V8 SuperTourers Round 3 - Pics/Results/Rumour

[nistfan]

Originally Posted by Member CCC

Awesome day in Christchurch today the sun is shinning!

ST only race north of Taupo, don't you know...

[HProject]

The crowds are nothing flash at the minute, but they're better than I thought they would be with this weather - it's been raining non-stop since about lunch.

Two big off's in the ute's in the wet about an hour ago - Lightfoot and Cross hitting the outside wall at turn 1 hard, and Huggi going straight ahead into the tyres at Castrol. Wondering whether they'll all be back tomorrow.

[promax]

Originally Posted by Chappelli

Horrible Weather... Dark, cold, wet.

I did a drive by during Practise 2 and was bloody surprised by the crowd....
The top parking paddock was 3/4 full (paid parking) and there were a healthy enough number lining the streets (free parking)....

The Wife thought the crowd was similar to the last time she went out there, which she seemed to think was "a lovely sunny weekend and a day of racing".... Which would have been a couple of years ago....

well you'd hope there would be a decent crowd today ST seem to really be pushing their free tickets for Saturday.. to attract ticket buyers for Sunday. good luck to them if it works!

[Chappelli]

Originally Posted by promax

well you'd hope there would be a decent crowd today ST seem to really be pushing their free tickets for Saturday.. to attract ticket buyers for Sunday. good luck to them if it works!

Be interesting to see how many of those free tickets were redeemed today... Standing in the rain all day to use a ticket that cost you nothing, no thanks.

[Swedish Brick]

Bah whats a little rain? Spectators are getting too soft these days!

[socram]

Originally Posted by Swedish Brick

Bah whats a little rain? Spectators are getting too soft these days!

I think you'll find that regardless of the weather, compared to 50 years ago and beyond, there are now so many leisure options and families are so much more mobile, that many sports and events are seeing lower crowds, not just motorsport.

[Mark Petch]

Originally Posted by socram

I think you'll find that regardless of the weather, compared to 50 years ago and beyond, there are now so many leisure options and families are so much more mobile, that many sports and events are seeing lower crowds, not just motorsport.

Totally agree with your post, frankly we are spoilt for choice. This afternoons cold and wet weather was hard to take and I dont blame many of the spectators voting with their feet and heading for home.

Track temperatures reached a high of 17 degree's C during the second V8ST practise but dropped to 14 during the wet qualifying session. Thankfully the weathers looking much better for tomorrow, so times should tumble by at least another second, so very encouraging all in all.

[HProject]

Another weird ol' day all up. Despite the weather, a reasonable crowd showed up. Hopefully we see more of them back tomorrow.

Also, I received a message over social media which debunks the "15k" remark I made on the previous page - instead making the figure more around 50k.

Anyway, bring on tomorrow Here's some pics, just because.















My full SuperTourer set from the day is here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...5072430&type=1

[kiwi20]

Hard to tell as there is no clear pic but looks like Murphys car now has the Hankook logo on the guard too...with no Bridgestone on guards.

[Icarus_nz]

On a positive note, I predict a fine old dust up between the two young fellas on the front row.
Nothng to lose, everything to prove
Bring on the entertainment boys!

[HProject]

Race one wasn't exactly a blockbuster. A fair bit of biffo though. Fogg appeared on TV to take out Walsh on one of the restarts after a shove from Pederson. Boothy also walled it, but later on at turn one. Walsh's car has the most damage - so I'm not sure it'll be back on track.

[Swedish Brick]

Is the track wet?

[HProject]

Originally Posted by Swedish Brick

Is the track wet?

Race one was mostly dry - but with some wet portions off the racing line. Race two was damp after a couple of passing showers - but dry by the end. And race three will likely (touch wood) be dry.

[Sidewayz]

Are there even any cars left to run the final race.
Any sign of the Hyundai?

[GHOGH]

The online video coverage is ok for the first attempt considering speedcafe article said the livestreaming was not gong to be ready for Pukekohe.
Don't know about the commentators - I await the day of the selectable commentary - basic, technical etc.
Music selection was a bit eek too.

[Point2]

2 races today ran from start to finish with no safety car.
Sitting in the stand it made for a long day.

Support races lacked numbers but challenge cup was good to watch.

7 hours at track.
Managed to watch all races
Visit a few teams and drivers in pits
Was hosting customers in lounge so wined and dined ok.
They seemed happy
All,in all not bad.

[Mark Petch]

Originally Posted by HProject

Race one was mostly dry - but with some wet portions off the racing line. Race two was damp after a couple of passing showers - but dry by the end. And race three will likely (touch wood) be dry.

Unfortunately the circuit never dried completely, with a very treacherous constant stream of water running across the track just before the overhead pedestrian bridge. That and the cold conditions etc, made for a very trying weekend all round.

Have to say I am disappointed, with the state of the track in the wet, V8SC are extremely lucky they had great weather otherwise I am sure heads would roll.

[harcey]

Originally Posted by Mark Petch

Unfortunately the circuit never dried completely, with a very treacherous constant stream of water running across the track just before the overhead pedestrian bridge. That and the cold conditions etc, made for a very trying weekend all round.

Have to say I am disappointed, with the state of the track in the wet, V8SC are extremely lucky they had great weather otherwise I am sure heads would roll.

couldnt agree more mark,clearly the place has had an Otara makeover and theres gonna be lots of poor buggers damaging cars during this winter in club events when they get caught out in downpours

[HProject]

Originally Posted by Mark Petch

Have to say I am disappointed, with the state of the track in the wet, V8SC are extremely lucky they had great weather otherwise I am sure heads would roll.

From what I've heard at the track from marshalls and co - which I doubt is news to many - is that the concrete walls basically negate all the previous natural and man-made forms of water-drainage. If true, what a massive oversight.

Anyway, what a weird bizarre day of racing.

[Goat Boy]

Not bad crowds actually either. Not many on the hill but loads in the stands! And why not, weather didn't settle until about 3.

I noticed the stream of water across the track, lots of un-drained groundwater leaching out where it should have been picked up by subsoil drainage. They will need to spend about another $500k+ if they want to sort drainage along the periphery.

[Goat Boy]

Lap times on a cold dry-ish track in the high 1:04's, on a warm day would likely see another second off that so not too bad. I really miss the old back straight though!

You can see why it would never ever get an FIA Grade 2 licence, just not the space for any decent run-offs. And putting those concrete barriers along the outside of the back straight is a complete joke - they just wanted to use it all up obviously!

[Blackpearl]

Laugh of the weekend, once foggys car was destroyed they repaired it, then he went off in the next race and gased it up and snaked it up into the wall to have a dnf.

[Blackpearl]

Also would never run in the wet at this track now, its dangerous.

[Icarus_nz]

Originally Posted by Blackpearl

Laugh of the weekend, once foggys car was destroyed they repaired it, then he went off in the next race and gased it up and snaked it up into the wall to have a dnf.

'Man of the match'

[Alpina107]

Originally Posted by Goat Boy

And putting those concrete barriers along the outside of the back straight is a complete joke - they just wanted to use it all up obviously!

Another legacy from the Tony Cochrane era!!