hoon69
19-12-2006, 03:42 PM
Originally Posted by Rick Kelly
A Message from Rick Kelly to all Toll HSV DT Business Partners, Sponsors & Dealers
Well, we did it. We got the Championship Cup and the Teams Trophy for 2006. Garth, I and the entire team all feel very relieved the tough season is now behind us.
It was a classic team effort that I hope will be useful for all our Business Partners in some way in your marketing plans and advertising programs.
This note is a bit unusual (and lengthy), but, given some recent media comments, I wanted to share with our family of business partners some thoughts:
1. Firstly, thank you for all the encouragement leading up to the final round. There was a lot hanging on it for everyone. And it was very reassuring to know I had such a great lot of friends at HSV, Toll, Holden and other Sponsors right behind us. Beating Craig Lowndes was always going to be a challenge. I knew I was going in as the underdog given Craig’s high profile and experience.
2. Did I tap Craig Lowndes in Race 3? Yes, I did. Did I cause the tap? No, I didn’t. After we both committed ourselves to braking for Honda, there was clearly enough room down the righthand side of Craig for a pass. After positioning my car in the gap, Craig knew ‘I had him’ and began to move over after we were both already braking to the full potential of our cars. He did not allow racing room, which is where the contact was made.
3. Was the tap of such significance to cause Craig to ‘fire’ into Todd and lose control? In my opinion no and from the TV vision, we could see Craig’s closing speed on Todd was far too high for Craig to be able to pull the car up before making contact with Todd.
4. How do I feel about Craig’s comments on TV, newspapers and the Press Release, saying ‘On the day we had superior car speed and it was going to take an accident or incident for them (HSV Dealer Team) to beat us – unfortunately we had both”? Craig has really gone out on a limb here, and I wouldn’t mind betting the authorities look at that comment. I would like to see proof he had superior car speed. I can’t believe Craig would say those words. The PR spin operators must have got involved because while we had some issues in Race 1, my car was more than a match for Craig’s on Sunday.
5. How do I feel about comments that other Holden Teams helped me by blocking? I drove my own race with my own plan – I did not ask for help, nor do I accept my team mate or any fellow Holden Drivers did anything they would not otherwise do in any other race.
Despite this, let me add I have always greatly admired the feats of Lance Armstrong who has always stated his triumphs come as a result of great co-operation with his team mates and I hope our Sport isn’t reduced to the point where planning, trust and understanding with your team mate in motor sport is an ‘offence’.
6. At the four-hour inquiry on Monday, both Drivers were only allowed to be accompanied by one Team representative. Craig had the Triple Eight Team Owner, Roland Dane and I had my Data Engineer, Mike Henry. In my opinion, our evidence was much more convincing as we took a scientific and methodical approach to the analysis of the incident, whereas the other party put the emphasis on emotion. Roland Dane stated at the inquiry that one of his Engineers said he heard me say over the radio to my Chief Engineer before the start of the Race words to the effect that ‘I will make sure this Race will be over in about 2 Laps, rather than 32 Laps!’ Roland Dane was asked by the Investigators to provide the proof of that comment. He couldn’t and I know he couldn’t, because not in my wildest dreams would I have made such a comment. The nicest thing I could say was that it was a blatant exaggeration!! When I heard Roland Dane resort to those tactics, I started to realise all of Triple 8’s creditability on this matter was zero.
Finally, the thing that meant most to me after the round was the overwhelming congratulations and genuine well wishes of virtually every driver from both the Ford and Holden Teams. While there will be controversy among the Holden and Ford fans, it genuinely felt to me like my win was a popular one with my fellow race drivers and competitors, as they understand what happens in racing. The thoughts they expressed to me after the race will be remembered long after the controversy Triple 8 created by their protest and unnecessary sour grapes approach to whipping up a media frenzy and hysteria with Ford fans. It’s all been pretty average stuff on their part.
The best thing all of us can do now is celebrate the victory. Now that I have passed on these thoughts to you, it’s time to relax, head off to the farm for Christmas and look on the light side which is best illustrated by what some scallywag sent me as a potential hot Memorabilia seller next year!! See attached.
Best wishes for Christmas and again, thanks for your great support - that No. 1 on our car next year will be very special and you are all part of it
RICK
rick@rickkelly.com.au
Attach :lets not anti ford/holden bash ay :driving:
A Message from Rick Kelly to all Toll HSV DT Business Partners, Sponsors & Dealers
Well, we did it. We got the Championship Cup and the Teams Trophy for 2006. Garth, I and the entire team all feel very relieved the tough season is now behind us.
It was a classic team effort that I hope will be useful for all our Business Partners in some way in your marketing plans and advertising programs.
This note is a bit unusual (and lengthy), but, given some recent media comments, I wanted to share with our family of business partners some thoughts:
1. Firstly, thank you for all the encouragement leading up to the final round. There was a lot hanging on it for everyone. And it was very reassuring to know I had such a great lot of friends at HSV, Toll, Holden and other Sponsors right behind us. Beating Craig Lowndes was always going to be a challenge. I knew I was going in as the underdog given Craig’s high profile and experience.
2. Did I tap Craig Lowndes in Race 3? Yes, I did. Did I cause the tap? No, I didn’t. After we both committed ourselves to braking for Honda, there was clearly enough room down the righthand side of Craig for a pass. After positioning my car in the gap, Craig knew ‘I had him’ and began to move over after we were both already braking to the full potential of our cars. He did not allow racing room, which is where the contact was made.
3. Was the tap of such significance to cause Craig to ‘fire’ into Todd and lose control? In my opinion no and from the TV vision, we could see Craig’s closing speed on Todd was far too high for Craig to be able to pull the car up before making contact with Todd.
4. How do I feel about Craig’s comments on TV, newspapers and the Press Release, saying ‘On the day we had superior car speed and it was going to take an accident or incident for them (HSV Dealer Team) to beat us – unfortunately we had both”? Craig has really gone out on a limb here, and I wouldn’t mind betting the authorities look at that comment. I would like to see proof he had superior car speed. I can’t believe Craig would say those words. The PR spin operators must have got involved because while we had some issues in Race 1, my car was more than a match for Craig’s on Sunday.
5. How do I feel about comments that other Holden Teams helped me by blocking? I drove my own race with my own plan – I did not ask for help, nor do I accept my team mate or any fellow Holden Drivers did anything they would not otherwise do in any other race.
Despite this, let me add I have always greatly admired the feats of Lance Armstrong who has always stated his triumphs come as a result of great co-operation with his team mates and I hope our Sport isn’t reduced to the point where planning, trust and understanding with your team mate in motor sport is an ‘offence’.
6. At the four-hour inquiry on Monday, both Drivers were only allowed to be accompanied by one Team representative. Craig had the Triple Eight Team Owner, Roland Dane and I had my Data Engineer, Mike Henry. In my opinion, our evidence was much more convincing as we took a scientific and methodical approach to the analysis of the incident, whereas the other party put the emphasis on emotion. Roland Dane stated at the inquiry that one of his Engineers said he heard me say over the radio to my Chief Engineer before the start of the Race words to the effect that ‘I will make sure this Race will be over in about 2 Laps, rather than 32 Laps!’ Roland Dane was asked by the Investigators to provide the proof of that comment. He couldn’t and I know he couldn’t, because not in my wildest dreams would I have made such a comment. The nicest thing I could say was that it was a blatant exaggeration!! When I heard Roland Dane resort to those tactics, I started to realise all of Triple 8’s creditability on this matter was zero.
Finally, the thing that meant most to me after the round was the overwhelming congratulations and genuine well wishes of virtually every driver from both the Ford and Holden Teams. While there will be controversy among the Holden and Ford fans, it genuinely felt to me like my win was a popular one with my fellow race drivers and competitors, as they understand what happens in racing. The thoughts they expressed to me after the race will be remembered long after the controversy Triple 8 created by their protest and unnecessary sour grapes approach to whipping up a media frenzy and hysteria with Ford fans. It’s all been pretty average stuff on their part.
The best thing all of us can do now is celebrate the victory. Now that I have passed on these thoughts to you, it’s time to relax, head off to the farm for Christmas and look on the light side which is best illustrated by what some scallywag sent me as a potential hot Memorabilia seller next year!! See attached.
Best wishes for Christmas and again, thanks for your great support - that No. 1 on our car next year will be very special and you are all part of it
RICK
rick@rickkelly.com.au
Attach :lets not anti ford/holden bash ay :driving: