Ashamed Kiwi

To the Auckland City Council: thanks a lot. Another motorsport event lost due to local legislation. I’m ashamed to be a Kiwi. And to Marcos Ambrose: your behaviour at Surfers was shocking. For a former European Formula Ford champion, I must say a speedway sedan driver has probably got better driver tactics. And your pitlane antics were not that of the ambassador to the sport I thought you were. Go the Kiwis, go the Holdens, go Murph.

Ben

Christchurch, NZ

It’s very disappointing about Auckland to us over here in Oz as well, because we know how good a street race can be. –Ed.

Staggered

I find it truly staggering that people have an interest in V8 "Supercars". No passing and full of prima donnas that could not beat time with a stick. The fact is that cars were designed for towing bikes to the circuit.

Barry

Thanks for your feedback Barry. We trust that you are successful in your long quest to "get a life". –Ed.

Statistic stuff-up

My name is Andrew Coggan and I’m nine years old. In the Heads-up section of one issue of V8X you said Craig Lowndes holds the lap record at Symmons Plains in 1999, but Lowndes wasn’t racing because of the broken leg he got at Calder Park. I go for Ford.

Andrew

Andrew, you’ll probably find that this lap record was set in 1998 but not broken in 1999. –Ed.

Bad Rick #1

Something has to be done about Kmart Racing’s Rick Kelly.

Lap one of race one, on turn one, Kelly took out Russell Ingall and put him out of
contention for the weekend. In race two Kelly tried to pull an absolutely ridiculous move on Jason Bright that resulted in PWR losing a car in a horrific crash.

Luckily Jason was not seriously injured in the crash. But CAMS should review Rick Kelly’s licence to race. It is totally ridiculous that he should get away with reckless driving like he displayed on the Sunday’s race, with nothing but a drive-though penalty.

Tony Cochrane and AVESCO should also review the team of Driving Standards Advisers to the V8 Supercar Championship Series. Go Marcos!!

Matt

Bad Rick #2

I just wanted to know what your thoughts are on the most immature driving I have seen in a very, very long time. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m talking about Rick Kelly at Surfers. First of all he takes out Ingall, then Bowe, then Bright. I think he showed how immature he really is. I am shocked to think he could do that to Bright. It was downright stupid. I was just wondering if anyone agrees with me.

Adam

Bad Rick #3

I was absolutely disgusted with the driving of Rick Kelly in both races on the Gold Coast. If I was Marcos Ambrose I would have been very nervous with Rick Kelly sitting about a foot from my bumper, knowing he was a lap down and what had transpired at the first chicane.

Not satisfied with that he then proceeded to turn John Bowe around, once again at the first chicane, then completely ruin Jason Bright’s race and car at the chicane on the back straight. Kelly should go back to school and learn where the front of his car is.

If the stewards fined Marcos Ambrose for an alleged brake test after race one, they should suspend Rick Kelly for at least one race and fine him at least $50,000.

Peter

V8X received a lot of mail about Rick and his shocker of a weekend. I feel it was just that – a shocker – and isn’t a true reflection of his ability. I also believe that it was a bit of a wake-up call to be a bit more careful in the future. –Ed.

Poor Brock

"It just wouldn’t slow down" were the words that came over the HRT radio for the #05 car on Sunday morning’s practice session.

Here’s a tip, Mr Plato: the car slows down a lot easier when the wheels aren’t locked up.

How is he a professional driver when he goes and locks up the wheels and wrecks a good set of racing tyres for the race that is on in two hours’ time?! OK, it was a mistake, forgiveable, but he goes and does it again in the race! This time he puts it into the wall and out of the race.

What a way for Brock to finish, not even getting to put his helmet on. Poor Brock.

Judd

We all know how much trouble the ‘tourists’ find Bathurst. It’s not considered one of the world’s greatest racetracks for nothing. –Ed.

HRT Shocker

Skaife, Skaife, Skaife. All I can do is laugh.

What a great season 2004 has been so far, with Skaife having a shocker and both SBR cars in the top five in the championship.

Get used to it Holden Fans. Ford is the king now!! Your days are officially over. Maybe you do have Bright and Murphy, but where did Bright achieve his first major success? In an SBR Ford! And for Murph: he owes a lot to his Kiwi fans.

Would be great to see Todd in a Ford! Go SBR – Howard Marsden would be proud.

Sean

You should be happy, Sean, about the ‘rumours’ of Bright going back into a Ford. –Ed.

Grid Guys

I love your magazine, it’s great! But my letter will probably appeal way more to women. Female fans of the V8s are growing more and more each year.

I have noticed that there are grid girls
walking around promoting whatever they’re promoting and guys have their photos taken with them and perve on them.

Why can’t the girls have something to perve at, exactly like the grid girls but guys (not so much standing near the cars or on the
podium, but walking around promoting things just for the female fans)?

There were track boys at the Australian Grand Prix so why not at the V8 Supercar events? Go Skaifey in the next season.

Karlie

What... the real athletes in race suits aren’t enough? –Ed.

True Ford Fan

How’s this for a Ford fanatic? This was
printed in our local newspaper, Burnie and Devonport (Tas), on December 1st 2004.

I am one biased and loyal Ford fan but I don’t think I would go this far in celebrating someone who brought Ford supercars back to number one. Then again, he is a legend in his own right.

Thanks to AVESCO for bringing the V8s back to Tassie, too.

Also, keep printing this magazine, it’s the best!

Hayden

A New Fan

I have just been reading your comments on Peter Brock and his popularity with fans. I have never been a fan of PB, as he has always gotten up my nose for some reason or other.

However, after reading your comments on his dedication to the cause, I am beginning to see him in a different light. You can always judge a celebrity by the way he treats his fans.

Keep up the good work.

Pat