This is inspired by the Hume Weir thread.
Australia seems to be losing circuits quite quickly at the moment. Will there be any tracks left in Oz in 10 years.
The V8 Thupercar circus is hell bent on racing on junk temporary street circuits. At the expense of the existing circuits.
In the last few years in part because of this and encroaching residential areas many of the circuits are almost unviable.
Sydney has lost Oran Pk and Amaroo and if they do not get headline events it is not inconcievable to lose Eastern Creek too.
Melbourne has not had Calder for a longtime, and Sandown looks a bit shakey. And is never a fulltime track. PI and Winton seems ok.
Adelaide has lost AIR, unlikely it will ever reopen. And Mallala is going well but to be blunt Clem Smith is not a young man, and without his longterm enthusiasm could be in trouble.
Qld has the paperclip and I believe racing is happening at Lakeside again which is good.
In Tassy I have heard whisper that Baskerville is under threat, which would leave them Symonns Plains.
And WA has Wanneroo, who have lost their most profitable meeting that seemed to subsidise the rest of their year.And Cochrane want to have another stupid street race there too.
Other than that Wakefield Pk seems a decent place, not quite up tp major events by facilities and probably accomodation.
And a lot of Speedways are under a cloud too, as are Dragstrips. Making the general motorsport outlook a bit gloomy.
Will there be any circuits left in Australia in 10 years?
Started by
Lee Nicolle
, Jan 27 2011 03:30
10 replies to this topic
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#2
nivola
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Posted 27 January 2011 - 04:56
Wanneroo is back and this time it is a government event and they are paying the black wiggle.
So yeah it not to good over here from that point.
Wanneroo seems fine but after what has been seen from some powers it does have people wondering what the future will be.
So yeah it not to good over here from that point.
Wanneroo seems fine but after what has been seen from some powers it does have people wondering what the future will be.
#3
brucemoxon
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Posted 27 January 2011 - 05:00
The Black Wiggle is slashing and burning with no thought to the future. 'It's not the job of V8 Supercars to build or maintain tracks' they say. Hmm. Where will the next generation of drivers learn to be drivers? They don't care. Not their problem.
Bruce Moxon
#4
eldougo
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Posted 27 January 2011 - 05:17
Don,t sound so astonished about this new it been coming for the last 10 years ,the Cockroch is good at lining his and V8 pockets but VERY short on putting ANYTHING back into the sport that supplies HIS drivers and they are all too greedy to see what is happening.
He has killed off Formula Ford the SO called learning ground for his drivers just because it was costing TOO much money.
Nuf said....
He has killed off Formula Ford the SO called learning ground for his drivers just because it was costing TOO much money.
Nuf said....
#5
Ray Bell
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Posted 27 January 2011 - 05:48
You missed a couple, Lee...
Morgan Park near Warwick was less than a kilometre eleven years ago when they sealed it. Income soon enabled them to extend to 1.2kms, then out to - I think - about 2.2kms with three different circuits available based on the one start-finish straight etc.
They are just putting the finishing touches to the next extension (probably the final one) which takes it to the same length as Warwick Farm was - 2.25 miles (3.6kms?) and it alleviates all the problems the circuit had in the past, when it was just a bit too tight.
The circuit is just one of a number of sporting areas established on land bequeathed to the council by a Mr Morgan a hundred or more years ago. He specifically left it to the council for them to help meet the needs of sporting organisations, and though he probably never had a car, there's a drag strip there and the circuit, as well as Polocross and other things.
And you missed Hidden Valley in the NT, where the government has sunk a lot of money to keep it rolling.
Another point is the funding of Wanneroo in days gone by. A committee member told me that they used to have to borrow this year the moneys needed to upgrade to meet the 'Thupercar' demands for next year in the hope that the returns from the meeting might be enough to pay it back before they had to go through the same process again.
As for Calder and AIR, nobody really knows what will happen there. The future does look bleak, I'm sure, but with Janey you never can tell. If he can see a way to trample the CAMS by firing up his circuits again, you can bet he'll move heaven and earth to do it.
There is also another prospect in NSW I've been told about that's still in the early planning stages. Let's just say that a local council wants a circuit that DOESN'T rely on the 'Thupercars', but that will provide what Wakefield Park does for Goulburn. Regular events and hirings that mean it brings people to their town every weekend all year round, at the same time occupying land that might (if the circuit were not there) otherwise be swallowed up for housing.
And why would this be a problem? Well, this council has a major government installation in it's area that actually creates a lot of employment and trade locally... through its thousands of employees needing to live and work there... but which makes a lot of noise. If the circuit absorbs, say, 1000 acres of bushland between the nearest housing and that establishment, then it's a buffer against residential complaints against the government establishment.
The entrepreneur involved was, in fact, quite surprised when he approached the council about his prospects. "Yes," he was told, "a motor racing circuit is a part of our future planning needs. How can we help you?"
Maybe things aren't as bleak as you think?
Morgan Park near Warwick was less than a kilometre eleven years ago when they sealed it. Income soon enabled them to extend to 1.2kms, then out to - I think - about 2.2kms with three different circuits available based on the one start-finish straight etc.
They are just putting the finishing touches to the next extension (probably the final one) which takes it to the same length as Warwick Farm was - 2.25 miles (3.6kms?) and it alleviates all the problems the circuit had in the past, when it was just a bit too tight.
The circuit is just one of a number of sporting areas established on land bequeathed to the council by a Mr Morgan a hundred or more years ago. He specifically left it to the council for them to help meet the needs of sporting organisations, and though he probably never had a car, there's a drag strip there and the circuit, as well as Polocross and other things.
And you missed Hidden Valley in the NT, where the government has sunk a lot of money to keep it rolling.
Another point is the funding of Wanneroo in days gone by. A committee member told me that they used to have to borrow this year the moneys needed to upgrade to meet the 'Thupercar' demands for next year in the hope that the returns from the meeting might be enough to pay it back before they had to go through the same process again.
As for Calder and AIR, nobody really knows what will happen there. The future does look bleak, I'm sure, but with Janey you never can tell. If he can see a way to trample the CAMS by firing up his circuits again, you can bet he'll move heaven and earth to do it.
There is also another prospect in NSW I've been told about that's still in the early planning stages. Let's just say that a local council wants a circuit that DOESN'T rely on the 'Thupercars', but that will provide what Wakefield Park does for Goulburn. Regular events and hirings that mean it brings people to their town every weekend all year round, at the same time occupying land that might (if the circuit were not there) otherwise be swallowed up for housing.
And why would this be a problem? Well, this council has a major government installation in it's area that actually creates a lot of employment and trade locally... through its thousands of employees needing to live and work there... but which makes a lot of noise. If the circuit absorbs, say, 1000 acres of bushland between the nearest housing and that establishment, then it's a buffer against residential complaints against the government establishment.
The entrepreneur involved was, in fact, quite surprised when he approached the council about his prospects. "Yes," he was told, "a motor racing circuit is a part of our future planning needs. How can we help you?"
Maybe things aren't as bleak as you think?
#6
Lee Nicolle
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Posted 27 January 2011 - 08:05
Yes, I forgot Morgan Pk, a bit north for me. Qld seems to have 2 good club circuits plus the paperclip. But the Thupercars want more money and circuit revisions for Qld Raceway so maybe Townsville will be the only Thupercar event!!Until the council realise the costs outweigh the benefits.
Cochrane is becoming more a Bernie clone!! A few years neither will have more up and comers coming through.
Hidden Valley is Govt subsidised so has less threat than most circuits. Though from what i hear state level meetings are struggling for numbers. It looks a great facility, as well as a great track!!
Cochrane is becoming more a Bernie clone!! A few years neither will have more up and comers coming through.
Hidden Valley is Govt subsidised so has less threat than most circuits. Though from what i hear state level meetings are struggling for numbers. It looks a great facility, as well as a great track!!
#7
gtsmunro
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Posted 27 January 2011 - 08:47
Not to mention Gnoo Blass, Mt Druitt, Warwick Farm and Catalina Park.
There was a move by the local MG club in Newcastle to extend it's fantastic facility north of Raymond Terrace by basically taking it from a hillclimb to a full circuit including a drag strip. A meeting was held in the hall at Raymond Terrace for those to oppose the move to put forward their objections. There were hundreds of people crammed into every conceivable space in the hall, and the vast majority were there to support the MG club. Opposing were 11 or so residents who have since succesfully had the Port Stephen's council oppose the idea.
There was a move by the local MG club in Newcastle to extend it's fantastic facility north of Raymond Terrace by basically taking it from a hillclimb to a full circuit including a drag strip. A meeting was held in the hall at Raymond Terrace for those to oppose the move to put forward their objections. There were hundreds of people crammed into every conceivable space in the hall, and the vast majority were there to support the MG club. Opposing were 11 or so residents who have since succesfully had the Port Stephen's council oppose the idea.
#8
brucemoxon
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Posted 27 January 2011 - 11:57
Cochrane is becoming more a Bernie clone!! A few years neither will have more up and comers coming through.
Once heard him described as 'Bernie's Australian Clone. Only with less charm.'
Just reporting - not originating. We all know he's remarkably sensitive to criticism.
Bruce Moxon
#9
Dale Harvey
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Posted 28 January 2011 - 00:41
Not to mention Gnoo Blass, Mt Druitt, Warwick Farm and Catalina Park.
There was a move by the local MG club in Newcastle to extend it's fantastic facility north of Raymond Terrace by basically taking it from a hillclimb to a full circuit including a drag strip. A meeting was held in the hall at Raymond Terrace for those to oppose the move to put forward their objections. There were hundreds of people crammed into every conceivable space in the hall, and the vast majority were there to support the MG club. Opposing were 11 or so residents who have since succesfully had the Port Stephen's council oppose the idea.
I believe that there has been a new development application submitted to Council recently for this circuit.
Dale.
#10
gtsmunro
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Posted 28 January 2011 - 02:59
That's good news. It's in the perfect spot with easy access both from north and south.
#11
johnny yuma
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Posted 28 January 2011 - 04:23
In 1971 there were 16 circuits available,in 2011 there are 15 so not much of a downward trend.
Interesting looking at google earth where Hume Weir was. A bleak wasteland where earth was scooped up to prop up the earth batter of the dam causeway.No residentials anywhere.Good road right past the pit gate.The layout still there in part.There would be worse places to get a development up--could even be part of a overall landscape renewal.People don't dump garden litter in racing circuits ! Nice campgrounds nearby....
