Chris Amon at HD

Socram, did you enjoy, saw you but was busy working, was not the same amount of cars or spectators as last year, the weather didnt help.

Last year was pretty special.Far bigger entry particularly from overseas.Grids this time a tad smaller but still a load of great cars.

I enjoyed the one race I did. A crash on lap one brought out the red flag (and reduced the field).Race was already reduced from 8 laps to 7, and as we were about race 9 on the programme and our first race finished at 13:40 just as it started to rain, it got a bit grim and I decided that as we were going out, I'd skip race two.And that was it! I do know that several pulled off after 3 or 4 laps as they couldn't see.A bit of mechanical attrition - as always.

The Ferrari Tasman car just ran away and unfortunately, the BRM V12 spun at turn 2 and then retired.

Maserati 250F was just wonderful.

Walked part of the track Sunday after it was called off (the correct decision) to see what it was like.So much water that it was only a matter of time before it would have been impossible to carry on.

Saturday crowd wasn't bad (top car park was getting fairly full) but Sunday is always the bigger day.

Hopefully, the weather this weekend will be decent as I have been invited to drive the yellow beast in the midday sports/GT parade on Sunday! Fingers crossed that the weather is OK - if only for that 4 laps.

good luck for your special drive, will be in Hastings next week, all over the place at the moment.

I enjoyed the racing on Saturday, my first time at Hampton Downs. I do think they need to cater a little better to poor spectators. It seems like the place is built for the apartments and anyone else is an afterthought. They could do with some terraced seating on the banks of the main straight as there is at Pukekohe or some level spots to spread a rug.

all the extras will come, money is the only thing stopping them

Welsh dude my thoughts exactly . Even suggested it to them & a radio link for commentary . Another sub tropical cyclone due to hit this weekend again ,& seeing as the feilds are thinnerwill wait till sat morning before deciding to go up

The profits on the sale of the apartments financed the initial building of the circuit and are nothing to do with the track. They are privately owned and although I understand the comments re seating, there will never be a covered stand on the top straight.Personally, I'd far rather watch from a corner (exits of turns 2, 3 and 4 are excellent for taking photographs).

There are spots to place a rug, but the main attraction of the circuit is the rise and fall.The fact that much of the spectator area is more than 1.5m (or 2.5!) higher than the track allows the low fencing - which is great for amateur photographers.

Yes, money (or lack of it) is the problem, with the new pits buildings I think, privately financed.The apartment owners signed up in September 2004 on the assumption that the complex included tennis court, gymnasium and a swimming pool. As yet, no start dates for any of them.

The Corrections Dept and what was Transit NZ were the only objectors to the project and not only did they delay the start by 2 years, but also cost the developers millions that should have gone on the infrastructure and the facilities both for track users and spectators.

Taupo had council assistance and they have no covered seating either.

HD is 100% privately owned and if you have $30m you'd like to invest, I am sure that Messrs Roberts and Watson would love to hear from you.

In the meantime, progress is being made and 15 months ago we had no HD track to race on at all.

Several unit developments being built ranging from 3 bed apartments with 7 car garaging to single bedroom units with garaging for 4 cars. Profits again go into track development, the planned museum, kart track - and hopefully, the apartment owners will also get what they were promised and paid for.

The commentary/radio is broadcast locally on 102.5 FM - though the sound quality wasn't the best. There are hiccups with the soundsystem too.

I hope you are wrong elect 70 - but you are probably not. unfortunately.

Spare a thought for the overseas contingent.They came (at considerable expense I might add) to escape the snow and foul weather.

Doesnt look any better for this weekend either .Cyclone wilma due to hit Auckland saturday.Rain & heavy rain ,gale force winds.2 washout weekends in a row ,god not smiling on motor racing .

Ah well. We'll just have to see what the weather is really like as we are there for the weekend anyway and having paid my entry fee, would like to get a bit of track time in. Friday (practice and qualifying - unless they scrap that and go from qualifying straight into racing - should be OK.

The cyclone has to hit the top of the north island first so we should be able to predict when/if it hits HD.Unfortunately, we are race group 9 of 10, so most likely to be affected by the weather -as we were last year at Pukekohe.

A bit tough on the promoters who lost a packet last year and were hoping for better weather this time.Air shows and Muscle Cars this weekend that were not on last week.

Good to see Chris Amon on TV tonight (Close Up) - and Festival Chairman Jim Barclay in the driving seat of the Maserati 250F - his favourite car!

hopefully some spectators will show to pay the bills, I think the weather will miss HD

Fingers crossed.