN TEAM
6. November 2010
As Mark Webber goes into this weekend's penultimate round of the World Championship his chances of taking his first ever title are looking increasingly slim. After a mistake in the wet at Korea Webber now sits behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and just in front of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel is in fourth but Red Bull team bosses are still hopeful the young German can leapfrog his team mate and challenge Alonso at the final round at Abu Dhabi. Should Webber get up to win the championship it will be one of the gutsiest titles ever. Not only does the Australian face the usual challenges of F1, but also the added burden of a team that would rather lose the championship than see Webber on top. From the time of their coming together earlier this year to his comments this week, it is clear that forces at the top at Red Bull have little time for the straight shooting Aussie, and would rather see Alonso take the title than their man Webber. One Red Bull insider has said that the feeling inside the team is not good. "Our side of the garage are 100% behind Mark" he said. "But the guys at the top, they want Vettel to win more than anything. If he can't win I think they would rather see Alonso win"
Continue reading...DTM-SUPERGT REGS MERGER FRAUGHT WITH RISKS
20. August 2010
Two of the world's top GT and Touring Car series look set to join under common rules for 2012. And the US based Grand-Am series may join them. Regulations for the popular Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) and the Japanese based Super GT series are set to merge opening up the possibility of an exchange of cars and drivers for the future. The new regulations were announced earlier this year and feature: - Common carbon monocoque with roll cage - A standard wheelbase of 2850 mm - Common front and rear overhang - Common front spoiler and rear diffuser - V8 engine of yet to be announced size - Limited number of engines during season - Introduction of "design line" where on one side all cars are common The main aim of the new regulations is a 51% cost reduction in costs, but it's the last item on the list that is concerning the purists most.
Continue reading...WHY MARCOS? ‘CAUSE HE’S AN AUSSIE, THAT’S WHY
22. June 2010
It's been described as one of the worst mistakes in NASCAR history, In Australia it has prompted comparisons with Greg Norman's finest choking efforts. What Roy & HG will make of it I can't wait to find out. Yes our DNF Maestro Mark Webber has nothing on this one. Just as he looked set for his long awaited NASCAR Sprint Cup maiden victory, Marcos Ambrose blew the biggest win of his career by stalling his car during a safety car period. Called on to save fuel Ambrose coasted down hill with the engine off, but when he couldn't get the Toyota to restart, it was back to eighth place on the restart and a win for Jimmie Johnson. (As if he needs any more)
Continue reading...LE MANS: THE GREATEST RACE
12. June 2009
It's all happening, the countdown has begun for the greatest spectacle in International motorsport, forget F1, ignore the Indy 500, don't even consider the Bathurst 1000, the greatest race in all motorsport is without a shadow of a doubt Le Mans. For the first time since 1984 Australian television audiences will have the chance to see the race live, well some of it anyway. TEN's new ONE HD sports channel will bring Aussie viewers the race live from 10.30 p.m. Saturday night with live coverage going through until 2.00AM when the network crosses to NASCAR Qualifying. The coverage continues from 6.30AM till 10.00AM with the final few hours also covered live from 8.30PM till 11.10PM when coverage of the MotoGP begins. For most Australians Le Mans is an abstract concept, not since the early eighties has there been any real mainstream media coverage of the greatest race. Even that proud purveyor of obscure sports everywhere cable TV confined their coverage to a scant hour of highlights often weeks after the race. Of course we on In Pit Lane tried our best to keep the spirit of Le Mans alive. In 2004 I attended my first Le Mans, it was everything I had expected and way, way more. The efficiency and friendliness of the ACO officials is a long way from the indifference and arrogance of the average Aussie racetrack. As I've said on the show before, it was easier to get into Le Mans and do our job than it is to get through the tunnel at Phillip Island for a round of the Victorian State Series. The media centre is remarkable, every table with its own monitor, a lockable cage for your laptop and a steady stream of information all delivered with a smile from a crew who are not only professional but knowledgeable and quite rightly proud of their event. It makes a big difference from some media centres at a typical V8 Supercar event when any request for information on a support event is met with a mixture of confusion and utter contempt. The track itself is suburb, sadly not all of it is accessible to the average spectator but there's plenty of good places to view from. The esses down from the famous Dunlop bridge is a favourite, especially on Saturday night when you can stand on the hill and watch the cars on one side and them flip around to the bands at the annual rock concert. Of course any trip to France must include food and wine and Le Mans is no disappointment there either.
Continue reading...STORM CLOUDS OVER SINGAPORE
22. September 2008
Drivers may be nervous, teams may be unsure but race fans will be thrilled at the long term weather forecast for Singapore and next Sunday night’s Grand Prix. According to the website Weather Underground the long term forecast will see a 90% chance of rain along with thunderstorms for next Sunday night. Several drivers have expressed [...]
Continue reading...MY SECRET IDENTITY EXPOSED
18. September 2008
My friends, and though I've known you for only a short time I'd like to consider you as my friends. I have a secret. Something that I have told no one else and that you must solemnly promise never to reveal to anyone, even under threat of torture. I have Superhuman powers. Yes, it's true. How I developed this astonishing and awesome power I have no idea, but none the less I have it and it's an incredible burden that I now choose to share with you.
Continue reading...Sponsored Links
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