V8 Supercar Media Watch
18/4/2002 22:34 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
We channel Stuart Littlemore (without the acrid wit) to present V8 Supercar Media Watch, a semi-regular look at the media coverage surrounding the Supercar circus.
TABLOID paper Auto Action’s spectacular cover shot of Jason Bargwanna’s roll-over – the car seemingly balanced on its nose, debris flying everywhere – looks remarkably similar to the equally spectacular photo that graces the cover of rival Motorsport News. In fact, a quick game of spot the differences proved fruitless. With the two shots credited to different photographers, and Auto Action’s photos claimed to be “exclusive”, the resemblance really is uncanny...
BARGWANNA’S crash came as no surprise to those watching Channel Seven prior to the V8 Supercar telecast on Ten. Those tuned to Bruce McAvaney’s exhausting new sports feast Sportswatch (chances are you weren’t; ratings have been abysmal) had the results of the first race at Phillip Island spoiled more than 90 minutes before the race made it to television. McAvaney also spoke to winner Marcos Ambrose post-race.
MANY V8 Supercar races have been lengthened this season, but Ten’s commendable television coverage has not. The result was a hurried telecast of Sunday's two 150km races, with a number of laps seemingly left on the cutting room floor. Even host Matthew White’s opening remarks appeared edited.
STILL on Ten, the Konica cars make their 2002 television debut this Sunday. The highlights of round one at Wakefield Park feature on Trackside at 3:30pm.
BRISBANE journo Gordon Lomas didn’t hold back when reporting on David Besnard’s 10-second stop/go penalty for speeding through a yellow flag sector during race two on the weekend. Under the headline “V8 marshal got it wrong”, Lomas said in his weekly Courier Mail column: “Some stewards’ decisions must come under serious question, especially when they take the word of a well-meaning, but nonetheless part-time official who has made an on-the-spot assumption that was wrong.” A brave call, indeed.
THE annual V8 Supercar television guide has finally made it to newsagents, albeit two rounds too late. The Chevron-produced magazine, a replica of the on-track race program, is available around the country for $7.70.
CANBERRA’S sponsor-less V8 Supercar carnival has struggled for credibility and crowd support since its inception. That isn’t likely to improve with the launch of the press campaign for this year’s race, staring a pair of Y-front underpants. Confused? So are we.
TEAM Brock has launched into cyberspace with a new website – www.teambrock.com.au. It's only half-finished, but early results look promising.
THE release date for EA Sports' much-anticipated V8 Challenge game continues to be pushed back, with eager gamers now being told the best they can hope for is an end-of-the-month launch. It may end up being trumped by V8 Supercar Race Driver, the “officially sanctioned” release being pushed heavily by AVESCO, which is due to hit stores in late June.
THE warped world of public relations abounds with optimism. Hapless Steve Ellery’s PR people issued a release this week, for no apparent reason other than to assure the media that while their man may be slightly frustrated, he’s “not about to let lady luck burst his bubble.” We figured that, Steve.
QUOTABLE: “It’s time for AVESCO to rethink its position and have a change of direction. Its current approach is not very conducive to achieving good relations with the teams, the public, or anyone else, and unless change does occur, I believe the days of the AVESCO style of management are numbered.” – Larry Perkins, Auto Action Edition 985.
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