I raised this question back on the 7th March (Using Zs for 2005 Formula One Drivers Parade : 7 Mar 2004 9:45 PM)...The official response from the Motor Sport Manager of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation is No :`( (see his response below), but on plus side - we could be involved in the Motorcycle Grand Prix which is in October ----- Original Message ----- From: lewis.oflynn@grandprix.com.au To: rbarciko@optusnet.com.au Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 3:13 PM Subject: Foster's Australian Grand PrixDear Robert Thank you for the Expression of Interest that you sent to Ben Hartung for the participation of the Australian 300ZX Owners Association in the Drivers Parades' at the Foster's Australian Grand Prix. Your proposal is very well presented and we certainly don't doubt your ability to provide the event with the required number of vehicles and organisational skills required for this activity, however there are some issues with the use of certain cars for this activity. We may or may not be aware that we conduct a Driver's Parade for the Formula One and V8 Supercar Drivers and some issues for both Parades. Drivers associated with a particular model of car will refuse or be refused by their team to get in to a car of a current rival manufacturer. For example Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya from the BMW Williams F1 team would not be allowed to ride in a road car produced by a current manufacturer that is not a BMW. The same applies to all drivers such as BAR (Honda), Jaguar (Jaguar-Ford), Toyota, McLaren-Mercedes etc. As such there would be conflict with a Nissan being used for this activity. An additional problem is the agreement the Australian Grand Prix Corporation has with an official vehicle supplier which in recent years has been BMW. For vehicles to be provided by a rival vehicle manufacturer for this activity would be a breach of the agreement. In recent years the cars that we have been limited to use have been Stag's and Austin Healey's. Cars by manufacturers that are no longer in production. For the V8 Supercar Drivers Parade we have similar issues with all drivers associated with either Ford or Holden. I don't know if this may be of interest to you but we also conduct Riders Parades for the MotoGP Riders at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island. If your Association is interested in providing cars for this activity we would be happy for you to be considered. We do receive a number of submissions from car clubs and owners associations to provide cars for the Riders Parade so we do need to consider the various submissions we receive. If you are interested in providing cars for the Motorcycle Grand Prix please let me know and we'll keep you under consideration. Sorry we couldn't be of any further assistance. Kind regards -------------------------------------------------- Lewis O'Flynn Motor Sport Manager Australian Grand Prix Corporation grandprix.com.au Tel: 03 9258 7108 Mobile: 0425 725 103 Fax: 03 9699 3727 2004 Cinzano Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Phillip Island, October 15-17 2005 Foster's Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail message (including its attachments) is privileged and confidential information and intended solely for the use of the addressee. Neither the confidentiality nor any privilege in this e-mail is waived or destroyed if transmitted other than to the addressee. This e-mail may contain personal information and privacy should be respected at all times. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disseminate, copy or take any action in reliance on it and must notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete the original message and any copies. Any views expressed in this e-mail are the views of the individual sender, except where specifically stated to be the views of the AGPC.E-mail is not secure and transmissions can be corrupted. AGPC accepts no liability for any damage caused in the transmission of this e-mail. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Rob, nice try mate... > Firstly I'd like to thank you for trying to organise such a cool event. That would've been awesome fun. Secondly, I'm also all up for the motorcycle Grand Prix, that'd be awesome!! Keep me posted! :-Z
Top effort Rob......>> While I can't see anyone having a complaint about riding in a Nissan since they are not exactly competeing on the track I understand that off the track it is a totally different situation. I'd be up for the bike GP, anything to raise the level of the 300ZX in the publics eyes.
Motorcycle Grand Prix ,Yes please! That appeals to me even more, what an amazing experience that would be.The atmosphere at the Motorcycle GP is awsome!!:YD
Great try Rob - pity we got canned... Happy to do the MotoGP if you are getting a list together. I have a hardtop, so happy to be lead car witha sign or something. CheerZ Vincent
You gave it a good try, but predictably>> the rejection was exactly the same as when it was refused the first time. The reasons given late last year were identical to those being expressed now, and in hindsight it may have been prudent to heed the advice I passed on to you on this occasion. On a more positive note, suggestions re: The Motorcycle Grand Prix, seem to be a much better solution for all concerned. I for one, would happily offer to use my car, so go to it!Top marks for effort,Cheers Lloyd :-Z
Bugger bureaucracy and condemn contracts >>> It was a good try Robert. I'll be on the MotoGP acceptance list. What we need is the Infiniti Racing Series to come down here from the USA - but then Nissan would probably use a boatload of 350Z convertibles!
