iRace - Racing for Racers

[Silver 3]

Originally Posted by alfacors

V8Utes is probably the exception when it comes to the Procar stable. Doing alright for themselves.

That category is now owned by the competitor group ? Correct? i think that is the whole point I have been getting at. That point is common to SS surviving and is the that issue that sees 'outside' commercial entities given control of a specific slab of the sport.

[David Towe]

Originally Posted by NewsStalker

Very few 'race drivers' make the switch to historics with either their own or other drivers cars.

Of course, we're just out there doing display laps aren't we? Not really racing each other at all!!

[NewsStalker]

In many cases yes. Simply because they want somewhere to 'race' the car but the cost of repairing potential damage (impossibility in some cases) prevents them from really mixing it up.

Many of the historic cars racing have been bought and restored by drivers unconnected with the original era the car(s) came from. There are a few who continue, but not many. Cost, health and age all adding their toll preventing them from following their former passions.

[Rachel Richards]

Originally Posted by David Towe

Of course, we're just out there doing display laps aren't we? Not really racing each other at all!!

A bit off topic, but to stop a bit of "tit-for-tat" consider this.


David, I think we all know what rac, sorry, Newstalker means, that the biff & barge of some classes, generally doesn't exist in Historics.


I for one, love the entire atmosphere that is Historic racing, from the openness of the paddock, to chatting with the car owners, to watching gentlemen racers, actually compete like gentlemen.

Winton, Sandown & PI historics are ten times better event's than the respective V8 Circus' at those venues.

The great part about Newsie's comment Re: drivers not connected with the car's original history, simply adds to the atmosphere, they are every bit (sometimes more) passionate about the car.

[David Towe]

OK, but it's a bit condescending to say that because we don't "mix it up" (read rub panels to win a position) that we aren't actually racing. I'd say it takes just as much, if not more skill to win a place without having to push the other guy out of the way. If we had the budget or the desire to race a V8 Supertaxi, most of us would. Our passion for these cars aside, there is a cold, hard fact involved in our decision to race the cars that we do; a V8 is a losing proposition in terms of resale value at the end of a season or 2 in it. A Group A or Group C Touring car is going up in value each year. That doesn't mean we aren't skillful or "racers".

[NewsStalker]

SOmetimes even more passionate than the original owners.

And biff and barge doesn't make 'great racing' - it usually detracts from the 'racing'.

I guess the real point is whether historic cars are stretched as far as they were originally - again I would suggest not (for fear of 'breakages').

And no aspertions (sp?) were meant to be cast on historic drivers - historics are and alwasys will be a category of motor sport in their own right (which would be much better off without certain organising bodies..)