Things BTCC could learn from Powertour

[Les]

we are back from our first ever Powertour meeting and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the professionalism of it. The touring cars could definetely learn a thing or two.

a) the radio truck was there - what ever happened to ours. It was promised for Knockhill but never appeared.

b) the small pictures of all the drivers available as you walked round the paddock plus the fact that all the drivers were out and about during the walkabout.

c) the programme was excellent - very up to date with the ballast shown clearly. Like the bad page photos - can just see Rick & Paul posing like that!!

d) it was cheaper

Any other comments?

[Eddie_harasym]

As a spectator I have been to two PowerTour meets this year, and yes in a lot of respects I think they are run a lot better.

The BTCC meets altough perhaps more profesional seem to be more geared up to Corporate and VIP's only etc, this I think has a lot to do with the manufacturers.

The PowerTour is a lot less informal and spectators can get alot closer to the cars and the drivers, which is great.

Also the BTCC has a **** of a bloke with blonde spikey hair on the mike talking ****, and the PowerTour has a nice fit bird.

[Danielsun]

You're not insulting the founders of the AHFZ there, are you, Eddie? As RickP would say, "Shurely shome mishtake..."

I do certainly prefer the pricing of PowerTour events; BTCC is becoming, or rather has become more corporate, as manufacturer involvement has risen. That's probably what assisted in the downfall of crowds.

ToCA ended up taking the racing away from the 'grass roots' fans of the sport and into the deep pockets of sponsors' guests and the likes...

Hopefully in 2001 that can change.

[White Van Man]

Shurely shome mishtake indeed...! I've never heard anyone describe Tanya as 'fit' before...!! Oh, and Alan Hyde actually works on both series... not saying he doesn't talk shyte, but at least he doesn't sput as much as Addison...!

Anyway, I have to say I love both series - TOCA probably offers a little more excitement with all the major manufacturers involved, but, Powertour is only in it's first year...! I too love the way that things are a little more relaxed at the BRDC meetings, but surely this is due to the nature of the beast - national saloons and GTs are generally raced by teams who don't have the budget of BTCC teams. If they did, I bet they'd have loads of sponsors to entertain and to keep away from the rowdies...

[redshoes]

Re Tanya Baker, I've got 3 words for you - "Mini qualifying times". If you were listening on Saturday then there's nothing more to say.

[Danielsun]

... and if you weren't there on Saturday?

[White Van Man]

Then it serves you right for not getting off your fat arse, into your car and along to the circuit...

[Danielsun]

... or into a ditch, or into the nearest Bridgestone dealership. Yeah...

[White Van Man]

huh ? What is that supposed to mean ? Is this some in-joke ?

[Danielsun]

Well, I guess you'll just have to ask Carrie - or Craig, whose fault she claimed it was! Personally, I'd go to the direct cause: Invader...

[White Van Man]

hmm... OK, maybe one of them could elaborate ?

[ganda123]

I can't think of anything really ground-breaking to say in this topic but the BTCC's got a better podium - the powertour's one is pathetic...

[White Van Man]

erm, Powertour's podium celebrations are carried out in the paddock at the end of the day's racing which is a real nice touch. TOCA's champagne spraying takes place between individual races whilst people are buying a burger or nipping to the loo... 'nuff said!

BTW, did anyone else notice the the TOCA 'toadium' was being used at the recent British Superbike event ?

[ganda123]

Actually you're right, having it at the end is better...

[Les]

Can't put it at the end - think what difference it would have made to Ricks podium celebrations if he had had to wait for 3 hours.

[Danielsun]

Standing up, let alone jumping around, could possibly have been a slight problem...

Personally, I think they could all learn a thing or three from any Historic meeting. I say this in light of Snetterton yesterday. While Invader and Craig were supposedly full with liquid, some other Ten-Tenths members were full of joy at watching one of the undoubted highlights of the entire season: Classic Sports Car Club action at the coldest place on earth...

Atmosphere that only two other large meetings can compare to - and those other two are both run at Goodwood. It really could be described as 'friendly' and when was the last time a BTCC event was called a similar thing...

[Dan Friel]

What about taking those wings off the cars!! Did anyone see the highlights of the NSC race from Silverstone??? Cars sliding around, overtaking all over the place (even round the outisde!!) and dramas everywhere. Like it has been all season..

Scrap the class A cars, and just rely on the NSC lot - you'll have racing just like that of the early 90's..

[Danielsun]

If you want sliding around, you want historics! While it would probably be seen as a major step backwards for the BTCC, losing all aerodynamic aids would greatly improve the racing throughout the pack. But we should probably wait to see if the new wings which supposedly create not much downforce will do just that...