larko's new sponsor

mtpanorama · 18 Mar 2001, 10:11 (Ref:72218)

Finally weve got some stuff happening.
On RPM today Mark Larkham announced his new sponsor. ICS smart cards. The car looked great in its bright yellow with the green and black stipe. It is a three year deal. So that will keep larko around for a lot longer. He also said they were trying to get a second car onto the grid at sometime through the year

Also on rpm did anyone see the peice that Neil Crompton did at gibson motorsport? In one of the shots there were a row of cars under car covers and a falcon shell, as well you could see the bonet of another car. It looked a bit like a 2 litre bmw, anyone know what it was? I am curious now

tickfordchick · 18 Mar 2001, 13:06 (Ref:72268)

WOOOOO HOOOOO!! I missed the season premier of RPM

but am sooooo happy to hear that Larko has a new sponsor and a long term deal ... the man is a battler and he never ceases to amaze me ... he derserves a bit of luck. good stuff, mtpanorama ... thanks for letting us know ... especially those of us who missed it!!

marcus · 19 Mar 2001, 00:54 (Ref:72600)

Larko's car certainly looks pretty good..and Im happy he has a good sponsor on board for a few more years and hope he does manage a second car for the latter half of the year...no idea on who he would get to drive it though.

but the car looks nice and now lets see if it goes as fast as it looks.

as for the crompton piece on rpm ..i did manage to see some other cars ..im sure there was still a Wynns commodore there somewhere ..and i think I saw a GTP car of some sort...maybe that was the BMW you were referring to..but its a pretty good set up gibson have and Im looking forward to seeing the build process on the new AU falcon they showed.

Crash Test · 19 Mar 2001, 06:12 (Ref:72635)

If you saw a Wynns commodore, you wouldn't be seeing things

As well as running Lowndsey and Crompton in the SCS, Gibson run Paul Dumbrell (Wynns Commodore) and Trucky Parsons (plain white commodore) in the Konica series.

Airhead · 19 Mar 2001, 07:04 (Ref:72638)

I was pleased to see that Marl Larkham had organised another sponsor. He does deserve to do well, as does Crompton who looked to be out in the cold for too long.

So are Gibson Motorsport the only team/shop that prepare Fords and Holdens?

mtpanorama · 19 Mar 2001, 10:26 (Ref:72663)

I have a photo
[img]http://www.sportal.com.au/photos/gallery/0990gallery.jpg[img]

mtpanorama · 19 Mar 2001, 10:29 (Ref:72664)

Sorry, didnt work so try this

http://www.sportal.com.au/photos/gal...990gallery.jpg

**gomick** · 26 Mar 2001, 23:52 (Ref:74647)

how does this bloke keep on getting sponsorship dollars, mitre 10 for years and now that yellow mob for another 3......what do they see in him, 30 seconds of replaying a crash is better than running in position 10-15?......

Crash Test · 27 Mar 2001, 05:45 (Ref:74679)

I dunno....i like Larko

Apparently he worked really hard to get his sponosors, and keep them, but it was sad that M10 pulled the plug. All of the folk i ever talked to involved with M10 really liked the bloke....oh well.

Secondly he is a hell of a nice bloke, doesn't have a big head on him like Skaife et al (or nose in Skaifeys case).

He is a good steerer...how many drivers won a race last year?

And don't forget at Bathurst 1999, he got more Tv coverage than any other car in the field...which would stand up as a good sales pitch.

One last thing, it's good to see an unknown sponsor come on board. How many people here honestly new about 'GMC' before they started sponosoring Canberra??

Diabando · 27 Mar 2001, 06:29 (Ref:74683)

Larkham never lost the Mitre 10 sponsorship - they never "let him go"...the fact is that Mitre 10 do not exist anymore, and therefore, are not in a position to sponsor anyone. I am sure, that if Mitre 10 were still in operation, they would continue the sponsorship of Larkham.

I am not a fan of Larkham, but there is one thing that is undeniable - the guy gets publicity. Apart from apparently being a good bloke, and someone the sponsors can rely on to be at functions - make all the right people feel important, he manages to always get his name in the papers, get his car on TV, and in general, stay in the news. And that is what the sponsors want. It doesnt matter what he drives like, as long as that car (and thus the sponsor name) is in the line of vision of the viewing public. Bottom line (and there always is one).

Buckshot · 27 Mar 2001, 07:44 (Ref:74689)

Also, doesn't he hold the lap record for a V8 Supercar around Bathurst from his 1999 pole position ?

Crash Test · 27 Mar 2001, 10:52 (Ref:74698)

Actually that is something that he could have done a bit better on the weekend...when he pulled off to the inside of the track, he could have parked side on to the camera, that way getting the new sponsor on TV every lap

Diabando- I could have sworn that i walked past a M10 store today... what's the go?

Airhead · 27 Mar 2001, 12:40 (Ref:74723)

Crash,

Hard words indeed! I'm with Buckshot, the guy is good. It's not like his like Ralfie or someone else totally useless is it?

At least we can agree that Mrs Skaife must be very happy with Mark. With a nose like that.....

Diabando · 27 Mar 2001, 23:51 (Ref:74859)

Crash - Mitre 10 are in liquidation, therefore some stores are still open (recouping money). You will find over the next 12 months, they will disappear one by one, and probably taken over by a new hardware store (probably Home hardware - you know, the one with the dog)

Sad stuff eh? I kinda liked Mitre 10....

mtpanorama · 28 Mar 2001, 03:26 (Ref:74881)

Very harsh indeed. Mark would have to be one of the nicest blokes around in V8 supercar. He has done very well to get where he is today. He has been involved in a few accidents ofver the years but you will be hard pressed to find one that was his fault.
Fastest lap of Bathurst ,led the race for a while. Won a shell series race last year, won Indy support races.
Formula Holden runner up (to Mark Skaife)

Need we say more!

Buckshot · 28 Mar 2001, 04:24 (Ref:74883)

I think he is just unlucky like Mr Crompton. When given the right equipment and no idiots involving him in their brain fades he can deliver.

I was really miffed when I heard Mitre 10 had pulled his sponsorship but hopefully with his new sponsor his young team can continue grow and see some results.

Just remember his team is only 1 year old seeing as he left the Stone Brothers to start his own team.

1 Year old team with a race win - sounds pretty good to me.

Ray Bell · 30 Mar 2001, 10:53 (Ref:75404)

He was out on his own before, you know... and he made a mess of it, it was only when he started getting help from people well versed in Tourers that he started to make some ground.

Before that he was trying to apply Racing Car principles to tin tops... except that his airjacks were made from Peugeot torque tube steel... that was definitely touring cars stuff...

Yes, he works hard for the sponsors, and he's the consummate racing driver of the nineties... with the briefcase in hand, suits in the wardrobe of the transporter... ready to meet the board at any time.

And incredibly popular, when compared to the other luminarly already mentioned. At Lakeside when they ran against each other in FBrabhams he told me there was just so many people coming up and telling him they hoped he'd blow the doors of the big-headed (I won't stop at the nose!) one.

elephino · 30 Mar 2001, 11:53 (Ref:75419)

Mitre 10 pulled out before they went into liquidation. It was also head office's decision, not any of the stores (who all liked him and the deal they had).

Larkham does an excellent job to keep his sponsors. He does all the right things by them, which is why Mitre 10 were around for so long, as they received value for money both on and off the track and ICS will be getting the same treatment.

**GTRMagic** · 12 Apr 2009, 01:01 (Ref:2439062)

The beauty of motorsport sponsorship thru photography

When there was still love, albeit not cash, from ICS Smartcard...

Then reality hits...

And a make do deal comes along..

The theme is similar to the blue car with the same brand aboard....

STEALTHY · 12 Apr 2009, 06:02 (Ref:2439119)

8 years, epic dig!

**GTRMagic** · 1 Dec 2011, 03:56 (Ref:2993784)

Larko's racing team always had that 'integrated' look... even the transporter...

ForumNick · 1 Dec 2011, 06:14 (Ref:2993802)

GTR: That one should probably go in the 'Team Transporters' thread also?

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