2008 BMF & Bathurst 12 Hour (MERGED)

[AussieV8]

Wood-duck...you are spot on as the old days were brilliant and with the mixture of classes from 1.3ltr 4cyl to Euro V8's......with the return of factory support this would lure drivers and media to be interested in the race. As it has been said the 12hrs of the 90's were great racing with Brockie reving the crap out of the little french car to Gricey sliding around in the SS ute....and the mighty Brame Suzuki just kept going around and around in its black livery with those orange rims...The GpE days were also when you could pickup a car from the showroom make a few adjustments and off you go and mix it with whatever and whoever and have fun. The parity was right on as some tracks suited the litle cars and to see them give the 6cyls and V8's a hurry up was fantastic. I'm looking forward to attending this meeting and also being part of the volunteer brigade as a passionate motorsport fan and a strong believer in Production Racing lets hope that sponsors and the public embrase this catergory so it can blossum into an annual event like the racing SUPERCABS..

Even with all the technology the supercabs have they last 5 laps were a showroom car driven at ten-tenths can perform for 12hrs....strange that.

Bring it on and I'm hoping that the mighty little Mazda 3MPS's have all the gremlins out of them this year and soldier on.

[aussie_xr8]

Originally Posted by AussieV8

Even with all the technology the supercabs have they last 5 laps were a showroom car driven at ten-tenths can perform for 12hrs....strange that.

You can not be serious. V8 Supercars get flogged every single lap of every single race. Of 31 cars racing close to 6000km a year you will be lucky to see more then 3 gearbox failures and less then 10 engine expires. Now tell me that they still only last for 5 laps.

[gwg1010]

V8 supertaxis still somehow seem to find a pace car every 30 mins at bathurst so that everything cn cool down again.

[AussieV8]

Originally Posted by aussie_xr8

You can not be serious. V8 Supercars get flogged every single lap of every single race. Of 31 cars racing close to 6000km a year you will be lucky to see more then 3 gearbox failures and less then 10 engine expires. Now tell me that they still only last for 5 laps.

I'm aware of that and if you read into my post you could tell that I was being sarcastic.....but they do have their moments just like every race car...

[aussie_xr8]

Sorry mate it was not that obvious that you were being sarcastic.

[RotorFan]

Originally Posted by bluesport

I'm sure tired of seeing regs altered specifically to benefit holden. It was a refreshing change at the last B12hr to see some different brands challenging for the outright lead.

I don't think its Holden-specific, but yeah I agree.

Originally Posted by Kyle

No gt's this year

Should be a good weekend!

Thats a big minus! The GTs made the Saturday worth it. That really sucks, I loved hearing and seeing the GTs there last year.

They seem to be doing everything in their power to discourage me from going.

[mtpanorama]

I have heard there is a list with about 40 cars on it.
No factory Subaru's, 2 factory Toyota Aurions, Holt is back to deffend his title. Holden supposed to be entering a VE SS.

[AussieV8]

Thats great some variety for a change and lets see how the big Toyotas go with their Auto boxes..

[RotorFan]

No factory Subaru? The Atkinson and co trio created alot of interest in the race.

Surely they aren't running automatic gearboxes? Doesn't the Aurion have manual?

I don't like that number ... 40. Probably around 10 entries will drop out, another couple with problems before the race... Why isn't there more interest?

[Spunky]

Originally Posted by RotorFan

I don't like that number ... 40. Probably around 10 entries will drop out, another couple with problems before the race... Why isn't there more interest?

Maybe, two weeks later it is the start of the season, maybe the ten grand entry fee or with an enduro like this the possibility of paying the money to race and not even getting in the car cause one of the co drivers banged it.

[racer69]

That goes for any endurance race though, not just this one.

[mildura1963]

I thought the 12 hr race was the opening round?

[Belly13]

The closing date isn't until the 18th of January. Is there any chance that there may be more entries between now and then? I wouldn't think so. The document opener on the BMF website only has 32 entries now on its website in the Class Entry List. I hate to think what may happen...
The Hot Hatch Class now only has two entries. I'd like to see more entries in the smaller car classes. By the way, what's happened to Alan Shephard's MPS3 and the Celica he used to have?
I hope we have AT LEAST 35 Cars. I'll still be going though.

[gwg1010]

I am sure the current entry list will change, maybe more but likely less. There are still drives advertised but it looks like no one wants them.
I think there might be 30 starters.

[mildura1963]

Holden have not confirmed the SS VE Wagon, drivers not named yet though..

[6.213km]

Have the Toyota Aurions been confirmed? They seem to have dissapeared off the class entry list on the b12hr website. 37 entries on the class list not including the Aurions.

[Dasher]

Originally Posted by gwg1010

I am sure the current entry list will change, maybe more but likely less. There are still drives advertised but it looks like no one wants them.
I think there might be 30 starters.

Maybe nobody wants them because of the "Drug Money" prices of between $12 & 20 K for a seat in a "sh*t box" whose best chance is to win the race to the dummy grid without breaking something.

With no guarantees that if the car is pranged & you dont get to drive that you will get any of your money back.

These blokes have got their hand on it too much.

[peckstar]

theyw ere favorites for a class win :-)

[Oldtony]

The entry list is now up on the BMF site.
Total of 40 entries, with the TRD Aurions having disappeared from the list mysteriously over the past few days.
Bit disappointing, have reserved my decision on whether I go downd for it.

[aussiefveeracer]

Originally Posted by http://www.bathurstmotorfestival.com.au/latest_news.asp

Capacity fields of 56 Formula Vees, 50 Saloon Cars and two grids (approx 90) Holden HQs will all be in action throughout the weekend in official support of the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour.

I notice that is appears the Commodore Cup cars have been dropped and replaced by two HQ fields.....?????

[RotorFan]

Originally Posted by Oldtony

Bit disappointing, have reserved my decision on whether I go downd for it.

Me too. The omission of the GTs has really done it for me. I really am not interested in watching FVees at Bathurst. Well, 56 will be a sight, but really... what else do we have... Mad Rons Big Hat on Wheels and Crazy Pete's Whirley Gig three-wheeler. Two fields of HQs... one is enough surely.

The race needs manufacturer support to make it interesting. And no, a dealership entering a car doesn't count.

[AussieV8]

Its a shame that the B12 field its larger with more cars out there this could have been a great event from the smaller cars thru to larger family sedans and sports hatches and coupes...but with 2 Mazda 3 Mps and a NC MX5 the zoom zoom is increasing..not long now till I'm off to work in the Media Centre...my Mazda 2 Genki that I ordered in Dec 07 wont be here in time for its maiden voyager to the Mt so my wife's Astina will do the job.

[johnny yuma]

Until the fosc and bmf kiss and make up both will suffer.If the 12 hour was a 6 hour(start in the dark finish midday) there would be more entries due to cheaper costs and hopefully cheaper entry fees,better support races,bigger crowd and hopefully camping to encourage people to stay overnight/s.If the manufacturers don't come on board throw the restrictive entry list away and let a wider variety of new and older cars in--make it a racer's race if it can't work as a manufacturers race.Either that or bring back price categories with a low ceiling like the old 500 rules.

Anyhow Bathurst is Bathurst we'll be staying at a pub $35 Saturday night including breakfast.Have a look Saturday afternoon events,watch the start of the 12 hour,do the walk to Forrests elbow etc,go home if it gets dull, stay if its a race.

[Belly13]

If anybody has a timetable for the event, it would be much appreciated. Also, does anybody know where I would be able to get entry lists for all categories for the event?
Thanks for your help!!

[AussieV8]

Have a look here at the official website:

http://www.bathurstmotorfestival.com...tr=5&Pagecat=5