Re: V8 Supercars
poppa x said:
Here wo go. I'll pass comment and wait for the flames to be thrown. LOL
The problem with the V8 Supercar Series is they will not countenance any non V8's competing because they may be embarrassed by the result.
This is what happened years ago when the 6 cylinder Nissan GodZilla wiped the V8's off the track at Bathurst. Result? Ban them and restrict the format to ancient technology American V8's.
Over time, many young people continue to hold the V8's in awe because they have never had the opportunity to witness superior cars on the track.
The most recent Motor magazine was raving about the latest FPV and HSV vehicles. They even did tests at Winton and both managed a 1:45 lap time. WOW! OTH, I regularly compete at Winton (Fiat X1/9) and I've seen a 1500cc 4 cylinder Alfa Sprint do a 1:44 and an Austin Healey Sprite go under 1:40. A stock 2 litre naturally aspirated Renault Clio Sport does a 1:43. My own X1/9 driven by my 17y.o son does a 1:48.
V8's? Great in a straight line. Hopeless around corners. Should stick to NASCAR.
It will be interesting to see if this holds true though in the next 10-20 years with the oil situation changing car buying habits.
One of the reasons for the success of the V8's is that your bloke from Narre Warren can watch a V8 go round the rack, and then look out onto the drive way and see a very similar (relatively similar
car. With 99% of this country driving a falcon or a commodore, it made sense.
With the oil price rise here to stay though, men's car buying habits are beginning to shift again. As the V8 becomes less and less relevant on Australian roads, I would not be surprised is a similar thing happens on the race track, and (hopefully) we open it up again to other similar classes of car.