More on Auckland Street Circuit

[Just Do It!]

Maybe there haven't been, Tracy. I have only fractionally more interest in horse racing than my non-existant interest in rugby....I am probably out of touch a little.

I do know that consolidation in race meetings by horse racing officialdom is killing off smaller venues, as events are focussed around larger, more populated facilities to get punter numbers up.

If Manfield was only built where it was meant to be built, things may be different. Manfield's enemies used to be the horses, the incliment weather, and of more recent times, use of the venue for other events such as the Central Districts Agricultural Fielday and on more than one occasion, a Formula Ford has vanished off into the maize crop which grows on the edge of the circuit. Dazzled drivers tend to stagger out and forget where they "parked" their cars. There is one other problem with Manfield, but looking at the website, the said names aren't mentioned, so maybe things have changed.

By putting the link where you mention, Tracy, it is certainly going to provide an impressive infield area for spectator viewing and corporate hospitality. Hopefully the horsey people will allow their facility for parking rather than the current hotch-botched, and extravagent pricing "structure" that the Pukekohe event currently "enjoys".

Does Higgins still own most of the track??

[Tracy]

Hi All

As far as I know Higgins don't own any part of the track, just the 3 groups mentioned previously. Higgins have been (and still are I think) great supporters and sponsors of Manfeild (eg the Dan Higgins trophy for Formula Ford).

I'm not sure that there will be any infield spectator viewing as the plus for the circuit at present is that you can see most of the circuit from all the viewing points, if they start putting heaps of infield seating in, people won't be able to see big chunks of the track.

There should be plenty of parking, at the moment there always seems plenty for the summer series, especially as when the trust is formed it will own all the land.

The CD field days are run by Manfeild Promotions, so no clash of interests there

[Armco Bender]

I do know that consolidation in race meetings by horse racing officialdom is killing off smaller venues

Horse racing is now a made for TV sport,doesn't really matter if no one turns up at the track they make there $$$ from the TV punters.
So sadly is motorsport now a TV sport,they don't really care
if no one turns up at the track,the $$$ are made from the TV rights.

Why not have the Kiwi race around the streets of Bondi Beach ?,that would save a lot on shipping costs

[Zinger]

Berni thought F1 was a TV sport and set up the FOCA Digital TV. Just look at it now too see if motorsport is a TV sport.

[Just Do It!]

Not quite true Zinger. He was just a lil bit exuberant with estimations - over- with uptake/subscriptions and under- with respect to the costs of it.

What is sacrilege is the fact that free-to-air F1 shows so few in-car shots. You get some real blues too - remember the "one hand into the hairpin" at Adelaide so the middle finger could be extended to a slower car.

When, Ingal/Skaife, aside did you last see action like that in Supercars?

Armco Bender, statistically, you have a point, though QLD now has some 400,000 Kiwis, which is more or less the style of modern Japanese warfare - Don't go in with guns, go in with money! The point will be highlighted when the Auckland Street Race happens....

[275 GTB-4]

[i]The reason is getting the gear set up, and speculation suggests that AKL's event will see either the Canberra or Clipsal circuit gear being sent over here by barge.[/B]

I think you can forget anything being available from Canberra - I drive past most of the concrete barriers every day on my way to work. A number of government depts snaffled barriers up in the wake of September 11.

[Armco Bender]

The point will be highlighted when the Auckland Street Race happens....

Don't hold your breath while your waiting then......

[Just Do It!]

Ok. Well people in the know suggest that the NZ organisers have thought of, or looked into, the possibility of barging all the Clipsal gear over to build the Auckland Street Circuit as it would cut costs and provide a cost reduction for the Clipsal event.

Also, the Auckland circuit is close to the wharf, and for barging purposes, the barge could be parked by the fuel "farm" - I forget the name of that wharf.