888 Switch - success?

[Rombles1]

3 races in and the on-track success of 888's brand switch is undeniable.

However....

888 would have been hoping that their Ford fans would follow them across, and that Holden fans would welcome them aboard. Discussions that I have had with a range of other V8 fans, from both sides of the fence, have indicated that at this stage neither has happened. There appears, instead, to be (almost) universal loathing of them. I suspect that the immediate success on track - the fact that they have adapted so easily, and have not had any apparent problems or teething difficulties, may have actually worked against them. There is no sense of the Aussie Battler there. The whinging wouldn't be helping, either.

Would they have been hoping for instant fan support? Or would they have expected it to take a while for people to come around? I guess the Ford fans are unlikely to regain their former love over time. Or is there still some grudging respect from the Ford fans for the fact that even though they are winning, at least they aren't a "proper" Holden team (insert standard Stelthy-style argument here as defence of that statement)?

What are the thoughts of others out there on this? I am sure that there are Ford fans out there who still support them, and there will be Holden fans out there who have embraced them. Is anyone able to articulate an explanation for any of this?

[STEALTHY]

If it was a proper brand change, then maybe threads like this would have merrit. There isn't much difference between the cars (thanks blueprint).

Also i'm not a fan of any 'favourites', so i'll never support them. Still PMM and DJR for me!

[gemini4]

Originally Posted by STEALTHY

If it was a proper brand change, then maybe threads like this would have merrit. There isn't much difference between the cars (thanks blueprint).

You ain't kidding ...by the time the 'Car of The Future' project is dropped on us we'll may as well follow Nascar.

[dsg]

Originally Posted by gemini4

You ain't kidding ...by the time the 'Car of The Future' project is dropped on us we'll may as well follow Nascar.

As long as they turn left and right sounds fine with me.

[Micklegend]

I'm still a fan, just not as much given they no longer promote Ford.

The one thing that would dissapoint me most about their move would be to have an unwaivering arrogance toward their competitors as they can show that they are able to win by large margins in both makes of car.

A couple of incidents to bring them back to earth would help that, but I wouldnt want to wish bad luck on them as both drivers and the team seem to be working hard to achieve great results.

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by Micklegend

A couple of incidents to bring them back to earth would help that, but I wouldnt want to wish bad luck on them as both drivers and the team seem to be working hard to achieve great results.

I assume you mean failures or driver errors etc, because being taken out in a crash wont change much.

They aren't perfect tho, pit exits come to mind (twice lowndes was released into other cars causing a penalty) so they aren't 'perfect'

[xrystl]

The great thing for me is they make HRT and most of the other Holden teams look bad , new kid on the block wipes the floor with them.

[craig1]

I believe most Holden fans would be happy that it's a Holden winning at least, whether you call it actual support would be a personal view.

I just like to see them putting it to HRT as to me they still represent Holden. (any other Holden is just another race team, sort of like DJR will alway be The Ford team to me, call it old school)

Apart from being a supporter of a either driver, I don't think the team would get true brand support from race followers because they have stood on both sides, your either one or the other.

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by craig1

Apart from being a supporter of a either driver, I don't think the team would get true brand support from race followers because they have stood on both sides, your either one or the other.

Thats an opinion thing. I'm 50/50, i could easily buy a ford as opposed to a holden (mmmm typhoon) but that doesn't swap who i support. I've always supported DJR as i have alot of respect for him.

So i dont think its one of the other, maybe in production racing where the cars are road cars, but not in this category (and likewise F1)

[porsche91722]

888 is already a highly successful team. As mentioned before (many times), it doesn't really matter whether they have Ford or Holdens backing, the cars are pretty much all the same. This ongoing argument/discussion between Holden and Ford supporters just goes on and on. I support any team that operates in a highly professional manner. As far as the whinging comment is concerned, all the teams do it.

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by porsche91722

As far as the whinging comment is concerned, all the teams do it.

But some more than others....

[yap]

Originally Posted by STEALTHY

But some more than others....

And I think if we ran a poll a certain team would be favourites to win

[bluesport]

I loathe T888.......I ditched vodafone (doesn't hurt vodafone but makes me feel better)......after lowndes performance at the end of last year I now support Rick for denying him a championship and as lowndes drives for T888, I think of him as triple LLL (low life lowndes) as Ford did him one of the biggest favours of his career when they signed him and to treat them as he did when he left was disgraceful.......I urge all Ford supporters to ditch vodafone.

[Bevan-L]

I must say I certainly enjoy 10Tenths...... will buy again, excellent seller A+++++

[Driver TBA]

Originally Posted by Bevan-L

I must say I certainly enjoy 10Tenths...... will buy again, excellent seller A+++++

LOL!

Long delivery time, item not as described and appears to be broken.




888 are a massive success. Every department of their operation is super slick and is done better than the rest of pitlane. Look at the shootout yesterday, Van Gisbergen's lap was super smooth and very fast. Then Jamie came out and looked a bit ragged, rode a few curbs, got wheelspin out of alot of corners, but still got pole. Lucky for the rest of the field he didn't put together a clean lap.

What will be interesting is their off track success. A lot of fans have turned their backs on them, or struggle to see them as a Holden team.

Will be interesting to see what the punters buy when the doors open to the merchandising tents at Clipsal. I wonder if 4 race wins will help their decisions?

[yap]

Originally Posted by Driver TBA

888 are a massive success. Every department of their operation is super slick and is done better than the rest of pitlane.

Thats what it all boils down to - up to everyone else to lift their games and catch up

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by yap

Thats what it all boils down to - up to everyone else to lift their games and catch up

Not how it works in this series. Its slow the fast guys down so the slow guys can keep up, unfortunately.

[bullit]

On supporting the t888 brand a lot of spin was put forward by roland and his 2 drivers after the announcement last year trying to suggest that they actually had t888 fans not ford fans, as i see it most ford fans are still a little more brand loyal and a lot of holden fans are still adjusting to not seeing them as the enemy.
As was suggested earlier it will fascinating come clipsal to see how the merch moves

[Driver TBA]

Sorry to drag out this thread, along with it's Mensa quality content.

Originally Posted by Driver TBA

What will be interesting is their off track success. A lot of fans have turned their backs on them, or struggle to see them as a Holden team.

Will be interesting to see what the punters buy when the doors open to the merchandising tents at Clipsal. I wonder if 4 race wins will help their decisions?

I hav'nt been to a round personally since 2008 (3 kids (all girls) mortgage, work 6 days a week) bar the Winton test day last year.

Back then 888 and HRT dominated the merchandising and 888's very impressive merchandise truck was always chockers.

How does it compare now? Judging by the comments here and from friends, not very well. But people do like to support winners, something 888 are very good at.

[STEALTHY]

I was at clipsal for the friday, and there was more T8 holden merc than HRT/FPR walking around. Was quite surprised ctually, i thought most people would have ditched them too, but they didn't.

(although the table i was sitting at, there were ford and holden supporters but none of them had anything good to say about T8)

[Gaz170]

Ford has to shoulder a lot of the blame here. They had the most successful team and shafted them. Who can blame Roland for following the money to Holden, or Craig for wanting to stay with a proven team, rather than stay "loyal" to Ford for more years with no results.

Ford made their bed, now they have to lie in it. Re-signing DJR shows they admit they stuffed up.

[Senna05]

Gaz, while I can't argue that Roland simply followed the support (After all, sponsorship is key, and Holden gave them a bag of money), I think the mercenary way in which he conducted himself post the Ford bust up shows poor form.

Instead of conducting his business behind closed doors, he and his star J-Dub went on a fairly vicious campaign against Ford. Meanwhile, Dick Johnson and the DJR crew simply said "Things change, and we might be back in the fold one day".

Perhaps if 888 were patient, they too would have been ushered back into the family like DJR were.

Perhaps, and this is purely conjecture, 888 were unhappy with the arrangement for a period of time, and this was the perfect time to do something about it. Craig had just about come to an end of his super contract, Ford were looking to change, and Holden had a spare bag of cash. And after all, it now alligns them with their UK Operations in terms of manufacturer.

I guess, getting back on track, the swap is working out, in sports tersm, so far. 4 from 4, with Lowdnes so far playing a good support role and getting the odd podium can only be called a success.

Operationally and commercially, I guess we'd have to wait until the end of the year. Merchandise may well take a big hit, as I know alot of their former fans will not buy their gear now, and I know of many Holden fans that would rather buy TKR gear than 888 gear.... And how long before one of the outspoken team members tread on themselves with their new manufacturer?

[Gaz170]

Originally Posted by Senna05

Gaz, while I can't argue that Roland simply followed the support (After all, sponsorship is key, and Holden gave them a bag of money), I think the mercenary way in which he conducted himself post the Ford bust up shows poor form.

Instead of conducting his business behind closed doors, he and his star J-Dub went on a fairly vicious campaign against Ford. Meanwhile, Dick Johnson and the DJR crew simply said "Things change, and we might be back in the fold one day".

Perhaps if 888 were patient, they too would have been ushered back into the family like DJR were.

Valid point. I just don't see any reason to cut loose your most successful team. If I was in Ford HQ I would have done everything possible to not let the situation get that far.

[Peter Ford]

If they keep winning how long will it be before other holden teams like HRT,PMM,JDR etc start complaining that T8 are winning all the races.I reckon the wat they are going T8 and Whihcup will have both championships wrapped up by bathurst comes around.

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by Peter Ford

If they keep winning how long will it be before other holden teams like HRT,PMM,JDR etc start complaining that T8 are winning all the races.I reckon the wat they are going T8 and Whihcup will have both championships wrapped up by bathurst comes around.

I'm more worried its going to give the ford whingers merit to want an other parity change.