***Ford to be killed off V8 Supercars circuit at end of 2015***

[Guzz226]

Originally Posted by xr6tjet

Funny thing is that at the Falcon Fanatics event, Bob Grazino announced that Ford will be in the V8 supercars as long as they are around... Only for this **** to happen..?

Bob didn't say that at all - his words were more about how good was it that FGX was going to be on the grid next year.

He was very careful in his words and it was more what he didnt say. There was no talk on sponsorship or support - it was inferred but not stated - he implied they were supporting yet at the time the official press releases were about waiting to the end of the year.

Means that when they announced the inevitable he wasn't actually correcting or changing anything said on the day - typical bulls|t double talk and half truths.

There was enough double speak and fragments that I left that day knowing they were pulling out but was hoping I was wrong......

[Guzz226]

Originally Posted by Lukeyson

Except Holden at least committed to HRT & 888 for a further 2 years (2015/2016) falling in line with when local production ends, which has me wondering that Ford are aware they probably will be ending production early, or once they have finished building the XR8's on order

Sucks this news is out already, already copping so much crap from Holden mates. But oh wells, I really hope when the new regs come in, there will be some official Ford presence on track.

Just glad I made it to my first (and probably last) Bathurst 1000 this year

Just ask your mates what Holden will be racing, if they will be racing in 2017?

[buggerlugs]

http://www.news.com.au/sport/motorsp...-1227141241095

[SpannerXR8]

Well thats it for me.......you would have thought they would have learned from the F1 experiment this year, no F1 noise = no fans = teams going broke, V8Supercar (or whatever name the pony tailed marketing tossers come up with) No Ford = 50% less fans = 50% less cash!!!
Real motor racing died when we went to E85 economy runs anyway..........Brocky would be turning in his grave!!!

[TC200six]

Not surprisingly, articles like this are coming out:
http://www.sportsfan.com.au/writing-...percars_021214

Tuesday, December 02, 2014 - 10:53 AM
Source: SportsFan
Author: Ben Hocking


Ford's official announcement that it was pulling out of V8 Supercars is the latest in a long list of blows to the sport, and it could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

The sport has been in constant decline ever since it failed to attract enough interest to secure a proper TV rights deal and just signed on for an extra year with Channel Seven as a stop-gap measure. The latest TV rights deal, which sees the majority of the races broadcast solely on pay television from next season onwards, will mean limited exposure to anyone outside of die hard motorsport fans, and ensure the sport has fallen a long way from its glory days.

The announcement at the start of this year that Holden would stop manufacturing cars in Australia was a further blow, that hasn't yet translated to V8 Supercars, but the writing was on the wall.

The simple fact is, people across Australia are abandoning big sedans in favour of more fuel efficient alternatives, and the attraction of Falcons and Commodores is waning. Ford is planning to stop production of the Falcon, so why would it stick to V8 Supercar racing to try and promote a brand that means nothing? The Mustang is aimed at a very niche market and the Blue Oval cannot justify spending millions to promote it through local motorsport.

The news is particularly galling for Marcos Ambrose, who has abandoned a profitable NASCAR career in the United States to return to a series that looks like it is going through its death throes. If the current crop of excellent drivers are not currently investigating their options overseas, they should be.

Jamie Whincup, who may have been struggling for motivation even if the sport was thriving, is the first driver that should seek to emulate Ambrose and plump for a NASCAR career. As Australia's greatest ever tour car driver, he owes it to himself to try and prove himself on one of motorsport's biggest stages.

V8 Supercars move to head this disastrous situation off at the pass by opening up the sport to new manufacturers has done little to stem the bleeding. Volvo, Nissan and Mercedes have all had some early moments of success, but that hasn't translated into many extra fans coming through the gates to watch them race, or any significant bump in television ratings, either.

The declining interest in the sport, from motoring companies to sponsors to network television and to race fans will also start to bite in other ways in the coming years. The street circuits which were the backbone of the sport's success in the early 2000s will quickly lose government support when crowd numbers start to drop off significantly. If that happens and we lose races like the Clipsal 500, the Townsville street race and the Gold Coast 600, the sport will lose even more fans as the category flocks back to unpopular, out-of-the-way permanent race circuits. This will be attractive to the hard-core race fans, but will never draw the same crowds as a street circuit.

While the future is bleak on the back of Ford's announcement, motorsport in this country will always find a way to survive. Bathurst will still remain enormously popular, regardless of what cars take part in the event. The hard-core motorsport fans, won't jump off the bandwagon, any time soon and that means that domestic racing will always have its place. It is just that that place will be a little further away from the mainstream sporting landscape than we have been accustomed to in recent years.

[RANGEREST]

Originally Posted by Sorted

WOW they can announce they are pulling support a year in advance bit leave announcing support to the last minute - *********


V8 Supercars management is partly to blame here by making it the Commodore Cup .........

“Go Further 2020: Experience the Future Today” - on Sunday I saw there is a new building at Ford HQ with this on it.....

If I remember correctly, Ford is as much to blame as anyone else for the Commodore cup, by withdrawing all support from the small teams.

Holden just threw them a heap of body shells and panels, so they swapped over, better off with a little bit of free stuff than nothing from Ford.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by SpannerXR8

Well thats it for me.......you would have thought they would have learned from the F1 experiment this year, no F1 noise = no fans = teams going broke, V8Supercar (or whatever name the pony tailed marketing tossers come up with) No Ford = 50% less fans = 50% less cash!!!
Real motor racing died when we went to E85 economy runs anyway..........Brocky would be turning in his grave!!!

Are you serious, you have to be taking the pi##? The downfall of F1 was because of noise? What happened in the 80's when the turbo cars were quiet?
You sure it has nothing to do with CVC and one Bernie E?

E85 stopped motor racing? How was that? I am genuinely interested in hearing this.

[buggerlugs]

Originally Posted by TC200six

Not surprisingly, articles like this are coming out:
http://www.sportsfan.com.au/writing-...percars_021214

What a spot on article...........

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

Ranger - yes
Focus didn't even make top 10 for August , September , October or November.

Some dealerships are closing down and some are co existing with other branded dealerships. They have stepped out of Motorsport now as well. So clearly , yes they are transitioning......into a half assed version of their former self.

In fact they have gone from being the falcon car company to the ranger car company.

Oh well...we move on.

This is the thing. Focus, Fiesta, Mondeo continue to underperform and despite the Ranger's great showing, overall Ford continues to slip down the sales charts. Other things occuring like the powershift transmissions and shift from German to Thai build are noticed. It would seem since about 2007 and 'One Ford' FOA has been (directed to?) abandon its Australian heritage, not mention or advertise it, and re-make itself as a lesser version of Toyota.

This leaves a pretty bad taste in the mouth. Why should I bother going back to Ford to get one of their passenger cars, when they've proved that they are quite happy to toast their history, their identity? Why should I buy the Ford FWD import over one that will give me better resale? Both purchases are an own-goal for Australia's balance-of-payments, too. Ford are moving toward whitegoods on wheels with good economy and tech, like everyone else. It's a tough, competitive market out there, and I can see better vehicles of this type from other manufacturers. So yeah, we move on.

In terms of racing, the Bathurst 12 hour each year will give all of us a platform to see what's sold in the showroom on the racetrack - the BMW's do quite well, you can see them up against WRX (and some years ago, John Bowe in an XR8) so this can replace the V8SC format if you are into 'the Big Race'. The Mustang can make an appearance there, factory support or no.

[LoudPipes]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

This is the thing. Focus, Fiesta, Mondeo continue to underperform and despite the Ranger's great showing, overall Ford continues to slip down the sales charts. Other things occuring like the powershift transmissions and shift from German to Thai build are noticed. It would seem since about 2007 and 'One Ford' FOA has been (directed to?) abandon its Australian heritage, not mention or advertise it, and re-make itself as a lesser version of Toyota.

This leaves a pretty bad taste in the mouth. Why should I bother going back to Ford to get one of their passenger cars, when they've proved that they are quite happy to toast their history, their identity? Why should I buy the Ford FWD import over one that will give me better resale? Both purchases are an own-goal for Australia's balance-of-payments, too. Ford are moving toward whitegoods on wheels with good economy and tech, like everyone else. It's a tough, competitive market out there, and I can see better vehicles of this type from other manufacturers. So yeah, we move on.

In terms of racing, the Bathurst 12 hour each year will give all of us a platform to see what's sold in the showroom on the racetrack - the BMW's do quite well, you can see them up against WRX (and some years ago, John Bowe in an XR8) so this can replace the V8SC format if you are into 'the Big Race'. The Mustang can make an appearance there, factory support or no.

I can sympathise with the emotion in this post and some of it is true.

Still Ford is a global company whose primary goal is to be profitable and for that reason have changed their business model.

Consumer expectations, tastes and business overheads have changed and if Ford doesn’t change now they would have to do it eventually and the longer they leave it, the more irresponsible they become to their shareholders.

History will prove if they are taking the right direction or not.

Motorsport no longer sells cars to the masses.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by LoudPipes

I can sympathise with the emotion in this post and some of it is true.

Still Ford is a global company whose primary goal is to be profitable and for that reason have changed their business model.

Consumer expectations, tastes and business overheads have changed and if Ford doesn’t change now they would have to do it eventually and the longer they leave it, the more irresponsible they become to their shareholders.

History will prove if they are taking the right direction or not.

Motorsport no longer sells cars to the masses.

Yes Loudpipes this is true, as a business, particularly in the US under Mullally, they did so well. That they didn't go to chapter 11 or get restructured destroying bondholders and giving 1/3 of the new entity to the union was a bonus. And global new product will be released without the duplication. However, in OneFord there are some anomalies, the F Series is protected inside the US from Ranger, Ford Brazil are permitted to make unique-to-their-market models. FOA were sacrificed on the altar as part of this restructure. And any business should be mindful of it's customers, including those driven by emotion to its products.

Watching what's been going on to FOA in recent years has been an excellent "how not to" to observe in running any business. It's more biting when one considers the strength of Ford of Canada in their market - a country that is a lot like ours in many ways (small population, Western, Westminster law, resources, high wage, Ford manufacturing plants there).

[sprint347dave]

Originally Posted by russellw

Another quote like that and you'll be having a holiday. If you don't like my POV then feel free to debate it.

Russ

puts99 comment " Thanks Ford Public Relations" ,,,im with him on this one,,thats what it looks like from here aswell,,,its not a bad thing,,,thats your take on it,,like you its just someone view or opinion,,no need to debate it,,no need to try and stand over someone by saying things like " you'll be having a holiday",,,its emotional times,,,take a chill pill,,,plus that walking cat thing in your avatar is distracting and annoying.
.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Wretched

for the third time, do the V8 supercar series support a two door shell?
If they dont then what do Ford run? A car that won't exist?

I think their options were limited by the series.

Open your eyes and have a look around the world and you can see where these cars are raced.

From 2017 the answer is looking more likely YES..

[timeout]

Hate to say it however it was the beginning of the end when Geoff Polities left for Europe?

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by OZQUAD44

This just sucks, losing the falcon sucks, no ford representation in motor racing sucks, the general apathy of so called "Australian ford enthusiasts" on an Australian ford forum sucks, and worst of all the total disregard by the parent company of the greatest rear wheel drive sedan ford has ever produced.... It just Sucks

As some bright spark once said, Stand for something or fall for anything. I have stood for the Falcon for many years. I believed in the Falcon, what it represented, and the rich history of Australian Motorsport it helped create. I took my hat off to the many people behind the falcon, and the quality of the car they produced despite the meagre budgets allocated to each model. I applauded the high Australian content in each car, an achievement that never got the air time it deserved.

I cursed reading reviews of the Falcon by so called journalists who clearly had a FoA axe to grind, or had their pay checks provided by the opposition. I looked on with great suspicion at Motorsport officialdom who managed to introduce rules which managed to hobble the Falcon just prior to the great race, or alternatively never seem to react when the falcon aero package was clearly inferior to what was applied to other makes.

I was always proud of the way blue oval race teams, in a sea of red, managed to claw their way to the top of the podium despite being out numbered, out supported, and out financed. And I have always been proud of how long the falcon nameplate survived in Australia despite poor government policy, short sighted unions, a strong Australian dollar, poor marketing of the product, at times poor dealer service, and a parent company who clearly does not give a toss.

Unfortunately, I am part of a dying breed in this country. Someone who wants to buy an Australian rear wheel drive sedan. Even if it means I get no lane departure warning, I have to reverse parallel park all by myself, or have to endure a seating position that is ever so slightly different to other cars..... God forbid! I think a few too many of us have been living a little to high on the pig of late, and I suspect we have lost our way a little.

So, yes, I lament the loss of the Falcon, and I lament the loss of Ford from Australian motor sport, and I'm ****ed that I am so disappointed about the loss of the falcon but it appears not many other Aussies share this view.

But I have determined it's not all bad:

No longer will I have to endure one sided automotive media "reviews" by people who don't give a toss or completely missed the point,
No longer will I have to care about a car because after 2016 they are all "fridges" to me,
No longer will I have to ruin my weekends sitting inside watching V8 super cars,
No longer will I have to put up with lousy ford dealer service departments, and
There is a good chance my Falcon in the shed will start appreciating in value.

Good luck to anyone who got to the bottom of this post. No insult intended to anyone in particular. I suspect I'm just getting old!








Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Brings a tear to my eye this comment
Post of the century for me!!!

[DMENTDGT]

Originally Posted by GS608

Only ever owned fords but you know what..my next ride may well be a GEN F..

That's absolute disgusting, a gen f stop the smoking...


Andrew

[blackf6]

They have pulled their backing before. Privateers took up the slack.

[GS608]

Originally Posted by DMENTDGT

That's absolute disgusting, a gen f stop the smoking...


Andrew

What would you suggest with no V8 ute in Fords stable? Can't buy an FGX XR8 ute...

[DMENTDGT]

Originally Posted by GS608

What would you suggest with no V8 ute in Fords stable? Can't buy an FGX XR8 ute...

A nice Raptor they have a 5.0L


Andrew

[Bossxr8]

6.2 actually.

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by xr6tjet

Funny thing is that at the Falcon Fanatics event, Bob Grazino announced that Ford will be in the V8 supercars as long as they are around... Only for this **** to happen..?

Maybe out of there control.
Ford pulled all there funding from the NHRA where it spend big dollars with John Force and a couple of other teams, the cut is on everywhere.
John Force also lost Castrol as a sponsor of more than 20 years, Lucus Oil has picked this up, as for car branding who knows NHRA car branding is a huge deal.

[GS608]

Originally Posted by DMENTDGT

A nice Raptor they have a 5.0L


Andrew

too easy..can i borrow $130k?

[Blueford260]

Just out of interest would anyone here know how much it would cost for a company to do a nation wide advertising campaign across TV, Radio and print for say a month or 6 week period.

[Focused]

It's sad to see but not surprising. Ford want to move away from being the Falcon Motor Company and more like a company with a full range of good cars.

How many sales has the V8s given Ford over the last few years? Obviously not many. Sure, there's a few enthusiasts on here who've bought FPVs, but they're the only ones.

With the V8s moving to pay-TV-only (I think?) next year, I know I won't be watching them, and a lot of others will be cut out too.

[mr smith]

Hopefully they give the Geelong cats the flick as well...

[pottery beige]

Shows over King of the hill

RIP

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by mr smith

Hopefully they give the Geelong cats the flick as well...

Why? Football has a good target reach...

[prydey]

Originally Posted by mr smith

Hopefully they give the Geelong cats the flick as well...

i would say geelong is a better investment than motorsport. they get their brand exposed to the public every weekend for 6 months, and not just focused mainly on one model either.

motorsport can build a brand following, but won't necessarily result in sales in the immediate future, esp if the 'fan' is young, but how much exposure is motorsport really giving them? the crowd numbers at the big street circuits seem to be ok, but i wonder what those numbers would look like if there wasn't a concert at the end of each day. many people walk in as the 'on track' action is finishing.

motorsport fans and enthusiasts are a minority. its something we have to deal with. Ford, as a seller of cars, have to continue to chase the largest markets.

[sprint347dave]

who or what is Geelong cats ???

[baboon]

Originally Posted by sprint347dave

who or what is Geelong cats ???

The Mighty Cats