A question of Grace and Dignity

[SJA]

I am so sorry to have to start this thread. I know it may not be well received by some. Others will take it as a chance to "driver bash". To those people I ask to please remove emotion and bias and see this topic for what it is; and to the others remain mature at keep this thread above board.

My interest in this championship really took hold in the days when Murphy was at HRT and Gibson Motorsport and Ingall was in a Castrol Perkins Holden. They were two of my favorite drivers and two of my favorite personalities back in the day.

1995 was the first Bathurst I can remember watching live and in full when Ingall and Larry stood on the top step!

In 2004 I watched Murph set "that" record breaking lap and I'm not ashamed to say that it was quite an emotional experience to see something that happen live, particularly after what happened in 2003.

I love these guys. They have both contributed immensely to our entertainment and enjoyment of the sport over the years. They are part of the fabric that has made it what it is today, there is no denying that, whether you bleed red or blue or say fish and chips or fush and chups!

But there comes a time when a driver has to admit they've dropped down into a different league and adjust their attitude accordingly. I am getting quite sick of seeing Ingall and Murph sulking, complaining and making excuses.

It's alright lads, you're pretty much where we all expect you to be at this stage of your careers. You don't need to keep up the blah blah blah as to why you're slow, not up the front, not winning races or crashing. It's not always the car, its not always the team and its not always other drivers. Stop trying so hard to prove to us (or maybe yourselves) that you're still in the same league that you once were.

You are twilighters gentlemen. Enjoy these last few years you might get to enjoy it. Like your parents might say, go out enjoy it, have fun and do your best. Stop walking around with the attitude of "I should still be winning and it's everyone else's fault that I'm not". It's not very becoming and very off-putting.

Its arguable to say that both of you are only still in the championship because of your profiles and the subsequent sponsorship attached to them. You are there because you are cash cows gentlemen, not potential championship winners, so Murph maybe it's time to stop saying "hopefully we get to take the 5 off the car and just keep the 1 next year" every year, it's just annoying.

Take the time to make a choice. Either drop the attitude, accept where you are in careers and enjoy it. Or announce your retirements now and give the fans the chance to say goodbye for the rest of the year so that we can all get some respite from your attitudes next year and see some more exciting young blood.

Cheers