Tony's Homebush Street Race Fantasy Surfaces Again

[Robert Ryan]

MickAU Only some are used for the RPDE, not many. Most of them are surprisingly not used for anything, from an Australian perspective is pretty strange.

[storyline]

Originally Posted by MickAU

That in itself is a flawed argument. With only say 14-17 events on the calendar each year, a family would have the opportunity to attend only 1-2 events, whereas their footy team would be playing at home around 11-15 times a year. To go to the footy is probably (help me!) $25/adult these days? Maybe $55 a family?

Logically it may be flawed, but the reality is that the cost differential between motor racing and footy IS huge.

And the flaw in your flaw to my argument (!) is that you have only looked at one race series - on average each race track around the country has an open race meeting being run every 4 to 6 weeks (There are some exceptions - Sandown only 5, Mt Panorama only 2) - but the meetings are there.

[cornermsport]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

MickAU Only some are used for the RPDE, not many. Most of them are surprisingly not used for anything, from an Australian perspective is pretty strange.

Funnily enough, there have been times when RPDE have not been able to obtain enough track days due to other bookings. This last year was difficult as RPDE's main track, Lowes, was closed due to resurfacing.

You would be surprised at the number of tracks that they are now using. Also, many tracks are used for non racing activities. A fair few are used for fairs, swapmeets, car shows, and even car auctions!

[Alan 52]

It is common for governments to finance the building of sports facilities.Nearly every ground in the NRL has been built or updated with government money.There are plenty of examples in other sports-Tennis Centre in Melbourne,Eastern Creek and venues initially built for the Olympic or Commonwealth Games.What people object to with street circuits is that there is no facility for the sport except for the 3-4 days a year when the event is on.Also the economics of the event make little sense.Figures from the GP Corporation and the SA Motorsports Board suggest that the Homebush race would cost $25 million a year to stage plus depreciation of all capital equipment while revenues based on a race day crowd equal to Sydney's biggest sport event and based on Clipsal prices would be around $12 million.
The only "indirect" benefit for the state would be money spent by tourists from outside NSW-of which,based on Clipsal figures there would be around 9000.These 9000 people would have to spend $13million outside of tickets and air fares before there would be any net benefit.All the benefit for a Homebush race would be for The Artist Formerly Known As Avesco and the company building the circuit.The biggest losers are the permanent venues in NSW that would lose income as crowds,sponsorship etc go to the street race and taxpayers as their money is used to make a few rich people richer.

[Robert Ryan]

The biggest losers are the permanent venues in NSW that would lose income as crowds,sponsorship etc go to the street race and taxpayers as their money is used to make a few rich people richer.

Alan52 it is a double edged sword. The problem is Fans DO NOT attend roadcourse events, but a street event has a lot more FLEXIBILTY for hardcore and casual motorsport fans. If you find it boring you can go somewhere else in the City, not so if you are at Eastern Creek you are miles from anywhere.

[Robert Ryan]

You would be surprised at the number of tracks that they are now using. Also, many tracks are used for non racing activities. A fair few are used for fairs, swapmeets, car shows, and even car auctions!

Cornersport but enough to justify the cost if there was NO Major races their? I am thinking of EC that had no major events for quite a while , but managed to struggle on club meetings, demo days etc.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

The problem is Fans DO NOT attend roadcourse events.

I thought Avesco was getting record crowds at all its events ??

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Cornersport but enough to justify the cost if there was NO Major races their? I am thinking of EC that had no major events for quite a while , but managed to struggle on club meetings, demo days etc.

As a member of the ARDC, I remember looking though the financial report recently and we seem to be doing quite well with club meetings, driver training, private hire of the circuit and other meetings. I think the track is pretty much getting used most days of the week.

[Robert Ryan]

thought Avesco was getting record crowds at all its events

Street events..yes but a lot less for permanent circuits.

[Robert Ryan]

As a member of the ARDC, I remember looking though the financial report recently and we seem to be doing quite well with club meetings, driver training, private hire of the circuit and other meetings. I think the track is pretty much getting used most days of the week

Mountainstar from an inside source in the ARDC it could be doing a lot better. My question to Cornersport was it the same in the US, was their sufficient revenue from other activities, to maintain a track, given there is NO major race(Rockingham immediately come to mind)

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Street events..yes but a lot less for permanent circuits.

So all the Avesco press releases from events such as OP, Queensland Raceway, Tasmania, Wanneroo, Phillip Island,China, Sandown etc that advocate record crowds are all lies and that these events are in trouble ?

[Robert Ryan]

So all the Avesco press releases from events such as OP, Queensland Raceway, Tasmania, Wanneroo, Phillip Island,China, Sandown etc that advocate record crowds are all lies and that these events are in trouble ?

DRT you did not read my reply. I said the numbers were less for permanent circuits and more for street circuits. If V8Supercars claim they were records for THAT TYPE OF CIRCUIT, well that is a matter of debate.

[D.R.T.]

Numbers being less and "fans not attending permanent circuits" as your previous post are two very different things. This has nothing to do with fans, it has got to do with a cheque from the Government, which at the moment is not coming.

[Robert Ryan]

Numbers being less and "fans not attending permanent circuits" as your previous post are two very different things. This has nothing to do with fans, it has got to do with a cheque from the Government, which at the moment is not coming.

Confusing reply. Please explain...what has Cheques coming from the government, go to do with attendance?

[D.R.T.]

Apologies Robert, I should have worded my post better.

I am saying that fans aren't the motivation behind Avesco's blind street race devotion.

It is the cheque they recieve from Governments for running at street race. One which permanent circuits cannot match.

[Robert Ryan]

I am saying that fans aren't the motivation behind Avesco's blind street race devotion.

It is the cheque they recieve from Governments for running at street race. One which permanent circuits cannot match.

Which explains why permanent circuits are on the outer. Less revenue and less crowds.

[Christopher]

A few years back there was a web site which showed a possible layout of the Homebush Street Circuit, it had red arrows showing the direction. Anyone know what site that was? I may have to a search.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Which explains why permanent circuits are on the outer. Less revenue and less crowds.

Greed ?

I am not meaning to be going over the top here, but at some point even Avesco has got to way up the pro's and cons of such a move. They make good revenue from permanent circuits, for the good of the whole motorsport community, do they really need the cheques from the Government ?

[Robert Ryan]

Greed ?

I am not meaning to be going over the top here, but at some point even Avesco has got to way up the pro's and cons of such a move. They make good revenue from permanent circuits, for the good of the whole motorsport community, do they really need the cheques from the Government ?

They need to run the largest roadracing catergory in Australia, not a club event. Unfortunately they need "Greed is Good" to achieve that. The revenue stream needs to be large; the penetration of the market requires things to be done a on a large scale. All the downsides of a professional catergory.

[storyline]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

They make good revenue from permanent circuits, for the good of the whole motorsport community, do they really need the cheques from the Government ?

It would be nice if this were the case - but the facts are that AVESCO/V8SA are not doing this for the good of 'the motorsport community' - they are doing it for their own company.

Maybe someone can show tangible benefits the 'motorsport community' has received from the company formerly known as AVESCO? (Track infrastructure does not count as this would had to have been done at some time or other wthout V8's becoming involved - so - what has AVESCO/V8SA actually ploughed back into motorsport?)

[Robert Ryan]

It would be nice if this were the case - but the facts are that AVESCO/V8SA are not doing this for the good of 'the motorsport community' - they are doing it for their own company

Yes and they organise V8Supercars. This issue wether V8Supercars should be a charity doing its best for all roadracing or serving it's catergory interest has been thrashed out before.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Yes and they organise V8Supercars. This issue wether V8Supercars should be a charity doing its best for all roadracing or serving it's catergory interest has been thrashed out before.

Yes there focus is V8 Supercars. No one has ever said that it is Avescos job to promote other categories. The point is every business, whether sporting or not, needs to act in responsible and sustainable manner, for the good of everyone. Not to promote or being a charity as Robert suggests, but to act in a way that doesn't put permanent facilities in jeopardy.

Street racing isn't a responsible nor sustainable practice and surely some where along the line Avesco sees this as an issue for its own championship ( upcoming drivers and teams)

[woodbine]

But that would mean V8SA taking the long-term view. How often today do you see any company, let along them, doing that when they can just take large profits now?

[Robert Ryan]

Yes there focus is V8 Supercars. No one has ever said that it is Avescos job to promote other categories. The point is every business, whether sporting or not, needs to act in responsible and sustainable manner, for the good of everyone. Not to promote or being a charity as Robert suggests, but to act in a way that doesn't put permanent facilities in jeopardy.

Street racing isn't a responsible nor sustainable practice and surely some where along the line Avesco sees this as an issue for its own championship ( upcoming drivers and teams)

As Woodbine said they run the series as a business and if the street races bring in the money , then that is where they are going to go.
This is where a strong 2nd tier should come in for the permanent facilities and a strong club scene.

[Robert Ryan]

The point is every business, whether sporting or not,needs to act in responsible and sustainable manner, for the good of everyone

DRT they are not a Charity or a non-profit or religious organisation, they a company set up for the prime purpose of supporting the activities of V8Supercar and its shareholders: The Teams ; Drivers and Fans.