2016 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour: 4-7 February

[KSM86]

Originally Posted by rich07

Yeah it definitely wasn't fresh, going by the faded ink, it wasn't the doing of someone on the weekend. Was certainly a surprise to see it when I looked up at the walls I was boxed in by. Wasn't my doing btw.

Had an awesome weekend. Will post more of my thoughts after work. It's a shame I had to leave early but that said my boss was pretty happy to see me on deck this morning so made the right decision.

How many redbulls or V's did u end up having for the drive home?? haha

[GROUPA]

Originally Posted by Reload

Michael Hancock was the CoC.

Got to say he did an excellent job (watching on TV) was not as trigger happy as Schenken who appears to bring out the SC for a leaf dropping on the track.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by Reload

Don't think that I missed it, but I didn't even see a line in todays telegraph ?

Dont get the telegraph, but definitely in the Victorian Herald Sun

[Reload]

Originally Posted by GROUPA

Got to say he did an excellent job (watching on TV) was not as trigger happy as Schenken who appears to bring out the SC for a leaf dropping on the track.

Agree although he left the Quinn McLaren (I think) sitting prone for way too long in a dangerous position during the race IMO.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Remember the article was written pre the weekend, about 14k were there, up just under 2000 on last year. To get to the 20K will need a 50% lift on 2015 numbers. Really if it cant get to 20K by 2018 then the GT3 experiment is pretty much over

Over for who exactly?

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Over for who exactly?

The GT3 experiment, will not have grabbed the attention of Aust motorsport fans. obviously thats just my opinion, but all the new cars coming into the country, a couple of v8 teams being engaged in the series. if we cant get the crowd to grow to 20k by 2018 bathurst 12 hour something is wrong as a crowd attracting series. however im expecting we will.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Ratel keen for all pro Bathurst 12 Hour class

I think the goal posts have moved on this already.Whereas a few years ago a Peter Edwards could win the race(and Mark Eddy and Tony Quinn had a strong chance) now the type of Aus GT owner/driver that has a chance is Jonathan Webb.Unless their lack of pace is discounted by lucky safety car timing a car with a "gentleman" driver has no chance.The big question is whether these car owners who are the backbone of the entry will continue to compete with only the prospect of an amateur class win.It is the support of entrants that will determine the future of the race not crowd numbers.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by mayhem

- The presentation of many cars in the support races border on farcical.

Which cars? And does it really matter for the support races?

They passed scruiteneering which is the main thing surely?

Originally Posted by peckstar

The GT3 experiment, will not have grabbed the attention of Aust motorsport fans. obviously thats just my opinion, but all the new cars coming into the country, a couple of v8 teams being engaged in the series. if we cant get the crowd to grow to 20k by 2018 bathurst 12 hour something is wrong as a crowd attracting series. however im expecting we will.

And if they don't reach that crowd figure??

What would you suggest they do? Keep putting the race on? Pull up stumps?

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by one five five

And if they don't reach that crowd figure??

What would you suggest they do? Keep putting the race on? Pull up stumps?

guess that's up to the owners of the cars and aust Gt3 managment. Not something i have thought through, nor going to waste time trying to as like i said, i expect it to reach 20K.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by one five five

Pull up stumps?

Yeah I don't know what different expectations people dream up however suggesting GT3s future hinges on hitting a determined crowd figure at Bathurst is not in touch with reality.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Yeah I don't know what different expectations people dream up however suggesting GT3s future hinges on hitting a determined crowd figure at Bathurst is not in touch with reality.

how about we go and create a separate thread if we really want to discuss this

[Samwhk]

Originally Posted by Reload

Agree although he left the Quinn McLaren (I think) sitting prone for way too long in a dangerous position during the race IMO.

And the white Erebus at the dipper....

But otherwise, yes.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by peckstar

guess that's up to the owners of the cars and aust Gt3 managment. Not something i have thought through, nor going to waste time trying to as like i said, i expect it to reach 20K.

Surely it would be up to the owners of the event?

The owners of the cars and Aust GT3 management have no ownership of the 12hr

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by one five five

Surely it would be up to the owners of the event?

The owners of the cars and Aust GT3 management have no ownership of the 12hr

Wasnt talking just about the 12 hour. Seriously move on, Its the unlikely scenario, take it in the context of my whole paragraph

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by peckstar

take it in the context of my whole paragraph

I did but I am still struggling to understand your point. Why does 'your' defined crowd number spell success of failure of a whole class of racing for promoters, owners and participants in Australia?

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

I did but I am still struggling to understand your point. Why does 'your' defined crowd number spell success of failure of a whole class of racing for promoters, owners and participants in Australia?

so then your excited about a 7 day festival at mt panorama for the bathurst 12 hour?

[rich07]

Originally Posted by KSM86

How many redbulls or V's did u end up having for the drive home?? haha

None weirdly enough. Got home on adrenaline alone. Brought some Vs but never needed them . They came in handy yesterday at work though, was falling asleep at my desk, not the most awesome thing when you're trying to learn a new operating system

Thoughts on the weekend:

It was awesome!

It was wonderful finally getting to the tenths dinner on Friday night, great evening meeting people from the forums and having a chat and a beer. It was particularly nice of Reload to invite the Maranello boys along haha

I camped at McPhillamy for the weekend and despite being warned by several people to keep an eye out for trouble I found there was none to be seen. I wasn't overly worried because the B12 attracts a different crowd but there were a few more bogans this year. Not a problem with that but some people don't play well with others.

The campsite had a really friendly vibe going, within five minutes of finding my spot I'd been offered food from my neighbour's BBQ and a hand with putting my tent up. Heard Barnsey and AC DC being played at various times but no fireworks or burning tents. The Holden and Ford flags I saw around the place were a bit confusing....

Saturday night was great, strolling down the track with a couple of beers taking in the view as the sun went down. Came down Forests Elbow to find a cricket match in progress, (they were bowling uphill ), drinks were called as I walked past-except everyone already had a drink in one hand

Saw the McLaren 650 GT3, the Bentley and Scud's new R-Ex in the flesh. McLarens were awesome over the top, even at the limit they looked as though they were on rails, effortless. The Bentley sounded unique, bit like a British muscle car. The Scud mobile looked and sounded fantastic, best sounding car in the whole field especially up the top of the hill

Speaking of Scud-finally met him too, nice to meet you Roger, probably wasnt the best of timing at the start of quali but I didn't know if I'd be down in the pits at all for the rest of the weekend.

Me-'Mind if I have a look at the car'
Scud-'No worries, better hurry qualifying's about to start'

We walked into the back of the garage just as Owen was driving out the front onto the track. I have perfect timing

Getting windburnt/sunburnt (both) on Friday. Urgh. Still feeling pretty crispy. And going by the lineup at the tenths dinner I certainly wasn't the only one.

Towards Bathurst, narrowly missed three roos, a fox and big feral dog

Heading home nearly hit two roos and an emu.

The countryside between Mudgee and Bathurst. Beautiful part of the world.

Nearly being ran over SVG out the back of the pits after quali and a familar ex MVDS character yelling at me to get out of the way. 'Was that Bas Leinders?'. And yeah it was . Thanks for the heads up Bas.

I'll post up more after work tonight

[Samwhk]

Glad you made it back safe Rich, don't change jobs in the next 12 months!

[Reload]

Originally Posted by rich07

None weirdly enough. Got home on adrenaline alone. Brought some Vs but never needed them . They came in handy yesterday at work though, was falling asleep at my desk, not the most awesome thing when you're trying to learn a new operating system

Thoughts on the weekend:

It was awesome!

It was wonderful finally getting to the tenths dinner on Friday night, great evening meeting people from the forums and having a chat and a beer. It was particularly nice of Reload to invite the Maranello boys along haha

I camped at McPhillamy for the weekend and despite being warned by several people to keep an eye out for trouble I found there was none to be seen. I wasn't overly worried because the B12 attracts a different crowd but there were a few more bogans this year. Not a problem with that but some people don't play well with others.

The campsite had a really friendly vibe going, within five minutes of finding my spot I'd been offered food from my neighbour's BBQ and a hand with putting my tent up. Heard Barnsey and AC DC being played at various times but no fireworks or burning tents. The Holden and Ford flags I saw around the place were a bit confusing....

Saturday night was great, strolling down the track with a couple of beers taking in the view as the sun went down. Came down Forests Elbow to find a cricket match in progress, (they were bowling uphill ), drinks were called as I walked past-except everyone already had a drink in one hand

Saw the McLaren 650 GT3, the Bentley and Scud's new R-Ex in the flesh. McLarens were awesome over the top, even at the limit they looked as though they were on rails, effortless. The Bentley sounded unique, bit like a British muscle car. The Scud mobile looked and sounded fantastic, best sounding car in the whole field especially up the top of the hill

Speaking of Scud-finally met him too, nice to meet you Roger, probably wasnt the best of timing at the start of quali but I didn't know if I'd be down in the pits at all for the rest of the weekend.

Me-'Mind if I have a look at the car'
Scud-'No worries, better hurry qualifying's about to start'

We walked into the back of the garage just as Owen was driving out the front onto the track. I have perfect timing

Getting windburnt/sunburnt (both) on Friday. Urgh. Still feeling pretty crispy. And going by the lineup at the tenths dinner I certainly wasn't the only one.

Towards Bathurst, narrowly missed three roos, a fox and big feral dog

Heading home nearly hit two roos and an emu.

The countryside between Mudgee and Bathurst. Beautiful part of the world.

Nearly being ran over SVG out the back of the pits after quali and a familar ex MVDS character yelling at me to get out of the way. 'Was that Bas Leinders?'. And yeah it was . Thanks for the heads up Bas.

I'll post up more after work tonight

Well played Rich, was great to finally meet you and bring on next year. A big congrats to scud and his team on finishing 2nd in their class.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Samwhk

Glad you made it back safe Rich, don't change jobs in the next 12 months!

Thanks mate, it was great meeting you, hope to see you again next year. I'm already writing up my leave request so will be there for almost a week next year.

I'm planning on being at Sydney Aus GT to see the new cars and catch up with Reload in the mean time.

[KSM86]

Originally Posted by rich07

Thanks mate, it was great meeting you, hope to see you again next year. I'm already writing up my leave request so will be there for almost a week next year.

I'm planning on being at Sydney Aus GT to see the new cars and catch up with Reload in the mean time.

cya there mate, will try and calm reload down... lol

[Reload]

Originally Posted by KSM86

cya there mate, will try and calm reload down... lol

Bwahahaha.

[Oldtony]

And the winner was (as usual) Bathurst.
Great race which was a reminder of why I have loved the place since my first visit in the early 50s and why I watch anything from there on TV.
Drivers talk about elevation, the walls, ot being unforgiving etc. but I think that the secret of the place is in it's almost unique ability to test ALL the characteristics of car and driver.
The circuit rewards different strengths at different places and has thus witnessed some amazing duels between very different cars.
My first observation of this was a lady called Mary Seed in an AC Bristol passing C & D type Jags down through the esses in the 1958 TT, getting blown away down Conrod, catching up under brakes at the bottom then blown away again up Mountain Straight, only to catch up again across the top. In later years we saw the same sort of thing between Studebaker Larks and Cortina GTs, or Falcons and Minis etc.
On Sunday we saw how very different cars like the Bentleys or Mercs. could use torque and outright power to match the Audi and Mclarens superior aero and handling.
I wonder has the V8Supercar quest for parity in every aspect succeeded to the extent that it takes away the real magic of Mt. Panorama away simply because the cars are so similar in performance everywhere?

[Reload]

Macca's jump on board after Maranello win in 2014 for 2 years and get to Friday morning in 2015 and lap 1 in 2016. Will they renew ?

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Reload

Macca's jump on board after Maranello win in 2014 for 2 years and get to Friday morning in 2015 and lap 1 in 2016. Will they renew ?

I've always guessed it was some type of B2B sponsorship involving car owner who in my understanding are a supplier to McDonalds so who knows how that'll pan out.

If you want some cool McLaren wallpapers for your computer from the weekend check this out. If you want the full size click on the pic and after its popped up open it in a new tab to see its full size and they are huge.

http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/mclare...223.1454970254