V8 Supercars seem to be struggling at the moment for popularity, if what you read in the media is any indication. The defection of Lowndes to Holden next season seems set to alienate more fans, although his change to Ford years ago was accepted without too much drama.
Maybe that was due to fans of the Blue Oval looking for someone to carry the torch, where this time it’s quite the opposite.
Time will, of course, be the telling factor.
I was raised on a mix of Fords and Holdens, little Toyotas and the like all vying for track position at the annual Bathurst showcase.
I remember sitting there with my older brother, who insisted I follow the Holdens, unmoved for a whole day, watching with anticipation at the possibility of a crash or a big spin or some other heart stopping event.
The Moffat 1-2 was a highlight. Yeah, my brother never did have his way!
And we saw Volvos and Chevy Comaros, wild Mazda rotaries, and who can forget the all-conquering Nissans or the fragile pace of the Sierras?
Touring cars were where it was at. The varied manufacturers and speed differentials made for exciting racing.
But somewhere, the powers that be lost their way.
The insistence on the Aussie brand rather than the international dominance won out and we saw the two manufacturer format we now have.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m an Aussie through and through. V8’s have been a great competition to watch. The racing is close and definitely exciting.
However, my days of watching the races have shrunk from every round to two or three a year. I still watch Bathurst religiously, but couldn’t honestly say who’s won the last few years.
I know my beloved Fords have been up there, and after so many years in the wilderness, it’s almost a disappointment that my enthusiasm has waned. Maybe I’m just getting older!
With the advent of One HD, I find myself following Marcos Ambrose again, this time in his NASCAR adventures.
Maybe it’s the different format I haven’t seen much of in the past, or the fact that an Aussie is sticking it to the Yanks at their own game, but even the oval tracks, which I once despised, I find myself enjoying more and more.
I know the competition is nothing like the touring cars that once held my passion. I don’t know what it is but I do hope our home grown V8’s find that spark for me again.
Maybe this latest NASCAR sojourn will be enough to reignite that fire that once burnt strong within.
Justin Eagleton
Guest
Hi Trevor V8 Supercar days are almost done with me! I am 36 years old, folowing Ford and Bathurst long as a could remember, 13 years working working as a tech for Ford, watching that car on TV is the car you grown to love "The Falcon" still owning my 1st XY GT (clone), meeting all the ford drivers, through work and only one who was down to earth and tick the box was Craig Lownes.Do i folow him or or do i folow the car? i think this day and age i comes down to driver, what is the diferent these days in the race car, only the body and engine, not like the old days were it did come down to the race car more. A move to Holden Very Hard Decision????.A room in the shed decated to the sport full of photos, posters and merabila of australian motor sport and craig lowndes.Where do I go now! Nascar Marcos Ambrose sticking it up the yanks and kyle bush I love it, Dont know why he is not kicking bigger goles, no changing gears, min brake use. looks easy! just turn left and gas it, Yer HD 1 I am happy that, they repeat it different times awsome. Channel seven 12.00-3.00 in the afternoon !!!! middle of the day always miss out. Next year you could call it the "COMODORE CUP" 33 cars. Only 10 fords, But it wont be the same, maybe get Toyota involved! Cheers Justin
Trevor
Roar Pro
Benjamin, I'm not sure what the deal is with One HD and NASCAR. But a free to air sports channel sounds good to me. I've never ventured down the pay tv path so I'm stoked! No doubt as the ratings rise better deals will come through translating to more quality viewing for us all.
Peteski
Guest
I'm a big fan of the DTM so its good to see ONE HD showing the odd race here and there. The overtaking is sensational (Almost Formula 3 like), corner entry speeds are phenomenal and of course there's an ex F1 driver or two!
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Trevor, I too have been getting into the NASCAR's since ONE HD. I still get a little confused by the Nationwide Series versus Sprint Cup, but it's good stuff, esepcially the all-stars race earlier in the year, where the only person who gets points is the guy the crosses the line first. It makes for fantastic viewing with drivers making desperate attempts to overtake. Do you know why ONE HD can't show some races? It seems like the non-oval races go to Fox Sports.