Quote:
Originally Posted by Tourer
or ..... "some say"
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Interesting that this website was pressured to remove this post even thou the information within it is 100% fact! Do forums not want to publish the truth as there seem to be a number of misinformed posts on here. Interesting that Mark Petch didn't dispute the facts just wanted to know who I am?? The truth must have hit a nerve!
Just to let everyone know the true story about the split between the new ST class and the majority of the NZV8/Veega shareholders, here are the real facts:
NZV8s/Veega shareholders voted at Taupo in March 2010 to commission the board of directors to finalize the plan and price for a new V8 chassis for the current or new teams and shareholders to move the category forward.
April 2010 at the Hamilton V8 Supercar event the board presented the Paul Seprnich designed chassis and indicative price to the shareholders with a progression plan for the whole group to upgrade their cars. The NZV8/Veega shareholders were unanimous with their support towards the new project and a number of NZV8/Veega shareholders in good faith invested in the first prototype car to be built. This car was meant to have been built tested and displayed during the 2010/11 V8 championship series. This didn't happen in fact the prototype chassis didn't turn up until February 2011 along with the knowledge that 3 of the NZV8/Veega board of directors headed by Mark Petch. Wayne Anderson and Garry Pedersen had formed a private company called V8 Supertourers Ltd. back in September 2010 later to be joined by their fellow directors as new directors in the new company John McIntyre and Chris Abbott. There was always an undisclosed plan to take what was initially a NZV8/Veega new car project and effectively take it from the shareholders that the paid for the initial plans for this chassis. This became evident when the car was launched in February 2011 and the announcement of a rebel series lead by Mark Petch and co. On discovery of this information a number of the NZV8/Veega shareholders requested a Vote of no confidence in the board motion to be heard at a Special General Meeting at Taupo in March 2011. On receiving this motion request the NZV8/Veega board of Mark Petch, Wayne Anderson, Garry Pedersen, John McIntyre and Chris Abbott all resigned prior to this meeting.
This left the majority of the NZV8/Veega shareholders in an unfortunate situation of having to put together a new board and a new plan for the class to move forward. In some 4 months the new board lead by Andrew McKenzie have done an awesome job to stabilize the NZV8 class and come back with an exciting new car plan with a new Ford Falcon FG to be launched this weekend at Speedshow. Seven groups tendered for the new car project with the successful tender being racecar manufacturer Mitchell Race Xtreme based in Hamilton.
The new NZV8 is based on a common space frame chassis as the group had unanimously voted on some 12 months earlier. This is a brand new car with similar characteristics to the ST that was commissioned to be built by NZV8/Veega group. The chassis's will be some 200kgs lighter that the existing cars, common suspension components, 9 inch diff, Penske shocks, new Ford and Holden injected engines, 6 speed sequential gearbox, Motec data acquisition system, performance friction brake system, floor mounted pedal box, cockpit adjustable sway bar system and many more innovations. This is an all NZ designed and built car and has very practical design features that provide a real possibility for multiple manufacturers to be involved at a cost effective rate. For the record Paul Seprnich quoted that it would cost approximately $150,000 just to design the aero package for any other possible manufactures that wanted to be involved in ST. NZV8s intend on testing a new Ford Falcon FG and Holden Commodore VE at each of the championship rounds throughout the country and then potentially a new grid of cars will debut at Hamilton April 2012.
I have seen both cars and as much as the Paul Seprnich designed ST car is a very good car, I believe the new NZV8 is every bit as good, but is now a more practical solution for our NZV8 class. This is a NZ designed and built car, making it a more cost effective solution and simpler to repair. The chassis/car is not owned by individuals pushing their own wheelbarrows or making money out of the car and all of the spare parts for the car.
From someone that understands the history of what has gone down here it is a disappointing situation for all V8 teams and fans. There are no winners in the split of our V8 group and it is certainly negative for motorsport.
Almost seems like dejavue with Mark Petch and Tranz-ams!
The facts you be the judge