V8 Supercars looks to ditch Hamilton

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Woolley

Arguably it might have been better if all that money had been spent on a permanent facility that needed some money spent on it, to the benefit of everyone that uses it for the rest of the year.

Only options at the time for this were Manfield (which needed to get the race and THEN get funding from the NZ govt) which ultimately meant that their bid was withdrawn and Taupo which was keen but ultimately didn't have enough local bed space to house even the teams, let alone any fans wanting to attend.

Due to population location in NZ, only locations on the Nth Island were considered.

The airfield currently being talked about was certainly under consideration for a long time and would potentially have been able to host other events during the rest of the year. Can't remember why it fell over at the time but suspect that they couldn't get the money and investment lined up by the required deadline.

[Just Do It!]

Here's an odd question: Does anyone have the specs for a street race that V8 Supercars require?

Just looking at a map but thinking about road width and length of a main straight, pitlane, etc and thought someone here will know

[Rugz]

Originally Posted by Tourer

Can't remember why it fell over at the time but suspect that they couldn't get the money and investment lined up by the required deadline.

Time I think, they needed more time to put a track etc together, that shouldn't be a problem now with 2 years and everything but the track sitting in Hamilton.
Will be interesting after the event next year what they do with all the stuff, I can't imagine Hams wanting to store it all for V8.

[Mr Revhead]

They ran out of time seeking approval to switch emergency landings to Auckland airport is apparently the reason.

[cavvy]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Here's an odd question: Does anyone have the specs for a street race that V8 Supercars require?

Just looking at a map but thinking about road width and length of a main straight, pitlane, etc and thought someone here will know

The specs JDI, $s, $s, & more, more ....

[Just Do It!]

Originally Posted by cavvy

The specs JDI, $s, $s, & more, more ....

I got that bit, it's the technical detail that I need

[275 GTB-4]

Ummmmm K1W1s.....Hampton Park needs to be supported and promoted....great circuit...and almost there to host a V8 Supercar round

[Just Do It!]

Have you not listened to the TC interview, 275?

He said quite clearly that it does not have the resource consent for the required numbers!

[RogerH]

Interesting comment in the Hampton Downs October newsletter out yesterday :

October Newsletter

The announcement by the Australian V8Supercars of their withdrawal from Hamilton after 2012 came as a surprise last Friday.
The Hamilton Council seemed to have been coerced into a snap decision that will cost them dearly.
To release V8Supercars from its long term contract AND hand over infrastructure that had cost $9 million for a paltry $1.25 million seems to show a complete lack of commercial reality!
However, Hampton Downs Managing Director, Tony Roberts, happened to be in Brisbane on the following Monday and met with V8Supercars for meaningful discussions!
Watch this space!

[Just Do It!]

Interesting pre- and post-release article.

Hamilton was always going to be a struggle as the infrastructure and amenity requirements to host the race weren't exactly there to the same scale that Auckland or Wellington could offer.

Michael Redman has a point when he says that he feels that he is trying to be made a scapegoat. Let's hope that his role at ATEED sees him get behind the push for an Auckland V8 Supercar race and to prove that it can happen - We'll just have to see if it is the airfield or a street race

[Carsandmotorracing]

I persoally don't think it's not going to happen at the airport. Just my thoughts at 10 to 10.

[Just Do It!]

Unconfirmed reports today suggest that Pukekohe is the new home of the NZ V8 Supercar round once more.

Time shall tell...!

[SilverSpeed]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Unconfirmed reports today suggest that Pukekohe is the new home of the NZ V8 Supercar round once more.

Time shall tell...!

I've heard no such reports.

And I highly doubt it...wish it would happen though

[Rugz]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Unconfirmed reports today suggest that Pukekohe is the new home of the NZ V8 Supercar round once more.

Time shall tell...!

Wonder if it was the same report I spotted.
If they start any work then it's true .

[Rugz]

I have heard more talk about Pukekohe putting a bid in for the NZ race, sounds like they are going to spend some big $$ on upgrading.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by Rugz

I have heard more talk about Pukekohe putting a bid in for the NZ race, sounds like they are going to spend some big $$ on upgrading.

and the Horse Racing people are all on-side?? Oil believe it when I sees it

[brown dog]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

and the Horse Racing people are all on-side?? Oil believe it when I sees it

Like or hate motor racing, the horse racing people make a truckload of cash from that old track that we like to race on, and they know the value of keeping it up (barely) up to scratch.

[Rugz]

I get the feeling from what a horse person said, there must be a few new guys on the board. They okayed Fireworks at the NZV8's Meet the other week, Fireworks with horses around haha haha, yeah no wonder when the trainers found out they got it shut down.

[E36ST]

Update as of today, apparently "no other venue has stepped in to replace the Hamilton street circuit."

http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/articl...483&fm=psp,tst

[Woolley]

It's a bit like 'Who wants the next go in the electric chair?' Seriously, why would anywhere want to?

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Woolley

It's a bit like 'Who wants the next go in the electric chair?' Seriously, why would anywhere want to?

I don't think it's that bad, just that there is no realistic options on offer. V8 Supercars has moved on as a championship and venues elsewhere overseas are offering more fruitful opportunities.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Woolley

It's a bit like 'Who wants the next go in the electric chair?' Seriously, why would anywhere want to?

Hamilton demonstrably hasn't worked - shame as in many ways it seemed like a good outcome way back at the start.

Pukekohe worked fine though - good crowds, good income etc. Based on that, if run at a permanent circuit and the deal made sense, it could all be good. I think that there are several big hurdles these days though - for example, the cars are now flown to NZ rather than taken on a ship which is quite a lot more expensive.

[Woolley]

Pukekohe produced great racing, but constantly had it's reputation savaged, and a fair bit of damage dished out. Hamilton seems to have been taken for a ride, can't decide whether they stepped forward because no-one else had and there was a feeling there ought to be an NZ round or because the figures were made to look good and V8s are keen on street races. Either way, they've had their fingers burned. Any other circuit is going to look at those two, and the recent experiences of Perth, Tasmania and Homebush and think twice. It's difficult to see what's in it for any potential host venue at the moment.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Woolley

Pukekohe produced great racing, but constantly had it's reputation savaged, and a fair bit of damage dished out. Hamilton seems to have been taken for a ride, can't decide whether they stepped forward because no-one else had and there was a feeling there ought to be an NZ round or because the figures were made to look good and V8s are keen on street races. Either way, they've had their fingers burned. Any other circuit is going to look at those two, and the recent experiences of Perth, Tasmania and Homebush and think twice. It's difficult to see what's in it for any potential host venue at the moment.

There's some truth in that - TC has consistently shown that he can be pretty harsh publicly on those he doesn't see eye to eye with.

Having said that, there are counterpoints to some of your thoughts. After Hamilton was announced but while resource consent etc was underway, the Puke owners tried to get V8s back with a redevelopment plan which makes me think that regardless of any comments made, they saw benefit in having the race. Auckland came out on top of a number of other bids and stepped forward before Hamilton but hit resource consent wall, Hamilton very much seemed to have the attitude of taking advantage of that situation at the beginning. V8s are definitely keen on street races due to the success of Adelaide but the reality (as Hamilton has found out) is that they don't work everywhere and to make them work takes a lot of hard work by a reasonably large group of people, which is how Adelaide do it.

Perth has worked out well for the circuit over there as they are now getting quite a deal of govt funded track improvement which may not have happened without the circuit and V8s jointly working on the govt there. Tassie has a circuit with facilities upgraded (with govt assistance) as a result of needing to do so for the V8s and has the V8s still going there after the govt initially pulled back on the agreement in place to allow them to spend the money on football instead. Homebush is another case of a street race not working and whilst I'm sure that a lot of work will be going on to try and turn it into more of a financial success, it could be a case of flogging a dead horse.

In the meantime of course, Hidden Valley sails along happily as a govt funded circuit. Townsville seems to work fine and the jury is still out on the new Gold Coast event and track layout.

To me, the potential issue for any NZ race host is more about the hard costs associated with air freighting cars, gear and personnel over and having a suitable venue in a very different economic climate to 5 or 6 years ago. To have the event work financially at any venue requires strong daily crowds and that needs infrastructure to get them in and out - in turn this takes further investment and it appears that this may not stack up right now for any of the "possibles".

[Tourer]

Update:

There MIGHT be something happening:
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland...p-save-V8-race