A nice, calm and passive Mark Skaife thread.

[Mattracer]

I know the last one got binned but can't we really talk about all the goings-on nicely, like on some other sites.

[sevi]

The other sites looses more than just the thread, the whole site goes with it.l

[Mattracer]

<sigh> OK, let's get started.

Someone said the last time around that Skaife never had the underdog tag around his neck. Not true. When cigarette money left the sport at the end of '95, GMS was a shadow of its former self, variously acquiring sponsorships from Sega, Coopers and Lybrand and Holden subsidaries like Network Q. This placed him at a distinct disadvantage for the '96 season and for most of '97 until he joined HRT. Scaling back to one car and the departure of Jim Richards all compounded the problems and Skaife practically carried the team on his back during that time.

I love how some drag out the old "best car" chestnut and cut down the tall poppy at the knees breathing hatred and vehemence as they do so. Lets be honest about it.

During the lean years at GMS, Skaife admittedhe learnt far more about the intricasies of the industry as a whole than he would otherwise. Lucky for Holden/HSV now that he did.

[Onlooker]

Did he learn that after or during the departure of a swag of fed up employee's?????
(% was probally the most graphic example of how much the car and how little the driver influence the out come of the championship in recent history,SBR are doing a great job in demonstrating it again this year.

[Conrod Kieron]

The good ole tall poppy syndrome is always dragged out to defend Skaife. If TPS was true, then the Lowndes, Setos, Johnsons, Brocks of the world would also have suffered.

If we are going to be honest about it, there must be something more than nothing (or TPS) that causes people to express there dislike of Skaife.

I myself don't dislike or like Skaifey, I can recognise he is a superb driver, as a team owner I imagine him to be a tough taskmaster but also be fair and can see him being a very succesful person in the business arena.

Where he does fall down is in public perception and I think this is is where the 'Skaife bashing' stems from.
In the past, he has come across as arrogant and he freely admits he is a control freak. As an example, you only have to look at his antics on V8Superstars when he talks over others, likes to get a dig in and has on occasion got me wondering who is running the show.

I will say in Skaife defence though, in recent times he has got better.

[RaceTime]

However, now he has a supposed dual role, is it possible he will now slip backwards again?

[Nevermind]

Has he already started slipping back?

[racer69]

Has he slipped back or has SBR moved forward?

Skaife would have much less to do with the running and sponsorship chasing now than he did at GMS in 1996-97, where it was pretty much seemed (to the outside world at least) a one-man effort.

[Wayne Kerr]

I have disliked Skaife ever since he switched from Holden to Ford.

[Lyris]

Is that a joke?????

[Nevermind]

I'm still trying to figure it out?

Has anyone compared racing times over a few rounds with last years for the likes of stone brothers v's HRT?

[racer69]

He started in a Torana Sports Sedan and switched to the one-make Goodyear Ford Laser series.

[Mattracer]

Originally posted by Wayne Kerr
I have disliked Skaife ever since he switched from Holden to Ford.

[Gaz170]

I just dislike Skaife.

Always have, always will.

[moffman]

Originally posted by Gaz170
I just dislike Skaife.

Always have, always will.

I can understand that!

[Sol]

Skaifey is a bloody good driver, you have to admire that. His qualifying speed is exceptional.

It's just that he doesn't endear himself to people the way that Brock or Lowndes do.

I personally think that the pressure and responsibility of being the team owner will adversely affect his driving, despite what he says.

I think we have seen the end of the era of HRT domination. Sure, they will continue to win, but not like they did in the 1996 - 2002 era.

[moffman]

Skaife is good but he wouldn't be in the top five drivers in the category in my opinion Sol.

[Sol]

No, got to disagree with you Moffman, over the past decade Skaifey has proven himself as one of the greatest. Have a look at how he qualifies. He is always quick straight away, he doesn't crash, he is almost the complete driving package.

Sure, he has had good equipment but he has taken advantage of it. Plenty of drivers have good equipment and don't let it show.

Having spent considerable time with him, I still don't particularly like him personally, he never misses an opportunity to 'put sh!t' on Ford or Ford drivers in their presence, but I greatly admire his skills as a driver.

[moffman]

He was not a match for Lowndes at HRT before they started to shaft Lowndes in his final year there.I also think this year now he doesn't have the equipment advantage of previous years he is making mistakes.(Makes you wonder how he would have gone driving an AU at 110% to keep up)

[Forbesy]

Originally posted by moffman
He was not a match for Lowndes at HRT before they started to shaft Lowndes in his final year there.)

In '98 he couldn't get the VS off the line and only won 1 race, despite taking 5/10 poles. In '99 he won half of the rounds (well 6/13) and the only reason Lowndes won it is cos Skaife buggered up the big double points races of Adelaide and Qld. So I'd say overall just because Lowndes won the championship both years, didn't mean he had the wood on Skaife, if anything Skaife had the edge overall when you look at it closer.

[Sol]

I agree with you Forbsey. Multiple titles and Bathurst victories don't come by accident ('92 maybe!!) and Skaifey's results will take some beating in the future by the Winterbottom's and co of the world.

Nobody is a better qualifier then Skaifey. He never has an 'off; day and always makes the most of his equipment.

[moffman]

Sol get those glasses off mate Ambrose ****s all over Skaife in qualifying.

[Sol]

Sure he does..... at present. When Marcos has won 5 titles, 4 Bathurst's and taken more poles, he will be considered better.

Don't get me wrong, Marcos is a top driver too, he is capable of eventually being considered in the same 'legend' class, but he is not there yet.

[moffman]

Ambrose does not have Skaife's titles at present but you said nobody is a better qualifier than Skaife.Ambrose has proven to be a better qualifier than Skaife & last year did it in an inferior car.Just a quick question Sol do you think Bowe,Ambrose ,Lowndes & Seton wouldn't have Skaife's record in the same equipment?Interesting chat,cheers.

[Sol]

Part of being a great driver is putting yourself in the right team at the right time. Some do it by skill, others by being lucky.

The others may have proven to be beter in the same equipment but Bowe went off to CAT and then BJR, Lowndes results have suffered since leaving HRT and Seton didn't change his organisation to suit changing times and improving competition. Ambrose is showing he is a great driver, but Skaifey has the runs on the board.

(I can't believe I have written so much defending Skaifey. I don't particularly like him or HRT, I just have begrudging respect for people who do a great job).