BTCC Just Isnt This Exciting Anymore!

[Sammo123]

I'm in a nostalgic mood this evening so I have been watching clips of 90's BTCC races. They were just so much more exciting. The cars appeared to be much quicker, the drivers drove on the limit for the whole race and it was just more fun to watch.

Here are a couple of examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7NrmvbA0iA&fea...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCij9mYIokA

Edited by Sammo123 on Thursday 20th January 22:53

[touring fan]

Sammo123 said:

I'm in a nostalgic mood this evening so I have been watching clips of 90's BTCC races. They were just so much more exciting. The cars appeared to be much quicker, the drivers drove on the limit for the whole race and it was just more fun to watch.

Don't get me wrong I love the 90's BTCC too but its funny how the memory and TV edits can play tricks with you.
In 92 like those clips, the cars were much much slower than they are now. But I think the real difference is that in those days they used to just show highlights of the race a week later because they were not live. So they could edit in and out what they wanted and spend a whole week massaging the edit so the races always appeared exciting even if they werent. And they often weren't!

A really boring 2 hour F1 race can be made to be exciting if you spent a week editing it down to less than half its time.

[Sammo123]

touring fan said:

Sammo123 said:

I'm in a nostalgic mood this evening so I have been watching clips of 90's BTCC races. They were just so much more exciting. The cars appeared to be much quicker, the drivers drove on the limit for the whole race and it was just more fun to watch.

Don't get me wrong I love the 90's BTCC too but its funny how the memory and TV edits can play tricks with you.
In 92 like those clips, the cars were much much slower than they are now. But I think the real difference is that in those days they used to just show highlights of the race a week later because they were not live. So they could edit in and out what they wanted and spend a whole week massaging the edit so the races always appeared exciting even if they werent. And they often weren't!

A really boring 2 hour F1 race can be made to be exciting if you spent a week editing it down to less than half its time.

Yeh I can kind of see what your saying, however, I have all the 90's season reviews on VHS and all the 2000's on DVD and I gotta say that the racing is much more exciting during the 90's!

[ArnageWRC]

Yeah, but look at some of the drivers from the 90's BTCC - some legends in there. They're not quite the same currently - in fact, Britain's best Touring car driver isn't even in the BTCC.current
I don't think the 3x20min format is helping. I'd prefer a mix of 1-2 race meetings - say a long 45-60 min race with a pit stop, then the next round could be two 25min races. I actually like the Aussie V8 Supercars - and they have really long races.

[IainW]

The problem is, like most forms of motorsport now, it's designed for television.

[davepoth]

IainW said:

The problem is, like most forms of motorsport now, it's designed for television.

No it's not - there would be jumps through fiery hoops and stuff if it was. Plus they wouldn't allow ugly drivers.

[thunderbelmont]

Not forgetting a panel of judges, and a phone-in at premium rate to decided the winner!!

[Davie_GLA]

Brilliant footage, anyone see the marshal tripping on the first one?

And Murray walker 'I'm going for first he says'

[IainW]

thunderbelmont said:

Not forgetting a panel of judges, and a phone-in at premium rate to decided the winner!!

You haven't heard the plans for deciding the reverse grid this year!

[Henry Fiddleton]

None sense.

BTCC still is great.

It's easy to look back with rose tints.

[Allyc85]

Deffo looking through rose tinted glasses, some of the races towards the end of the Super Touring era were pretty boring with very little over taking.

The good races though were, infact classics though and the cars were much more better to watch.

[fomb]

touring fan said:

A really boring 2 hour F1 race can be made to be exciting if you spent a week editing it down to less than half its time.

Check out the race edits on Formula1.com, they make every race (even Bahrain) look mental...

[MG CHRIS]

[quote=ArnageWRC]Yeah, but look at some of the drivers from the 90's BTCC - some legends in there. They're not quite the same currently - in fact, Britain's best Touring car driver isn't even in the BTCC.current
I don't think the 3x20min format is helping. I'd prefer a mix of 1-2 race meetings - say a long 45-60 min race with a pit stop, then the next round could be two 25min races. I actually like the Aussie V8 Supercars - and they have really long races.
[/q
I dont agree with you on the race distance the 3x20min format is very good qucik short races not allowing cars to get so far spread out and you cant just sit behind and wait for an overatake you have to get passed, pit stops do not need to be in touring cars splits up good battles and did regulary when they had it a few years ago. V8 aussie supercars are so dull because of the long races the shorter races are good but cant stand the 80 lap races it like watching a f1 race. People should stop winging about the current btcc its still the best touring car series and mayby if more people supported it, it would get even better.

[F1GTRUeno]

The sound of those engines screaming is one of the lasting memories of 90s BTCC/Super Touring racing, absolutely lovely.

Being born in 1990, growing up with all kinds of brilliant motorsport really turned me into a petrolhead, all forms of racing from that decade will always be special to me.

[IainW]

That's what I'll miss with this new era of turbocharged engines. No longer will the cars be screaming their bits off, it'll be a more muted turbocharged drone.

[Gun]

The last couple of seasons have been great, some of the best racing you can watch on television. I think all it needs is a few more works entries, other than that it's pretty much spot on.

[Floor Tom]

Gun said:

The last couple of seasons have been great, some of the best racing you can watch on television. I think all it needs is a few more works entries, other than that it's pretty much spot on.

A bit more regulation of driving standards wouldn't go amiss sometimes too. I know that touring cars are expected to be a bit rougher but sometimes people are just punting others off and giving them no chance at all.