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Happy 2001, dear members,
It is with much joy that I write to you on the occasion of our first newsletter. The object of the letter is to improve our communiciations with Members, Sponsors, (Both yours and ours) and to get much needed content into our Web site. Needless to say this is not going to happen without your cooperation. We need input, funny stories, race day gossip, fun stuff that we may all not have heard about.
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The idea is that we will give all sponsors access to the site and perhaps even mail them with the latest postings. Add to this lots of pictures, and we will have a wonderful site.
But all of this will be useless without a bit of history about each and every one of you, and your teams, include mechanics etc. It all makes for interesting reading and gives the press "other" angles from which to work. So be warned, we will want mug shots of you holding your helmet, NO Donavan not that one!
Our first meeting will be held on the 18th January 2001 at the Swiss Club. Bring the whole family, bring lovers, bring friends and supporters. We will be awarding the balance of the championship prizes. Also all drivers will NOT be allowed to leave until their personal details form has been filled in or recorded. Preferably e-mail it to Jannet before the 18th at
s2000@iafrica.com or to Vicky at vicky@vsp.co.za
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A few words about the first race. It is going to be a joint Ferrari day event, and it will all start with scrutineering in the main street in
Welkom, and Saturday night we will have dinner with the Ferrari guys at the Italian restaurant. We will be doing a 2 hour race at 12 o’clock on Sunday! we will give you more information at the noggin but be prepared. |
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As Vice chairman of the VSP committee I record my thanks and appreciation to Mike Fergusson our chairman and the rest of the committee for the 2000 season.
The history of Enzo Ferrari and the Porsche teams are, amongst others, well documented. It is a recurring theme, which is unfortunate but all too often evident and affected them in particular. I refer to 'motor racing politics'. VSP has had its fair share, from clashes with the MSA Single Seater Commission down to our champion having no love for the class. In this respect it was a trying year. As a committee, we have been guided by advancing the interest of all (no-one is worse off), being innovative, keeping costs down and rewarding our sponsors.
For 2001 we intend pursuing these efforts even further. There will be a new engine, we hope to have international drivers contributing to our costs, there will be start money, prize money, and we have retained all our class sponsors, who have committed to increased funding. We also intend increasing the local content of our cars and the competitive development of them.
The 2001 season sees a new roadshow with different partners. We intend to grow relationships with them. We are also going to experiment with co-hosting and hope that this will increase the spectators and the overall show. We are well aware of the demise of Touring Cars and the withdrawal of sponsors from other categories. We are ready to fill any gaps and it is our intention to lift the status of motor racing in general.
The 'off-track' presentation of VSP in 2001 is of the utmost importance. Proper pit facilities have been secured and it is expected that competitors will present themselves in a very professional manner. Incentives are in place for the best-dressed pit and best turned-out car for each event.
VSP has an opportunity in 2001 to be the best and most professional category in motor racing. We need to seize this opportunity with passion.
Neville Jordan |
Vodacom is the naming-rights sponsor of VSP, and has been since its inception. The benefit derived from this sponsorship is largely a result of the input by
Vodacom. Vodacom is very much an active sponsor and helps determine the strategy and future of
VSP. From a modest regional class VSP has evolved into one of the top two formulas in national racing in 2001. The sponsorship funding has grown accordingly and the benefits to the sponsor have increased exponentially. Apart from substantial TV coverage in 2000 there was the supplement in Drive magazine each month and the international exposure as a result of VSP's participation in the SRWC event at Kyalami in November. The value of the branding exposure of this event alone, if purchased separately, would have exceeded the total 2000 sponsorship value. It is this kind of return that ensures a sponsor's continued participation. The withdrawal of sponsors from motor racing is in fact happening at an unfortunate rate. The reasons are many and need urgent attention, however a racing class must ensure that its house is in order so that a sponsor's withdrawal is for other reasons. VSP must continue to be innovative, to deliver full grids of smartly turned-out cars producing close racing.
Vodacom is proud to be associated with VSP and sports car racing in general. The 2001 season is awaited with anticipation of a great year.
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Phakisa
Rev up
- January 2001
The much awaited first event on the 2001 VSP racing calendar will be held at Phakisa on Saturday, 11th and Sunday,
12th January 2001.
CO-HOSTING
An enterprising innovation for VSP racing for the 2001 season is the concept of “co-hosting”. At Phakisa the co-host will be SEFAC (Southern Equatorial Ferrari Automobile Club), who will display their cars both on and off the track during the two days. Ferrari's will also be used as parade cars for the VSP racing.
THE PROGRAMME
It is intended that scrutineering will take place in Welkom town on Friday, 9 February in the evening. Saturday will be devoted to practicing-ending in official qualifying practice. On Sunday, the VSP race will be a two-hour event, starting at 12h00. Prize giving will be on Sunday afternoon. Amongst other classes racing on the day will be Sports 2000 and GTi's.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
Thanks again to SmartCall, “Dash for Cash” will be operated as usual. In this new season, prize money will be awarded to the VSP class, as follows:
First Place: R2 500
Second Place: R1 000
Third Place: R 500
Pole Position: R 500
Fastest Lap: R 250
Best Prepared Car: R 250
Best Dressed Pits: R 250
Start money of R2000 will be paid to every VSP entrant.
For the new season, it has been decided to award the following additional points:
Pole Position: 1 point
Fastest Lap: 1 point
Away Race: 10 points to each competitor
WHITE BOOK
We advise all VSP entrants to familiarise themselves with the VSP rules in the White Book
relating to endurance events.
BE THERE AND DO IT |