Field Theory by Hadyn Green

Oh and I should mention that the Dropkicks are giving away another copy of the New Zealand Book of Rugby Lists and some Epic beer.

Currently the odds of winning are pretty high

Although the V8s turn both ways, they're still governed by some wierd rule that ensures that the makers of Proper Fast Cars (like various large German and Japanese companies, or indeed dedicated racing car makers like McLaren) don't join in. (Though I assume that Ford and General Motors contract the car design out to external specialists?).

Unlike F1, where basically it's a competition to make the quickest car that fits the formula, thus seeding a whole hi-tech industry.

And what happens to the V8s if GM goes bankrupt. Ford vs Ford?

didn't screw up Hamilton anymore than years of just being Hamilton already had.

I'm making a note in my book with 'Revenge' on the cover. It says 'Green, H'.

would gather together for an annual barbeque and fruit-cricket match every October to watch The Great Race. And because this was Tauranga it meant that the TV was dragged to the window so we could watch from outside in the sun.

Bathurst was a ritual in our house when I was a kid. The curtains in the lounge would be drawn all day to produce the right dank-pit ambience for my brothers, and I'd try to remember whether I was supposed to be supporting Ford or Holden.

I still feel odd when I realise it's Bathurst weekend and I haven't watched it, don't know who won and don't care.

Although the V8s turn both ways, they're still governed by some wierd rule that ensures that the makers of Proper Fast Cars (like various large German and Japanese companies, or indeed dedicated racing car makers like McLaren) don't join in. (Though I assume that Ford and General Motors contract the car design out to external specialists?).

Unlike F1, where basically it's a competition to make the quickest car that fits the formula, thus seeding a whole hi-tech industry.

And what happens to the V8s if GM goes bankrupt. Ford vs Ford?

I agree, it was that much more exciting during the Group A days when there was a wider variety of carmakers competing. These days the V8 Supercars are more NASCAR than Touring Cars, with matching demographics.

If GM does go bankrupt, they might as well make things more exciting by rotating half the cars 180 degrees on the starting grid.

If GM does go bankrupt, they might as well make things more exciting by rotating half the cars 180 degrees on the starting grid.

Actually, I suspect it's more exciting for the crowd if the drivers do that themselves part way into the race by crashing into the walls/each other.

Although the V8s turn both ways, they're still governed by some wierd rule that ensures that the makers of Proper Fast Cars (like various large German and Japanese companies, or indeed dedicated racing car makers like McLaren) don't join in. (Though I assume that Ford and General Motors contract the car design out to external specialists?).

I always cheered for Nissan as a youngin'. How could you not? It was called Godzilla. Interestingly the last non-Ford non-Holden to win Bathurst was a Volvo.

Side story:
My first car was a Nissan Bluebird (with turbo, vroooom indeed). I was parked at the supermarket waiting for my girlfriend when an older gent came up and said to me, actual quote: "A Nissan eh? Great cars."

Then he walked off. Made me feel very self conscious for many years after.

Thank you Hadyn. Fully agree with you on the part about V8 fans, it is a constant source of disappointment to me. Like the idiot who was carting around a tv playing porn on top of the mountain this year.

*Shameless self-promotion moment*
http://nalydscene.blogspot.com/2008/10/live-blogging-bathurst.html

I'm making a note in my book with 'Revenge' on the cover. It says 'Green, H'.

Dude, I was born in the Hamilton, and spent roughly three years there before my family scarpered over the Kaimais

Like the idiot who was carting around a tv playing porn on top of the mountain this year.

Bet someone yelled at him to "put the race on"

And at least the V8 drivers are required to do more than just turn left.

Nascar is boring, even the author of NZ's biggest Nascar fan blog has drifted way off topic...

I've never been to an actual race, although like everyone else here it seems I used to quite like watching them on the telly.
I've always wanted to know - at the track is there a "ground announcer" who tells you things like "Radisich has just crashed" or "Murphy has entererd the pits" if you're somewhere where you can't see it happen?

I've been to a couple of races at the old (now a bunch of ugly houses) Baypark raceway. My friend was a flag marshal and got us free tickets occasionally.

I still remember watching truck racing with him one day. a truck came screaming around the corner and careened off the track towards us. As it hit the dirt a huge cloud flew up and you couldn't see anything. My friend sprinted into the cloud. He emerged dirty and grinning.

"What happened?" I asked.
"It swerved just before it hit the bank".
"The bank where you were standing?"
"Yeah, it was kinda stink, I wanted to see it crash"

I've always wanted to know - at the track is there a "ground announcer"

Yep

Formula One was certainly a great distraction as I was trying to read the papers for my 3 hour 4th year 8 student + 1/2 lecturer discussion group on Monday morning.

I remember the year the Volvo won. That must have been the only year I saw Bathurst I suspect. I have always had a soft sport for volvos, in part because I grew up driving one of these, the Volvo 164. A car that probably Holden could have built, and not too bad for Canterbury roads. Refined, plenty of torque, but shite on corners. It's pretty though. I did consider buying it from my parents, but it wasn't really at home in Dunedin.

The Hamilton 400 had on-course commentary and jumbo-vision screens visible from the grandstands so you got more than just a stream of cars whizzing by every minute-and-a-bit and then disappearing...

That's why I always had a soft spot for speedway - you can see the whole track and on demolition derby nights there were lots of crashes to watch.

OOOO, you're too good Angus. I fell for that hook, line and sinker.

The sight of the fast cars & bikes has never really done it for me, but I got hooked on the intoxicating aroma of high-octane fuel, hot motors and hot-dogs attending the Te Marua stock-car racing in my youth*.

* Meaning 'in my younger days' rather than some sort of homosexual entaglement.

A mate and I worked long days for five months each winter in the ski industry many years ago. By mid October it was finally all over. We would celebrate by closing the curtains and sit in two armchairs in front of the telly at the start of the ‘Great Race’ and never leave till the winner crossed the line.

We now live different lives and our paths hardly cross but we always ring each other on Bathurst day for a catch up. The importance of the call seems to go up with the passing of time and we both make an effort to keep the ritual going. We had a great chat on Sunday.

We did not talk about cars.

I still remember watching truck racing with him one day

Slow truck, fast friend.

Nascar is boring, even the author of NZ's biggest Nascar fan blog has drifted way off topic...

Ok, that was good.

Nascar is boring, even the author of NZ's biggest Nascar fan blog has drifted way off topic...

When i wrote this i couldn't figure a way to make that joke work... Angus, you're a genius.