[V8SC10R07&08] ITM400, Hamilton New Zealand

[F J Nedos]

I didn't see this one coming...
Atricle here

Are street circuits going to be victims of their own making? Too expensive to keep going after the novelty has worn off?

This particular one is a bit worrying, with NAC's photographic exploits!

Is this one a case of "where there is smoke, there is fire"?

[E36ST]

I for one don't understand why so much money goes in to setting up the ever-increasing safety requirements for street circuits. Would be so much better if that same money was invested into upgrading our existing circuits which would then benefit both racers and spectators for years to come.

Things were great in the days of the Wellington street race etc but do the costs / benefits really stack up still?

[D.R.T.]

There was conjecture before last year's event along the lines of the amount of locals that left Hamilton on the weekend of the event and the ever increasing cost associated with the event.

[NewsStalker]

Hey Cocho - so you GUARANTEE the Hamilton event will go ahead? Of course nothing like this (a cancellation) could happen to spoil the event could it.

Hmmmm - why am I hearing voices in my head saying Shanghai, Shanghai, Shanghai (with a chorus of Barbagallo, Surfers and a few others..)

[NAC]

Originally Posted by F J Nedos

I didn't see this one coming...
Atricle here

Are street circuits going to be victims of their own making? Too expensive to keep going after the novelty has worn off?

This particular one is a bit worrying, with NAC's photographic exploits!

Is this one a case of "where there is smoke, there is fire"?

The media caught wind that I could only turn up on Sunday and now it's all doom and gloom. Really I cant get out of the other thing

[D.R.T.]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorsp...e-under-threat

caught out last year by building about 10,000 too many grandstand seats which they had to pay for but were not filled

Ticket sales are considerably down on where they have been

The first year's event saw corporate sponsors include Ford, Holden, Exide, GT Radials and BP. Last year Holden had a sponsorship package but this year is not involved at all.

Paints the picture quite clearly. Down ticket sales and sponsorship/corporate sales on last year which itself was under sold.

[Woolley]

There's a lovely little circuit up at Pukekohe, usually produced an exciting race. Imagine what you could do to that with a one-off spend of NZ$10m?

[rik]

Originally Posted by Woolley

There's a lovely little circuit up at Pukekohe, usually produced an exciting race. Imagine what you could do to that with a one-off spend of NZ$10m?

Or this nice new circuit: http://www.hamptondowns.com/pages/65/the-circuit.htm

[rik]

Originally Posted by NewsStalker

Hey Cocho - so you GUARANTEE the Hamilton event will go ahead? Of course nothing like this (a cancellation) could happen to spoil the event could it.

Hmmmm - why am I hearing voices in my head saying Shanghai, Shanghai, Shanghai (with a chorus of Barbagallo, Surfers and a few others..)

Mmmm, doesn't sound good at all... Cocho seems to me making a lot of noise about loving NZ, but not so much about loving Hamilton.

I'm thinking that V8s might be at another venue in NZ next year.

[Mark Petch]

Originally Posted by rik

Mmmm, doesn't sound good at all... Cocho seems to me making a lot of noise about loving NZ, but not so much about loving Hamilton.

I'm thinking that V8s might be at another venue in NZ next year.

Hi Rik, have to agree with you. And if that means the end of street circuits in New Zealand, it will be a win win for all New Zealand motor racing fans, especially the competitors!

For the record I have never supported the concept of street racing because of the extreme costs that occur every year.

Much better to invest in a permanent race circuit, least in my opinion.

Cheers,

Mark.

[NAC]

Originally Posted by rik

Mmmm, doesn't sound good at all... Cocho seems to me making a lot of noise about loving NZ, but not so much about loving Hamilton.

I'm thinking that V8s might be at another venue in NZ next year.

and a fast track to the Hampton extension

[NewsStalker]

Originally Posted by Mark Petch

Hi Rik, have to agree with you. And if that means the end of street circuits in New Zealand, it will be a win win for all New Zealand motor racing fans, especially the competitors!

For the record I have never supported the concept of street racing because of the extreme costs that occur every year.

Much better to invest in a permanent race circuit, least in my opinion.

The only problem is that with permanent circuits you have to deal with permanent promoters. Street circuits, OTOH, you deal with a government body (local, state or fed) and can dictate before the circuit is put in place what needs to be there.

And, to top it off - you don't have to pay for the 'improvements' you demand!

[nomad_n]

Originally Posted by Mark Petch

Hi Rik, have to agree with you. And if that means the end of street circuits in New Zealand, it will be a win win for all New Zealand motor racing fans, especially the competitors!

For the record I have never supported the concept of street racing because of the extreme costs that occur every year.

Much better to invest in a permanent race circuit, least in my opinion.

Cheers,

Mark.

This I agree with - I still think that the V8's should race one year in the north Island - say Hampton Downs then the 2nd year in the south island at Ruapuna raceway. Everyone knows that both these tracks are drivers tracks and would provide great racing.....

[Southern Man]

Bring back Wigram, now that would be a real track to see them run on. Tip some of the street race money into there and no one could resist it, particularly the current land owners

[RotorFan]

It'd be great if the event fails, but only if it means returning to an NZ permanent circuit.

[Falcadore]

Originally Posted by nomad_n

This I agree with - I still think that the V8's should race one year in the north Island - say Hampton Downs then the 2nd year in the south island at Ruapuna raceway. Everyone knows that both these tracks are drivers tracks and would provide great racing.....

But it's wishful thinking. Tell a promotor they could only run an event every second year, c=no continuity, no chance of attracting investment, it's failure recipe. If you want both islands represented that's two rounds. One shared rounds would doom both promotors.

[Alan52]

The collapse in demand for Hamilton tickets between 2008 and 2009 which has accelerated even further this year shows that people won't attend a V8 "event" if the racing and track are rubbish.From a spectators perspective Hamilton is the worst viewing street circuit in history (although the GA at Homebush gives it some strong competition) and the greed of the organisers in banning spectators from bringing their own food helps make this the most spectator unfriendly motor race in the world.It deserves to fail.V8SA if they cannot find another government in NZ to lavish taxpayers money on them will either have to hire Hampton Downs themselves to run the meeting,contract the meetings to that circuits owners for a reasonable amount (i.e. less than they charge everywhere else) or leave NZ entirely.The last option is so short sighted,greedy and stupid you can bet that is what they'll do.

[BlueBlood]

Maybe the NZ market is not so important anymore.

We are even expected to pay to view footage on the series website now.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Falcadore

But it's wishful thinking. Tell a promotor they could only run an event every second year, c=no continuity, no chance of attracting investment, it's failure recipe. If you want both islands represented that's two rounds. One shared rounds would doom both promotors.

Agree - it's why the WRC alternating calendar is a joke. The conventional wisdom is that with a larger slice of the population on the North Island, if it is one round only then it needs to be on the North Island - although there are a couple of great tracks on the South Island.

When Hamilton was locked in, Hampton Downs was still a twinkle in the eye, Puke was closing (although they later changed their minds), Palmerston North were keen to use Manfield but needed to upgrade the track substantially & the funding wasn't locked & Taupo didn't have enough accom capacity to house the teams, let alone any one else.

I don't mind the Hamilton layout personally and with new events of this type it is not uncommon for them to struggle before really finding their feet. Adelaide really struggled in year 3 of the GP days, Surfers same in it's 3rd year as examples. Both had to do some work on themselves and they have both gone on for years since.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by BlueBlood

Maybe the NZ market is not so important anymore.

We are even expected to pay to view footage on the series website now.

Hi Blueblood - I'm surprised that has changed. I always understood that you had to be a Bigpond subscriber to see the footage for free (at least in Australia anyway). Is the charge a new thing for you guys?

[E36ST]

Originally Posted by Southern Man

Bring back Wigram, now that would be a real track to see them run on. Tip some of the street race money into there and no one could resist it, particularly the current land owners

Unfortunately the maoris have got hold of it and begun pulling the place to bits. So much history being destroyed sadly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigram_Airfield_Circuit

[promax]

"The aerodrome was closed to air traffic in September 2008 and will become a housing development."

that's a bit different to your red neck statement

[RotorFan]

Redneck? Didn't you read the sentence before that in the wiki article?

[NewsStalker]

Duh....8 years between when the last race was held and when the aerodrome was closed.

Yeah - real conspiracy here!

[E36ST]

Not for a lack of trying. There have been attempts at running classic meetings there again but the 'current circuit owners' (said in a hopefully-not-so-redneck-way) haven't been obliging.

Anyhow I didn't mean to hijack the thread, back on track...