"V8 Supercars chairman sacked" - Courier Mail

[deeks6]

Originally Posted by Steve Carter

If thats a subtle way of saying the rights should have never left Ten then I'm with you Racer....

I think theres a bigger picture again other than whether Cochrane should or shouldnt go. I'm not a fan of the guy nor his partner in crime Erskine - its purely business and return from investment to both of them nothing to do with motor sport. For all the good that V8 Supercars has done for motor sport in this country - the money it has collectively sucked out of the sport has done damage in general to the rest of the sport - if that makes sense.

Yes, it makes complete sense ... and the rest of the sport provides better racing as well!

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

His tantrums where he has thrown threats at the WA Government didnt concern you 6 years ago ?

Not at the time, no.

[mctshirt]

Tony Cochrane has done nothing good for Australian motorsport. The word maggot springs to mind.

He has put all of your motorsport eggs in one basket and left it in a blind alley (if you can keep track of the mixed metaphors)

There is nothing at the top level in Australian motorsport outside V8 Supercars - apart from the once a year visit by the Grand Prix circus which doesn't really count given it's run from Europe and Australia merely pays a fee to get a visit. Worth mentioning that winning the top Australian open wheeler formula is hardly an open door to F1? Lucky to get a big enough field to fill the podium apparently.

V8 Supercars relies on the support of the manufacturers and more specifically the continued production of Commodores and Falcons. It's a closed shop to other manufacturers and models. That's fine as long as Ford Australia can continue making Falcons but that's starting to look very very shaky.

So currently we have the much touted "World Class Formula" at a bit of a dead end and the very real risk of imploding leaving a vacum in Australian motorsport. Nature always fills a vacum but at least Australia might get to see some real racing but the "World Class" tag might have to be eaten as humble pie. "World Class Collapse of a Formula" perhaps?

What I saw of Tony Cochrane last year was outrageous - he's a clown -first he gave everyone a good spray because Auckland got told they couldn't close down streets for a street race AND grizzle about their traffic woes to the rest of New Zealand. South of the Bombay Hills we all knew the idea was dead in the water...if Tony Cochrane was an astute businessman he would too.

Then he gave Wellington a good spray because they looked at the idea of a street race (with previous experience) and flagged the idea before burying vast sums of money it it. Personally I would have loved to see a return of race cars to Wellington but it was not to be. Que sera sera.

Then when Hamilton came to his party way down the track he conveniently forgot about the Manfield proposal that had been there all along (and would have benefitted all NZ motorsport with an upgraded track and facilities) and gave the rest of New Zealand a spray for not sharing the vision of Hamilton folk. Big deal. Couldn't he be happy he got his way, thank Hamilton graciously and eff off quietly without the vitriol?

Chances are I'll be at Hamilton but Wellington or Manfield would have been easier to get to for us Mexicans south of the border.

All opinions are my own biased, one-eyed, ill-advised, uninformed efforts so no need to remind me.

[D.R.T.]

Good to see Mr Mckay pulling no punches in todays Sun Herald.

[Steve Carter]

Yep I think he summed up the situation and possible scenario quite well.

[DAVID PATERSON]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Good to see Mr Mckay pulling no punches in todays Sun Herald.

He's never been afraid to call it as he sees it.

[johnh875]

Is the article online anywhere?

[johnny yuma]

Whatever it's just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.I won't be satisfied until SS Supercar sinks to the watery depths and nature fills the vacuum ( mctshirt inspired me to mix more metaphors). There was a time when being a motorsport fan in Australia did not automatically mean people would assume you drank a lot of VB,smoked Winnie Blues and were on probation.

Tony Cockroach is the very model of a modern major painintheass,but that is 2007 for you.

[Chucky]

Wow! A handful of metaphors and a generalised stereotype in one post! You're the man, johnny!

[Robert Ryan]

I'd disagree to the extent of he forced though a lot of necessary changes for the sport and many of course would have rathered it stayed a bush league, backwoods sport rather than a professional, world class racing series

Agreed Totally, unfortunately too many on this board still think we need to "go back to the future"

He's never been afraid to call it as he sees it.

Seeing Peter Mackay never did like Tony Cochrane, that was no surprise. Then again there are as many people who cannot stand Peter Mackay.

[Robert Ryan]

There was a time when being a motorsport fan in Australia did not automatically mean people would assume you drank a lot of VB,smoked Winnie Blues and were on probation.

"Motorsport Fans" is a pretty generic term and includes quite a few people from all types of racing not just road racing. That stereotype never existed.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Agreed Totally, unfortunately too many on this board still think we need to "go back to the future"

Seeing Peter Mackay never did like Tony Cochrane, that was no surprise. Then again there are as many people who cannot stand Peter Mackay.

I dont think its liking or not liking the individual, its their actions that cause the concern.

I think those who dont stand for Peter McKays actions would be a minority.

[Rick]

[QUOTE=Robert Ryan That stereotype never existed.[/QUOTE]

whether or not you like, or agree, with it, it certainly exists - particularly among the mainstream (and gets reinforced every time they show the boys at Bathurst, or the girls at Indy ).

[Robert Ryan]

whether or not you like, or agree, with it, it certainly exists - particularly among the mainstream (and gets reinforced every time they show the boys at Bathurst, or the girls at Indy ).

ABS..the Australian Bureau of Statistics in one of its latest surveys, has Motorsport listed as No.4 as far as spectator attendance, as sports go in Australia I really do not think that stereotype exists for the general public. Maybe for a few narrow minded and out of touch journalists and TV producers.

[Robert Ryan]

I dont think its liking or not liking the individual, its their actions that cause the concern

It is a dislike for the Individual in this case.

I think those who dont stand for Peter McKays actions would be a minority.

Seeing Mr Mackay has been spurned by more than one fellow journalist and commentators over the years, more like majority.

[The Snout]

The day Cochrane said 'bathurst is all about Ford vs Holden', completely ignoring
all other makes and classes that ever raced or contributed to history at the mountain was the day I stopped caring frankly about the V8 Magazine Series.

With Cochrane gone and Ford saying the series has a shelf life, it can all only be good.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

It is a dislike for the Individual in this case.

Sure Robert.

Its got nothing to do with the actions of VESA towards other inside and outside the motorsport industry.

Surely if anyone made anything personal it was VESA banning Mr Mckay from v8 events, one that didnt go down well with the teams.

[Steve Carter]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

I know that Mr Mackay after talking to him, has a grudge against certain individuals at V8Supercar, from whatever reason, who knows.

I dont believe its a grudge at all on P Mckays part - in all the commentary Ive read over time its always been a balanced article - I think in some instances P McKay has made calls that are not to the liking of V8SA and certain individuals in that operation took it personally - ie how dare you criticise what we're doing we're V8SA the be all and end all of Australian motor sport. In all honesty and Ive said it before - for all the good V8Supercars has done for the sport here in Australia they have sucked out so much cash from the arena that its hurt the general motor sport scene in this country.

[Robert Ryan]

I dont believe its a grudge at all on P Mckays part - in all the commentary Ive read over time its always been a balanced article

Well there have been a lot of very unbalanced articles by Mr Mackay, not just about V8Supercar. Mr Mackay was angry about certain Individuals in V8Supercar. So anything like that is going to cloud your judgement.

[Robert Ryan]

V8Supercars has done for the sport here in Australia they have sucked out so much cash from the arena that its hurt the general motor sport scene in this country.

"Motorsport Scene"..you mean roadracing? Other forms of Motorsport are starting to boom in australia.

[Steve Carter]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Well there have been a lot of very unbalanced articles by Mr Mackay, not just about V8Supercar. Mr Mackay was angry about certain Individuals in V8Supercar. So anything like that is going to cloud your judgement.

Who's judgement P McKays or mine??

[Steve Carter]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

"Motorsport Scene"..you mean roadracing? Other forms of Motorsport are starting to boom in australia.

I mean circuit events in general - yes there are a number of forms of the sport that are booming.

[Robert Ryan]

Who's judgement P McKays or mine??

His. Anyone who has some sort of bias, is not going to write a balanced article or have a balanced opinion

[Robert Ryan]

I mean circuit events in general - yes there are a number of forms of the sport that are booming.

The money is out there..but Circuit Racing is being over looked. I guess "pimping a formula Vee ride" or "ground pounding Formula Fords" does not sound right.

[Steve Carter]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

His. Anyone who has some sort of bias, is not going to write a balanced article or have a balanced opinion

Yes but I dont see if a journalist has a certain point of view and expresses that how can that be biased - its just a point of view being expressed against a certain set of circumstances and in P McKays situation I always get the opinion that its a well grounded criticism or viewpoint not one that comes from malice or a grudge - just my opinion.