1999 ASTC Cars

[D.R.T.]

Do you think with a bit of fortune TOCA can turn the tables on AVESCO and put Cochrane in his place. That would be funny , Cochrane would be going , you , you , you can't do that, I'll sew, I'll sew. I do pose this question to you all, if the ASTC had the drivers like last year this year( it very well could) would you get out and support them eg. Oran Park if it holds the 500km or anywhere. TOCA biggest mistake so far this year is to remove Malalla off the calender, but could be wrong. Do you know who was looking in to buying downards 318i

[Crash Test]

The FTs are there to boost the ST numbers, I don't think there is any doubt of that...btw- how many currently competing FTs are ex-Auscars? Wasn't the plan you could enter the class on the cheap through buying an old dome car??

Racer69- I think you'll find that the series is open to just about anything you like, but nobody wants to know about them...

"Do you think with a bit of fortune TOCA can turn the tables on AVESCO and put Cochrane in his place."
- HAHAHA....how are they going to do this exactly??

[racer69]

i agree, unless they relaunch the series or something with ground breaking rules and brand new everything, can't see it happening tomorrow though

Yourright that basically anything is allowed in, remember bathurst 99, how they let the Mike Kilpatrick Porsche race in the saturday race, and was flogged. Maybe TOCA should add the Commodore cup cars in as well, only problem there is that there would be nothing on the support bill, although at the last ST round at Oran Park the Group N races were awesome, althuogh there was only 8 of em.

[Crash Test]

Of course if wanted to see good racing, you could always go and watch some state level stuff, where Group N etc race on a very regular basis. Like at QR on the weekend, when there were 62 of them...incredible stuff.

[racer69]

pity the Group N cars don't get more air time, back when seven showed the AMSCAR series, they used to get air time all the time, and the racing was wonderful.

I reckon the time has come to split them up into 2 classes, say pre 65 and post 65, when there is a meeting with over subscribed grids,m cos the EH's and Mini's haven't really got a chance anymore against the Monaro's, GTHO falcons and Paul Stubber's Camaro. Even the Mustangs aren't as good as they used to be

And there should always be a race at bathurst for them, they were great at Bathurst 99

[Crash Test]

On the weekend, they had to split the field into fast/slow groups, and that worked very well.

[racer69]

Thats something the super tourers don't have to worry about at this stage

[D.R.T.]

Why are the forums restricted to 6 pages? So with this forum we've covered a lot of ground , but was the original question answered"what has happened to the 2 pugs , volvo's and audi's. Who is intending on going to an ASTC round this year, great value and racing.

[Crash Test]

The threads can go as long as they like...have a gander at the 'challenge' thread in the gravel trap

Who is racing in the 2001/02 ASTC? You tell me, but at this stage we have Auger and half a dozen Toca Touring Cars. None of the top cars from previous seasons have commited, that is Morris, Hills, Henderson, and Newman...

[D.R.T.]

If you won't to know who is competing , why not check out the forum called, "Who is racing in 2001-2002 ASTC", you'd think that would tell you who is competing, wouldn't you.

[racer69]

Maybe to bump up this years field TOCA should allow the punter's at the track to enter the ASTC races, that might prop the field up to what, 15 cars.

Seriously though, TOCA should also work on some strong support categories, like Sports Sedans, Group N, state Formula Ford or Vee, maybe it could even look at starting up its own production car class, like it was looking to a few years ago, maybe based on Group E. It should also look at hooking up with the Australian Superbikes, as they are going to run a summer series as well.

[Crash Test]

Sports Sedans- The National Sports Sedans are firmly on the V8 Supercar support package these days, and I can't see them taking such a massive step back...
Group N- I know at least here in QLD they have a limited schedule, and I doubt they would break that for the TOCA meeting...
State Formula Ford or Vee- yeah, why not.
maybe it could even look at starting up its own production car class, like it was looking to a few
years ago, maybe based on Group E- hehe, don't tell Procar that... lawsuit....lawsuit....
It should also look at hooking up with the Australian Superbikes, as they are going to run a summer series as well.- Hmm, that would be interesting...

But atm, i think they are stuck with CCup etc...

[racer69]

I meant state sports sedans, like a NSW championship round or QLD round, and Group N was on the ASTC supports for the last round at Oran Park.

[Crash Test]

Yeah fair enough, but because of their odd calendar, it is very hard for State Championships to go on their programs. Have a look at the first Lakeside round- it is on the weekend after the biggest state level meeting of the year, which has had a date on the calendar since late last year...

[racer69]

Thats another of TOCA's problems, they always bring out their calendar too late, so it clashes with other things.

[Crash Test]

Another problem is that most state series dont start up until March, so they are pretty much going to have trouble filling support classes out until the very end of the season....a lot of competitors wont be prepared to disrupt their preparations for the next season for a non-championship meeting in the middle of summer.

[racer69]

agree totally, i think they should have stayed in winter. I'd rather watch a race meeting freezing cold with a full support program rather than watch a race meeting in the middle of summer with nothing to watch between super tourer and Commodore Cup races.

[RaceTime]

But the reality is that crowds do NOT like winter racing - first hint of rain and people will stay at home.

[racer69]

true, but what is the point of having a summer series if there is no support classes, the only other summer series in a short superbike series. And it will be pretty hot at Lakeside in January or Febuary. And winter doesn't stop all those people turning out to the V8s and PROCAR meetings.

[RaceTime]

The problem in Australia is that the circuits have convinced race goers that summer is not the time to race cars - and in some areas it is probably correct.

However, the world doesn't end at Lakeside in Jan and Feb - when would you rather be at Phillip Island - May or Feb? Statistically you have a better chance of a fine day in Feb than May. You also have a better than even chance of it being hot as well.

As for crowds going to V8's in winter - they go because that is the only time they are at that particular track.

The mentality needs to change with all the classes - not just TOCA or state categories. There are problems on all sides in the area of scheduling race meetings - each thinks their category is better than someone elses - and until that thinking is changed it won't go anywahere for any category.

[Crash Test]

The Jan-Feb meeting at Lakeside is going to be a shocker...remember the ATCC meeting held there in March when the track disintergrated?

As for rain, this year has been a corker in QLD as far as that is concerned... I think I've been to QR about 5 times in 8 weeks, and I don't think I've seen a cloud yet. Ganted it is in the negatives when you arrive in the morning, it normally warms up to the point of a t-shirt is warm enough.

As far as rain is concerned, our meeting last September wound up being wet, and we got the biggest crowd we've had for several years...go figure...

[RaceTime]

Originally posted by Crash Test
As far as rain is concerned, our meeting last September wound up being wet, and we got the biggest crowd we've had for several years...go figure...

Queensland - Fantastic Queensland - beautiful one day - crazy the next

[racer69]

Anyone noticed how Super Touring racing seemed to get hardly any wet weather races, some had the occasional shower's, but apart from Mallala race one in 99 and Bathurst 96 supports and 99 500, there haven't been any actual wet races. In 1998 and 2000/2001, not one wet race.

[Crash Test]

RT- hehe... I can't wait for the 500... In all of my visits to QR in the last few months, I don't think I've seem any clouds yet...FANTASTIC

[D.R.T.]

I would think a ASTC race in the rain this year, would be great. Without the worry of Quattro now, all the guys going at it, it would be something special. Bathurst 99 had some great racing.