Bathurst 24 Hour

Forbesy · 13 Sep 2002, 15:01 (Ref:379656)

Haven't heard much about this interesting event, I know that Channel 7 are giving quite good coverage (about 5 hours plus updates) but what cars are coming out, and will the field even get close to the 83 car grid they were wanting. There's such a wide range of cars that are eligible that would make for a fantastic race.

The sheer logistics of staging an event like this would be a nightmare, with officials and flaggies that need to be allocated on the job for 24 hours, plus the substantial lighting that would be needed around the circuit. In some ways I can't see it going ahead.

Any thoughts??

Cheers,

Forbesy

DNQ · 14 Sep 2002, 01:03 (Ref:379972)

I am wondering if they will make the full 83 car grid also.

The Sandown 500 had approximatly 30 cars, it's pretty safe to say we'll have at least that many at Bathurst. I think 10-15 overseas cars is a far target, and there will be a few future tourers as well, so I'd say at least 50 cars is likely, but I think 83 is stretching it a long way.

William Dale Jr · 14 Sep 2002, 03:00 (Ref:380001)

Now I've been wondering about this for a while: can someone explain to me just how they are going to fit 83 cars at Bathurst? There are only 55 pit garages, aren't there? How is that going to work?

DNQ · 14 Sep 2002, 03:25 (Ref:380007)

I've wanted to know that myself - 83 cars just seems like too many to me, I don't think the track can support that many.

mac · 14 Sep 2002, 05:52 (Ref:380024)

To tell you the truth, I would not be too disappointed if they did not get 83 cars.

racer69 · 14 Sep 2002, 11:10 (Ref:380090)

They are extending the pitlane up Mountain Straight.

I think anywhere around 55 or so would be a good turn-up for the first year.

DNQ · 16 Sep 2002, 07:45 (Ref:381297)

Actually - have ANY car lineups actually been confirmed at this stage? I know there is a lot of interest, but has anyone actually got a full lineup ready and sorted out? I wouldn't be surprised if the answer is no, it's still 2 months away, but I am interested???

Seton_5 · 16 Sep 2002, 07:58 (Ref:381307)

Yeah how are they planning to get 83 cars in Pitlane? they only have 55 or so Pitbays. In 1999 and 200 they had 55 for bathurst and can rmember it was very tight for space.

Seton_5 · 16 Sep 2002, 07:59 (Ref:381308)

Oh sorry just saw Racer69's post.

Sorry!

DNQ · 16 Sep 2002, 08:05 (Ref:381311)

Regarding racer69's post, I read that back in Auto Action a while back, seems likes that's what they want to do/are going to do.

sevi · 17 Sep 2002, 08:06 (Ref:382186)

They have about 40% of the number of officials needed for the weekend.
The entry list is not being released because of some reason, did read what it was but it is buried deep in my head with all other bits of useless information.

DNQ · 17 Sep 2002, 08:54 (Ref:382239)

Another thing...I read some Super Tourers will be racing...this has probably been covered somewere else, but under what group are they permitted to take part? Group 10? If so, anyone else notice that half the entries are in Group 10....?

racer69 · 17 Sep 2002, 12:23 (Ref:382414)

I think they will probably be in Group 10. I think that was probably the point of Group 10, if they couldn't get a really big field, then there was Group 10 for anyone who wanted to compete.

Tony_Simpson · 21 Sep 2002, 20:24 (Ref:385523)

Is there a web site with entries/race results etc around yet???

DNQ · 22 Sep 2002, 00:30 (Ref:385653)

http://www.bathurst24hr.com/ - No official entry list, but news etc
http://www.conrod.com.au/ - Check the forum for a list of eligble cars

alfasud · 23 Sep 2002, 01:56 (Ref:386260)

So what's the latest word about the rumoured 7 litre Monaro entry?
http://www.bathurst24hr.com/newsitem.asp?news_id=577

I can't help but feel that Holden is quite comfortable with there being just one big Bathurst race.... the V8 event with rules that allow only Holdens and one other car, and that they win on a regular basis. I suspect that they hope the 24hr race doesn't detract from the V8 event and wouldn't be too sad if it was a flop.

Then, while European teams are trying to decide if they want to enter their Group N-GT in the Bathurst 24hrs, they let it be known that they're got this 7 litre Monaro, that's potentially 5 seconds a lap faster that a V8 supercar. Gosh.... we hope that doesn't put anyone off entering the race!!!!

Or am I being too cynical here?

05forever · 23 Sep 2002, 02:19 (Ref:386267)

I would like to know how the Monaro is even being considered as an entrant. Can I go and buy one this arvo? I know I cant buy any Ford/Holden supercars but isn't the production car championship??

How many have to be produced before you can race them? One??

Will it retain the same shell/aero package of the stocker monaro if so i dont think I would like to have to drive the thing down conrod at a potential 340/50 kmh for a day. Sounds a bit suss to me.

racer69 · 23 Sep 2002, 07:43 (Ref:386341)

Nations Cup isn't a Production Car Championship, hence why cars like the Monaro can compete.

I really want to know what is happening with the project. There were meant to be 4 cars built, and the first was meant to be seen at Oran Park in May. Then they were meant to be raced at Indy so some Parity adjustments could be made prior to Bathurst, yet now i here that it's first race will be Bathurst and that there will only be just the 1 car, possibly without any Holden backing! Is this true?

alfasud · 23 Sep 2002, 10:34 (Ref:386464)

Nations Cup isn't a Production Car Championship.... maybe not for *standard* production cars, but you can go to your friendly Porsche dealer and order a 911 GT3 (or have they all been sold now?) with the same engine block and heads as used in the Nations Cup, same with the Ferrari 360.... these are Production Cars after all, but a 7 litre Monaro?

Maybe I could enter a FIA GT Lister Storm in the Nations Cup class for Bathurst 24hrs - there's more of those around than 7 litre Monaro's!!!

mtpanorama · 23 Sep 2002, 11:11 (Ref:386487)

Quote:

Originally posted by alfasud

Maybe I could enter a FIA GT Lister Storm in the Nations Cup class for Bathurst 24hrs - there's more of those around than 7 litre Monaro's!!!

You could enter it...........with the appropriate parity adjustments. Thats the point of the competition in Nations cup. Whether you like it or not.

alfasud · 24 Sep 2002, 01:37 (Ref:386999)

Actually I couldn't enter it.... the car itself has to be eligible. Which is the point I'm making - exactly what is eligible, and don't all entrants have a right to know?

Looking at the series rules:
http://www.procar.com.au/2002_NC_regs_sheet.pdf

"2.2 Vehicle eligibility schedule"

"2.2 a. Only vehicles listed in the Vehicle Eligibility Schedule at the end of this Part are eligible to enter....."

"2.2 f. ......at least 75 identically similar examples of bona-fide production cars (build date no later than 1st March 2002) available throughout the world of which 2 such example must be registered or capable of being registered for normal road use in Australia...."

Later on (in 2.2 g) it states that "PROCAR, with the prior written approval of CAMS may admit cars for competition by varying these eligibility regulations....."

The interesting thing with the Vehicle Eligibility Schedule, is that it lists the cars and their capacities. For the Holden Monaro CV8, the capacity is listed as "TBA".

But here it is listed as 7000cc:
http://www.procar.com.au/cardetail.asp?carspecid=97

So it seems that the rules might be bent for Holden (unless there really are 75 of these 7L Monaros!) under the "PROCAR... may admit cars" clause, but has CAMS provided that written approval?

If I was about to spend a small fortune, bringing a team of Porsche GT3 or Ferrari 360 from Europe, with the hope of an outright victory, I'd certainly want to know what other cars were also eligible to compete for that outright victory.

Maybe that's one reason the entries are a bit slow to be confirmed at the moment.

Crash Test · 1 Oct 2002, 21:46 (Ref:393482)

Hrmmm, interesting that they've had to extend the deadline for entries- they've only got 40 odd, looking for 50. I suppose that means that they won't have to extend the pit lane??

Also interesting to see IMG take out ads looking for volunteers... has this ever been done before? They sound a bit desperate...

Flaggie · 1 Oct 2002, 21:58 (Ref:393494)

They are desperate.... They have 93 flaggies for the whole event. They need at least 140.

05forever · 1 Oct 2002, 23:34 (Ref:393562)

IS this a full IMG promotion on risk basis ala V8 Bathurst or a promote for a fee race? Who is paying the bills?

Not enough flaggies, not enough entries sounds like it may not be the most desirable start for the event. I hope that they see it through.

Crash Test · 2 Oct 2002, 00:18 (Ref:393588)

I think IMG are handling the official's side of things for a fee...

So what went wrong? They were confident of 80 odd cars... not enough time??

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