There's truth in what you say, although I'll disagree on what Tony brought as it's killed the sport at lower levels.Quote:
Originally Posted by Casper
Those that make a living from supplying goods and services to motorsport as a whole are thin in numbers these days and doing it tough, yet motorsport here in Oz was thriving during the worst years of recession and 17.25% interest rates in the early nineties.
Tony came from IMG, (Tennis promotion background) and was casting around for something that was chronically under-promoted so he could take it from scratch and build into a 'show' to really make some big bucks.
He looked at NASCAR, saw how they did things there, then went to the top drivers, told them they were being screwed over by the promoters and they needed a bigger slice of the cut and it went from there.
The big problem is that most promoters (permanent circuits or half the time car clubs like the ARDC and Light Car Club) needed the huge pay day that was a Touring Car round to subside the rest of the year, ie. all club, state and national rounds that weren't an ATTC round, as well as pay for track maintenance, improvements, (I know, nothing ever changed on that front) etc.
Grass roots motorsport needs permanent tracks, without those it can't survive.
Maybe I'm just a grumpy old bastard these days, and I admit I've really disliked Mr Cochrane ever since he appeared on the scene as IMO he was wrecking the sport I loved and at the time was heavily involved in.
As I said above, CAMS are as implicit from having no leadership when it was needed, but at the end of the day CAMS is just a collection of clubs with appointed staff, TC had a vision, dangled the carrot and here we are.
