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

[prydey]

Originally Posted by JC

Mercedes doesn't sponsor Erebus (it's a private team), so why should Ford being in or out matter? It shouldn't. At the end of the day as long as the body shell can be sourced, a team can use it. It it's a Ford one, then so be it, if not, use a different one. There's actually nothing in the rules that says you couldn't have a Holden body with a Ford engine - in fact the rules allow it.....so once Ford pulls out, perhaps Nissan could fix their fuel economy woes by using the Ford powerplant....

exactly.

also, FPR losing Ford backing is no different to them losing Pepsi Max backing. manufacturers are just sponsors. the bonus is they usually have deeper pockets than most other companies (apart from redbull, vodafone etc)

what does Ford give v8sc other than financial support??

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

Graziano wasn't interested in market leadership

Originally Posted by Nikked

Why is that important? .

^^ this

being the most popular doesn't always equal best. you can still be an extremely profitable business building quality products as long as you make more than you spend. you don't have to sell the most.

[zipping]

Originally Posted by tweeked

A Full tilt at the Australian GT Production Championship with a GT350 Mustang that we can buy off the showroom floor will interest me way more than Mark Skaife's car of yesterday with old pushrod Nascar motors in them anyday.

Hoping that is what they have planned, and not to rely on 21 year old girls being impressed by Sync

A) No one goes to production car races (well me and 200 others)
B) Very limited to zero television
C) The Evo's would smash them

Disappointing overall. I've run taxis so bought many Fords over a long period. I often wonder if I wasn't at my uncles BBQ as a 7 yo watching the might 77 1-2 would I have even bought 1 Ford

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Nikked

But not everyone watches V8 supercars...the race series alone does not sell cars. Obviously they feel with the Falcon gone, the markets is too, the market that followed the V8 category.
I think it all depends on what will happen with the category in the future...

Totally agree.
What im saying though is, the money they are spending on advertising/product placement isn't working. Most of, if not all, of the Ford Range is either class leading or not far behind. Cars like Fiesta, Focus and Kuga should be doing sooooo much better. The taking of money from racing/falcon and shifting it to these other models isn't giving them a return on investment either.
It seems Ford Australia just cant manage to spread sales over several models. They have gone from the Falcon Motor Company to the Ranger Motor Company.

[Uncle_Ken]

Originally Posted by JC

Mercedes doesn't sponsor Erebus (it's a private team), so why should Ford being in or out matter? It shouldn't. At the end of the day as long as the body shell can be sourced, a team can use it. It it's a Ford one, then so be it, if not, use a different one. There's actually nothing in the rules that says you couldn't have a Holden body with a Ford engine - in fact the rules allow it.....so once Ford pulls out, perhaps Nissan could fix their fuel economy woes by using the Ford powerplant....

Good idea JC
Back in the day the only stock item was the shell, everything underneath could not be bought of the shelf.
UK
Anyone else got some combo ideas like JC?

[ivorya]

I just vomited in my mouth............................

[XRGREIGHT]

I`ve been a huge Ford racing fan since I was a young boy. Been to countless races and spent countless dollars both at the tracks and getting to them.
Still go to at least three races a year. Have only ever owned Fords. Still have a BAXR8 and a XB Coupe.
The only thing I can see saving me now is if they allow the Mustang to race.
Common sense says they are doing what they need to.
Emotion says
**** you Ford Management !!!!!!

[Grippy]

Originally Posted by JC

Mercedes doesn't sponsor Erebus (it's a private team)

And without factory backing (or any other long term major sponsor) Erebus are relying almost solely on Betty's inheritance. Without better results or a major sponsor jumping on board, who knows how long they can keep it up.

[Syndrome]

My loyalty to Ford was set in my early childhood years. My father owning Falcons and watching the 1-2 at the 1977 Bathurst 1000 set my loyalty in stone. How are Ford going to win over the future generations of children?

[falcon_bandit]

stopped watching the series years ago, even though im still a v8/car enthusiast, the whole production has become a bore.

people forget its just a business, i cant see anyone here morgaging their left nut to start their own team to keep the blue oval alive. Its just a sad indicator of our times........ businesses struggling to survive, bottom line.

[Grum]

Originally Posted by Bluehoon

Without the emotion and looking factually...

How do you equate V8 supercars to sales? Where is the link?

If sales were based around V8 supercars then why are sales so dismal and ford not continuing falcon?
The sales of Ford / Falcon are not in conjecture with the V8 supercars any longer, I understand their decision.
The whole Holden / Ford / V8 supercars is a tribalist, neolithic, neanderthal culture that is epitomic of generations on the way out.

Ford is moving with the times and stall walt stance of V8 supercar jingoism highlights a sponsorship which doesn't suit the company product, branding or image well at all.

http://www.v8supercars.com.au/news/s...ars-completion

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257CF9007E6173

http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sp...-1226957082359

http://www.caradvice.com.au/290539/v...-says-company/

Ford's lack of leadership, enthusiasm, foresight, tradition and passion is a joke. Not the first time they have made monumentally bad business decisions and it won't be the last.

[Grippy]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

How are Ford going to win over the future generations of children?

With amazing cars like the new Mustang GT350 hopefully. I really hope production car racing gets more opportunities on TV and crowd numbers lift.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by XRGREIGHT

I`ve been a huge Ford racing fan since I was a young boy. Been to countless races and spent countless dollars both at the tracks and getting to them.
Still go to at least three races a year. Have only ever owned Fords. Still have a BAXR8 and a XB Coupe.
The only thing I can see saving me now is if they allow the Mustang to race.
Common sense says they are doing what they need to.
Emotion says
**** you Ford Management !!!!!!

I'm with you XRGREIGHT...
Saving grace for me (and probably a greedy perspective) is that at my age, I've actually seen the glory years of true AUSSIE motor racing..
Will never be repeated, can't wind back time eh?
The crying shame is the younger generation will never understand that passion.. That passion of adoring & owning a car that sold in showrooms and actually raced around Bathurst!
Times are so so different nowdays..
I have those memories... And will die withem!!

[CyberWasp]

How many million people watched the end of Bathurst this year to see Ford win in the last quarter of the lap?
How many the year before with a similar result.
I might be stupid and dumb but money can't buy that kind emotion and coverage.
People can argue it hasn't translated into sales for Falcon, but imagine were Ford would be right now if they had pulled out of the series 5 years ago.

[4vxc]

sometimes its extremely hard to be a Ford supporter
Lexus must not think it's for the "neanderthal culture that is epitomic of generations on the way out."
I don't know what brand image they are chasing
maybe snags and hairdresser types?

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by XRGREIGHT

I`ve been a huge Ford racing fan since I was a young boy. Been to countless races and spent countless dollars both at the tracks and getting to them.
Still go to at least three races a year. Have only ever owned Fords. Still have a BAXR8 and a XB Coupe.
The only thing I can see saving me now is if they allow the Mustang to race.
Common sense says they are doing what they need to.
Emotion says
**** you Ford Management !!!!!!

I'm with you XRGREIGHT...
Saving grace for me (and probably a greedy perspective) is that at my age, I've actually seen the glory years of true AUSSIE motor racing..
Will never be repeated, can't wind back time eh?
The crying shame is the younger generation will never understand that passion.. That passion of adoring & owning a car that sold in showrooms and actually raced around Bathurst!
Times are so so different nowdays..
I have those memories... And will die withem!!

[Maka]

Some discussion on future direction for COTF -

http://www.motoring.com.au/news/2013...-growing-40600

cheers, Maka

[blueoval]

What ever the share holders want is what they get. That is what happens in a big company like this. Profits, profits, profits....who cares about emotional connections with motorsport and their fans. Money, money, money.....that is all it has ever been and ever will be. Ford aus is not a charity, and they are proving it in 2016.

/end cynical rant

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

How many million people watched the end of Bathurst this year to see Ford win in the last quarter of the lap?
How many the year before with a similar result.
I might be stupid and dumb but money can't buy that kind emotion and coverage.
People can argue it hasn't translated into sales for Falcon, but imagine were Ford would be right now if they had pulled out of the series 5 years ago.

In exactly the same position. Those wins have not had one iota of an impact on sales.

[Bill M]

Yes a sad day of which there was not so subtle hints at Bathurst this year.
The "win on Sunday sell on Monday" has finally run out of steam after a long decline.To coin a cliche its the end of an era, particularly for those who grew up during the best of it.
Best of luck Ford.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

My loyalty to Ford was set in my early childhood years. My father owning Falcons and watching the 1-2 at the 1977 Bathurst 1000 set my loyalty in stone. How are Ford going to win over the future generations of children?

My loyalty to Ford was also set in my early childhood with both my parents only buying Fords. Racing had nothing to do with it. In fact, I found it down right boring. I loved being inside the cars as a kid, gawking at the XF Ghia's digital dash and playing with the electric windows.

Don't need racing to be a loyal brand follower.

[bigwil]

Why pullout at the end of 2015 and not 2016 when the last Australian falcon is built

[XD 351 Ute]

I don't blame Ford for quitting the V8s this time.
V8SC can carry quite a portion of this on their own shoulders, purely and simply for the way Australian Ford racing in the category has been treated.
I will state straight up that Ford also have made a large number of errors to bring about their lack of results, but the way the cards have been unevenly dealt over the years; I think is a silent major contributing factor.
The ball has rarely rolled their way in regards to the later vehicles by way of homologation, aero, etc, and if it did; it was on based purely on the guts and dedication of particular people at those times.
I'm simply broken at the loss of our car, our Australian company, and feel deeply for all those affected.
To again lose another part of my life that I have valued greatly since childhood, just drives me to despair.

Poor fool me for being sucked in I suppose....

Ed

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by bigwil

Why pullout at the end of 2015 and not 2016 when the last Australian falcon is built

Because they are idiots.

[Bearman]

It's happened before. Ford have been in and out for decades, have always been fickle with their support of Australian Motorsport. Must have driven Moffat bananas back in the day.

No real surprise here.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by bigwil

Why pullout at the end of 2015 and not 2016 when the last Australian falcon is built

Who said the last Falcon will be built in 2016? ;)

[Bossxr8]

I think Ford are hoping that a team still runs Fords and pays for the homologation of a new model, so they don't have too.

I still can't see the 2020 Vision they have, the only model that sells is Ranger, yet they think once Falcon and Territory are gone they will suddenly be so much better off. They are kidding themselves, they won't even be able to cover their sales figures with the new models that will replace them.

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I think Ford are hoping that a team still runs Fords and pays for the homologation of a new model, so they don't have too.

I still can't see the 2020 Vision they have, the only model that sells is Ranger, yet they think once Falcon and Territory are gone they will suddenly be so much better off. They are kidding themselves, they won't even be able to cover their sales figures with the new models that will replace them.

They wont be losing money on local manufacturing so that is a win for them. Even if they don't replace the models.

As for the V8 supercars didn't Ford pull out during the 80s and 90s? Fords still raced.

[GXA]

This was inevitable once the race cars ceased to have anything in common with the road cars.

The category became irrelevant long ago.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by prydey

exactly.

also, FPR losing Ford backing is no different to them losing Pepsi Max backing. manufacturers are just sponsors. the bonus is they usually have deeper pockets than most other companies (apart from redbull, vodafone etc)

what does Ford give v8sc other than financial support??

Yep this whole thing could be Pepsi max getting the raw deal for two years while red bull gets everything they want. WHY would Pepsi max stay.

And that's my personal opinion too.....I HATE with a passion that they're leaving......but then I think of how ford has been treated by v8supercars, aswell as how others have been treated, and I think why the hell would they stay.

Don't kid yourselves.....the ford guys are and have been holding their tongues for along time for fear of bringing disrepute on the sport. It'll be interesting reading the book when it comes out eventually.......