This is what motorsports all about

**touringlegend** · 11 Aug 2001, 19:36 (Ref:128984)

I think this shows the real side of motorsports, well any sport really, fellow competitors helping each other out when they are in trouble. Although one thing ABG - couldn't you have given them an Engine about 4 billion years ago when they were really in trouble????

The start of the session had seen the four Astras out together - but the rest soon followed. Tim Harvey's Alfa sounded dreadful, but it was an odd electrical fault, not more engine trouble. The JSM team had been short of an alternator after morning troubles, but ABG came to the rescue with a spare taken from an IS200 road car. "We're glad to help them out."

fudge · 11 Aug 2001, 20:43 (Ref:128996)

This is was motorsport is all about! Tom Boardman was having trouble at Snetterton and Triple 888 went to his aid. Thank God there is some co-operation out there, long may it continue.

hunttheshunt · 12 Aug 2001, 11:53 (Ref:129182)

Good to see the teams trying to help each other out for the good of the series. And Tom Boardman in an Astra next year?...

Radisichrox · 12 Aug 2001, 12:50 (Ref:129208)

Quote:

Originally posted by hunttheshunt
Good to see the teams trying to help each other out for the good of the series. And Tom Boardman in an Astra next year?...

I hope not!

Well, that's good to hear. That never happens in Formula 1.

racer69 · 12 Aug 2001, 13:16 (Ref:129217)

wouldn't have happened a few years ago in the BTCC.

hunttheshunt · 12 Aug 2001, 17:20 (Ref:129282)

Perhaps the teams realise that they need to co-operate if the new-look BTCC is to suceed.

John Batchelor · 14 Aug 2001, 15:54 (Ref:130354)

This has not been unusual this year in our paddock, as a new team we have been caught out loads of times, and have received help whenever we have asked, from all over the paddock, there is a great atmosphere between all of the teams, and whilst we may be rivals on the circuit, we are all friends off. I can think of one team who sent someone on a two hundred mile round trip during the night to get us a spare engine that they happened to have after mine blew up at Silverstone.
Sadly we fitted it and it didn't work too well, but not as you may think, a clever con to get rid of a duff engine, they said sorry it didn't work and didn't charge us a bean. I have been really impressed by the attitude of so many of the teams towards us, we are the REALLY new boys, but we could not have been made more welcome.

**touringlegend** · 14 Aug 2001, 16:16 (Ref:130366)

That team were very kind then!

At the end of the day, a lot of the competitors are just there fun the fun of it.

John, if the NSC had not merged with the BTCC do you think you would be in Touring Cars at all, because B&Q might not have given you sponsorship to be in the NSC?

**Craig** · 14 Aug 2001, 18:04 (Ref:130406)

If the NSC hadn't been absorbed into the BTCC, I don't think there would have been a BTCC at all... seven or eight cars does not a series make.

Nice to hear about these stories though John, great to see that teams can still help each other - F1, take note!!

John Batchelor · 14 Aug 2001, 18:08 (Ref:130408)

TL, this year was an opportunity, not just for new teams, but also for new sponsors to become involved without the multi-million pound budgets that would have been needed before. It will, no doubt, bring "new blood" in to the championship, from drivers, teams and sponsors so it is without doubt a good thing. If the championship had not had the profile that it does, then yes, it would have been harder to sell, and we might not have been here. But I'm sure that our sponsors are enjoying it, I know that we are and I really hope that you are, because without all of you we could'nt do it (and that is not just the usual "spin", I mean it, we have had terrific support this year and I am very very grateful, it makes a masssive difference to the team morale)

hunttheshunt · 14 Aug 2001, 18:45 (Ref:130433)

Well with BMP created it was probably inevitable that the NSC merged into the BTCC.

**touringlegend** · 14 Aug 2001, 20:52 (Ref:130489)

Quote:

Originally posted by John B & Q
But I'm sure that our sponsors are enjoying it, I know that we are and I really hope that you are, because without all of you we could'nt do it.

Yes I am enjoying it totally John. As you've said before and will probably say again you were sitting in the grandstands a few years back only wishing that you would do this one day. You've done it so hopefully that will inspire others to try the same. I'm not a salesman, but hey, my brother is, so there's still a ray of light for me to do what you have done. I wish!

I love it when the Team B&Q cars appear on TV. Team B&Q are always the first BTC-P team I mention when I am asked about the teams.
Don't know if it was Nick's or Joannas car was being past by Eaves' Pug when he went off? Well at least your cars stay on track!

John Batchelor · 15 Aug 2001, 03:10 (Ref:130608)

It was Nick, but I don't think that Dan was meaning to try and pass there, I think he would have done it either just before or just after the chicane, maybe he just took a slightly wider line than normal and got on the greasy stuff. I was pleased to see him get out OK, that looked like a VERY BIG off.

**touringlegend** · 15 Aug 2001, 12:53 (Ref:130761)

John sorry if that sounded as if I was blaming Team B&Q's car? Didn't mean it to.

John Batchelor · 15 Aug 2001, 15:55 (Ref:130814)

No TL thats fine, I knew you weren't doing that.

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