[Luke Plaizier]

I know it's just a rumour getting around, but I wanted to gauge the general level of support from the true Ford punters.

I know I'd be over the moon if it happened, but how many of you would be happy if Lowndes and Seton joined together under the same umbrella, whether it be GMS/Forbes or FTR?

Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.

And if enough people hear of our support (assuming there is support), perhaps the big players might be tempted to put a proposal together.


Lukeyson

 

[Mr GTHO]

Forgetaboutit!
Seton is going to lose his Ford Tickford sponsorship after his contract runs out,2002. He has been so disappointing and has caused more damaged to the Tickford brand than the styling of the AU!!!!!!
Lowndes will team with Ambrose in 2003 because they are both under Ford contracts and they both are out of their contracts with SBR and GMS and the end of next year.
Who will get the Ford sponsorship?
DJR?
SBR?
GMS?
or a fully fledged factory team?

 

[HP Dude]

Yeah, who would be the team leader in a team with Lowndes and Seton? I don't think it would work. I feel very sorry for the poor run Seto has had in the last few years. I met him at the last Tickford day; he's a really nice bloke.

 

[FM]

Moved to the pits.. :s6:

 

[HP Dude]

Fair enough!

 

[Cobra]

Forgetaboutit!
Seton is going to lose his Ford Tickford sponsorship after his contract runs out,2002. He has been so disappointing and has caused more damaged to the Tickford brand than the styling of the AU!!!!!!
Lowndes will team with Ambrose in 2003 because they are both under Ford contracts and they both are out of their contracts with SBR and GMS and the end of next year.
Who will get the Ford sponsorship?
DJR?
SBR?
GMS?
or a fully fledged factory team?

Pity there isnt mroe than 100% coz id have to agree with you even more if there was. Ford would be planning all this now. As the launch of the AV Racecar will most definatly be in 2003, so will the birth of a new era in motorsport history, when the two kids of the race scene will join forces under the ford/tickford brand, and assisted by prodrive, they will be the new benchmark in Australian Touring car Motorsport. GO FORD!

 

[Space Lord]

Nahhhh. I don't see it happening and don't want it to happen.

 

[rallyman]

Could Seton's demise be mostly attributed to an inferior car or just age? I mean, didn't he have a new car at Bathurst? He did qualify second fastest and I reckon they were pretty competitive. Hope they do well at Sandown.

 

[DRU842]

Sorry I have to disagree with those who want to consolidate the Ford effort into one 'headline' team.
I think the current strategy is best for the long term stability among Ford teams; sure they need to share information a little more & it would be better to see any Ford winning but I don't beleive that following GMH/HSV into one mega-factory team is in anyone's best interests.
Its slowly starting to dawn on even your average GM fan that HSVs domination is no good for anyone. The friction between HRT and other Holden runners is obvious & can't be lost on AVESCO either.
As most of us know Ford's aeropackage this year was late in being finalised again versus GM teams, some Ford teams & drivers were very late in being confirmed; next year its gonna be new tyres but at least it appears everone will at the same level on this one.
In review I am happy with the progress made (inspite of cursing & swearing at the TV, during races) and beleive that next year will be better again, we have always been the underdawg in V8 racing, it makes it much better when we do win!!
PS. But I also think that 2 make racing sux!!

 

[Falchoon]

NO - Lowndes & Seton
YES - Lowndes & Ambrose

 

[Luke Plaizier]

Gosh, how quickly we're willing to throw away Seton, after just one bad year, possibly the single strongest Ford-Flag carrier during all the V8 years up till 2001.

I'm a bit disappointed.

I sure hope Seton gets himself some good metal, because the driver is still in there, and he was a good lot quicker than Steve Richards for most of 2001.

I've got this feeling that FTR and GRM were two of the only top-level teams that didn't run a hidden traction control system in 2001.



Lukeyson

 

[Falchoon]

Gosh, how quickly we're willing to throw away Seton, after just one bad year, possibly the single strongest Ford-Flag carrier during all the V8 years up till 2001.

I'm a bit disappointed.

I sure hope Seton gets himself some good metal, because the driver is still in there, and he was a good lot quicker than Steve Richards for most of 2001.

I've got this feeling that FTR and GRM were two of the only top-level teams that didn't run a hidden traction control system in 2001.



Lukeyson

Luke, I think you need to get your eyes checked mate, it's been more than one dud year for Seton. I don't know what the reason is why he's going so poorly, could just be a lot of bad luck maybe.

I still think you've been watching too many X-Files re-runs when you talk about this traction control thing!:redhrm:

It's interesting to note the contrasting results you got posting your question here and at conrod.com.au. Most people over there seem to be in favour of Seton and Lowndes teaming up whereas here most are against.

 

[Mr GTHO]

Gosh, how quickly we're willing to throw away Seton, after just one bad year, possibly the single strongest Ford-Flag carrier during all the V8 years up till 2001.

I'm a bit disappointed.



Lukeyson

Statistics don't lie. Steven Richards finished higher than him in the series and has performed better than him most of the year.
Back when he was racing EB,EF and EL he was doing great but the competition has overtaken him in leaps and bounds and I don't think he has made most of the opportunity of having Ford's technology on offer.

 

[fprgirl]

I have nothing against Seton, but Lowndes and Ambrose together would be a dream come true.

 

[Falcon GTHO]

Lets hope they do merge.
the only problem is where would crompton go. shouldn't he be racing by now seeing as though GMS have two cars.

I don't think Ambrose or Lowndes would leave there teams as they have spent a lot of time getting the car right just to go to another team (i.e bowe)

I think if Ford set up one Factory team with heaps of personell and a budget equivelant to HRT with Lowndes and Seton they would kick arse. Seton just needs to concentrate on his driving. Look at Bathurst 2000 and 20001 aswell as Winton 2000. He drove fantastically.
Shame on anyone who has jumped off the Seton bandwagon. Who were you cheering for in 1993 and 1997 aswell as bathurst 1996 when he almost won with nine laps to go.

 

[HSE2]

Gosh, how quickly we're willing to throw away Seton, after just one bad year, possibly the single strongest Ford-Flag carrier during all the V8 years up till 2001.

I'm a bit disappointed.

I sure hope Seton gets himself some good metal, because the driver is still in there, and he was a good lot quicker than Steve Richards for most of 2001.

I've got this feeling that FTR and GRM were two of the only top-level teams that didn't run a hidden traction control system in 2001.

Lukeyson

I certainly don't like to see what is happening to Seton. I don't believe Frod have done him any favours, by the same token many say he hasn't taken the chance and done it justice.

I don't know what the answer is.
One possible reason is that in every year the team structure has changed. They have never been allowed to settle down and that is important with team work.

I said from day one that Craig should have been in the FTR team as it would have allowed Ford to move him into the Tickford side of things. Maybe Craig didn't want to have anything to do with Glenn. I don't know. If they didn't do it in the first place I can't see them doing it now.

I am loyal and while Glenn is racing I will support him. Eventually Ford have to get Ambrose as the racing face of Ford.

 

[HSE2]

Could Seton's demise be mostly attributed to an inferior car or just age? I mean, didn't he have a new car at Bathurst? He did qualify second fastest and I reckon they were pretty competitive. Hope they do well at Sandown.

I have no doubt that he is suffering confidence issues but I don't think age is the problem

 

[HSE2]

Forgetaboutit!
Seton is going to lose his Ford Tickford sponsorship after his contract runs out,2002. He has been so disappointing and has caused more damaged to the Tickford brand than the styling of the AU!!!!!!
Lowndes will team with Ambrose in 2003 because they are both under Ford contracts and they both are out of their contracts with SBR and GMS and the end of next year.
Who will get the Ford sponsorship?
DJR?
SBR?
GMS?
or a fully fledged factory team?

Bit harsh there mate. Don't forget it was Ford that pulled the plug on the original agreement.

Ford put there own tech staff in there to gain race experience, a move which hurt the team.

If you are going to say that FTR has damaged the Tickford brand more then the styling then ask the question why the full weight of Ford Racing wasn't put directly behind the FTR project.

I have said it before. FTR having got the results because Frod were not 100% committed to the team.

 

[Mr GTHO]

You can lay the blame at Ford or Seton's feet but Seton is driving the car and it's his head that will roll.
Glenn has been great for Ford in the past but he hasn't got the personnel around him to take it to HRT. Tickford/Ford only sponsor him and any sponsor wants a good return from their investment and unfortunately he has been creating a loss in many ways.
Time to move on. Glenn will find sponsorship and continue as a one car attack but that's what Glenn hasn't been doing - attacking- and other Ford drivers have.

 

[HSE2]

You can lay the blame at Ford or Seton's feet but Seton is driving the car and it's his head that will roll.
Glenn has been great for Ford in the past but he hasn't got the personnel around him to take it to HRT. Tickford/Ford only sponsor him and any sponsor wants a good return from their investment and unfortunately he has been creating a loss in many ways.
Time to move on. Glenn will find sponsorship and continue as a one car attack but that's what Glenn hasn't been doing - attacking- and other Ford drivers have.

In a nut shell I guess that is hard to argue with.