Home  
Site Partners: SpotterGuides Veloce Books  
Related Sites: Your Link Here  

Go Back   TenTenths Motorsport Forum > Saloon & Sportscar Racing > Australasian Touring Cars.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 5 Jul 2005, 05:48 (Ref:1347408)   #1
f1freak
Racer
 
f1freak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Australia
Sydney
Posts: 399
f1freak should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
why did they get rid of canberra???

I know that this is a pretty late time to be asking a question as such, however, recently I've been thinking about the circuit...

Does anyone have an exact reason why they don't race at Canberra anymore???... I think it might have something to do with the 'tent pits' they had, or because it was too cold, but any certain reasons???

Any help would be appreciated, cheers...
f1freak is offline  
__________________
Conrad...
Quote
Old 5 Jul 2005, 06:03 (Ref:1347418)   #2
racer69
Veteran
 
racer69's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Australia
Sydney, Australia
Posts: 10,040
racer69 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the gridracer69 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Too cold
Wrong time of year
Track was too narrow and poor layout (though not much could be done about that)
Government didn't want it anymore
racer69 is offline  
__________________
"The Great Race"
22 November 1960 - 21 July 1999
Quote
Old 5 Jul 2005, 06:37 (Ref:1347422)   #3
Matt H
Veteran
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location:
Rosebud, Victoria
Posts: 752
Matt H should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
it was a suberb layout. i was lucky to official at the last stebar 400, and really enjoyed the event :d
Matt H is offline  
__________________
Matt H
Quote
Old 5 Jul 2005, 07:35 (Ref:1347455)   #4
f1freak
Racer
 
f1freak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Australia
Sydney
Posts: 399
f1freak should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
I love(d) the circuit... I'm glad that at least I have it on a game (V8 Supercar Race Driver)...

but yea, racer69, that's basically what I thought, I just wasnt sure if they were the exact reasons... except I never heard that the government didn't want it... ohh well, you learn something new everyday... cheers mate...
f1freak is offline  
__________________
Conrad...
Quote
Old 5 Jul 2005, 08:48 (Ref:1347505)   #5
peckstar
Veteran
 
Join Date: May 2004
Cayman Islands
Posts: 16,040
peckstar has a lot of promise if they can keep it on the circuit!
from memory. didnt the new Govy in canberra, decide it wasn't worth the interription and cost, so theylet it go
peckstar is offline  
Quote
Old 5 Jul 2005, 09:57 (Ref:1347529)   #6
F J Nedos
Veteran
 
F J Nedos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Australia
Canberra
Posts: 1,267
F J Nedos should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by peckstar
from memory. didnt the new Govy in canberra, decide it wasn't worth the interription and cost, so theylet it go
That's pretty close to the mark.

The new local government didn't care too much about it. A few (slightly) affected pubic serpents who work in the area made loud complaints (in my opinion louder than the race itself). They didn't like their precious roads closed for 5 days (3 of which were days not at work as the monday was a public holiday). They also thought it created too much pollution and noise for the ultra conservative pubic serpents. The new government buckled to this (with minimal pressure) therefore any interest in the city for that time of year went, along with all of the flow on tourism.

Yes it was cold, bloody cold. But the merchandising made squillions out of sweaters and jackets, and there was plenty of warm food and drinks at the circuit. That in itself, while it didn't help matters, wasnt really a deciding factor in the race stopping.

I always maintained that the event should have been held in march or september, and they should have modified the track. The simple basic modification would be this - after the start/finish line, rather than turning right and driving behind the old parliament house, they should have instead turned left. What would happen then is that the cars would veer right in a corner which opens up to a long straight with wide roads (much wider than behind parliament house) and then there would be a slight veer to the right at the end of the straight, which leads on to the back shoot up to the new parliament house. There would have been passing opportunities there, no narrow barriers to clout against, and the camera shots would have been awesome seeing v8's hook in at high speed past the front of the old parliament house - the camera shots could have shown them in such a way that you could see both parliament houses. As I work in the direct area, I drive on this road every day going to work and i know it would have worked brilliantly.

Speaking as someone who works right in the middle of the affected areas, the disruption was minimal, there was always more than one way to still get to your office and the organisers were quick to restore the roads to public use by the end of monday night. The stopping of this event just typifies the d**kwads in the pubic circuis and the local government wanting to keep local consituants happy.

I still get p*ssed off and happy at the same time when i drive over the roads and I still see the black tyre marks...
F J Nedos is offline  
__________________
I'm not saying "let's go and kill all the stupid people"... I'm just saying "let's remove all of the warning labels and let the problem sort itself out".
Quote
Old 5 Jul 2005, 11:00 (Ref:1347577)   #7
f1freak
Racer
 
f1freak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Australia
Sydney
Posts: 399
f1freak should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
F J Nedos... mate, that was greatly informative... good to know, cheers...

One thing you didnt mention (and I don't know if it played apart in the demise of Canberra) was the pits???... How much room did they actually have for the pits and trucks and everything that was essential to hold a race???...

Another thing... just curious, is this the layout which you were talking about???...

f1freak is offline  
__________________
Conrad...
Quote
Old 5 Jul 2005, 11:25 (Ref:1347605)   #8
Falcadore
Veteran
 
Falcadore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 1999
Australia
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 2,725
Falcadore should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
There were so factors which made it a very difficult event to run. The environmental lobby had its way and each and every tree near the track was given special treatment, more so than was given track officials. The circuit itself was difficult to get at. Some sections couldn't be walked. It was difficult for spectators to get around. The tourism return was not as high as hoped. Spectators travelling from interstate was disappointing - in particular the clash of event with the Winternats, a 35,000+ game day motor sport crowd in Queensland, had its effect on the number of Queenslanders who might have travelled.

The climate was a real issue. But it could not be moved as the event required a long weekend, and this was the only one available in the calendar.

That the sitting government at the time took an absolute pasting on sporting events. There was the very expensive, and expensively botched redevlopment of Bruce Stadium for the Olympics which eventually saw an entire surface transplanted after the new surface refused to grow.

There was real political mileage to be made from craking down on sports expenditure. Bruce Stadium at least could be value added easily with regular Canberra Raiders games and the hope of a minor Wallaby Test match or Rugby League test game. The Canberra street circuit was only ever going to be used once a year and was thus extremely vulnerable in the same way the Race of a Thousand Years in Adelaide was.

With real political gain to be had the Canberra 400 was doomed the moment the election went they it did.
Falcadore is offline  
__________________
Mark Alan Jones
Opinionated Human
My opinions only have the power you give them
Quote
Old 5 Jul 2005, 11:42 (Ref:1347618)   #9
AATurbo
Rookie
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location:
Melbourne
Posts: 6
AATurbo should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Canberra looked great on television. I was there a week before the race in 2001 & I couldn't believe how cold it was.

I don't think they could have put the event on a worse time of the year then it was.
AATurbo is offline  
Quote
Old 5 Jul 2005, 13:49 (Ref:1347745)   #10
275 GTB-4
Veteran
 
275 GTB-4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Australia
South of Sydney NSW, Australie
Posts: 3,499
275 GTB-4 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid275 GTB-4 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Minorities

Quote:
Originally Posted by F J Nedos
That's pretty close to the mark.

The new local government didn't care too much about it. A few (slightly) affected pubic serpents who work in the area made loud complaints (in my opinion louder than the race itself). They didn't like their precious roads closed for 5 days (3 of which were days not at work as the monday was a public holiday)...
As a serpant...and an official who attended all the Canberra 400s...I just want to say that I was extremely dissapointed with our local yokel excuse for a govt when they caved in to the minorities and lost about $16M of taxpayers dollars paying out the contract for the final two races.

The National Capital Anti-Development ponces also did the cause no good by refusing to allow the date to be moved.

R.I.P.
275 GTB-4 is offline  
__________________
The good old days sure seem like a long time ago!!
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 00:43 (Ref:1348367)   #11
Growling Ferret
Racer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 120
Growling Ferret should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
If only the $30 mil that was spent on the 3 years (all up 9 days of motorsport) that was the Canberra/GMC/Stegbar(?) 400 had been invested in a multipurpose international class circuit, dragway etc on Majura Road or Sutton Road that could have been used 365 days a year...

Loved the event, never missed a day. Just wished it was on the Canberra Day Long weekend in March... But I'd never have bought my Gibson Motorsport jacket if it was
Growling Ferret is offline  
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 03:33 (Ref:1348417)   #12
jd yort
Veteran
 
jd yort's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Australia
On An Island
Posts: 566
jd yort should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
I never went down to the meeting in Canberra but my old man was an official there each year and said that he never got the feeling back in his toes until the Tuesday from standing on the ground. Way way too cold.

I was actually surprised it ever got off the ground in the first place. I remember someone was trying to get a meeting around Cronulla at one stage and there is always the talk of a circuit around the Olympic Stadium in Sydney. People have these dreams that so rarely come off.
jd yort is offline  
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 03:43 (Ref:1348423)   #13
billy bigtime
Veteran
 
billy bigtime's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Australia
Simon McNamaras egg farm.
Posts: 1,382
billy bigtime has a lot of promise if they can keep it on the circuit!
To *F* cold, a hole of a joint and I don't miss it one *F* bit.
billy bigtime is offline  
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 03:54 (Ref:1348424)   #14
Kerri
Veteran
 
Kerri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Australia
Adelaide
Posts: 1,348
Kerri should be qualifying in the top 10 on the gridKerri should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Why don't you say what you really think Billy
Kerri is offline  
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 04:03 (Ref:1348427)   #15
f1freak
Racer
 
f1freak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Australia
Sydney
Posts: 399
f1freak should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
AATurbo, jd yort... you serious, that cold... LOL... buggar...

Well if the track 'needed' a long weekend to race, then couldn't they have used 'Labour Day' (First Monday October) or (I just found this out now) 'Canberra Day' (Dont know the day, but it was 21st March this year)???...

billy bigtime... what do you (and anyone else who dislikes Canberra) have against it???... Personally, I reckon it was one of the best circuits in the last decade... I reckon its better then Adelaide (as a circuit)...
f1freak is offline  
__________________
Conrad...
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 05:41 (Ref:1348481)   #16
mayhem
Veteran
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Aruba
On that Island in LOST.
Posts: 3,219
mayhem should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridmayhem should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
The actual track shape was great, it was the width that sucked badly, a pure car wrecker. Now if some of those traffic islands could have been taken out to make the track wider, well it might be still there today. As long as they found a more suitable time of year as well. Is it right that the Canberra/ACT chamber of commerce said that the first year that the race wasn't held, takings from ACT restaurants and hotels were down 80%?
mayhem is offline  
__________________
The Jerk Store rang...
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 06:00 (Ref:1348491)   #17
Growling Ferret
Racer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 120
Growling Ferret should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
f1freak - The October long weekend has been the traditional date for some unimportant race meeting at Bathurst for most of the last 40 years. Its only in the last couple of years TC and AVESCO moved back another week to the second weekend in October to avoid the NRL Grand Final weekend...

Back to the C400 - the suggestion of running on Canberra Day llong weekend never worked as it was roughly the same weekend as the hugely successful Adelaide 500 season opener, which had been run mid to late March the last few years. Considering the V8 Supercar season used to revolve around a few key dates - the F1 GP and Bathurst being the main ones - turning the schedule upside down to fit a Canberra 400 was never going to happen.

Now, if the Canberra 400 had been for Aussie Legends, the track would have been the perfect width!
Growling Ferret is offline  
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 07:35 (Ref:1348523)   #18
Falcadore
Veteran
 
Falcadore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 1999
Australia
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 2,725
Falcadore should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
That wasn't the reason.

AVESCO left the long weekend because they couldn't force the ARDC to break their contract with Channel 7.

Rugby League took up the weekend in the meantime to try and create a buffer from the AFL Grand Final, and because Channel 9 told the Rugby League to.

AVESCO have not tried to reclaim the weekend seriously that they willingly gave awa and have instead wandered all over October and November with dates.
Falcadore is offline  
__________________
Mark Alan Jones
Opinionated Human
My opinions only have the power you give them
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 07:45 (Ref:1348528)   #19
James63
Veteran
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Australia
Q
Posts: 697
James63 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
I liked the race, and the reverse grid was always entertaining aswell.
James63 is offline  
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 09:51 (Ref:1348608)   #20
275 GTB-4
Veteran
 
275 GTB-4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Australia
South of Sydney NSW, Australie
Posts: 3,499
275 GTB-4 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid275 GTB-4 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Cold..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Growling Ferret
If only the $30 mil that was spent on the 3 years (all up 9 days of motorsport) that was the Canberra/GMC/Stegbar(?) 400 had been invested in a multipurpose international class circuit, dragway etc on Majura Road or Sutton Road that could have been used 365 days a year...

Loved the event, never missed a day. Just wished it was on the Canberra Day Long weekend in March... But I'd never have bought my Gibson Motorsport jacket if it was
Good point Ferrett, but its getting a bit tired now....Govts can't hand out millions to entrprenuers to make a profit....they are also so risk averse that they will not invest in and run a complex themselves....

Cold in Canberra...(um like coals to Newcastle ???)....Yeah yeah...big deal made of the cold and sure... totally inappropriate date for this neck of the woods for a motor race....however...I was there in my thermal underwear, gloves, big socks and boots and a beanie and felt quite comfortable.

Some of the QLDers and people from other states turned up with no singlets, no warm jacket etc and wondered why they were cold....

These same people would probably think nothing of going an extra hour south in all their apres ski gear.....this aspect always annoys me...like hey!!..people get hypothermia at Bathurst (FFS) and not to mention PI....

BTW there is a motoring writer down here called Mike Attwell who is all for Motor sport in the region...he is actively lobbying for a return of the V8s (amongst other things!) ....best of luck to Mike

Last edited by 275 GTB-4; 6 Jul 2005 at 09:55. Reason: typo
275 GTB-4 is offline  
__________________
The good old days sure seem like a long time ago!!
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 10:06 (Ref:1348617)   #21
Mattracer
Veteran
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,370
Mattracer should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Begs the obvious question- Canberra or China?
Mattracer is offline  
__________________
Holden- How One Legendary Driver Earned Nine

Permanent circuits- the life blood of motorsport
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 10:08 (Ref:1348620)   #22
F J Nedos
Veteran
 
F J Nedos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Australia
Canberra
Posts: 1,267
F J Nedos should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by f1freak
F J Nedos... mate, that was greatly informative... good to know, cheers...

One thing you didnt mention (and I don't know if it played apart in the demise of Canberra) was the pits???... How much room did they actually have for the pits and trucks and everything that was essential to hold a race???...

Another thing... just curious, is this the layout which you were talking about???...

The pits were fine. I had pit access for all 3 events and they had plenty of room. It was quite well layed out where the transporters were. They used a whole car park for that. I've been to other events and done the walk, and they seemed more cramped. The only critisism of the pits would be that the actual bays the teams worked in when the actual races were running, were temporary. But the size of them was quite fine. If they ran the race there now, they'd have to make another lane, ie the fast lane. But it wouldnt be hard to do there.

You've just about got that picture perfect. The only difference was at the end of the straight in front of parliament house, i was thinking of a slight veer to the right which would end up at where a set of traffic lights exist now. Your pic veers sharply at the end. But I think you got the idea
F J Nedos is offline  
__________________
I'm not saying "let's go and kill all the stupid people"... I'm just saying "let's remove all of the warning labels and let the problem sort itself out".
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 10:10 (Ref:1348626)   #23
F J Nedos
Veteran
 
F J Nedos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Australia
Canberra
Posts: 1,267
F J Nedos should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattracer
Begs the obvious question- Canberra or China?
I'd selfishly say Canberra. But thats just me, and a lot of people I know locally.
F J Nedos is offline  
__________________
I'm not saying "let's go and kill all the stupid people"... I'm just saying "let's remove all of the warning labels and let the problem sort itself out".
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 10:12 (Ref:1348627)   #24
F J Nedos
Veteran
 
F J Nedos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Australia
Canberra
Posts: 1,267
F J Nedos should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by mayhem
The actual track shape was great, it was the width that sucked badly, a pure car wrecker. Now if some of those traffic islands could have been taken out to make the track wider, well it might be still there today. As long as they found a more suitable time of year as well. Is it right that the Canberra/ACT chamber of commerce said that the first year that the race wasn't held, takings from ACT restaurants and hotels were down 80%?
Yes thats correct, the local business werent terribly happy. Neither were the ski fields as they saw a nice flow on effect.
F J Nedos is offline  
__________________
I'm not saying "let's go and kill all the stupid people"... I'm just saying "let's remove all of the warning labels and let the problem sort itself out".
Quote
Old 6 Jul 2005, 10:13 (Ref:1348628)   #25
F J Nedos
Veteran
 
F J Nedos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Australia
Canberra
Posts: 1,267
F J Nedos should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4
As a serpant...and an official who attended all the Canberra 400s...I just want to say that I was extremely dissapointed with our local yokel excuse for a govt when they caved in to the minorities and lost about $16M of taxpayers dollars paying out the contract for the final two races.

The National Capital Anti-Development ponces also did the cause no good by refusing to allow the date to be moved.

R.I.P.
Dont take offence at the serpent references Most of them that I saw at the track loved it and it was only the minority who ruined it
F J Nedos is offline  
__________________
I'm not saying "let's go and kill all the stupid people"... I'm just saying "let's remove all of the warning labels and let the problem sort itself out".
Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Canberra 400 R.I.P. Onlooker Australasian Touring Cars. 35 14 Mar 2007 23:37
No Pepsi in Canberra PEPSI Australasian Touring Cars. 10 13 Jun 2002 00:49
Trakeside at Canberra Champ69 Australasian Touring Cars. 51 10 Jun 2002 22:18
Who is going to win at Canberra? Accee Australasian Touring Cars. 14 10 Jun 2001 11:27
Off to Canberra! Crash Test Australasian Touring Cars. 16 5 Jun 2001 13:03


All times are GMT. The time now is 13:37.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Original Website Copyright © 1998-2003 Craig Antil. All Rights Reserved.
Ten-Tenths Motorsport Forums Copyright © 2004-2021 Royalridge Computing. All Rights Reserved.
Ten-Tenths Motorsport Forums Copyright © 2021-2022 Grant MacDonald. All Rights Reserved.