2013 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour: 8-10 February

[racer69]

The organisers need to set a date and stick to it, year after year no matter what.

First it was Easter, then it was mid-Feb, now its late Feb, now they want to go back to earlier again.

Stick to the one weekend and start building a tradition around that.

[Sheep Stations]

Tradition?...puhlease.

Build the bloody thing around commercial reality, which O'Brien is trying to do. There are only a handful of local GT guys with the coin and desire to do it, so push for more internationals. The opportunity to have a crack at overseas drivers may just drive the apathy out of the locals. So have the event when you can maximize European and Asian attendance.

And here's another thing...with the race being 70% wet, I wonder if all those proddie sooks with Evo's that cried foul about their game being hijacked realize they could have had a fat time on the weekend...top 5 for sure and bragging rights for punching above their weight. But crying and *****ing was easier.

[racer69]

Originally Posted by Sheep Stations

Tradition?...puhlease.

If the organisers want to build a crowd up year in and year out a regular date is certainly an advantage.

I know i would have already booked the time off work and a camping site for next year already if i knew what date it was on

Originally Posted by Sheep Stations

Build the bloody thing around commercial reality, which O'Brien is trying to do. There are only a handful of local GT guys with the coin and desire to do it, so push for more internationals. The opportunity to have a crack at overseas drivers may just drive the apathy out of the locals. So have the event when you can maximize European and Asian attendance.

How can the race be built on what is described above? They tried that this year and it didn't work. It showed potential, but the bottom line was not enough cars were there.

Wasn't the date moved this year to attract teams that had run in Dubai and Abu Dhabi? All that could be mustered was 25 starters

There needs to be a core base of competitors for the event to survive. The race is not aligned with an International GT Championship, so therefore the emphasis needs to be on getting Australians to form the bulk of the entry, with the internationals being the iceing on the cake.

[B24]

Is it time for a B12 2013 thread?
Hopefully there will be more positive comments than the 2012 thread..

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by B24

Is it time for a B12 2013 thread?
Hopefully there will be more positive comments than the 2012 thread..

maybe we should have a thread about if it will happen, I'm doubtful

[Simon S]

Originally Posted by peckstar

maybe we should have a thread about if it will happen, I'm doubtful

be great to have a thread for 2013 if it all works out good, I would far rather be talking about what a great weekend it was....

Off there for Easter, and really looking forward to it.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by peckstar

maybe we should have a thread about if it will happen, I'm doubtful

[GTRMagic]

Will there be a B12 in 2013?

[Penelope PitStop]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Will there be a B12 in 2013?

I believe so, Bathurst Council seem accepting of the status quo - although there are elections in September, so perhaps fresh faces and thinking will emerge.

If not, Allan et al have little chance on the lap record. The B12 is likely to continue imposing an artifical threshold pre race start to prevent elimination of slow cars. Not sure a low 2:04 during the race proper is do-able, although others (FFS?) may disagree. What other opportunities are there for GT cars at Bathurst? The 2012 calendar for MtP looks pretty bleak. Aside from the B1000 (no GT), just 2 other events are listed, both 'run' Mr O'Brien, both now done and dusted.

Originally Posted by Tourer

Thing that I find interesting is that after the chest beating from those that talk prior to the meeting, only two F3 cars went under Alan's time and then only during one of the weekend's races.

Same here. And both were on the final 2 laps of that race. Natsoft timing was strange as well, originally there were no 4's then later on it was re-set/reloaded. To me, F3's involvement felt contrived – e.g. 18 ‘entries’ v 10 starters, 30 minute races v 20 minutes for other non-enduros. Perhaps F3 paid a premium, if not it seems a poor allocation of a limited resource…

Originally Posted by alfacors

And the F3 guys were saying anything between sub 2m to 2:06.

Media releases re sub 2m aside, F3's website quotes Winslow: "...I think a high 2:01..." and Gilmour: "... something like 2:01 and 2:02 ..."

[Oldtony]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Will there be a B12 in 2013?

Bathurst City Council seems to think so. Recieved an invititation to re-book my campsite for 2013 today.
Dates are Feb.8-10th
Maybe it's time to start a B12 13 thread to post our suggestions?

[Reload]

Originally Posted by Oldtony

Bathurst City Council seems to think so. Recieved an invititation to re-book my campsite for 2013 today.Dates are Feb.8-10th Maybe it's time to start a B12 13 thread to post our suggestions?

Has the 2013 date been confirmed officially ?

[scudd]

pay the 2013 12 hr entry by 31 august and pay $5500 inc GST.
after this date it's $11000

michelin, pirelli and hankook tyres permitted.

interesting pic of the 458 bella rosso ferrari in the pits. one of the two drivers not wearing a HANS device, i guess it was during practice or quali as there are fire marshalls on the fence. wonder if it was just pit stop practice or forgot and went out the gate without it?

[alfacors]

Winning! Sent your entry in yet scudd?

[scudd]

Originally Posted by alfacors

Winning! Sent your entry in yet scudd?

no, need to think long and hard and still licking my wounds.

concentrating on another 12hr event this year.

[inpitlane]

Speedcafe are reporting that Armour All have pulled out of next year's event citing lack of entry growth as the reason.
I'd be somewhat surprised if this still goes ahead.

[Reload]

Has an official date been set for the 2013 event as yet ?

[D.R.T.]

Disappointing news.

Seems an odd reason to pull a commerical sponsorship

[T-star]

Event on Feb 10th.
New regs to allow the Mal Rose Commodore also.

[R4z3rw33n]

Originally Posted by scudd

no, need to think long and hard and still licking my wounds.

concentrating on another 12hr event this year.

Your entry seemed one of the better prepared local efforts this year. Should the event go ahead, it would be unfortunate to see you guys without a presence.

All the best for the unspecified 12 hour event.

Originally Posted by inpitlane

Speedcafe are reporting that Armour All have pulled out of next year's event citing lack of entry growth as the reason.
I'd be somewhat surprised if this still goes ahead.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2012/05/03/...hurst-12-hour/

Originally Posted by T-star

Event on Feb 10th.
New regs to allow the Mal Rose Commodore also.

That's some pretty evident desperation.
Mal's running seems positive for the event. It's just unfortunate his being there is dependent on this specific package.


As an aside, the event organisers seem to have paid attention in some capacity:
- Event date - changed (earlier date).
- Tyre regulations - relaxed (options: Michelin, Hankook, Pirelli).

It's just a shame ArmorAll's withdrawing support places a 'one step forward, ten steps backward' vibe on proceedings.
The event's welfare is still pretty much dependent on their securing another event sponsor and, increasing the volume of local (both GT3/4 and touring) participation.

[GTRMagic]

So, how many of the Shannons/Kumho series cars of a similar vintage to Mr Rose's will now ask for dispensation to run in the B12?

Thin end of the wedge & all that...

[Sheep Stations]

Dunno why the hand wringing on Armour all withdrawal.

Sponsor dollars wouldn't have been much.

Relaxed regs, tyre options and early bird entry make for a serious consideration of having a go next Feb

[alfacors]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

So, how many of the Shannons/Kumho series cars of a similar vintage to Mr Rose's will now ask for dispensation to run in the B12?

Thin end of the wedge & all that...

I doubt you will see any of them enter.

[Simon S]

Originally Posted by R4z3rw33n

- Tyre regulations - relaxed (options: Michelin, Hankook, Pirelli).

why the restrictions still? why not just make it open?

(I would not want to run any of these....)

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by inpitlane

Speedcafe are reporting that Armour All have pulled out of next year's event citing lack of entry growth as the reason.
I'd be somewhat surprised if this still goes ahead.

Just curious why you think it now wouldn't go ahead - sponsors come and go - including from this event but the loss of a sponsor doesn't mean that everything is over by itself.

Unless of course, you have heard more.....

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Disappointing news.

Seems an odd reason to pull a commerical sponsorship

Lack of Spectators + Reduction in entry lists = less exposure of the sponsoring brand. Not sure what is odd about that?

seems similar to an event many people think should be drawn & quartered in the Harbour City.