Is Skaife's number up?

[skaifey_b_da_1]

After starting his 20thyear in motor racing,and performing like he did at Winton, has Mark Skaife seen better racing days. Not finishing in the points at all,how many more year do you think Skaife has in him is it time for him to hag up the helmet or should he keep racing? :confused:

[murph_fan51]

Hi there,

This is all the talk at the moment - and after the recent mid season retirement from Brad Jones, along with Ingalls time coming to an end with SBR, and of cause Skaifey not performing to his championship winning state lately, maybe he is due to step aside for a new young gun and race only in the endurance rounds. Ryan Briscoe (HRTs 2006 enduro co driver) would be a good choice if they can get him from overseas (SBR were able to do so with Courtney!).

Will be interesting times ahead but I wouldnt be surprised to see Mark hang up his helmit & boots for full time racing by this seasons end - sadly!

[lowgto]

Yeah, i cant help but feel the business side of things maybe holding him back. With the quality of drivers around now if your not 100% committed you will be found out and HRT wont put up with him finishing midfield for long. Ryan Briscoe is a much sought after driver worldwide and i doubt you will see him with a permanent drive. I would love to see Skaifey bow out on his own terms and give Chris Alajajan the drive.

[fubs]

His time was up last year

[blair]

I would have to say its a young mans sport now, but i think skaifey has a few years left yet. For a guy that is so use to being up the pointy end, it has got to be hard to be in a rut. He will cop alot of crap from disapointed fans expecting him to perform. I for one hope he carries on for a while, at least until he breaks the record he shares with the late, great peter brock.

[skaifey_b_da_1]

I would have to say its a young mans sport now, but i think skaifey has a few years left yet. For a guy that is so use to being up the pointy end, it has got to be hard to be in a rut. He will cop alot of crap from disapointed fans expecting him to perform. I for one hope he carries on for a while, at least until he breaks the record he shares with the late, great peter brock.

Yeh true, you just need to look at how many of the young gys are winning races now, i still do think skaife still might have 2 or 3 years left in him, i mean look at JB and Brad jones they were some of the oldest drivers and they are on thier last legs and all the stuff going on with Ingall that would make skaife the oldest driver and im sure that is going to keep coming up that he is too old to kep racing now but hay who knows what could happen but if he is to be replaced soon then a young driver is in need and like murph_fan51 said Ryan would be a good choice if they can get him.
But what about Murphy taking skaifes spot. Ever since he left team "Kelly" he has never been the same and if he could get his hands on a HRT car what would he be like then.

[murph_fan51]

I for one would like to see Murph (return) to HRT. It was unfortanate what happened to him in 1997, otherwise he could still well be there...

His error in my opinion was leaving Kmart racing (now Toll HSV DT), which he announced one week after winning Bathurst 2004, because he wanted to be in a team that could win championships.

Also, I noticed Ryan Briscoe finished about 5th or 6th in the latest Indy 500!!! Dont know if HRT or Tom Walkinshaw could pay him enough to drive for them though...

[chappy]

Sadly Mark Skaife days of racing are coming to a end, he should bow out sooner than later and hand the wheel over to a younger more hungry driver after they seem to be the driver that are willing to take the extra little chance and as you get older the old brain tend to work harder and you start to drive by brain and not by the sest of their pants it just happen that way.

Maybe Mark Skaife should work on the team as a whole and do the runing of the team after all he is still a very smart cookie race wise just lost that fine edge with age.

No disrespect intended just a sad fact of life.

[skaifey_b_da_1]

Sadly Mark Skaife days of racing are coming to a end, he should bow out sooner than later and hand the wheel over to a younger more hungry driver after they seem to be the driver that are willing to take the extra little chance and as you get older the old brain tend to work harder and you start to drive by brain and not by the sest of their pants it just happen that way.

Maybe Mark Skaife should work on the team as a whole and do the runing of the team after all he is still a very smart cookie race wise just lost that fine edge with age.

No disrespect intended just a sad fact of life.


Yeh he is and he knows the racing game all too well, I think if his year doesnt get any better then he should give up at the end of the year and not **** around with the team and leave half way through like Brad did whick i think was a big NO NO!

[wobbs]

Skaifes back.round winner at eastern creek.you cant keep a good man down.
back on the winners list.hopefully this is the start of many more wins!
cheers wobbs.

[HRDHSV]

I dont know how you guys can say that sort of stuff bout the great man everyone has a bad stint once in a while geeeeeez.

[skaifey_b_da_1]

I dont know how you guys can say that sort of stuff bout the great man everyone has a bad stint once in a while geeeeeez.

I would neva say anything bad about the guy and if I did I didnt mean it,Skaife has put this tread to sham now, LOL
I think that he was worrying about too much the last few rounds with the Walkinshaw thing,sorry for anyone who likes the gyu but Tom needs to piss off out of HRT and leave them be.They were doing fine with out him.
But Skaife looks like he will be racing for a little longer, now hes most successful touring car driver.Lets hope he keeps racing for many years to come.

[lowgto]

We were just using reverse psychology, because Skaifey has to read this forum and it fired him up!!!

[skaifey_b_da_1]

We were just using reverse psychology, because Skaifey has to read this forum and it fired him up!!!

LOL good one.Lets try again next round LOL:rolleyes:

[fubs]

Didnt you get shown up...LOL

[skaifey_b_da_1]

Didnt you get shown up...LOL

What are you talking about?

Well Hidden Valley's next.What do ya think Skaife's chances are there given HRT's results at the track.I think he is up for another big weekend.Lets hope!!!

[lowgto]

One word...QUALIFYING

[skaifey_b_da_1]

One word...QUALIFYING

LOL LOL so true so true. Once thats sorted i\he should be right

[skaifey_b_da_1]

OK guys new question???

What do you think Skaife's chances are at winning Bathurst this year????

AND....

Who whould be better to drive with Todd Kelly or Geln Seton????

[lowgto]

I think Skaifey,s chances are as good as ever. He,s shown that he,s still got the pace, he,s got the experience, the team and even if your losing the passion for driving, you get it back for Bathurst.
He,s got to drive with Todd, and i would be getting Todd to start the race as for someone so experienced he is one of the worst starters i,ve ever seen and if he doesnt get a good start he leaves himself open to the sort of thing that happened last year!
HRT will see how Seton goes at Sandown before working out the pairings. Asfar as F..d drivers go i,ve always liked him and i think that would be an awesome way for both Skaife and Seton to bow out by winning Bathurst.

[murph_fan51]

Yeah I would like to see a Skaife/Seton Bathurst win, that would be great! I dont think Kelly and Skaife will go together if they are contenders for the championship. If the car breaks they both miss out on points.

[skaifey_b_da_1]

Yeah I would like to see a Skaife/Seton Bathurst win, that would be great! I dont think Kelly and Skaife will go together if they are contenders for the championship. If the car breaks they both miss out on points.

Your right they cant afford to both be taken out, seen they both are in goo championship positions.Well i guess we are going to have to wait and see i guess!!

[Wolfentime]

Sadly i agree with a few commentators here that Skaifs heydays are behind him, he looks to be not as aggressive as some of the younger riders out there, still a great driver for HRT.

[HSV-VXR]

Could it be just He is going through a slump or having bad luck. I hope its not the end of his career at the top.

[murph_fan51]

After Skaifes win at OP in the weekend and 6th position in the championship, he should stay in my opinion. Hes better than 24 other drivers in the field! However, I think HRT should really look at getting Lee Holdsworth racing for them, he has lots of potential which he proved at OP!

[vyclubby]

Jesus the man has a few bad rounds and you think he should retire! What about Lowndes? He had a few shockers too should he retire? Skaife is 6th in the championship which is still great in a field of over 30. Give the man a break, he'll be back in form soon enough. Bring on the enduros.

[skaifey_b_da_1]

I guess ur right.Lets just hope its just a bad year he is having.Dont think I could handel it if Skaifey finished now.Not yet.I know its coming but na i still think there is some good races still in him.I HOPE

[Rick Kelly is awesome!!!]

hmmm, i think he might retire next year, it depends how he goes this year, he's geting alot older now and not taking as much risks i think if he does retire next year it would'nt be a shock.
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[HOLDEN 1]

Skaife has a few more years in him maybe Tander is what HRT and Skaife need to boost themselves.