Supercars on the streets of Brisbane ;-/

[retro]

credit to www .foxsports.com.au

Champ car to hit Brisbane
August 19, 2005

A CHAMP car and two V8 Supercars will roar around a street circuit in central Brisbane next month, to mark the official launch of the Lexmark Indy 300 festival on the Gold Coast.

The first full-time Australian driver in Champ Car history, Marcus Marshall, will drive a green-and-gold Team Australia Racing car around a special street circuit on September 1.

The Gold Coast driver, 26, will be joined by David Besnard and Paul Morris in V8 Supercars.

The street circuit will follow the northern end of Brisbane CBD, looping around the Conrad Treasury Hotel.

The Brisbane launch promised to be the most spectacular in the 15-year history of the festival, Lexmark Indy 300 general manager James O'Brien said today.

"We will generate greater awareness and excitement about Queensland's premier event in Queensland's capital city," he said.


Road closures will briefly affect the Riverside Expressway and streets around the secured circuit.

AAP

[Just Do It!]

It seems to becoming fashionable to do street demonstrations in motorsport globally. Why did it take so long for people to realise that taking the sport to the masses is the best form of promotion??

[pete55]

They won't wanna be on the streets when i'm driving my truck through there.

[retro]

In today's paper the Brisbane Lord Mayor has said he would put the Indy/v8 supercar race on the streets of Brisbane if the Gold Coast ever canned the event.

Given the troubles the Gold Coast council has on it's plate atm this could be a possibility.

[retro]

........burnouts...............burnouts...............burnouts...............burnouts.......

[Falcadore]

Originally Posted by retro

credit to www .foxsports.com.au

Champ car to hit Brisbane
August 19, 2005

The first full-time Australian driver in Champ Car history, Marcus Marshall, will drive a green-and-gold Team Australia Racing car around a special street circuit on September 1.


AAP

The second full time driver after Geoff Brabham in the early 80's.

Clowns.

[GTRMagic]

From RaceNews:

PAUL MORRIS MOTORSPORTS
1 SEP 05
MORRIS CALLS FOR BRISBANE V8 SUPERCAR STREET RACE


NEWS RELEASE
MORRIS CALLS FOR BRISBANE V8 SUPERCAR STREET RACE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1: Sirromet Wines Holden Commodore driver Paul Morris believes Brisbane could be considered as a future venue for a V8 Supercar Championship street race in the wake of today's successful launch for the 2005 Lexmark Indy 300 event.

A lunchtime crowd of thousands watched Morris, fellow-V8 Supercar driver David Besnard in a WPS Ford Falcon, and Team Australia Champ Car racer Marcus Marshall drive demonstration laps around a temporary street circuit in Brisbane's Central Business District during the launch for the Gold Coast event from October 20-23.

"The reaction we got from Brisbane was incredible," said Morris. "The place was really buzzing."

"Many people told me they have never been to a motor race and they really got into the noise, the smell of burning rubber, and the atmosphere in general."

"If Brisbane shows that much interest in a few 'demo' laps then I'm sure there would be big-time support if we had a (V8 Supercar) championship race with a full field of 35 cars banging around the streets."

The launch for the Gold Coast event, which features V8 Supercar and Champ Car races, was attended by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, Brisbane Mayor Campbell Newman, Lexmark Indy 300 officials, and Tony Cochrane, Chairman of V8 Supercar Championship organisers AVESCO.

"Where we race is up to AVESCO, and I'm sure they would have noticed the support in Brisbane, and Campbell Newman seemed pretty excited," said Morris.

"Queensland now has a huge fan base for V8 Supercars so it will be interesting to see what develops after today because I'm sure racing through the streets of Brisbane would be a fantastic spectacle."

Morris believes if a Brisbane street race does eventuate it could emulate the successful Clipsal 500 street circuit event in Adelaide, which began in 1999 and this year drew a crowd of more than 250,000 over four days.

"Adelaide has set a high benchmark for stand-alone V8 Supercar races, but Brisbane could do just as good a job and there are already plenty of teams and drivers based in the area which is a plus," he said.

Leading V8 Supercar teams based in south-east Queensland include Morris' operation, located at the Holden Performance Driving Centre on the Gold Coast, plus Stone Brothers Racing, whose drivers are Marcos Ambrose and Russell Ingall, Triple Eight Racing, Dick Johnson Racing, WPS Racing, and Larkham Motorsport.

Morris said a championship round in Brisbane would also provide the city with an opportunity to capitalise on the championship's move into off-shore events in China and New Zealand, and growing international television audience to attract tourists.

AVESCO announced yesterday the inaugural championship round in Shanghai in China this year attracted 2.3-million television viewers, and races were now televised in 121 countries.

"The V8s could take Brisbane to the world – how else can a city in Australia get so much television coverage in places like China?" said Morris.

"Queensland is already a popular tourist destination for Kiwis. We've got plenty of New Zealand drivers in the V8s and it wouldn't surprise me if thousands of Kiwis flew to Brisbane for a street race, which would benefit the local economy."

Morris will be testing his VZ Commodore at Queensland Raceway near Ipswich tomorrow (Friday) in preparation for the coming championship endurance events, the Betta Electrical 500 at Sandown in Melbourne on September 11, and the Super Cheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst on October 9.

WEBSITE: http://www.paulmorris.com.au

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by retro

........burnouts...............burnouts...............burnouts...............burnouts.......

You asked for them....



.... you got 'em !!!!!!!!!

[retro]

Delcam Sales Partner Camplex Supports Paul Morris Motorsports

BIRMINGHAM, UK, August 30, 2005 - One of Australia’s leading V8 Supercar teams, Paul Morris Motorsports, is expanding its racecar building operations with new equipment and facilities, backed up by a partnership with Delcam’s Sales Partner in the country, Camplex. The Gold Coast-based team is utilizing its upgraded resources in the building of six new VY Holden Commodores for the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship.

Paul Morris Motorsports is now supported by Delcam Sales Partner Camplex

PMM owner and driver Paul Morris will race one of the new cars in 2005 in the livery of Sirromet Wines. One of the others will be driven by New Zealand's Paul Radisich for Team Kiwi, which is relocating from Melbourne to be based in PMM’s facilities at the Holden Performance Driving Centre.

The team’s new equipment includes a Haas five-axis machine in expanded manufacturing and fabrication premises. Camplex is supplying Delcam software, including the PowerMILL CAM system to program the Haas machine, and support services to improve efficiency in the design and car building process.

“We've now built VY Supercars 'in-house' and we're keen to develop that side of the business, as well as being a race team,” said Mr. Morris. “There is plenty of interest in the cars coming out of our workshop, so we are putting everything in place to be able to increase production and supply as demand grows.”

Mr. Morris’ team built its first 'in-house' Commodore V8 Supercar in 2001. All of its racecars have been designed by Technical Manager Paul Ceprnich, a former BMW Motorsport technician. “Paul is regarded as one of the best in his field in the V8 paddock, and the cars he designs are second-to-none,” claimed Mr. Morris.

He added that the partnership with Camplex, and the use of Delcam programs, would be crucial to the team’s future racecar production plans. “With the two new cars we’re building we've already seen the benefits of speed and efficiency with the manufacturing process for engine components, panels, driveline, front and rear suspension, and the chassis. This new software brings all our programs into the same 'family' and unifies things, and improves production quality and consistency with our car building.”

Mr. Morris said overall building time of the new 2005-specification V8 Supercar Commodore amounted to approximately 780 man hours. “The new cars are an evolution of what we've built before, with several design and manufacturing improvements through our ongoing development programs,” he said.

Team Kiwi purchased a PMM car for the 2004 championship, and claimed a pole position in the round at Winton in Victoria. Mr. Morris said PMM's technical partnership with Team Kiwi would benefit the championship prospects of both himself and Paul Radisich in 2005.

--------

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

MORRIS CALLS FOR BRISBANE V8 SUPERCAR STREET RACE

Oh Dear.

So if everyone gets there way we'd have a street race at the Gold Coast, street race at Townsville and a street race at Brisbane. Oh yeah and everyone else with an interest in Qld motorsport can get stuffed.

[retro]

On the same day that the 2005 event was officially launched, Lexmark has announced that it has extended its naming rights sponsorship of the Lexmark Indy 300 for a further three years.

During today's [Thursdays] official launch of the 2005 Lexmark Indy 300, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie announced that Lexmark would continue as naming rights sponsor for the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Indy events.

“We are delighted that Lexmark has benefited so much from its sponsorship of the Indy 300 and pleased that it has decided to renew and continue for an additional three years,” he said. “Lexmark's sponsorship commenced in early 2003, providing a key financial and marketing injection into one the world's premier sporting events.

“Their commitment has helped us build awareness not only of the event, but of Queensland as a destination throughout Australia and the rest of the world.”

Lexmark Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Graham Kittle, said that the Lexmark Indy 300 has already brought a tremendous return on investment for the company.

"A key part of our sponsorship is working with the Lexmark Indy 300 team to deliver a streamlined, uncomplicated solution that distributes information at the event," he said. "Sponsorship of the Lexmark Indy 300 is key to increasing our exposure in the local marketplace. Aligning with such a high profile, professionally executed sporting event such as Indy was a key strategic decision to ensure we continue to build on the already strong business growth we've been experiencing in recent years.

"The success of the Lexmark Indy 300 is evident in the record crowd numbers. The success for Lexmark is something that we've been enjoying over the past three years since the inception of our sponsorship, with new business opportunities and higher brand awareness in Queensland and throughout Australia.

"We look forward to continuing our partnership with Indy for a further three years."

[GTRMagic]

Amazing... everyone is getting record crowd numbers....

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

It seems to becoming fashionable to do street demonstrations in motorsport globally. Why did it take so long for people to realise that taking the sport to the masses is the best form of promotion??

From the look of this...



... there seem to be plenty of people in Brisbane that agree with you JDI.

Its good to be able to bring the cars to the people... in Brisbane, it seems to have worked!

[Just Do It!]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

From the look of this...



... there seem to be plenty of people in Brisbane that agree with you JDI.

Its good to be able to bring the cars to the people... in Brisbane, it seems to have worked!

Must have been one of your famous l-o-n-g lunches to walk up to Brisbane for the photo shoot, huh, Magic? Thanks for the pics, as always.

Seriously though, I am a firm believer that motorsport needs street racing to take itself to the public. As you rightly point out, Brisbane agrees and what a crowd they pulled!

I am mightily impressed and can only perhaps sit back and dream that if Mr Calvert, Cochrane, Mayor Banks et al had done a similar thing in Auckland, then we really might have a street race there in 2006, but alas!

My main concern is not the holding of a street race itself - location or country irrespective - but what is done post-event to transfer the euphoria that was experienced at the street race over to future events at the local permanent circuits. And here seems to lie the challenge.....

The main issue seems to be what other categories that aren't on the AVESCO billing - Both Supercars and the HPDC Development Series - really have the potential to draw a crowd?

Until you can answer that, then transferring the news fans of motorsport that a street race brings over to becoming regular motorsport fans at a permanent circuit is a real challenge

[Razor]

I think a street race at Brisbane would be a crowd puller and a half

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Must have been one of your famous l-o-n-g lunches to walk up to Brisbane for the photo shoot, huh, Magic? Thanks for the pics, as always.

I think its great that they take the cars to the people, and show them what a real Supercar is capable of, rather than the VB Challenge utes...

I wish I had taken the obligatory Cooks tour at lunchtime... although I may not have made it back for the afternoon session

[Robert Ryan]

Here is a Video of the parade and burnouts
http://chatterbugz.com/ccws/Brisbane_champ.wmv

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

The main issue seems to be what other categories that aren't on the AVESCO billing - Both Supercars and the HPDC Development Series - really have the potential to draw a crowd?

Until you can answer that, then transferring the news fans of motorsport that a street race brings over to becoming regular motorsport fans at a permanent circuit is a real challenge

The Minolta series cant pull a crowd either. So let me ask is there something wrong with the categories or is there something amiss with the Australian viewing audience ?

If Avesco's crowds are as strong as they never stop telling us Eg. that press release thing the other day, why do they need street races ?

Considering the Qld government pours many many millions of $$ into the Gold Coast event, I find it laughable a Brisbane street race was even mentioned.

[thirty4]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Oh Dear.

So if everyone gets there way we'd have a street race at the Gold Coast, street race at Townsville and a street race at Brisbane. Oh yeah and everyone else with an interest in Qld motorsport can get stuffed.

Is it possible that if street races make motorsport more popular to the general public in Australia, that the more kids are going to get into the sport? The interest filters down to learning racecraft categories at permanent circuits. Bottom line, if more people are into the sport, the more money it will attract. Your continual *****ing about street races is really boring me now. Maybe the glass is half full!

[racer69]

How many people who attend street races to start with go and attend meetings at permanent circuits though? Not many it seems, they usually wait around for the next street race.

Street races aren't about motor racing anyway, they are about tourism and showing off.

[Robert Ryan]

racer69. That is the problem are they casual fans, that become real enthusiasts? Or the fact that they do not have to do much to watch a race make them permanent casual fans that watch only street races?

That said, it was not AVESCO advocating a Street Race, but the Brisbane Mayor.
In today's paper the Brisbane Lord Mayor has said he would put the Indy/v8 supercar race on the streets of Brisbane if the Gold Coast ever canned the event.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by thirty4

Is it possible that if street races make motorsport more popular to the general public in Australia, that the more kids are going to get into the sport? The interest filters down to learning racecraft categories at permanent circuits.

Would you say, since the introduction of street races in the last 5-6 years this has occured. Eg The events of Procar in 2004 or the Minolta series this year ?

[racer69]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

racer69. That is the problem are they casual fans, that become real enthusiasts? Or the fact that they do not have to do much to watch a race make them permanent casual fans that watch only street races?

That said, it was not AVESCO advocating a Street Race, but the Brisbane Mayor.
In today's paper the Brisbane Lord Mayor has said he would put the Indy/v8 supercar race on the streets of Brisbane if the Gold Coast ever canned the event.

Exactly right. The Brisbane mayor would like the race for tourism purposes. Nothing wrong with that from his perspective, it attracts more people to his town

The problem is that there is much more to a street race than the motor racing. Casual fans who aren't there solely for the motor racing aren't likely to find half the goings on at Winton or Oran Park, so they just wait until next year. To me that means, from a motorsport perspective, street races aren't woking in getting more people to motor racing in general

[mixxer]

The events of Procar in 2004

That old chestnut again, Procar died because of unstable rule packages in their headline catorgry (NC) and lack of support from the paying spectator.

Maybe you can hightlight another category that has failed due to street races ?

I think you should build a bridge and get over it.

[Robert Ryan]

racer69 better than no racing at all. Seeing that the normal avenues of promotion are failing to bring fans to roadcourses, street racing at least has the POTENTIAL of making some of those casual fans hardcore supporters.