Could a Goodwood Revival style meeting work in Oz

[racer69]

I picked up an issue of 'Motorsport' today, and with the mag came the program for this year's Goodwood Revival meeting.

It got me thinking. I know there are lots of historic meetings in Australia, but not one that creates as much interest and exposure etc...as this meeting. Could a meeting of that style work in Australia. Would the powers that be support such an idea, would all the drivers, officials etc...get behind it and so on.

What would be the best track to hold it on, what would be the best era to base the meeting on. If done right i reckon it could be very good.

Thoughts

Merry Christmas

[Amaroo Park]

NO

[RaceTime]

POssibly the closest to it is the Winton Historic run by the Austin 7 Club - but in all reality, until they drag themselves into the 21st century- whilst it is a bloody good meeting - there is that edge of Club Level mentality at play.

I stand to be corrected, but I don;t think any of the other historic meetings around the country really match the Winton event.

And, having said that, there are already too many historic meetings being held - Calder Park is the only track currently not sporting a dedicated Historic Meeting.

[GTRMagic]

Whats that Repco Gold thing Vandas is so excited about? Is this some way towards it?

[RaceTime]

Isn't that the Ph Island Historic meeting in March? Just before the GP??

The problem, as I see it, with any Goodwood look-a-like - itr needs to be held on a circuit that was around in the early era of historic racing - unfortunately this leaves out most of the current tracks.

Of course - that is being possibly too restrictive - but it is the one thing Goodwood has going for it - it's links back to historic motor racing..

[GTRMagic]

So have the Aussie version, and have a festival of speed at Bathurst!! Get the old farts out of the retirement homes and have a mock race and all the fireworks/carnivals/demos that happen at Goodwood!

[William Dale Jr]

A meeting like that would be fantastic, I have no doubt in that, but a meeting of that scale probably wouldn't work over here.

I see the main problem as being crowds. The good thing about the UK is that most of the motorsport fans in the country only have to travel a relatively small distance to get to Goodwood. Even people on the continent could make the journey relatively cheaply and quickly.

However, with Australia being so much larger than the British Isles, the distances that have to be travelled are much greater, and it's therefore much more difficult to draw such a large crowd to such an event. While enthusiasts and casual fans could probably make the inaugural event, I doubt that most of those people could justify making a yearly trip.

[Crash Test]

I would have thought that the PI Historic meeting takes the cake as far as national Historic circuit races goes, with the number of international entries, but then again, the F5000s at Sandown would be pretty special.

But for something completely different, Speed on Tweed (or Tweed on Speed for the humorous dyslexics) was a massive event. It drew 10s of thousands of punters, had some awesome cars (many more and exciting people and cars to come next year), and has a cult following after one year. The track was fantastic, and it was good to have Jack Brabham along.

BTW- there is a good write up on Goodwood in the latest edition of Sports Car and Racer

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Crash Test

But for something completely different, Speed on Tweed (or Tweed on Speed for the humorous dyslexics) was a massive event. It drew 10s of thousands of punters, had some awesome cars (many more and exciting people and cars to come next year), and has a cult following after one year. The track was fantastic, and it was good to have Jack Brabham along. [/B]

Hey Crash - totally agree re Sandown and hope to attend a Classic at PI sometime in the future as I'v heard its the ducks guts.

Would appreciate a few more details on the "Tweed" format, cars and events etc (and for those non-Aussies, the Tweed River is part of the border between NSW and QLD).

So was Black Jack up barefooting?

[Forbesy]

I reckon it'd be a great idea, have one at Bathurst with all the old cars running. You could have categories so the cars that run against each other are evenly matched. I know they'd have to be careful with some of the pristine machinery of yesteryear, but it would be great to see cars like the Brock A9X, DayGlo Marlboro VK, Dick's Tru Blu XD, some of the Sierras, GTHO's, Cortinas and the GTR's to name a few.

[Vandas]

GTRMagic,

Island Magic is a National Motorsport Carnival held at Phillip Island in the third weekend of every November.

It is where drivers and cars from State Series around Australia come down to the Phillip Island Circuit to battle for some of the countries most historic trophies, and braggin rights.

The Phillip Island Classic meeting is a fabulous event staged just before the Grand Prix each year, and as it is getting bigger and bigger every year.

There was some tragedy at the most recent Phillip Island Classic when a driver was fatality wounded after crashing his priceless vehicle. (Sorry for the downer guys)

With Island Magic we are certainly trying to grow the carnival and family atmosphere that used to draw people to the circuit during its first golden era. The plan is to eventually have a Festival of Speed (of sorts) at Phillip Island over the Island Magic weekend.

With car clubs from around Australia cruising into town, looking at historic displays, having competitions and prizes for the best vehicles of different descriptions, inviting the two-wheel friends (to go back to the days when PIARC ran 2+4 Meetings at the Island, with the help and guidance of the Hartwell Motorcycle Club) to come and display their bikes and put on some demonstrations, have a massive cruise of race vehicles through the main street of Cowes.

We also want to look at bringing in the side of the industry that do not attend circuit racing eventstoo often, and that is the high-performance youngsters with their suped up rocketships.

Now if we could combine all of this with something like the Island Classic, then I think it is achievable, however you just have to broaden the appeal to get the people there.

Maybe I am just dreaming, but can you picture how awesome an event like that would be?

Cam

[RaceTime]

Unfortunately - yes it is a dream - especially in todays climate.

The days of 2+4 meetings are gone - primarily because of the attitude of CAMS - the last time a 2+4 meeting was held at Barbagallo and Calder Park, on both occasions CAMS insisted that when the bikes came on, all CAMS officials were to stand down and not lift a finger to assist in any way whatsoever - if they did their (read CAMS) insurance would not cover them. Needless to say, the standover tactics worked and this type of meeting was effectively killed off.

As for inviting the 'other elements' in (read 'the hoons') this has also been tried on a number of occasions - the only problem with this side is that the structure and schedule of a meeting required by CAMS style events does not fit in with their life style - Winton, Oran Park, Barbagallo have all tried these once - and never again.

The idea is there - unfotunately the practice and one other obstacle will make it impossible - the other obstacle?

A little thing called public liability insurance.

Just facing reality - not trying to put you or the idea down - unfortunately the insurance block is now a fact of life.

[Vandas]

Racetime,

I totally understand where you are coming from.

However I probably wasn't entirely clear with my own personal ideas about the event.

I personally don't want to see motorcycles on the track racing at the event, and I certainly don't want to see the "Hoons" go anywhere near the circuit.

I would like to see the integrity of the ISLAND MAGIC event kept intact, and then build the festival around it.

With the help of the Phillip Island Local Council and the local Police we could really put on a fabulous weekend for motoring and motorsport enthusiasts.

Inviting Car Clubs from around Australia, helps to develop communication between all of the organisations, it also gives them an opportunity to display themselves and their members (I know I am going to cop some hysterical laughter over that line, so I will leave it in anyway, oh and again BA-DOOM TSH).

If we can draw motoring enthusiasts, and even non-motoring enthusiasts to the event, these clubs will benefit and so will the people, being able to choose an organisation that suits their motoring needs.

Inviting the motorcycle clubs to the event, gives them an opporunity to mix with the 4 Wheelers. Over the years a number of close allegiances have been made been bikies and Car Freaks, so much so that a group of them played a cricket match every year for nearly 20 years. It also draws in the broader market of motoring enthusiasts.

Inviting the High Performance Road Car brigade, opens motorsport and circuit racing up to the massive amounts of disposable income these youngsters have. This will in turn give Group 5 a chance to promote Sprints, Motorkhanas, Khana-Cross and other events to the drivers.

It could never be like Goodwood in the true sense of the word, however using the concepts and ideas implemented by that event, we could run something pretty successful in Australia.

Picture this:

You are sitting in the Isle of Wight hotel on the Phillip Island foreshore. On the walls around you there are posters and promotions for some motor racing event called ISLAND MAGIC.

You look out the front window to watch a Dyno Run-off between a V8 and a Triple Rotar RX7 happening in the carpark just under the lighthouse.

To the left of the pub you see all of these immaculate motor bikes and their owners gladly standing around willing to talk to you about them.

Then you decide to go for a walk to see what all the commotion is.

Heading into the Main Drag of Cowes you stumble across the Shannons Historic Display. Have you ever seen such beautiful cars?

Then the footpath begins to rumble.

At the very top of the street you noice a police car with its lights on, but no siren. The Police car is driving down towards the beach.

As it gets closer you notice a long line of cars behind it, what could this be? Fully Blown Race Cars in the main street of Phillip Island, who would have ever believed it?

During a break from racing many of the cars from the circuit have received a police escort for a cruise through the town. (It has been done before by the way. PIARC ran one a couple of years ago.)

Just around the corner and down the road a bit is the Phillip Island Go-Kart centre, where they have Special ISLAND MAGIC Festival Grand Prixs being run all day.

Then you wake up from the dream and realise it is all possible, just requires a lot of dedication, a lot of co-ordinating, a lot of sweat, and a lot of money.

I guess you could call it my field of dreams, but you must always have dreams.

Cam

[RaceTime]

I see where you are coming from - but Island Magic is, IMHO, already too big for this to happen. Too big in the sense it is a packed weekend with no leeway for anything to go wrong or anything else to happen.

The idea is good - but you would have to sacrifice track event - again IMHO - after all - why hold an event such as this if the officials don't get to see any of it? (And how often has this happened to events - the on track activities preclude officials and competitors from seeing everything that is goiong on).

Bikes - don;t get me wrong - I like the idea of 2+4's and think they SHOULD be run. Again - why have them at the track if they can't partake of the on-track action?

Hoons - there are some events - once again IMHO - that could involve these people on the track that could be both beneficial AND entertaining.

But again - Island Magic is already too big.

Could you honestly see anyone from PIARC agreeing to scale the event ie the on track event down in order to expand the off track activities?

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Vandas
Racetime,

I would like to see the integrity of the ISLAND MAGIC event kept intact, and then build the festival around it.

With the help of the Phillip Island Local Council and the local Police we could really put on a fabulous weekend for motoring and motorsport enthusiasts.

It could never be like Goodwood in the true sense of the word, however using the concepts and ideas implemented by that event, we could run something pretty successful in Australia.

Then you wake up from the dream and realise it is all possible, just requires a lot of dedication, a lot of co-ordinating, a lot of sweat, and a lot of money.

I guess you could call it my field of dreams, but you must always have dreams.

Cam

Vandas and Race (Merry Xmas by the way)
I used to love speed week at Bathurst (2 + 4) on seperate days......

The thing is, for something like this to work it has to be made attractive and easy to attend for the public. PI cannot be considered easy to attend - accommodation alone is unlikely to cope with a large influx without a tent city. Insurance waivers from the government (yeah right!) or underwriten by a government with full support might work - I think something prior to Albert Park each year might fly (just a thought)...

There are some great Historic Meetings around the country already (do they still have the York thing in WA? Birdswood SA, HSRCA Eastern Creek September, PI, Sandown, Winton mid year etc etc )and it would be great to see a combined festival/celebration bash.

Keep working on it guys!! I would love to come help out and officiate.

[Crash Test]

275 GTB-4 : http://www.speedontweed.com/ explains a bit about the weekend. The historic scene in QLD is really quite huge at the moment, all of the events are really well attended, you should see the turnup to the National Historic event at QR- the crowd would rival that for the Procar, with a whole heap less freebys. Also apart from Speed on Tweed and the circuit racing, we also have the Noosa Hillclimb, which is the only all tarmac stage of the ARC, the Leyburn Sprints (which draw about 10,000 people to a tiny hamlet on the Darling Downs), Pitsworth Sprints, Gatton Sprints, and until this year Lowood Sprints, all very well attended. More info on some of these events is at www.hrcc.org.au

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Crash Test
275 GTB-4 : http://www.speedontweed.com/ explains a bit about the weekend. The historic scene in QLD is really quite huge at the moment, all of the events are really well attended, you should see the turnup to the National Historic event at QR- the crowd would rival that for the Procar, with a whole heap less freebys. Also apart from Speed on Tweed and the circuit racing, we also have the Noosa Hillclimb, which is the only all tarmac stage of the ARC, the Leyburn Sprints (which draw about 10,000 people to a tiny hamlet on the Darling Downs), Pitsworth Sprints, Gatton Sprints, and until this year Lowood Sprints, all very well attended. More info on some of these events is at www.hrcc.org.au

Thanks CT, yep hope to incorporate a QLD historic into a business trip or something. Saw QR from the air the other day - seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere...

[mickj]

At the Winton Historics in May, (well June 2003) dont the Bikes run as well as the cars???.

I dont like bikes, but they bring a crowd as well, to make a good meeting.

Winton to me is the best historic meeting, then Phillip Island, then Sandown.

[RaceTime]

Correct - Winton is a 2+4 meeting BUT the Austin Seven Club officials have this - how can I say it - very 'distant' attitude to the bikes. They depart their places and literally hand over the circuit to the bike officials.

[Crash Test]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
Thanks CT, yep hope to incorporate a QLD historic into a business trip or something. Saw QR from the air the other day - seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere...

Being out in the middle of nowhere has its advantages and disadvantages. Like they can run things late into the night, and it doesn't bother many people. Plus, people really don't want to live near there because of the RAAF base, the mine, the rest of the motorsport etc, so it should be safe from development for a very long time (although the mine is set to be closed, and land in the area is inexpensive). That being said, being so far away makes it hard to draw a crowd, although the turn out at the V8s, Procar, ex-Power Tour, Historics etc proves that wrong.

[Crash Test]

Oh, and going back aways there, about the 'hoons'. QR has in recent years been running "Saturday Afternoon Sprints", not run under a CAMS license, but attracting a large cross section of the community. You get everything. Ricers, V8s, all sort of road cars, but also a lot of cars from the regional sprint scene, new competitors trying out circuit racing, or people simply having a test or letting other family members have a steer. Over the years they have literally had hundreds of new drivers through, with a fair few going onto CAMS events. And here is the punch line, they have the insurance in place to run more serious meetings for these people next year... Wait and see ey?

[Crash Test]

More info is at http://www.queenslandraceway.com.au/...lic_drive.html

[RaceTime]

Crash,
QR isn't the only one to have alternate insurance available - Winton, Calder, Wakefield, Hidden Valley, Oran Park, barbagallo all have alternative arrangement in place - so await a few developments in the new year - it is going to rock and totally upset some of the rigid CAMS supporters out there....

[Crash Test]

I think the AAA kicking CAMS arse has died, but definately things like this are going to happen, and make entry level motorsport much more affordable, and less messy. Things like their Sprints, Burnout Comps, Drifting comps, that haven't been run under CAMS (heck, where would you put it? I know of some places having to put their burnout comps under ANDRA permits, but then again, you can burnout whatever you like at V8 meetings...).

[RaceTime]

Don't completely write off AAA just yet....like Al Jolson used to say - 'You ain;t heard nuthin' yet!'