Walden Motorsport Forced To Sell Or Lease Licence??

thunderbolt · 20 Dec 2007, 21:01 (Ref:2092977)

http://www.nmd.com.au/news2/news_detail.cfm?ID=6927

Quote:

"Due to PWR ceasing operation we have lost our level one support, and our naming right sponsor feels that without that support we will not be competitive.

NewsStalker · 20 Dec 2007, 21:06 (Ref:2092981)

I particularly liked this quote:

Quote:

said the whole team were guttered

I'm having trouble imagining a team with gutters running around them!

But what is probably worse about this is that a sponsor comes outy and says, outright, they are pulling the pin because the team won;t be competitive - without giving them a chance to show whether they can improve or not.

Ripples throughout the series if more start doing this.

billy bigtime · 21 Dec 2007, 01:24 (Ref:2093082)

Just do a deal with Walkinshaw, everybody else is getting fleas.

**GTRMagic** · 21 Dec 2007, 01:32 (Ref:2093087)

Back in the real world...

... if a naming rights sponsor wont play because the team isnt hooked into a L1 squad... you would imagine that after reading that article, there will be perhaps 10 team owners chasing Mr Walden for the contact details.. to get them onto their L1 car instead

Wonder how Mr Romano feels about all of this?

00 XR8 · 21 Dec 2007, 02:03 (Ref:2093096)

Even with PWR support, I really don't think that they would have been 'competitive' anyway.............

Wood-duck · 21 Dec 2007, 02:27 (Ref:2093106)

Does an ex-BJR Falcon count as a Level One car ?

**GTRMagic** · 21 Dec 2007, 03:37 (Ref:2093119)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wood-duck

Does an ex-BJR Falcon count as a Level One car ?

Where is the L1 support team coming from though?

Pro Racer · 21 Dec 2007, 03:59 (Ref:2093124)

Tasman should give Waldo a call might help out with another sponser to and pay the bills with Walden using one of their 2007 cars.

**GTRMagic** · 21 Dec 2007, 04:22 (Ref:2093130)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro Racer

Tasman should give Waldo a call might help out with another sponser to and pay the bills with Walden using one of their 2007 cars.

Tasman cant keep their own sponsors on the car longer than a race weekend, let alone lending any to someone else

Wood-duck · 21 Dec 2007, 04:38 (Ref:2093133)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Where is the L1 support team coming from though?

Depends what you define as 'support' GTR...... 'Support" could come in the form of last year's data from Mssrs Jones (A) and Wills and Unky Brad's mobile # if they run into bother...

It would not be the first time the boundaries of an arrangement been stretched in a creative manner to sway a sponsor on board...

**GTRMagic** · 21 Dec 2007, 04:41 (Ref:2093135)

You are presuming there "is" a sponsor

Wood-duck · 21 Dec 2007, 05:37 (Ref:2093148)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

You are presuming there "is" a sponsor

Well, the likelihood of that is, well, minute....

Given the lack of sponsors on the "spirit of Sydney" livery, My theory is that without the PWR support, they will be unable to put a reasonable proposal to anybody and is it easier to say "we have had a sponsor pull out" than say "we cant find a sponsor" and without our "Level One" "suppor group" we are stuffed....

One would think V8SA would have seen through this for what it really is... a daydream....

NewsStalker · 21 Dec 2007, 06:29 (Ref:2093162)

Or maybe V8SA simply wants to reduce the number of available 'licences' by one - again...? (what's thre current buyback scheme worth?)

Suttory · 21 Dec 2007, 08:00 (Ref:2093193)

They could probly still run a Fujitsu entry. Theres a couple of VZ's still on the market and they still have the ex Porter equipment.

Falcadore · 21 Dec 2007, 12:16 (Ref:2093292)

Presumably a few teams said no before they got to PWR...

888_1 · 21 Dec 2007, 12:36 (Ref:2093299)

Certainly a lot of negativity here. At least Brian & his blokes are giving it a go. Are any of you nay sayers in a position to do better???? I know i am not. They might not have the results of most teams out there, but they don't have the budget either.

Pro Racer · 21 Dec 2007, 13:08 (Ref:2093327)

IMO, if i was the Walden's (and i'm not) i would lease the licence for a year and then try again in 09 to get support.

Just Do It! · 21 Dec 2007, 13:13 (Ref:2093330)

Being an encumbered license, it can't actually be leased, can it?

So sale or running under the name of the license holder are the only 2 options

Micklegend · 21 Dec 2007, 20:35 (Ref:2093529)

Does anyone care? Really, I would prefer to see some established Fujitsu runners ahead of these guys.

**GTRMagic** · 21 Dec 2007, 21:28 (Ref:2093542)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micklegend

Does anyone care? Really, I would prefer to see some established Fujitsu runners ahead of these guys.

There are likely no more Fujitsu runners with a $2m operating budget in their back pocket available to do this....

... certainly there is an issue with car specification, with only the VE & BF eligible in the main series in 2008... such that a VZ just wont cut it... and any BA needs an update of aero, roof vent etc etc to be the "right" spec to run

panel damage · 21 Dec 2007, 23:15 (Ref:2093580)

Shame - I liked Brian Waldens small efforts in 1997 and again a few years ago for Garth - but we could see it coming really. No Sponsor to speak of and those well known former V8 identities rumored to be involved in the team - just gave blank stare and said "thats news to me".

Ross Cadell · 22 Dec 2007, 00:01 (Ref:2093599)

Just off the top of my head, maybe with all the current level 2's being upgraded to level 1 licences, maybe the opportunity has come to recreate the level 2 licence as a halfway house between Fujitsu and Championship.

How about the top 6 Non level 1 teams each year in the fujitsu championship get a entry spot at the enduro's?

It would give them enough time to gear up, is not a heap of cars to have plodders all over the place and would reward performance. It helps breed a team ready to step up to the championship (thus maintaining franchise value) if a slot opens and may even increse the fields and efforts in the fujistu series.

There are obviously holes in this theory (the Fujitsu race clash at Bathurst!)because it took all of about five minutes thought but could this be a basis of creating future championship teams?

Any variations like - a few other non clashing event entries?

Wood-duck · 22 Dec 2007, 02:20 (Ref:2093625)

That is a terrific idea Ross.... and is something that should seriously be on the agenda at V8SA/TEGA. The fujitsu date clash could be fixed, just return it to a non-championship feature race like it was 3-4 years ago...give the teams in the mid-field a chance to have a crack at the front.

I think the commercial benefits would be terrific for Fujitsu teams, the chance to run the two biggest events of the year - on more or less a 'wildcard' basis. 31 cars is ok, but Bathurst would be better with 36-38... and a few new names to add to the grid.

One of the dramas i forsee is the "level 1" teams poaching the prime fujitsu talent as co-drivers.. most of them get snapped up year on year, for main game seat warming roles - Luke Youlden is a regular...

The "no two main game drivers together" rule, if it ever comes to fruition, will probably make this 'poaching' worse.

NewsStalker · 22 Dec 2007, 03:38 (Ref:2093638)

The only problem I can foresee would be the outcries from some of the main game teams if (when??) they get beaten by any of the Fujitsu cars.

Rick is bad enough now - what would he be like if he were beaten and/or outpaced by a Fujistsu car?

mountainstar · 22 Dec 2007, 05:06 (Ref:2093649)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewsStalker

The only problem I can foresee would be the outcries from some of the main game teams if (when??) they get beaten by any of the Fujitsu cars.

Rick is bad enough now - what would he be like if he were beaten and/or outpaced by a Fujistsu car?

I say tough, pick up the pace, this is motor racing after all.

Good idea Ross. I don't see the problem with it.

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