Clipsal 2008 brought forward to February??

[mmciau]

Talk in Adelaide tonight of bringing the C500 forward to februsary to ease accommodation problems of March in Adelaide.

This will be a killer if we get a repeat of the plus 40 Degree C we had on the Friday of the 2007 meeting.

I hope sanity prevails (but I'm not hopeful)



Mike

[GTRMagic]

Are they possibly looking at running it as a night event?

The development series twilight race on the Friday is pretty good to watch, cant say the drivers would be totally happy driving into the sun... but then neither is anyone who has to head towards Penrith of an afternoon....

[Pro Racer]

i know the feeling of the sun heading out of the city towards my place along the M4 when the sun is setting hate it especially when your stuck in traffic (M4 and great western highway suck when traffic is concerned) but atleast i can put the sunnys on and it dulls it slightly and i think that is better than being in boiling hot temperatures, i'm not sure if the V8 drivers would feel the same about it if they had tinted visers (spelling) on their helmets, i think it would be better than racing in 40+ degree heats atleast in a twilight race it would be slightly cooler.

if Clipsal was held earlier would the rest of the season be earlier or will their be a massive gp between Clipsal and round 2 or would their be an extra event fitted in somewhere? Townsville, Homebush.

[fomoco]

More than likely some one or group has a vested interest inthe rumor and stands to make some $$$$$$$$

[billybanana]

Originally Posted by Pro Racer

will their be a massive gp between Clipsal and round 2

A massive gp...that's my guess as well. Was that a spelling mistake or a stroke of genius.

[Rombles1]

Maybe for something different they should stick Winton in as Round 2, in March (assuming Clipsal is Feb). Let them have a dry round instead of making everyone freeze!

[GTRMagic]

I would rather freeze than be burned to a crisp!

[Pro Racer]

Originally Posted by billybanana

A massive gp...that's my guess as well. Was that a spelling mistake or a stroke of genius.

it was aq typo i what it was to say was gap.

[275 GTB-4]

The people organising the BIMF in Feb are just gunna be over the moon if this happens

[garbo6]

Is there a heat policy in the V8 Supercars?

If there are 40 degree days forecasted I wonder if the races would be shortened.

2008
March 2 - ??
March 9 - ??
March 16 - ??
March 23 - Easter Sunday

Assuming there is no racing on Easter, V8SA would be looking at slotting both the Barbagallo and Adelaide rounds prior to March 23. Throw in a date at the AGP and you'd be looking at one event in February. Preferably the AGP, but maybe Clipsal.

Even if they raced on Easter, I'd still be surprised if they ran 3 events in 4 weeks.

[racer69]

Isn't the only VESA heat policy the one where they pull the drivers windows out if it's too hot?

[The Hrt Kid]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/s...rom=public_rss

it will depend on where the agp is next year. i heard rumours of the agp being in march. Dates should probably be announced probably within the next month for the gp season, so we could have a date for the clipsal not long after.

[garbo6]

So February 21 to 24 for Clipsal in 2008.

The temperatures of the corresponding 4 days this year were 29.1, 35.2, 34.6, and 29.8

The mean temperature for February this year was 32.9

The long term mean for Februray is 29.3
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/20...2.200702.shtml (February 2007)
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averag...w_023090.shtml (Long term averages)

Interesting to see that they can't get the date right for the Melbourne F1 GP.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/s...27-910,00.html

Earlier start for Clipsal 500
Article from: The Advertiser
BRYAN LITTLELY, REBEKAH DEVLIN

July 25, 2007 02:15am

THE 10th Clipsal 500 motorsport carnival will be held earlier than ever before - in the possible searing heat of February.

The move from its traditional date in March was necessary because the V8 Supercars are taking part during Melbourne's F1 Grand Prix.

The Clipsal 500 now will run from February 21 to 24, when the average temperature has topped 30C consistently over the past decade.

Tickets to the event – the opening round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series for 2008 – go on sale to the public today.

Clipsal 500 chief executive Andrew Daniels said he was delighted the round had once again been selected to open the season, even though it will be staged more than a week earlier than this year's event and in a traditionally hotter time of the year.

"We're satisfied the drivers can cope with it," Mr Daniels said of the possible higher temperatures. "They have done a fair amount now in terms of improving the cars to keep drivers cooler and V8 Supercars now have a hot weather policy.

"We have looked at it and, statistically, the difference in high temperatures (between February and March) is very marginal. As to the likelihood of having 39C or 40C days for the race, there's not a huge difference."

Mr Daniels said the Clipsal 500's position as round one in the championship was further confirmation that the Adelaide event was the largest and most prestigious V8 Supercar event on the calendar. Melbourne's F1 Grand Prix will be held the following weekend, from February 28 to March 2.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said the date shift would "help spread the excitement from January through to April".

The opening of the Adelaide Fringe will clash with the Clipsal 500, however, Fringe chair Judy Potter said it wasn't all bad news.

SA Great chairman Mark Bickley said the new Clipsal 500 date was a "good thing", particularly as it would help ease the financial burden on families attempting to attend all that March had on offer.

[Peter Ford]

man,at that time of year,people are just getting over christmas\new year and wont have to much money left over,and of course the tickets prices will be $5 more than they were this year.

[rustyinsthoz]

And what if it is a 40c day. Its not just drivers health that is at risk. Its spectators as well. I would not be paying $130 to be fryed to a crisp. If common sense had prevailed, the event would have been pushed back to the end of March beginning of April.

[garbo6]

Sadly whilst 7 has the rights to the AFL and V8 Supercars, and with Clipsal 500 opening the season, the first or second weekend of March is about as late as the race will run over the next few years.

4 Day General Admission: $137
Thursday: $35
Friday: $48
Saturday: $67
Sunday: $70
Grandstands from $167 (Brabham Straight Chrome) to $285 (Chicane Inside Gold). Pirie Street Gold already sold out.
www.clipsal500.com.au

Official event launch is on November 9 and free to all.
http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows...d-4b5c6e2366fb

[CamF1]

I was sitting in the grandstand on the hairpin on pitstraight on Friday this year...man that was a tough day, they need to get the grandstands covered, would probably cost a shirtload but at least spectators wouldn't become candidtes for heat stroke.

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by CamF1

I was sitting in the grandstand on the hairpin on pitstraight on Friday this year...man that was a tough day, they need to get the grandstands covered, would probably cost a shirtload but at least spectators wouldn't become candidtes for heat stroke.

This year I emailed the MRB and asked them to add additional marquees at the rear of pit straight (behind Barry Sheene stand)

43 degree on the Friday was a killer and just too hot to sit in those plastic bucket seats while qualifying was on.

Mike

[Micklegend]

Isnt anywhere in Australia a killer in Feb for temperatures? I dont see a solution to beat the heat unless its a night race, but that will ruin the appeal of the event I think.

[stmorri]

This might seem ridiculous to some, but every car should have a mandatory, control aircon system for this event. Drivers lives could be at risk and it is unsafe and unreasonable to expect them to compete in such conditions without one.

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by stmorri

This might seem ridiculous to some, but every car should have a mandatory, control aircon system for this event. Drivers lives could be at risk and it is unsafe and unreasonable to expect them to compete in such conditions without one.

Very,very sensible suggestion.

Mike

[Pro Racer]

it is sensible, look at how some of the driver look and feel now when they get out of the car, and IMO it is definatly worth the sacrifice in power for health reasons.

[xr8]

Nah! Its only the unfit that suffer! Solution? GET FIT!

[Rombles1]

Steve Owen doesn't look unfit....

[Pro Racer]

Originally Posted by xr8

Nah! Its only the unfit that suffer! Solution? GET FIT!

McConky is arguablly the fitest in the sport ask him and i think even he would say he is FD after the races at adelaide, do those drivers (besides Jnr) not look fit and if you think not you get fit to the point you think they should be put on all the layers they have on and do the race at the boiling temps they have with their drink getting warm, cool suits failing in those cars and see if you say the same thing, i think you wouldn't.