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Post by tiroto on Jan 19, 2009 6:25:28 GMT 12
Just finished reading Percy's review of night 2 World 240's and what a powerful review. Congratulations Rotorua! One point of interest for me was Percy's thoughts that the build up to the "gentleman start your engines...." was 20 minutes and too long. What do other think?
Personally I think it adds to the atmosphere, builds the anticipation and adds mana to the qualifying drivers and crews and the event.
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Post by King James on Jan 19, 2009 6:46:19 GMT 12
No way, its the best possible build up it could be!
Its half a Grand Parade, Grid up, Silience, 10 sec countdown, then 26 Superstock engines fire up, followed by intense 1st heat racing.
The best start to any Championship in the race calender!!!
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Post by BarryB on Jan 19, 2009 7:55:49 GMT 12
I actually like it, and not just because I'm involved in it as a part of the commenatary team, as I have witnessed it as a spectator as well. This year was a little longer than normal due to the changing of a wheel on the eventual winner's car on the starting grid, but I feel it sets it aside from our other major events which are all done exactly the same way.
It's an extremely abridged version of what they do in the UK, where they interview something like 32 drivers before their World Final kicks off. As said, it's a kind of Grand Parade as well, and the only change I'd like to see made is perhaps the field actually lining up closer to the crowd whilst they prepare - although that may lead to a rush to the front fence which wouldn't be beneficial either.
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Post by pallmall on Jan 19, 2009 7:57:20 GMT 12
It is one of those magic moments, copied from the Brisca World Final parade and gridding (although I believe the Brisca WF was a bit different last time).
The parade, the cars on the grid, the SOUND of 26 superstocks starting up and then revving their ....... off waiting for the green.
It is a magic moment.
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Post by tiroto on Jan 19, 2009 8:03:17 GMT 12
One thing that I would love to see some way at the 240's is a haka! Perhaps it could happen at the "Gentleman start your engines.. time" or somewhere else to enhance the meeting?
It is something that could be short and sharp and definitely Rotorua (the heart of Maori culture).(Perhaps you could lead it Barry?) ;D
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Post by tufty7 on Jan 19, 2009 8:06:07 GMT 12
Got to admit , when the BRISCA stock car world finals come to a head, after the introductions and build up and the "gentlemen , start your engines" the noise and anticipation make the hair on the back of my neck stand on end (really must get out more  ) Its nice to hear that it has the same reaction on you too....  |
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Post by BarryB on Jan 19, 2009 8:10:23 GMT 12
;D ;D ;D ;D Now you're really starting to stretch the imagination tiroto!! I have enough trouble just walking after 2 nights at the World 240's, but I'm sure their are a couple of things that could be done to spice things up even more. One thing that the Rotorua promotion does not do is rest on their laurels, and they're always looking at new things to improve existing events. Because they know if you don't you actually slip backwards, but with this event and the World of Stocks (you gotta love that Wild Card entry through to the finals there, for the biggest stirrer on qualifying night) Rotorua has shown they are still marching forward.
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Post by MadMarty13B on Jan 19, 2009 9:49:40 GMT 12
Dont forget it was PERCY'S review.....which says it all.
he would drop a point from the meeting rating for missing out on getting a lolly from the drivers.
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Post by tiroto on Jan 19, 2009 9:54:43 GMT 12
Agree Barry - perhaps the interviews could be done between turns two and three closer to the corwd - fire up the engines, drive slowly to the start line, wait - then green flag!
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Post by BarryB on Jan 19, 2009 10:48:39 GMT 12
Dont forget it was PERCY'S review.....which says it all. he would drop a point from the meeting rating for missing out on getting a lolly from the drivers. It's obvious many people don't like Percy's reviews, but they're one person's perspective and one person's alone, no different really from Mad Marty's view in NZDTR. And from the meetings I have attended that he has reviewed, he's generally right on the money unless, like some, you accept mediocrity as being okay for speedway's enhanced future. He rated both nights at Rotorua as exceeding his expectations, although I can neither confirm nor deny that he got a lolly either night. |
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Post by speedwayjunkie69 on Jan 19, 2009 10:49:30 GMT 12
I thought it was awesome to see that, with the lil grand parade 2 salute the fans, and then the cars lining up and some of the crew coming out 2 check the car and get the driver belt in and ready 2 go, then its silence before the countdown starts and then the engines fire in2 life and man its sweet sound for the ears thats for sure.
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Post by petero on Jan 19, 2009 10:50:40 GMT 12
Great build up, is unique, we liked it, adds to the excitement and is another one of the many reasons why they whole W240 weekend works so well
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Post by MadMarty13B on Jan 19, 2009 14:53:06 GMT 12
I agree Barry that it is his perspective, and he was pretty much on the money till the start your engines,which is unique to this event and i don't see anything wrong with it, it builds up the anticipation
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Post by Topcat on Jan 19, 2009 15:05:53 GMT 12
Made an atmosphere, like the idea of a single person saying start your engines over the mic, say one of our icon's from the past, Barry Hunter, Kerry Keyte, Big Bad Charlie, Dave Evans, Tony Baker, Graham Peddle to name a few, would be awesome to give them than honor. If gives you goosebumps where you hear the roar of all the engines..part of the atmosphere of the meeting, nothing like the roar of 26 Superstocks...  |
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Post by LRT on Jan 19, 2009 16:12:41 GMT 12
Awesome idea to have an icon of the past to give the command "START YOUR ENGINES". For me, watching the driver buckel up, thousands of people count down, then 26 of the countries best drivers stand on the loud pedal.
S%$T gives me goose bumps every time!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D
Keep up the great work ROTORUA.
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Post by BarryB on Jan 19, 2009 16:28:32 GMT 12
I agree Barry that it is his perspective, and he was pretty much on the money till the start your engines,which is unique to this event and i don't see anything wrong with it, it builds up the anticipation Yes, well I don't agree with him on that one either, personally, but it's still his preference and he's entitled to it. I'll just kick his butt next time i see him ;D |
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Post by MadMarty13B on Jan 19, 2009 17:07:14 GMT 12
Awesome idea to have an icon of the past to give the command "START YOUR ENGINES". For me, watching the driver buckel up, thousands of people count down, then 26 of the countries best drivers stand on the loud pedal. S%$T gives me goose bumps every time!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D Keep up the great work ROTORUA. Was that you driving that 77R Ivan, like a grandma? ;D some good stirring on the first night didnt see any of the stockcar races the second night |
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Post by Ngahihi o te ra on Jan 19, 2009 19:37:18 GMT 12
Kia ora
I like the idea of a past hero doing the gentleman start your engines however I reckon Paul Hickey, Barry and Mintie and the team do a great job of building everything up.
To add another perspective to the time it takes to do the buildup it was great from a non qualifiers pitcrew members point of view as it gave us time to do many things to get the car ready for the first heat after the reprecharge. It meant we were able to watch the 10second count down etc.
Also nice to have a race between the 240's finals and the non qualifiers finals which enabled the crews to watch the finals heats. Thanks Sonja and team.
Green flags and green lights.
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Post by percy on Jan 19, 2009 19:47:35 GMT 12
I agree Barry that it is his perspective, and he was pretty much on the money till the start your engines,which is unique to this event and i don't see anything wrong with it, it builds up the anticipation Yes, well I don't agree with him on that one either, personally, but it's still his preference and he's entitled to it. I'll just kick his butt next time i see him ;D Read the review again, in particular the following quote "Buckling the drivers into the cars takes too long in my opinion and if this was eliminated from the pre-race ritual we may halve the time and get the race underway" I love the "Gentleman start your engines" like everyone else. But I am not a fan of sitting their waiting for drivers to be buckled in, which takes a fair bit of time. The anticipation rises as the cars hit the track and then nothing happens for 7-8 minutes as the drivers get buckled in. I would prefer to see a Grand Parade before the event. Drivers would then enter the track for race one, do a couple of laps before stopping on the grid and turning their engines off. Also, drivers should be starting their engines on the back straight in front of the capacity crowd. The whole thing would have even more effect if this was the case. They could then proceed slowly to the grid for the start of the race. The start of the programme was a little weak. In the first five races we had three Ministock races and I wanted to see some meat! So when the cars hit the track I was ready to go and 20 minutes felt like a long time at that point in time. I must admit I struggled to reach fever pitch as a result. |
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) Its nice to hear that it has the same reaction on you too.... 
