No safety car

[Rowdy]

Audi have not renewed the contract to provide the V8 supercar safety car. Toyota have apparently been offered the deal but declined. Wonder what car we will have?

[Timu]

A Volvo. The 'Safest Safety car in the world'

[Harves]

I heard Skoda have put their cards on the table.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Orrcon King

Audi have not renewed the contract to provide the V8 supercar safety car. Toyota have apparently been offered the deal but declined. Wonder what car we will have?

This was in today's Daily Telegraph... anotehr purveyor of good news stories about V8Supercar

I find the story interesting... lets think about it for a minute... the Audi company provided a number of cars for the Safety Car program (and from the looks of it, the use of a number of TEGA/AVESCO official types, judging by the car parks at certain rounds...) which were originally branded and recalled by the media as Audi Safety Cars....

... then last season, WPS branded the Audi Safety Cars, and the media branded and recalled the cars as WPS Safety Cars....

So the motor manufacturer isnt getting the recognition for their involvement, as the space is sold to another party... while it is said Audi contributed financially to the Safety Car program on top of the use of the cars... as TEGA/AVESCO sold off the signage space on these vehicles...

I wonder why then that the car maker's importer did not renew the deal

And that it is widely rumoured that the phones at TEGA/AVESCO HQ have been running hot to every importer and manufacturer in the country to source a similarly lucrative replacement deal.... and apparently been politely refused from all accounts.....

[racer69]

Got my hopes up when i saw the title. Thought that a way had been found to get rid of the stupid thing which allows races to continue without drivers losing hard earned time, but it was too much to ask wasn't it

[bartman71]

well they will only let Ford and Holden race so why would any other party want to get involved?

[GTRMagic]

Word on the street suggests that TEGA/AVESCO are talking to the Chinese Brilliance car maker, and looking to replace the Audi A8s with the Zhonghua, seen Here on their website, apparently as part of that brand's long term international plans to launch in the Asia Pacific region...

Could be interesting...

[pete55]

I would be good to see Gore and TC driving around in WPS sponsored Zhonghua's. They'd be very popular in the private golf club car park.

[mixxer]

Originally Posted by racer69

Got my hopes up when i saw the title. Thought that a way had been found to get rid of the stupid thing which allows races to continue without drivers losing hard earned time, but it was too much to ask wasn't it

me too

[Aquarius]

I think you are right about the Chinese Safety Cars, it is all in the fine print down the bottom of the article.

The "Zhonghua" sedans can also be modified for use as taxis, police cars and other specialty sedans.

.

[mmciau]

I agree with racer69 and mixxer - don't have them!

mike

[Uncle Cranker]

Originally Posted by Aquarius

I think you are right about the Chinese Safety Cars, it is all in the fine print down the bottom of the article.

.

Aquarius, I hear on the grapevine, you know a bloke who lives pretty close to Winton.



A little bird sat on my shoulder during the week and chirped to me that there are interim preparations happening at Winton, in possible preparation for the Shanghai round falling through & having to be relocated to an Australian track suitable & willing to run V8's, possibly at relatively short notice.



So, Aquarius, if you are talking to your acquaintance in the next couple of days, can you ask him if my little bird is on the mark, or was he on the turps when he visited me?



My bird also knows a bit about Safety Cars,



He told me that Audi, couldn't quite understand the value in.



a): Giving AVE$$CO the use of a number of vehicles &

b): Having to pay an ever increasing premium to do so.

c): Letting Assistant Clerk's of the Course, open the Sunroof in the Safety cars ?



My Bird as also laughing at the fact that the 'WPS' safety cars might have to be whatever AVE$$CO buy/lease, as there is currently no love from either of the Primary Australian manufacturers, after being burned during previous Safety Car deals.



As mentioned, 'Oh what a feeling’ declined the offer, but 'Better built, Better backed' are allegedly thinking about it, as a means of spreading their buyer base.



My little bird told me he felt a bit sorry for 'Better Built', as the current Magna has taken the "Ugliest Car of the past 10 years Award" off the AU Falcon, and they feel that some feeble link to the V8 SC might give some sales drive.
Unfortunaly for 'Better Built' their alleged offer is about a quarter of what the Black Wiggle has been hoping for.

Remembering that VB is only a 'Platform Partner' till the end of 2005, things might get a bit 'Tight' at AVE$$CO central in the next 14 months.

Don't forget, there will be only one constant, the amount that SEL, skims off the top.................

[Just Do It!]

That's an interesting comment set there, Cranker.

AVESCO seem to have a lot of staff on board and resultingly, there will be an appropriately sized wage budget. It is somewhat concerning that VB's contract is up as it was a significant sponsorship contribution. Having said that, is China worth anything significant to Fosters/CUB?

One thing that does concern me hugely is the fact that apparently SEL take their 25% off the top before AVESCO costs and it the net of these two deductions that get distributed to teams. It's a far cry from the amazing payouts of 1998 and 1999 sadly.

[Uncle Cranker]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

That's an interesting comment set there, Cranker.

AVESCO seem to have a lot of staff on board and resultingly, there will be an appropriately sized wage budget. It is somewhat concerning that VB's contract is up as it was a significant sponsorship contribution. Having said that, is China worth anything significant to Fosters/CUB?

Incredible coincidence Just Do It !


A good mate of mine brought over a slab of his employers finest product (Carlton Draught) last weekend.
As we sat & reflected about Life the Universe & everything, our attention turned to V8's, China & CUB, amongst other things.


My mate told me a bit about a 'Services Review' that has just happened @ CUB, and how a couple of hundred are facing the axe. (has made the finance sections of the OZ & The Age).
Many worried souls at Australia's biggest brewer, apparently.

Coupled with Fosters Group (CUB's parent Co) being in the middle of a takeover bid for Southcorp, currently money isn't flowing as freely as the Beer does, and there is belt tightening all over.

We were shooting the breeze about V8’s and the rule & points changes for this year. I commented on how the only thing that doesn’t ever change is the VB Challenge.

My mate told me about how VB holds 25 % of the total Australian beer market, and Fosters Lager about 1% (on a good week).

Interestingly enough, he said how Fosters Lager is the fourth largest Beer Brand Internationally, and how the sponsorship of Grand Prix is a major success.

I asked if VB was sold in China, and the look alone made me realise what a dumb question I’d just asked.

I then put 2 & 2 together and came up with about 7 (cans each by that stage), and asked if he thought CUB would still play with the Black Wiggle next year.


He seemed sure that the VB challenge would be continuing, and that they would still pay money to have "First pouring rights" at all V8 rounds.
(Apparently CUB pay to keep the oppositions product out, (something for TOM & Holden to consider there.)


But he was fairly sure that they would not be a 'Platform Partner' in 2006.

[Just Do It!]

Hang on, Cranker! 25% of the Australian beer market would be a significant volume with just a single brand. Now the question needs to be asked who is #1,2,3,5,6, and 7 and what do they represent as a risk to VB in what is without doubt a key marketing segment and opportunity.

Without prejudice and pessimism, it would seem to be a strategic sponsorship - although I am not the head of Fosters/CUB. Now if this sponsorship was leveraged in conjunction with the F1 sponsorship, there is no reason for it not to continue.

My main concern as a senior Foster/CUB board member/employee would be not necessarily the cost of the sponsorship, but rather the potential cost of not sponsoring. Think about it for a moment and to me the inherent risk of not being involved seems greater than the cost of being involved.

Yes, the pouring rights bring income, and the TV coverage brings exposure, but the risk of another brand picking up the sponsorship would have me fair shaking. I look at the beer and liquor market and recent changes in this part of the world, and as a Fosters/CUB person, I would be all for continuity as there are some interesting situations that could play out if they weren't involved that could soon lead to lose of poruing rights.

VB is sold in NZ. Fosters here hold about 8% of the beer market. Aussies moan that VB is cheaper here than at the brewery door in Melbourne. What is interesting is what pour percentage V8 Supercarsprovides to the Fosters wine business. Cougar Bourbon costs an arm and a leg - but usually someone else's - at a Supercar round.

As for Tom and Holden.....yeah right - The very catch cry ironically of a Kiwi beer brand.

For me, as independent as I am, keeping the Fosters beer and wine business linked to V8 Supercars is a key future growth strategy. But what would I know really? To me, non-involvement is a dangerous and risky business......!!

[Uncle Cranker]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Hang on, Cranker! 25% of the Australian beer market would be a significant volume with just a single brand. Now the question needs to be asked who is #1,2,3,5,6, and 7 and what do they represent as a risk to VB in what is without doubt a key marketing segment and opportunity.

Not sure where 2 to 10 sit, but was told 1 in 4 beers sold in Aust is a VB, and that CUB holds 52 % of the total Aust Beer market.

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Without prejudice and pessimism, it would seem to be a strategic sponsorship - although I am not the head of Fosters/CUB. Now if this sponsorship was leveraged in conjunction with the F1 sponsorship, there is no reason for it not to continue.

Not sure on how you would tie in F1 & V8 together, but to the untrained eye, why bother ? How many poeple do you see drinking Fosters ? Usually only tourists who havn't been set straight yet !

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

My main concern as a senior Foster/CUB board member/employee would be not necessarily the cost of the sponsorship, but rather the potential cost of not sponsoring. Think about it for a moment and to me the inherent risk of not being involved seems greater than the cost of being involved.

Not sure of that one either, although Tooheys managed to get the Melbourne Cup sponsorship off CUB a while back.
Official word if I remember rightly was somthing like " We see no value in the sponsorship at the price offered" in other words CUB walked away from a bidding war. I suppose that even a 1/2 % fall in sales would hurt, but I maintain 'at what cost'. You dont spend $100 to recoup $50

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Cougar Bourbon costs an arm and a leg - but usually someone else's - at a Supercar round.

Time to get on the phone to organise another gossip & free beer session, with my mate.

[Uncle Cranker]

As an addition, the more I think about it, the less sponsorship I see from both CUB & Lion Nathan.

Quite possibly, the big Brewers have realised the lack of value in flogging an already established product, when newer products need help to get off the ground.

Or that sporting sponsorship doesn't give true value for money, CUB pulled out of their AFL deal 12 months early, by bringing Toyota to the table. Yes they still do minor stuff, like Goal & Mark of the Year, and Calton Draught is "Official Beer of the AFL", but not naming rights.

I think Tooheys did similar with NRL ?, please correct me if I am wrong.

So back to Topic....

There is clearly no value in being the vehicle supplier for Safety Cars, when a white shoe wearer from Queensland, comes in & pays way over Market Value to get HIS name on YOUR doors...........

[GTRMagic]

But the Chinese are obviously happy to supply their Zhonghuas... they arent a bad looking car, if you take a look at the one that can do 360 degree spins off the website, it would look good with the silver WPS logos up the sides....

A marketing coup for the Chinese perhaps... saying they led the V8Supercar races of Australia with their domestic product.

[Just Do It!]

More exciting for a guy like Mr Gore would be the value of having a 10% cornerstone market share of the middle class Chinese finance market of private homes and cars...!

[Timu]

I say bring back the Jackaroo from the 1996 AMP 1000...... It was a gem!

[bahodie]

Or maybe a VL Commodore with P plates. Now that would relate to the target audience!

[Aquarius]

Well, the use of Chinese cars as Safety Cars puts a pineapple up the arse of all those people who have been sprouting that the V8's are going to China so that Holden/Ford can sell cars over there.

So, the real upshot is that the Chinese are letting the V8's in so that they can sell thier cars into Aussie. What a laugh/What a turnaround!

[Aquarius]

Originally Posted by Uncle Cranker

Aquarius, I hear on the grapevine, you know a bloke who lives pretty close to Winton.

A little bird sat on my shoulder during the week and chirped to me that there are interim preparations happening at Winton, in possible preparation for the Shanghai round falling through & having to be relocated to an Australian track suitable & willing to run V8's, possibly at relatively short notice.

So, Aquarius, if you are talking to your acquaintance in the next couple of days, can you ask him if my little bird is on the mark, or was he on the turps when he visited me?

I haven't heard anything particular of late, but rounds get cancelled and others get rounds, just look at 2004 for example. So there might be something on the horizon. My personal tip is "don't plan anything for Queens Birthday weekend 2005, all roads could be leading to central Victoria "

[Raglanparade]

hopefully without a chinese safety car as well.. it might get torched at winton by the locals.

[Harves]

It has to be a V8 Supercar because at some rounds it was well in contention, then it may also need a franchise, L1 or L2 should be OK.