The State of NZ Motorsport.

[Kiwiboss]

This came though today via MSNZ's April E-News, we all have great ideas and some have been bandied about on this post, SO here's your chance to do something about it!! Hmmm anyone willing to step up?

Dear Member
April has marked the conclusion and beginning of various championships and series on circuits and roads around the country. Wellington Car Club hosted the final round of the National Hill Climb Championships and the locals put up a strong performance against the Championship contenders. Congratulations to Sloan and Taran Cox, who are the 2012 National Hill Climb champions.
The Independent Race Classes (IRC) finished their season at Taupo. It was great to see the strength and support of the fields in all ten classes. Congratulations to those that won their respective classes.
Shorter days mark the beginning of the rally season and the Brother International Rally of Whangarei highlighted some fresh young talent. Mixing it with the big boys, 19-year-old Alex Kelsey, in a Group A 4WD, became the youngest-ever competitor to win an NZRC Round. The rule change, which allows Group A cars to contest the NZRC, I'm sure will be watched with interest by many.

Next month sees our AGCM being held in Auckland. As a democratic organisation, it is critical that we have consistent and fresh representation. I am regularly reminded of members' concerns regarding perceived bias and lack of performance, so it is disappointing only a handful of nominees have put their hand up for election.
I realise that people lead busy lives, but please bear in mind that most MSNZ representatives volunteer their time and do the best they can by the organisation and its members. If you feel change is needed, you have to put yourself in a position to facilitate it; otherwise, be grateful for those who do commit to furthering our sport. I look forward to catching up with those of you who are able to attend the AGCM this year, celebrating our champions and paving the way for the sport in 2012/13.

Shayne Harris, President

So good on TACCOC taking the initiative!! my take of adding different class's/vehicles, SS2000, Honda Cup, etc and Historic/Classic's at Tier 1 meetings a tough call, you can't have the so called Tier 1 premier events been watered down with vehicles/class's that have an uneven performance level(Muscle cars, pre 65, GT1, NZGT) due to the nature of the different vehicle types and also ones financial ability to out "Money" the other racers. I too find Swift and Mini's boring but these are vehicles that are available NEW from the dealer today, with an equal performance level(suppose to be) hence show casing the drivers ability, particularly the young up and coming drivers without millionaire dad souping it up to gain that unfair advantage for little Johnny(hopefully). Most new cars don't impress me today at all, but in modern Motorsport this is "all we have" that's why the premier big bucks class's have to go the way of the "Car of tomorrow" and "Supertourers" to level the playing field, although boring but not always!! NASCAR have proved this by taking away the emphasis from the vehicle and putting it onto the driver/team, a NASCAR is just a bunch of pipes, wheels, lift of body, same engine, etc(you guys know what i mean) but look at the crowd they pull, and just like the V8 Supercars, anyone that thinks its a Holden or Ford winning this weekend is dreaming, its the best team and driver that's got there shit together, but they do put on a show. Now here's a thought for us diehards, maybe a supertourer but with old school bodywork, hell atleast they'd LOOK great, XY Falcon, HK Monaro, Camaro, Mustang, yeah that'll work, now wouldn't that be COOL!!

But really as for answer's, hell i don't know!! I'll just stick to Classic/Historic racing for FUN ONLY, and even that's bad enough these days!! and as for Cost's/Money, etc? people will always spend what they think is rite for "them" depending on ones financial wealth, what may seem cheap to one person is expensive to another and it must be true because were/they're still out there doing it while other country's are going broke. I personally think were all quite lucky in this country when it comes to Motorsport, i've just had an American mate out for Beach Hop and Wanaka Air show, he doesn't believe we only have 4.5M people, he thinks it more like 40.5M as to him everyone seems to own a race car, a classic, a Air Plane, race tracks everywhere, etc? interesting observation but i have corrected him.

There you go, Dales thoughts of the day

Dale Mathers