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Old 10 May 2017, 18:11 (Ref:3732702)   #37
mountainstar
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mountainstar should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridmountainstar should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridmountainstar should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
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Originally Posted by Mark Petch View Post
Good post as usual Icarus,

Control class racing develops drivers. No question.
But less skilled drivers and teams with the wrong approach rapidly become discouraged.


In reflection, aside from being undermined by MSNZ, what you espouse is why so many V8St cars are sitting in 'sheds' because the drivers with less skills etc ultimately become discouraged.

Without naming names several of those drivers/Dad's have instead spent some rather serious amounts of money modifying their V8ST's to go Endurance racing, and or GT1 racing, however, despite more BHP and or areo, not one of them have ever got within Scott McLaughlin time of 1minute 2.8 second V8ST qualifying lap at Hampton Downs 4 years ago, or SVG' 1 minute 3.6 second V8ST qualifying lap at Pukekohe 3 years ago.

The point being they lack the ultimate skill to compete against the best or even the next rung down from these two hugely talented Tin-Top drivers, so, discouraged they seek a class with freedoms or pack up and seek greener pastures like the V8 Ute, or 86 Series etc.

Ironically I see exactly the same thing happening in our Ssangyong Actyon Sport Ute series, driver's/Dad's being discouraged because in truth the steerer lacks the skill to be at the front on a consistent basis, so they walk away, and in some case from the sport itself because its been a rude awakening that they lack the skill required to race at the top in a strictly controlled one make race series.

I am not short on idea's to improve Premier categories but I ask were does the money come from? Its a user pays society we live in and thats never more the case than in motor racing.
That kind of stuff is always going to go on in any national scene when dealing with young drivers that have pro aspirations. All of the junior formula ladders overseas in the USA and Europe are literal wood chippers of young drivers and it leaves behind a huge pile of shreds of broken dreams and empty bank accounts(or debt). Dad has to look at his return on investment and if junior is plugging around at the back and Dad is spending six or seven figures a year, then at some point you have to call that quits. And if they do lack that ultimate talent and ability then certainly there is no problem with their reducing their costs and competing in something like TR86. Can't fault them for that.

If one is competing for their own enjoyment and can afford it or use it to their advantage such as promoting their own business endeavors, then that's a different deal. Outside of something like TRS, in New Zealand, that's where the money is and what do those guys want to drive is the question.
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