Comments by "John D" (@johnd8892) on "American (NASCAR Fan) Reacts to Bathurst 2003 - Greg Murphys lap of the gods" video.

@IWrocker search YouTube for Race Cam Development 1979 For more of the story of the earliest in car cameras for TV developed by Seven Network engineers here and later sold for other markets. Quite a few early race cam vids on YouTube.
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An amazing piece of Bathurst history, but although the fastest lap for many years, records can only be set in racing. Back in 2003 the cars were much closer to road cars. Only in more recent years they went the NASCAR route of shells on mainly a tube chassis. Still working lights, doors and wipers so they can race in the rain. Rain spices up lots of races with tyre strategy. Under pressure now since Holden and Ford stopped producing Commodores and Falcons by 2017. GM were market leader from about 1938 to 2005, but now are around 40th in sales. Without the Ranger ute Ford would struggle to be in the top twenty for sales.
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@IWrocker GM had such a rapid decline after Holden stopped production that the plan for GM cars badged as Holden's was abandoned and the nameplate retired. 2020 Holden badged cars down to below early fifties supply limited numbers. GM given up on right hand drive markets. Sales for 2020 : Toyota: 204,801 (-0.5% YTD) Mazda: 85,640 (-12.3% Hyundai: 64,807 (-24.7%) Ford: 59,601 (-5.8%) Mitsubishi: 58,335 (-29.9%) Kia: 56,076 (-8.8%) Volkswagen: 39,266 (-21.4%) Nissan: 38,323 (-24.2%) Subaru: 31,501 (-21.3%) Mercedes-Benz: 29,455 (-7.9%) Pandemic affected hence declines from previous year. Ford and Mitsubishi are heavily reliant on light truck/ute sales. So Ford would be 42,000 less without the Ranger. Biggest selling model is Toyota Hilux but sell significant numbers of Corollas and SUV types. SUV now half of all sales in Australia. Bathurst races in February this year and the TV coverage would not use the word Holden. Saw US News today that Toyota had also overtaken GM for the last quarter sales in the US.
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@IWrocker search YouTube for barra wins 2200 hp To see what some of the last Ford Falcons here could be developed into even with the locally developed six cylinder Barra motor.
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GM were hoping the Opel Insignia, sold as a Buick Regal in the US, imported and badged as a Holden Commodore would sell well as replacement to the locally made Commodore. Sales were abysmal largely due to the backlash of stopping local production after taking taxpayer subsidies to keep it going with export markets. That is what I understand.
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GM performing so badly and inflexible worldwide that they withdrew from all right hand drive markets. Look at all the other makers that right hand drive presents no big problems. Basically every worth while company make right hand drive cars.
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If you want to drive a Commodore in the US seek out a Chevrolet SS or Pontiac G8 or GTO from the last twenty years. We were hoping for more US sales to keep Holden in production, but no such luck.
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