Circuit Improvements

[Razor]

Catching up on Inside Supercars today and they were talking about the new South Australia circuit and how money should be spent. One of the highlights is that some tracks need some major upgrades/improvements to cater not only for the Supercars but for state and national levels. So instead of government/CAMS/etc, could they funnel the funds to get tracks back on form?

[peckstar]

Not sure where you are going there, wondering if you left something out towards the end?

[Razor]

Are sorry Peck, I should have said

"Instead of focusing on new tracks, should they (CAMS, government, etc) funnel funds to improving old tracks"

[one five five]

What exactly is wrong with the 'old tracks' that need improving?

[billybanana]

Originally Posted by one five five

What exactly is wrong with the 'old tracks' that need improving?

eg: Winton needs $1.5M to resurface the track.

They're not talking about improving as in changing the tracks in any way, only upgrading facilities etc

[peckstar]

governments have a long history of supporting race tracks in recent years with government money (except maybe winton)

but in this case a new track in SA is awesome. Mallala is past its best before date, where as a track at Tailem bend will be fantastic for the future of motorsport in SA. and its only partial funding so we get a better facility

[bludvl_x19]

All the tracks on the V8 calendar will need to be upgraded to an International standard as of next year, this is so the co-driver sessions can have the Internationals practice on their national licence. This is in addition to the track maintenance that usually goes on, such as resurfacing.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by bludvl_x19

All the tracks on the V8 calendar will need to be upgraded to an International standard as of next year, this is so the co-driver sessions can have the Internationals practice on their national licence. This is in addition to the track maintenance that usually goes on, such as resurfacing.

must have missed something here, why the need to be international standard?

[Casper]

Spend a couple of days at a track testing a car and then tell us how good the facilities are, in short the whole lot are woeful.

[bludvl_x19]

Originally Posted by peckstar

must have missed something here, why the need to be international standard?

Yep, I would reckon you did miss something...

Originally Posted by bludvl_x19

All the tracks on the V8 calendar will need to be upgraded to an International standard as of next year, this is so the co-driver sessions can have the Internationals practice on their national licence. This is in addition to the track maintenance that usually goes on, such as resurfacing.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by bludvl_x19

Yep, I would reckon you did miss something...

still confused why that has to happen thoug., Does that not happen this year? and is it worth the cost to give experienced drivers a couple of practices?

[PVDA]

International licence holders can't run at some of our tracks due to track licence limitations.

[Kingair]

A few upgrades including upgraded toilet blocks for the paying public would be good as well!

[GTRMagic]

WiFi repeater station might be nice, free preferably.
Mobile phone fast charging stations
..and like that..

[GTRMagic]

WiFi repeater station might be nice, free preferably.
Mobile phone fast charging stations
..and like that..

[RedZedMikey]

Originally Posted by bludvl_x19

All the tracks on the V8 calendar will need to be upgraded to an International standard as of next year, this is so the co-driver sessions can have the Internationals practice on their national licence. This is in addition to the track maintenance that usually goes on, such as resurfacing.

I missed that announcement, can you point me to a press release please?

[bludvl_x19]

Originally Posted by RedZedMikey

I missed that announcement, can you point me to a press release please?

It wasn't something I found out about through a press release, just through noticing some changes at tracks this year, and having a couple of well-placed sources.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by RedZedMikey

I missed that announcement, can you point me to a press release please?

Has track licencing ever warranted a press release in the past?

[RedZedMikey]

Originally Posted by one five five

Has track licencing ever warranted a press release in the past?

Yes, but my query is more than about just track licensing. Mandated improvements to Bathurst and Barbagallo in the past have certainly had media releases before. Depending on whether the original comment is correct, and whether these changes are significant or not, some sort of media release could be warranted.

The comment made was "All the tracks on the V8 calendar will need to be upgraded to an International standard as of next year, this is so the co-driver sessions can have the Internationals practice on their national licence."

That implies all tracks will need work over and above normal maintenance. If the comment had been "All the tracks on the V8 calendar will need to meet International standards as of next year", then that is quite different, because it would mean tracks that might already meet that standard don't need upgrading.

As a keen amateur photographer I don't want to see vantage points ripped away from me by installing FIA style 8 foot catch fencing at them. Several points have already been ruined at Bathurst for the amateur, and any time I hear about mandated upgrades to International standard I get nervous. Knowing what these changes are could ease my mind, annoy me intensely, or both!

Finally, depending on the extent and cost of these upgrades, is it fair to impose those costs on circuits such as Symmons, Barbagallo and Winton simply to cover the possibility that a team might want to have an international co-driver run a test on the Friday???