Auckland Street Race - It MUST happen!

[Just Do It!]

Tony Cochrane isn't the only one who is unhappy about the street race situation in Auckland. The Mayor, John Banks, and Councillor Scott Milne are also concerned about the international promotion of Auckland as a tourist destination, particularly post-America's Cup.
Luckily, Auckland has been blessed with what is really only a very mild dose of P.A.C.S.S or Post America's Cup Stress Syndrone. Such a stress syndrone is often found after big events like Rugby or Soccer World Cups, and Olympic Games events...events with global signifance that require significant infrastructure and facilities investments to prepare for and to pull off smoothly.

Auckland is no different. Auckland has lost the America's Cup, the Volvo Round the World Ocean Race stopover, the Rugby World Cup debacle...and now the Supercars look in the balance.

One only needs to sit on Gone Tree Hill - the prominent Auckland landmark formerly known as One Tree Hill which is the resting place of one of Auckland's founders, Dr. John Logan-Campbell - indeed, a man of wisdom, but more importantly of vision, one of society's dreamers - and also featured in a U2 song of the same name to realise the picturesque backdrop that Auckland will provide for a street race.

Furthermore, whilst sitting on Gone Tree Hill pondering the event and spectacle void that the loss of the America's Cup created for the whole of New Zealand, it just makes sense....even if you are against it....because motorsport is glamourous, sexy, fast, loud, and has all those feel-good factors similar to yachting. In fact, internationally, yachting and motorsport go hand-in-hand with many a yacht owner following motorsport, and vice versa. Monaco's inner harbour and outer harbour are packed for the Formula 1 race with boats coming from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, the Mediterranean, the Carribean, the USA, and Canada for a spectacle. Super yacht - motor and sail - owners include Bernie Ecclestone, Eddie Jordan, Ron Dennis, Eddie Irvine, Count Augusta, Roger Penske, and the Ojjah family of Tag Heuer fame to scrape the surface. Tag Heuer are involved with F1 through McLaren and the America's Cup through Larry Ellison's Oracle BMW syndicate, and their superyacht is one of the finest out there at over 400 feet in length.
Similarly, many yacht owners who follow yachting are present with their vessels at Monaco to watch motorsport.

Right now, the current glamour and sexy event to have your luxury personal mobile hotel parked at is the Athens Olympics in Greece.
But why the parallels with Superyachts and the Auckland V8 Supercar Street race, you ask? It's pretty straightforward really. Glamour and glitz, and an opportunity to let motorsport and yachting mix with Superyachts coming down to not only be a part of the V8 Supercar Street Race, but also to be a part of the re-kindled Millenium Cup Yacht Race for Superyachts from Auckland to Kawau Island.
Imagine the spectacle of it all, for it is very tangible, achievable, and realistic!

Back to the Street Race....

One day, Aucklanders will wake up and put the vested interests of their city and their country - a country that doesn't seem to exist much south of Manukau in the eyes of many Aucklanders sadly, instead of their own self-important opulance and ego-drama to realise that the America's Cup left Auckland with a developed waterfront infrastructure that would never have happened unless first a dream.

Well Auckland, it's time to start dreaming again. Only this time, the dream involves using that very America's Cup development for a hub for V8 Supercars to race on the streets of Auckland. To bring the spectacle that used to grace the Wellington waterfront back to life would be amazing. The last Wellington Street Race still sticks vividly in many a memory for motorsport experience - you were close to the action, Murf's victory, and seeing a city alive and behind a spectacular event. Personally, we even forgave them for letting a crashed Tranzam car shower us in methanol as we watched at the fence.

The venue for Auckland, whilst perhaps not agreeable to all, is a line of best fit. The circuit has a park for non-racing activities and food stands, it has contour and elevation and an especially sharp decent, combined with plenty of viewing potential from high-rise buildings and apartments. But most of all, the proposed Auckland Street Race circuit meets FIA criteria for street circuits on minimum width, something that very few other Auckland streets will allow for, including the 1999-proposed Quay Street (Wharf) Street Circuit - a fact that is re-inforced by joint race promoter, IMG.

A local property developer has even stepped up to the mark and offered to develop an apartment block right on the edge of the proposed street circuit with a permanent spectator bridge linking the outfield at the bottom of Wellesley Street with the Victoria Park infield - a gesture that reflects not only the locals' commitment to the event and it's success, but support from someone who will be affected directly by the street race as he has adjoining retail business that will have slightly impeded pedestrian access close to and during the event. Such a structure, which is permanent, will ease the burden on the event promoters, and aid to road safety by making the crossing of Victoria Street to and from Victoria Park easier during non-race times - some 362 days of the year!

The Fanshawe Street median strip makes for a natural pitlane wall, with the Fanshawe Street bus lanes providing the width for a suitable pitlane and race track. The city end of Fanshawe Street will provide the necessary width to allow cars to race whilst providing sufficient area for spectator grandstands. The circuit will provide two hairpins with one on the entry to Hobson Street and the second on the Victoria Street/Beaumont Street corner.

To some, the idea of a street race may not bring the most appetising of connotations to mind, but after all, AVESCO and the promoters have had the wisdom and the vision to not only provide Auckland and New Zealand with an international tourist marketing platform, but also to stage the race during the April School Holidays when the traffic burden is some 25% reduced.

If the idea of travelling to work still provokes the heckles to raise, then with at least 18 months notice you should ask your boss for the day off - as if you won't if you are into motorsport anyway! With this in mind, perhaps Auckland Street Race Friday could also been known by another name for those with a lesser motorsport enthusiasm as the JAFFA Day of the Family - after all, it is the school holidays and 3 days with your beloved children will not really hurt you.

Worse still, as a vehicle of promotion for New Zealand, few other options exist. Pukekohe Park Raceway has fallen into the empire of Eric Watson under the Westbury Stud umbrella as a training facility of his horse team, and those that Westbury trains. Resultingly, Pukekohe is no longer suitable, plus as a venue, crowd numbers have really exceeded the capacity of the venue.
For Manfield Park Raceway, major capital works are necessary to bring the circuit up to a suitable level. Just attending a national motorsport meeting there is enough to make even the amateur blush when you see Formula First (Vees) being prepared in what are really dirt floor horse pens - hardly a concrete floored workshop!
Besides, all is not lost with Manfield as the venue may well end up hosting a second New Zealand round once the street race is up and running.

The sights, the sounds, the smell, the spectacle - The whole package that a street race will provide to locals, corporates, those motorsport fans from greater New Zealand, the inquisititive, as a vehicle for promotion to international tourists, and perhaps even the pessimists will be something that you can only comprehend when in happens.

Right now, Auckland needs to make it happen so get behind it and embrace it!

[fordo]

quote" Resultingly, Pukekohe is no longer suitable, plus as a venue, crowd numbers have really exceeded the capacity of the venue."
How many were at the v8s?
They had 100,000 people back in the 60s when Denny Hulme,Rindt,Amon,McLaren,etc raced there and still room and you didn't have the luxury of the old club circuit area or the huge paddock out the back on top of the hill for parking. The tarseal access road that runs through that paddock was the main road. People hiked in from miles away and no one whinged about the facilities, they were just happy to have the racing there.
You either have the cars racing or you have the luxury facilities. Do you really need both?
At Pukekohe and for that matter Manfield at least you can see most of the track - what do you see at a street race? A coloured object roar past and thats it. You see more on TV and who will benefit most from a street race in Auckland?
It wont be you Joe public paying through the nose to get in to see your little piece of track it will be all the fat businesses that already control the access to the proposed track area.
I grew up looking over Pukekohe Raceway, went to Wellington for the 500 once(never again) have been to Willowbank here in Qld and went to the Indy once.
In the Joe public area I got to see through a 3ft gap in the people through a fence at one piece of the track and that was it. I gave up and went to the bar and watched the TV coverage.
Street circuits come at the cost of losing permanent facilities and higher entry fees to the public which is something I personally will never embrace.

[TSR]

Why must it happen,and do we need it??

[pete55]

I stated at the time that you needed the race on a permanent circuit. Nothing has changed my mind about it.

[Armco Bender]

Pukekohe Park Raceway has fallen into the empire of Eric Watson under the Westbury Stud umbrella as a training facility of his horse team, and those that Westbury trains. Resultingly, Pukekohe is no longer suitable,

:confused: Westbury Stud are basing 40 horseys in the new stable complex,that hardly renders Puke no longer suitable,the horseys have been training at Puke as long as the car track has been there and the horsey people are keen to work with the car racing people from what I've read.
Bugger the street race,put the money(thats mainly going to line the pockets of the Ozzie promoters)into a permanent racing facility.

[deeks6]

Plenty of horsey people at Sandown last time I looked ...

Why can't we have BOTH Pukekohe AND a street race?

In fact, why can't we have 15-18 rounds instead of the farcical 13? Whats wrong with:

1. AGP - Albert park
2. Phillip Island
3. Adelaide
4. Barbagallo
5. Symons Plains
6. Oran Park
7. Hidden Valley
8. QR
9. Bahrain
10. China
11. Dubai
12. Eastern Creek
13. Pukekohe
14. Auckland Street
15. Sandown
16. Winton
17. Surfers Paradise
18. Grand Final - Bathurst

[retro]

The 2 main reasons for not having more rounds is:-

1. $$$$$$

2. Turn around time. With the amount of staff the teams have now they cannot turn the cars around in time. They could build extra cars but.......see point 1.

[TSR]

To many race for TC to bleed money out of

[deeks6]

The more rounds...the more TV, the more people, the more sponsorship, the more $$$...

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Make the promoters put up the guaranteed $ to start - if not - NO round there - pretty easy really.

[Armco Bender]

Why can't we have BOTH Pukekohe AND a street race?

Errr because they are both in the same town,and they can't even fill Eden park with Jafa's for a rugby game so they would never sell out 2 races.

What about Pukekohe and Manfeild

[Just Do It!]

deeks, u have a valid point on the calendar situation, but the idea of hosting a street race in Auckland as well as the Pukekohe event just won't happen.

Swap the Pukekohe event for Manfeild in 2007 and things will look a bit better.

The official line is that Pukekohe's contract is up. The Auckland Street Race is it - it must be supported. Why? If it doesn't go ahead, NZ loses it's round til at least 2007 when Manfeild could be readied and slotted in.

Moreover, doesn't a heightened awareness of motorsport through street racing usually result in more money being poured into permanent venues and the sport in general because of extra exposure, greater interest, etc...a bit like deeks' increased calendar concept?

[Armco Bender]

Being realistic you would have to say the chances of the street race going ahead at the moment look slim to none,unless the Goverment step in and overide Transit NZ.

Could be a lean few years for V8 fans here.

[retro]

JDI - who is the promotor for the Auckland race?

[Just Do It!]

Armco: What's up the sleeve?? A rabbit or a golden carrot??

Retro: Promoter is a joint-venture between Auckland City Council and IMG - the street race specialists

[GTRMagic]

Originally posted by retro
The 2 main reasons for not having more rounds is:-

1. $$$$$$

2. Turn around time. With the amount of staff the teams have now they cannot turn the cars around in time. They could build extra cars but.......see point 1.

I know of one main series team with 2 brand new race-ready cars of the same model they currently run sitting in the workshop.... and wont be run until season 2005....

While each of the HMS army has a spare unit.... others seem capable of turning new cars around pretty quickly if required....

13 rounds is unlucky... but it is limited by the Teams Agreement signed each season, and allegedly in concrete for 3 seasons, starting this one.....

Or maybe Harry Potter waves the wand, and all is fixed

Oh.. and the Auckland Street Race should happen, they need something to liven the joint up

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by deeks6
In fact, why can't we have 15-18 rounds instead of the farcical 13? Whats wrong with:

1. AGP - Albert park
2. Phillip Island
3. Adelaide
4. Barbagallo
5. Symons Plains
6. Oran Park
7. Hidden Valley
8. QR
9. Bahrain
10. China
11. Dubai
12. Eastern Creek
13. Pukekohe
14. Auckland Street
15. Sandown
16. Winton
17. Surfers Paradise
18. Grand Final - Bathurst

Did you pull that order out of a hat? For example, you could at least have used the NT round as a stepping stone overseas for the teams...etc etc

[GTRMagic]

Where's Amaroo Park??

[Just Do It!]

GTR: The Auckland Street circuit is close to the CityLife hotel too

[deeks6]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
Did you pull that order out of a hat? For example, you could at least have used the NT round as a stepping stone overseas for the teams...etc etc

Ok, I have an alternative (but you might have to run Aussie race cars instead)

1. Calder
2. Hume Weir
3. Catalina
4. Mallala
5. Adelaide International
6. Baskerville
7. Amaroo
8. Lakeside
9. Lakeland Hill Climb
10. Winton (old)
11. Oran Park (short)
12. Tarrawingee
13. Sandown (WSCC course)
14. Dandenong (Lonsdale Street drag course)
15. Mount Druitt
16. Macau
17. Grand Final - Bathurst (no chase)

OK?

[Armco Bender]

Or better yet.....


1. Pukekohe
2. Manfeild
3. Taupo
4. Auckland Street Race
5. Ruapuna
6. Levels
7. Wigram
8. Pukekohe 2
9. Manfeild 2
10. Ardmore (Airport Circuit)
11. Whenuapai(Airport Circuit)
12. Ohakea(Airport Circuit)
13. Wellington Street Race(reprised)
14. Ruapuna 2
15. Invercargill(Shadbolt street Circuit)
16. Macau
17. Grand Final - Bathurst (no chase)

[Just Do It!]

Armco: You forgot Auckland International Airport....probably easier to get Transit NZ approval as less tourists would mean less road traffic, even if it defeats the purpose of having the race in the 1st place...

[deeks6]

Originally posted by Armco Bender
Or better yet.....


1. Pukekohe
2. Manfeild
3. Taupo
4. Auckland Street Race
5. Ruapuna
6. Levels
7. Wigram
8. Pukekohe 2
9. Manfeild 2
10. Ardmore (Airport Circuit)
11. Whenuapai(Airport Circuit)
12. Ohakea(Airport Circuit)
13. Wellington Street Race(reprised)
14. Ruapuna 2
15. Invercargill(Shadbolt street Circuit)
16. Macau
17. Grand Final - Bathurst (no chase)

love yer work...

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Armco Bender
Or better yet.....


1. Pukekohe
2. Manfeild
3. Taupo
4. Auckland Street Race
5. Ruapuna
6. Levels
7. Wigram
8. Pukekohe 2
9. Manfeild 2
10. Ardmore (Airport Circuit)
11. Whenuapai(Airport Circuit)
12. Ohakea(Airport Circuit)
13. Wellington Street Race(reprised)
14. Ruapuna 2
15. Invercargill(Shadbolt street Circuit)
16. Macau
17. Grand Final - Bathurst (no chase)

Why Macau?? Dosen't the Bay of Islands have potential??

[fordo]

Originally posted by Just Do It!


Moreover, doesn't a heightened awareness of motorsport through street racing usually result in more money being poured into permanent venues and the sport in general because of extra exposure, greater interest, etc...a bit like deeks' increased calendar concept?

Unfortunately it doesn't happen that way, Cochrane just gets fatter and the permanent circuits just get more run down and then squeezed out all together to create more street races because they are sub standard. Australia is the proof of that. Look at what has happened to the permanent circuits here.

[spa-eau rouge]

just have a look what has happened to MALLALA since the street circuit in adelaide has been used by v8 supercars ....