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24 Feb 2017, 03:49 (Ref:3714391) | #1 | ||
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ARDC destroys Muscle Car Masters
Since 2005 the Muscle Car Masters has been one of the most enjoyable dates on Australia's motor racing calendar.This year the ARDC has decided to wreck the joint.
They have announced they are running a 6 Hour combined Production Car/Prodsports/Improved Production race at the meeting split into 2 3 hour races with one on each day.If you don't immediately realise how ridiculous this is let me give you a few reasons 1This is a historic car based meeting 22-3 of the existing historic categories will have to be axed to make time on the schedule 3None of the top Production car teams will run partially because they are mixed in with other categories and partially because it is only a few weeks before the final round of their national series 4 Very few people want to watch long distance Production racing.When 3-4 hour events have been held there on Nationals programs most people have either left at or just after the start if it was in the afternoon or arrived when it was finishing if it was in the morning. 5Muscle Car Masters is not a cheap ticket only about $10 less than a Supercar round at the track.I think most of the crowd will decide it is not worth the money for half a days historic sprint racing and stay home 6There was little competitor support for this race concept when it was scheduled for January and was cancelled due to lack of entries The ARDC press release for this talks about it being a "good fit" for the MCM.No it isn't. I have been a member of the ARDC for over 40 years and never thought they could make a decision as stupid as their sign off on the track extensions which wasted $10 mill on a piece of road where speeds were more suited to a car park rather than a race track but this comes close. |
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24 Feb 2017, 08:12 (Ref:3714423) | #2 | |
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I agree. Modern-ish production cars don't really have a place at MCM.
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24 Feb 2017, 09:23 (Ref:3714433) | #3 | ||
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Moving MCM from fathers day was a stupid idea, but this is the final nail in the coffin.
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24 Feb 2017, 10:28 (Ref:3714445) | #4 | |
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Aren't Chevron part-owners of the MCM too?
I don't think it will make much difference or lose any categories will it? The Saturday 3hr is being held into dusk, and the Sunday 3hr part is held in the morning, i don't think it will interfere that much. They've been doing the same things since 2005, and its not as if modern cars haven't raced at MCM before. They've had Aussie Racing Cars, Kuhmo V8s, modern Sports Sedans etc.... It'll be right |
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24 Feb 2017, 21:47 (Ref:3714584) | #5 | |||
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If the Sunday race starts at 9 there goes half the day. Looking at your modern categories Kuhmo's definitely fit in with the touring car history theme of the event,sports sedans are pretty retro in body shape and age of most cars and Aussie Racing Cars was a one off deal because it was the only way they could have a race in NSW that year. It won't be fine because people will not pay $40 for 3-4 hours of historic racing.I am a fan of long distance production racing so I know what a turn off it is for most spectators.Betcha the crowd is down 50-75% |
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24 Feb 2017, 22:36 (Ref:3714591) | #6 | ||
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How have the crowds been over the last few years? IMO they have already looked down from, say, 5 years ago?
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25 Feb 2017, 06:13 (Ref:3714617) | #7 | ||
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The crowds fell off after the golden years of 2006-2008 mainly I suspect because the novelty factor had worn off.They took a big plunge in 2014 when there were no TCM races and a wet Sunday morning.Went up to 2012-13 levels in 2015 when TCM returned.Were only a bit below that number last year despite no TCM races.
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25 Feb 2017, 07:54 (Ref:3714627) | #8 | |
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Last time I went was in 2011.
Perhaps a revamp of the concept, taking note of the Goodwood revival-style events? i.e. historics only (Tin-top AND openwheelers), with the exception being TCM. |
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25 Feb 2017, 08:31 (Ref:3714636) | #9 | ||
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25 Feb 2017, 08:35 (Ref:3714638) | #10 | |||
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These are not viable formats in Australia because the cars don't exist here in sufficient numbers. |
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25 Feb 2017, 23:30 (Ref:3714738) | #11 | ||
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It might even tempt a few of the drivers who are there for the MCM to compete in the race? The likes of Group C/A & Group Na/b/c will be there, so the spirit of the event will still be there. If it doesn't work, drop the idea for 2018? |
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26 Feb 2017, 01:47 (Ref:3714759) | #12 | |||
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There is no prospect of crowds ever returning to 2006-2008 levels particularly with TCM locked away on Supercars program .Even if they weren't those numbers aren't coming back. |
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7 Mar 2017, 06:26 (Ref:3716977) | #13 | |||
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20 Mar 2017, 12:32 (Ref:3720159) | #14 | ||
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This is the story as I know it folks.
The ARDC was forced to move the event from Father's Day to keep it away from the re-scheduled V8s round. The Sunday morning half of the 6 hour is a 7.00 start from what I've been told. The ticket price is too high in my opinion too and I've told the ARDC of this for the last few years along with having to park miles away from the gate. Crowds are dropping dramatically, last year was the worst of the 10 years I've competed there. Chevron used to own, or part own the event but now are simply the media body employed by the ARDC for the event. |
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21 Mar 2017, 03:36 (Ref:3720347) | #15 | ||
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and yet...if you believe the probably very expensive spin doctors someone has been paying to promote the track...its all good!
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The good old days sure seem like a long time ago!! |
12 May 2017, 12:35 (Ref:3732987) | #16 | |
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How about this for a wacky thought.
The Muscle Car Masters need rejuvenating according to some on here The Virgin Australia Supercars Championship round at Sydney Motorsport Park has struggled for a crowd for over ten years. Why not combine the two of them? Run the event in it's current August date. Make is the Supercars Heritage event. Have a Supercars race on Saturday arvo and Sunday arvo, bring back the Touring Car Masters, and have Group C/A, Group Na/b/c, Heritage Hot Laps, Master Blasts etc.. through the rest of the day as the support races. You can even keep the Production Car enduro, maybe run it just on the Saturday night though. Supercars and the ARDC would have to work together and co-promote though....is that possible? |
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12 May 2017, 12:57 (Ref:3732994) | #17 | |||
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Prior form isn't promising. |
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13 May 2017, 08:08 (Ref:3733137) | #18 | ||
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Can you see Supercars agreeing to this and thereby admitting they need us to help them survive and not look desperate? Also all other categories that are used to high profile positioning at MCM would now be kicked to the back of Bourke which wouldn't make many of us very happy as we know Historic racing is healthier than Supercars is at the moment. Some might say that Supercars should almost be the support category not the rest of us.
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13 May 2017, 10:33 (Ref:3733165) | #19 | ||
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Should happen in the same year as Supercars become part of the card at Phillip Island Historics helping them draw a crowd at another circuit where numbers at Supercar rounds have been on the low side for most of the past 20 years.
The big losers out of this would be the competitors in other classes at MCM and people who might want 2 meetings to attend. |
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13 May 2017, 10:34 (Ref:3733168) | #20 | |||
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23 Oct 2017, 06:57 (Ref:3775799) | #21 | |
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Muscle Car Masters are on this weekend, I'm told the "6hrs of Sydney" isn't though?
Does that mean the Masters aren't destroyed afterall? |
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23 Oct 2017, 08:40 (Ref:3775808) | #22 | |||
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With TCM tied by contract to Supercars another retro class like Trans Am would be more suitable.Supposed to be 37 degrees in western Sydney this Sunday so not real encouraging for casual fans. |
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28 Oct 2017, 00:59 (Ref:3776905) | #23 | ||
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Obviously its not easy to judge from streaming, but the crowds looked to have stayed away in droves...
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28 Oct 2017, 01:01 (Ref:3776908) | #24 | |
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28 Oct 2017, 01:04 (Ref:3776910) | #25 | ||
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Yeah, in the heyday of Fathers Day they did. Like I said, hard to judge from camera angles provided, but car parking on the hill at Turn 2/3/4 is pretty vacant.
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