Just got an email this morning titled. "MotorSport New Zealand Press Release - MotorSport NZ Clarifies NZV8s Championship Status"
The guts of the email as follows.
MotorSport New Zealand (MSNZ) has confirmed that the New Zealand V8s Championship, sponsored by nationwide automotive supplier BNT, will only be contested in cars that meet current MotorSport NZ championship technical regulations.
"MotorSport New Zealand is aware of the present economic environment in the country and is concerned to ensure that team sponsors and fans understand the status of cars currently being developed," said MSNZ President Shayne Harris.
"There is confusion being created within the sport and beyond, by the development of a rival V8 class called V8 SuperTourers. From what has been made public about that car to date, it will not meet the MotorSport New Zealand championship technical regulations and will not be able to run at any championship meeting this season or beyond."
"I want to make it crystal clear that the BNTV8s championship will not be contested by those cars."
attitudedesignz,
Oct 6, 9:42am
MotorSport NZ needs to be a#seholed, or a Coup d'état needs to happen. They would have to be one of the if not THE most useless governing (sp!) bodies in international motorsport. But so long as MSNZ keeps licking the a#se of the FIA nothing will ever happen.
pollymay,
Oct 6, 10:14am
I was about to post "MSNZ are prats /care on matter" but you are a bit more to the point. I'm not exactly over the moon about them either.
attitudedesignz,
Oct 6, 10:46am
I think some track owners need to make a stand against MSNZ, then maybe they'll take notice of what their "members" and competitors want.
Drag racing in NZ is in the middle of a s#*t fight at the moment. All drag racing was sanctioned by NZDRA (NZ Drag Racing Assc') but FramAutolite raceway (Meremere/Champion) and Ruapuna decided enough was enough and went with the IHRA (International Drag Racing Assc') and now NZDRA is franticly trying to get its self out of the hole they've dug themselves over the last couple of decades.
skyline_guy_r34,
Oct 6, 11:04am
Here is the rest of the email following on from what I posted earlier.
"MotorSport New Zealand has been working with the team owners, who comprise NZV8s Ltd, in the development of a new championship car to contest the 2012-13 championship along with the current NZV8 car. This new car was shown at the recent Speed Show in Auckland.
"The sport is disappointed that such a split has developed within the V8 group, as those behind the SuperTourer project were initially entrusted with the job of developing the new MSNZ NZV8 championship car. There are legal issues surrounding the split, which will have to be resolved in due course. MotorSport NZ wants to make it very clear that any rumour in the industry that SuperTourers will be the premier class and in control of the championship series in the future are totally false and without any foundation."
"As the governing body, MotorSport New Zealand is keen to see developments in all areas of the sport, but we also recognise that we are a small country with limited economic resources. The commitment and investment of many sponsors such as BNT alongside our very successful programmes over the past decade have developed a raft of young competitors and technicians, who are now carrying the New Zealand flag on the international stage. "
"We look forward to seeing a great start to the BNTV8s and our premier championship series in five weeks' time."
attitudedesignz,
Oct 6, 11:09am
I think MSNZ is starting to panic, and so they should.
I've always had a problem with MSNZ and the way they run things. For example, whoever thought Formula Ford and to a lesser extent Formula Vee should be promoted as top tier classes should be shot with a ball of their own s#&t.
socram,
Oct 6, 1:59pm
I think you'll find that four have already started to make a stand.Three in the North Island and one in the South.It is no secret that Hampton Downs are backing the breakaway V8s either.They wouldn't have a bar of tier one and why would they! Taupo Tier 1 a couple of seasons ago - 68 entries.Hampton Downs Classics on the same day, about 260 entries.So if you were a spectator, where would you rathergo! BMW are doing a tier one meeting this season - but without being a MSNZ sanctioned series.Lets see how that goes.Best tier one grid I have heard of so far was a Muscle Car grid.
gasngo2,
Oct 6, 4:15pm
irc has the numbers,always like going to those meets.caters for every petrol head.
skyline_guy_r34,
Oct 6, 4:52pm
Very glad to see support for IRC on here. Are you going to watch IRC round 2 at Taupo on Labour weekend!
I will be competing there, hopefully with a new gearbox and little issues from round 1 ironed out.
Everyone in NZ answers to MSNZ, IRC included. IRC run a very good season and this year is going to be good too. A few of the classes are stretching to reach the 20 cars needed per class, but we are making it happen. And the IRC brings together all types of cars like you have mentioned. Everything from standard ae92 corollas right through to ex NZV8s and jaguar racecars.
socram,
Oct 7, 7:31am
. which is exactly why it should be successful and deserves more support.Many of us just crave variety and that is what IRC delivers.The modern alternative to decent classic racing, where the norm is over 230 cars and at some meets, nearer 300.What we have to careful of is too many different classes with restrictive rules and small grids.
Simple economics.Maximum grid size of 40 at say $200 a pop, is a potential income for a grid of $8000.A grid of even 20 cars could be seen as a loss of $4000. Fuller grids mean that entry fees could be lower so each time I see a grid of just 6 - 10 cars, I cringe, as I know that the other drivers are subsidising it and/or keeping entry fees high.
That is why I get a fair bit of stick from some quarters by pragmatically allowing in 'marginal cars' to our series.But, those guys who complain would be the first to jump up and down if the entry fees rose even further - and I don't want small grids anyway.
kwkbrk,
Oct 7, 8:13am
Rubbish. NZDRA is overwhelmingly supported by those who count, the drivers. They are not in the slightest bit interested in some other 2 bit sanctioning body. Time will tell how this will all fall into place, but I bet IHRA`s contracts with Fram and Ruapuna are not extended past 12 months.
rob_man,
Oct 7, 9:23am
Some of those marginal cars may also be big crowd pleasers too.
pollymay,
Oct 7, 9:30am
Lol, I know of a few silly spats drivers have had with them. I think my uncle had trouble with them over windscreen angle and a chassis issue cause it was built to aussie spec which meant they came up with some silly nonsense about how it shouldn't be run. He'd been with them for 30 years so was a bit pissed over the pedantic nonsense.
attitudedesignz,
Oct 7, 11:43am
Now that's good for a laugh, IHRA, a 2 bit sanctioning body!
So i guess Nascar is just a bunch of back woods hill billies, or Bernie eccelstone owns the rights to a couple of 'go carts' or V8 Supercars are just some taxi drivers who get together on a sunday.
I was very surprised that the IHRA could even be bothered with a couple of half arsed 2nd rate tracks in NZ, not to mention how petty and bitchy a lot of drivers are in NZ.
Oh and experience gives me the right to comment.
elect70,
Oct 7, 12:48pm
Its all because ofspat between HD & MSNZlatter wouldnt run any of their sanction meets there so HD went own way, these guys have real vision for m sport .Bring it onMSNZ tier 1 is a bloody joke
kwkbrk,
Oct 7, 2:01pm
I`m not doubting your experience . but lets face it, they have a few tracks in the states, and a couple offshore of the mainland USA in tinpot countries no one has heard of. They are nowhere near the league of Nascar (the greatest show on earth !), F1 or V8 Supercars . and the answer to your question as to why they are interested in NZ . is because they see it as a stepping stone into Australia . where the real money and tracks are. Andra fought tooth and nail to keep them out of Oz for a very good reason . they are only in it for themselves, as a profit making business at whatever cost. They certainly don`t have the drivers or the tracks best interests at heart .
attitudedesignz,
Oct 7, 2:31pm
Point taken mate.
Will be interesting to see how the future pans out for NZ dragracing as a whole.
socram,
Oct 7, 3:02pm
Fact of life.Most outfits run by a committee, or a one sided self interested hierarchy, ultimately marginalise some people.When you are a dictatorship, it is up to you to steer the outfit in the right direction.Get it right and the masses follow.Get it wrong, then you'll get a breakaway.Sometimes the breakaway is more successful than the parent, sometimes it sinks without trace after a brief moment in the spotlight. Having spent much of the last 15 years fielding the flak from outside quarters, we are still on track, but not all decisions have been popular with all drivers - but that is what leadership is all about.You listen, but make your decisions on what is best for the viability of the series. taking a multitude of viewpoints. but sometimes stamping your own authority on it.
The most common comments are from drivers of other series who are fed up with their own structure/commitee/drivers etc. and want to join us, but quite simply, if they have a car that doesn't fit with our criteria, they either have to get their own hierarchy to listen to their grizzles, or set up their own structure. With the exception of the BMWs and Japanese Classics, no one appears to have set up another viable classic series in this area, in recent times.(Alfa have been going for a fair while so are not recent.) Often we fight with MSNZ and even though we may try and work with their committee on the overall rules, often they still make rules that make it difficult for some cars to run. Life is easier if you run a popular mass produced car such as an Escort, Mini or MGB, but sourcing genuine body or external trim parts, or even gearboxes, for rare or older cars is impossible.Would you bolt on a mint original steel bumper on your 60 year old classic then race it, knowing full well that if you damage it, it may be irreplaceable, or would you flout the rules and bolt on a fibreglass one!Its a no brainer, but the updated MSNZ rules require original trim.
kwkbrk,
Oct 7, 3:03pm
to be honest attitudedesignz. actually I`m just keen to get the smell of real fuel in my nostrils again. Wherever ! In fact I`m hoping my car doesn`t sell so I can get it out for one last go, maybe a t Port Rd . all the best .
kecal,
Oct 7, 3:22pm
can someone please clarify all of thisdoes this mean there will be 2 lots of v8 car racing this year!iamjust an ordinary old punter who enjoys a day out at manfield and taupoevery now and then watching the v8s.cheers mike
pollymay,
Oct 7, 3:25pm
this is the nonsense I can't stand. I got told off by one MSNZ guy for removing my dash to install side to side bracing in my jap tinbox instead. the car would literally collapse on itself in a side impact otherwise. What was more ridiculous was he said removing the plastic dash would reduce the strength of the car.compared to a couple bits of mild steel rollcage tubing! Also told me I should remove rollcage padding cause he couldn't tell if it was the approved stuff, this is vs a bare steel pipe.
His logic escaped me, especially since I wasn't building it to MSNZ national spec but to the specs of the club I was running with so it's none of his business. Can't stand the twit, he makes lots of derp comments
socram,
Oct 7, 3:54pm
"To release V8Supercars from its long term contract AND hand over infrastructure that had cost $9 million for a paltry $1.25 million seems to show a complete lack of commercial reality! However, Hampton Downs Managing Director, Tony Roberts, happened to be in Brisbane on the following Monday and met with V8Supercars for meaningful discussions!" HRC Newsletter .
saki,
Oct 7, 7:14pm
I didnt know clubs had there own rules for rollcages.
fordcrzy,
Oct 7, 7:38pm
and yet they make it SOOOOOOO hard for clubsport guys wanting a road/track car to do a bit of racing.i remember the days of HUGE fields of cars at baypark full of weekend racers.they are all gone now thanks to up stuck pen pushers
pollymay,
Dec 17, 6:52pm
Local speedways, rallysprint clubs and privately operated gymkhana clubs can. I do some rallysprint events. The car is overbuilt to hell so trying to pick silly nonsense out on it makes no sense. Possum bourne started out in local clubs like that, iirc he had a V8 ford capri at the same club I run with which was a handful.
My car was 300hpish, felt like 250whp or so till it shat itself last meet, I can get the car into serious poo poo quite quickly on gravel. I have a little project going on for next season though, ~350whp rwd so should be a fast little beast.
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