Post by Ricoshea on Jan 23, 2013 7:43:50 GMT 12
Good thread Barry and the answer is yes it is a concern. Firstly congratulations to the Pumas awesome and it was a pleasure watching you guys.
This champs appears to have had the most ring-ins and good on Palmy for helping out but future champs will only get more demanding for ring-ins to the point where I think it won't be sustainable in it's current format.
Case in point: Rotorua. Correct me if I'm wrong someone but I think Rotorua had it's first ever ring-in. I think Barry you alluded to this but out of 40 registered R cars to Rotorua they couldn't field a 5th car? Why?
I'm only assuming here but it's a good discussion point and sends a warning to this teams event that if a club of 40 registered cars can't field a 5th car there's a problem - with the teams event not the Rascals or the club.
It's an investment vs return scenario. Drivers have a choice as to whether they want to teams race.
I'm assuming that most teams go to Palmy to win. Some teams are more realistic and set lesser goals.
All teams that go spend money - lots of it.
The main problem at the moment is that the Pumas are too good!
Their machinery is topnotch. They have far superior resources available backed up by an awesome culture at Palmy. Everything is geared to winning and winning well.
For every $1 spent directly on the car there are other indirect costs to the drivers ie time spent on car preparedness, time away, potential injuries, car crews availability, impact on families etc. You would have to be selective of what other meetings you travel away to other than the teams - I'm picking your whole season is based some what on the teams champs. It is a huge commitment.
If a team goes to Palmy with the goal of winning - how much money would a team require to be the best and compete and beat the Pumas? How much is it worth in time and effort for the team members, their families, car crew and their registered stockcar club to pour their limited resources into a goal that may not be achievable? So do you go there then for the love of it? Downgrade your goal to top four? Forget about winning?
The Pumas beat easily a good Rascals team. I just looked in awe at the way they dismembered the Rascals. It was not through lack of trying - far from it. The Rascals are a fantastic bunch of guys who are as professional as any but that race perhaps more than any illustrated the future problem. Aucklands effort was amazing and came close to pulling off a huge upset. Unfortunately that will continue to be the exception.
agree with every word
you need good gear, good spares, top crew , and resources.
and of course not every one wants to teams race,