Saloon Cars 2008

[Kerri]

2008 Supaloc Australian Saloon Car Series calendar.

Rd. 1 Mount Panorama/Bathurst February 8-10
Rd. 2 Oran Park April 26-27
Rd. 3 Eastern Creek July 12-13
Rd. 4 Phillip Island August 9-10
Rd. 5 Mallala November 1-2
Rd. 6 Sandown November 29-30

I was going to post the program for Bathurst but it has been changed again (so I am told )

[cavvy]

Given Saloon Cars are a category that could fill the grid at Bathurst with strong competitor numbers across the country, have you got a list of starters Kerri?

[Kerri]

I was emailed one early last week, but since entries only closed on friday, I will post the updated list when all entries are confirmed.
At the moment we have a full grid (55) but again I will wait for the final list.

[Kerri]

Saloon Car entry list - Bathurst

Car Name State Make/model
1 Bruce Heinrich SA VT
4 Basil Stratos VIC VT
5 Daniel Gate WA VT
6 John Goodacre SA VT
9 Duane Wilson ACT AU
10 Tony James WA VT
13 Troy Hoey QLD AU
14 John Townsend QLD VN
15 Shawn Jamieson SA VT
16 Dion Panizza WA VT
17 Matt Lovell SA AU
19 Glenn Kenny NSW VP
20 Wayne Christie NZ VN
21 John Van Gilst QLD VN
22 Justin Garnett SA AU
25 Colby Cowham QLD EA
26 Tony Shanks QLD AU
27 Luke Westall NSW AU
28 David Mitchell NSW AU
29 Lindsay Merritt QLD VT
31 Robert Lonie SA VT
32 Brian French NSW VT
34 Steve Kwiatkowski SA AU
35 Nicholas Laracy QLD VN
38 Tim Young QLD EA
39 Kevin Millier VIC EA
43 Ryan Dane NSW EA
45 Wayne Patten QLD VN
46 Paul Pennisi VIC VT
47 Brett Carrington VIC AU
49 Nathan Callaghan WA VT
54 Malcolm Niall WA AU
55 Brett Niall WA AU
60 Peter Dane NSW AU
65 Rod Dawson QLD AU
67 Lindsay Kearns QLD EA
68 Kris Walton QLD AU
71 Mark Pilatti WA VT
72 Clint Harvey WA AU
74 Brenton Burr SA AU
75 Brett Stewart WA VT
76 Michael Seal NSW AU
77 Kevin Weeks SA VT
81 Tim Rowse VIC VT
82 Geoff Brown VIC AU
87 Dave Rogers NSW AU
88 Gavyn Croft NSW VT
91 Naomi Maltby SA VN
98 Brad Piggott NSW AU

[alfacors]

Can't wait!

[cavvy]

The saloon car organisation take a bow - lets hope the TV coverage does the racing justice.

Make sure we know when to watch Kerri, & have a good one ...

[Kerri]

I will Cavvy & thanks.
Forecast doesn't look good though

[sizzle]

Originally Posted by Kerri

Saloon Car entry list - Bathurst

Car Name State Make/model
1 Bruce Heinrich SA VT

Has he had much sorting time Kerri

[Kerri]

A bit, not enough though, still has a fair bit to sort out yet as you would expect with any new car. Especially since it is a *******

[TSR]

So Kerri, Bruce has gone to the DARK SIDE for season 08. Oh well his choice.

[Adam Ronke]

I wish my car was going, it looks like a good field!

[Kerri]

Originally Posted by TSR

So Kerri, Bruce has gone to the DARK SIDE for season 08. Oh well his choice.

Yes he has, but wait till you see the car No Holden signs on this one

[cavvy]

Originally Posted by Kerri

Yes he has, but wait till you see the car No Holden signs on this one

Seen the 'Ours' sign on Pete Geoghegans Mustang from years ago? A takeoff of the Ford sign at a time he was chasing factory support.
Would be a talking point Kerri, & it is 'ours'.

[00 XR8]

Any truth to the story that Saloon Cars no longer have CAMS National Championship status?

[cavvy]

Originally Posted by 00 XR8

Any truth to the story that Saloon Cars no longer have CAMS National Championship status?

What, too successful ?

[00 XR8]

Looking at 2008 regs here;

http://www.camsmanual.com.au/sportre..._SportRegs.pdf

...it certainly appears to be a Series rather than a Championship in 2008.

I would guess that TASCCO have deemed Championship status not worthy of the extra money involved.

[express]

Originally Posted by 00 XR8

Any truth to the story that Saloon Cars no longer have CAMS National Championship status?

Granted the Saloon Cars have a fantastic size grid at Bathurst this week, however the series seems to have struggled to successfully crossover to the newer models. Two or three years ago there was a franchise type system in place to be able to get a start and when the new VT/AU were eligible grid sizes have shrunk considerably for the national series. If memory serves me right there was only about 10-14 cars at EC last year for the national round. could it be that there are to many grey areas in the regs that allow rules to be stretched and infact benefit those who have a considerable budget or the brains to use them to there advantage? Fuel is definiatley an issue in this class, however i am led to believe that this has been fixed post bathurst (??kerri)which means that all competitors will run the same fuel instead of the front runners paying in excess of $14 per litre for there fuel and therefore forcing the guys that run mid pack to use this fuel as well to be competitive.
Will be interesting to see what sort of numbers turn up to the next round of the national series?

[cavvy]

express, 9 x WA entries at Bathurst.

The initial 3 rounds of the national series/championship (because I couldnt give one iota about the perceived difference) are in NSW, so you dont suggest any diminution in numbers has some 'different agenda'.

I take this opportunity to contrast the travel habits of 'Eastern States' competitors who seem to find visiting WA expensive - no less expensive coming the other way.

Disappointing as it is that Saloon Cars dont have WA on the 'national trail', the entries at Bathurst are a credit to the class, its competitors & the organisers.

Motor racing & a full grid at Bathurst are synonomous ( as one is what I am trying to say).

Looking for the TV.

[express]

Originally Posted by cavvy

express, 9 x WA entries at Bathurst.

The initial 3 rounds of the national series/championship (because I couldnt give one iota about the perceived difference) are in NSW, so you dont suggest any diminution in numbers has some 'different agenda'.

I take this opportunity to contrast the travel habits of 'Eastern States' competitors who seem to find visiting WA expensive - no less expensive coming the other way.

Disappointing as it is that Saloon Cars dont have WA on the 'national trail', the entries at Bathurst are a credit to the class, its competitors & the organisers.

Motor racing & a full grid at Bathurst are synonomous ( as one is what I am trying to say).

Looking for the TV.

couldnt agree with you more, you guys in wa are the ones that do all the hard yards yet get no round in return. imagine if the normal contingent of wa cars didnt make the trek across for each national round, then we would be nearly down to single digit entries.

[cavvy]

47 cars out for first practice session - Kevin Weekes quickest.

[Peter Nightingale]

Originally Posted by Kerri

Yes he has, but wait till you see the car No Holden signs on this one

Kerri, can you give this forum a very good explanation for the switch of makes......

[00 XR8]

It's great to see that Naomi Maltby is out there running around.

[Kerri]

Originally Posted by express

Granted the Saloon Cars have a fantastic size grid at Bathurst this week, however the series seems to have struggled to successfully crossover to the newer models. Two or three years ago there was a franchise type system in place to be able to get a start and when the new VT/AU were eligible grid sizes have shrunk considerably for the national series. If memory serves me right there was only about 10-14 cars at EC last year for the national round. could it be that there are to many grey areas in the regs that allow rules to be stretched and infact benefit those who have a considerable budget or the brains to use them to there advantage? Fuel is definiatley an issue in this class, however i am led to believe that this has been fixed post bathurst (??kerri)which means that all competitors will run the same fuel instead of the front runners paying in excess of $14 per litre for there fuel and therefore forcing the guys that run mid pack to use this fuel as well to be competitive.
Will be interesting to see what sort of numbers turn up to the next round of the national series?

Some of what you have said is correct but the issue of fuel costs, if any and I mean any SC competitor is paying $14 plus per litre they are being completely ripped off and have never been told of a fuel available under CAMS Shedule G at that price.
The most anyone has paid for top grade approved fuel (to my knowledge) is around $6.50 p/l. Again if they paid more they shouldn't have.
I know of 10 at Bathurst who used the same fuel and the cost was a little over $5.50 p/l and some of those were mid fielders so it made no difference.
The new control fuel will be $3.50p/l.

[smokinJ]

Originally Posted by 00 XR8

It's great to see that Naomi Maltby is out there running around.

she sent me a few texts' through the weekend sounds like she had a ball

race 1 she finished 31st and gained 6sec a lap on qlf

her gear shifter broke through the chase in race 2
scary stuff
went in to the pits Craig fixed it but she went a lap down

Im sure Shazza will have a few stories when she returns

[Kerri]

Just been chatting to her other half, she had a ball, and we are so proud of her achievements, a big step going up the mountain for the first time, I wish I could have had a shot, but driving a commodore is a bit over the top for me