End of Aussie V8s in NZ?

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socram, Feb 16, 7:15am
No plans for post Hamilton.
twink19, Feb 16, 7:39am
its all about the money, Tony Cockrane is only interested in street races, there are tracks in Australia with less to offer than Hampton Downs and they stil go there
3tomany, Feb 16, 8:15am
+1 cocko likes street races for big money tv while the ratepayers and taxpayers pay the massive running costs. I love supercars but not at any cost so if thats the cost supercars can bugger of
socram, Feb 16, 11:13am
Sad, but I think you are both right.They were nit picking about Hampton Downs, as why wouldn't you want to race at a track that is already better than many in the Oz V8 series and already has much of the permanent infrastructure in place!

What it does mean though is that HD won't LOSE money on the event.

Tony & Chris are announcing future plans for HD this weekend I believe, but I won't be there, so when anyone knows anything, please let us know.
elect70, Feb 16, 12:43pm
No surpriseother countries are vyingfor a roundwith plenty of$ backingMaccua is 1seeing as F1 dont go thereanymorebut still have thetrack .Iwill beat HDso see whattranspires . Murphy has hinted at being in the SuperTourers onlyfrom next season . Who needs the Aussie race with all its over hype ,
hawat, Feb 17, 4:39am
Can anyone speculate on the outcome to V8 Supercars of the rumoured demise of both Commodore and Falcon! Ford are to stop aussie production of Falcons and GM are to cease Holden. Will that mean that we will see a Taurus versus an Impala at Bathurst soon.
twink19, Feb 17, 7:05am
this morning John Key is saying that the Govtwill put money into Pukekoheto keep V8s here, why not Hampton Downs
pollymay, Feb 17, 7:26am
I'm kind of indifferent. We have some great local series as well and nowhere near the crowds cause they are too busy watching the supercars with a case of double brown while they beat their wife.
kellrae, Feb 17, 9:29am
At a guess it would depend on the 'deal'.Not sure about the ownership structure of Pukekohe.Of course Hampton Downs is a private enterprise from my understanding.

Mind you it is a long time since I have been to Pukekohe, have the flooding issues ever been resolved!
esprit, Feb 17, 10:03am
The money SHOULD be going to Hampton Downs. Pukekohe is a dead duck, the horsey set hate it and the surrounding developments often complain about noise, putting race meetings in jeopardy.

HD would need a MUCH smaller investment to get it up to V8 Supercar ready status than Pukekohe. the only reason it's not I can figure is purely political.
socram, Feb 17, 12:18pm
It's about the money.No point in HD hosting it if they don't make anything out of it. At a guess (and it is only a guess),Aussie V8s wanted all the money from just about all revenue streams, circuit advertising, spectators, private/corporate boxes etc., leaving HD with not a lot - or a debt.

Throwing public money at Pukekohe which is only a part time motorsport venue is not justified.Throwing some money at HD would be justified, bearing mind the previous government threw so much money at fighting it (losing) and also cost the developers two years and millions that should have gone into the track and the facilities.

With the HD management being pretty strong (basically a committee of two!)the Aussie V8s can't play politics the way they may have done with a council and a street circuit.

The racers like the track; it is longer and arguably better equipped than several Aussie tracks (even without the extension).Cochrane is not in a position to bully HD and walk all over them leaving them further in debt and struggling to pick up the pieces.

Shades of Bernie I fear.One group always wins and everyone they deal with loses.They are not interested at all in the sport, just making millions for themselves.
socram, Feb 17, 12:21pm
Pukekohe is still owned by the Franklin Racing Club.Flooding is not as bad as it used to be (bins and onions floating down the main straight!).
berg, Feb 17, 12:27pm
Maybe soram mate, we could be better off without them. Hamilton certainly could. I think its high time we set up a cheap road based class in NZ, not knocking the BMW classes here but its only for BMWs, and set maximum limits on amounts spent. Have one of those buy deals where you must accept a set amount of money from a competitor who wants to buy your car. Set a reasonable money limit and you might be surprised at the amount of folk off the street who are willing to give it a go.
Just my ramblings
elect70, Feb 17, 1:16pm
There is an SS class(super slow )foranything that doesnt fit other classes, viirtuallystock standard cars ,fire resistant suit & helmet , dont even think needs a cage .
berg, Feb 17, 1:52pm
Must find out if Man field runs that class. Sounds like me
floscey, Feb 17, 1:55pm
V8supercars are picking up the bill for the next round and with this latest announcment from mini Bernie i hope that its the least supported and attended round in v8sc history. Tony Cockrun doesnt give a toss about NZ or its fans ,he only cares for his pocket. Hit him where it hurts. Word on the street is TC wanted 2 mill up front to go Hampton Downs .
socram, Feb 17, 2:02pm
You can run a cheap car in our classes, but we are Euro only and generally pre 1977, but we are now looking at 25 years and older. There is indeed a slower race class, (ACES!) but it hasn't really had muchsupport as yet.
Our slower class does not need a cage if the car is not performance modified, but we do insist on full harness belts.
You can pick up a 1995 MGF or an older MGB for example, and race it for under $5000.Its a level playing field as we only run handicap races for points.

The compulsory purchase type of car I don't agree with for classic racing on a circuit, for a variety of reasons.OK for grass track/dirt racing maybe, but IMHO, a fair handicap system means that you can have pride in your marque and the presentation or vehicle.
fordcrzy, Feb 17, 2:48pm
i find it amazing that the government will build a multimillion dollar RUGBY GRANDSTAND in christchurch for the crusaders withoutany hesitation, yet they cant fork out some cash for hampton downs.they are both professional sports so why does rugby get the no questions asked money!
xpfairmont, Feb 17, 3:18pm
Because it's in the middle of nowhere! Wellington or Auckland street race by the water front is what they want for TV etc. but both cities a full of latee drinking boff heads who wont have a bar of it. Don't want the cream blown off their coffee. Or any traffic delays, but if it's ruby.
kellrae, Feb 17, 3:19pm
Exactly what I thought was the situation.I admire HD for sticking to their guns over who will race at their circuit.

TC does not give a hoot about kiwi's or the fan base, which is seem by the 'acceptance' of substandard TV coverage in NZ of the V8Supercars.TC got his money from TV3 and that is all he cares.Not a jot that TV3 cant get the coverage right for the viewers.

Besides the local racing fraternity seems to be chugging along quite nicely now!
esprit, Feb 17, 3:24pm
Not really, it's about 70km south of the biggest city in NZ, about 40 minutes drive, right on the main highway. it's no further from a major centre than Pukekohe is.
xpfairmont, Feb 17, 3:28pm
Like I said middle of nowhere. They want water front cities for TV not muddy paddocks full of cows. At least Pukekohe has the railway tracks at its back door.
fordcrzy, Feb 17, 3:35pm
better not tell that to bathurst, Eastern Creek, hidden valley,Queensland raceway etc etc they are in amongst the cows too
xpfairmont, Feb 17, 3:36pm
They have history. HD doesn't.
skully13, Feb 17, 3:56pm
If it is true that the government is now going to put some money up for keeping the V8s here, then I feel that it is too little too late. Where were they 4 years ago! As far as I am concerned right now, Tony can take his slot car set and shove it up his coalhole. As a New Zealand fan these guys have played us and done nothing for us. They give us crap TV coverage, screw us over with our round, and give us no thanks for our support. And they wonder why they are losing support from the Kiwi fans!