Is Bentwood fully appreciated?

[BootsOntheSide]

I've seen very little credit or praise for him, but I think he had a superb season unde rthe circumstances. His car was supposedly an old test car used mainly for passenger rides, he'd never driven a front-wheel-drive car before, or one of similar power, her had awful luck, had to miss a race as the team was so underfunded, yet he still beat Collard (in a later Vauxhall), Kaye, Breeze and Watson-Smith (admittedly, in a dismal car).

[touringcarnut]

He had his fair share of back luck as you say, but others also had some rotten luck through the season. Matt Neal suffered some frustrating failures, and Kaye's car was run on a shoestring like the others.

[Kicking-back]

Bentwood did a very solid job, often for little praise.

Definitely an unsung driver.

[speedy king]

...but he never stopped moaning

[touringcarnut]

Originally posted by speedy king
...but he never stopped moaning

[Craner Curves]

I'd have more sympathy for him if he stopped whinging. No wonder Nic Minassian threw gravel at him once.

[sceptic]

Minassian had good reason to throw gravel at him - it was a nasty accident and Bentwood was very much to blame.

Certainly early in the season Bentwood was doing very well, but the increasing unreliability of the car cost him a lot of points.

[Craig]

Can't disagree with the whinger reputation he's got. Maybe he had a good tutor last year?

[BootsOntheSide]

Originally posted by sceptic
Minassian had good reason to throw gravel at him - it was a nasty accident and Bentwood was very much to blame.

Certainly early in the season Bentwood was doing very well, but the increasing unreliability of the car cost him a lot of points.

I was wondering how long it'd take for Minassian to be brought up - you're absolutely right that it was an awful moment from Michael, and one which can partly be blamed for his negative image.

The second part of this post illustrates my point - intentionally or otherwise, it's written as if he's being overlooked because he's not scored huge points, when the reliability issues ultimately explain this.

[sceptic]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
The second part of this post illustrates my point - intentionally or otherwise, it's written as if he's being overlooked because he's not scored huge points, when the reliability issues ultimately explain this.

At the end of the day, you need to be scoring points.
The more points you have the higher in the championship you are - and that affects all sorts of things, from the amount of TV coverage you get as the season progresses, to which garage you get allocated.

At the same time, Bentwood hasn't set the world on fire in anything he's done - consistently scoring the small points, but podium appearances have been rare. He's been unlucky, but as we say so often, sometimes you make your own luck.

[speedy king]

What did both him and Minassian race in?

[sceptic]

F3

[Les]

but it's the whinging that really puts me off...

[KPC]

Originally posted by sceptic
Certainly early in the season Bentwood was doing very well, but the increasing unreliability of the car cost him a lot of points.

I think throwing the car at the scenery and/or other cars played a bigger role in his meagre point scoring. I still can't believe Huff was penalised at Mondello.

:confused:

[Les]

don't even think about starting me on that

[Jonny Apex]

Originally posted by sceptic
Minassian had good reason to throw gravel at him - it was a nasty accident and Bentwood was very much to blame.

A nasty accident? Miscommunication on the last lap between Bentwood (being lapped) and Minassian who, as a result, lost momentum and the race lead and win to Jonny Kane. Where's the nasty accident in that?

Minassian, quite rightly, was banned for several races for his childish behaviour on the slowing down lap. Highly amusing, though.

Bentwood: which other privateers (except WSR or Dynamics) qualified on the front row or finished on the podium?

[touringcarnut]

Originally posted by Jonny Apex

Bentwood: which other privateers (except WSR or Dynamics) qualified on the front row or finished on the podium?

In fairness to the other independents, the car was a very competative cast off. Jason Hughes had a v6 MG that was never quite the package, and least said about those ETCC spec Hondas the better!

[BootsOntheSide]

Collard had a (later) Vauxhall all season, Kaye had last year's Honda (and both were in experienced teams), while GA put out competitive drivers at times (Breeze, Burt and Hodgetts were particularly competitive).

[touringcarnut]

Other than driver talent, money is the biggest factor, but WSR proved what can be done without much money.

I think a lot comes down to what equipment they've got to start with, and who they've got to run that equipment effectively.

[N I Tram]

WSR and Dynamics were always going to be the top privateer teams - they both had competitive cars which they'd been running already, experienced drivers, and TD also had great funding.

Bentwood had a pretty strong seaosn in my book, better than Hines' under the circumstances. Hopefully he'll be back on the grid next year.

[SPARK Msport]

Bentwood never had the season he wanted, he would either be involved in a crash, sponsorship problems or just bad luck. With all of this into account I think he had a good season, the Brands crash at the start of the year would had put a big hole in the teams budget but when he was on the black stuff and doing well I think he had a good solid season.

I can't see him as a works driver next year, but I can see him having another go at the indy's title if he and the team return.

[Neil Adams]

looking at the results he was the only guy to win the independents part of the race other than wsr and dynamics which is commendable

[BootsOntheSide]

Good point Thunder. I really hope this isn't the last we see of the guy.

[Rich R]

maybe this leads to a bigger question of whether or not wsr and td should be included as independants, especially if the only other person to win an indie race also had partial backing from a works team.

[touringcarnut]

Originally posted by Rich R
maybe this leads to a bigger question of whether or not wsr and td should be included as independants, especially if the only other person to win an indie race also had partial backing from a works team.

WSR didn't have a pot to **** in, and their achievements were quite outstanding for 2004. That's not to take it away from the other indies, but they did achieve a huge amount on peanuts.