Hampton Downs. The one good thing about the len brown decision to throw 10million of your and my ratepayer money at the horse ra

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singing1, Jul 17, 2:36am
How does the Mystery Creek Field days get consent to put 120k people in their gate, (over 3 days), with the airport right next door and HD cant even get their consent needed to run the V8's! And I thought HD had consent for 40 thousand! or that's what the road was supposedly built for. Is it the whining jail up the road or the rubbish dump putting a spanner in the works!
I reckon jam it up the V8's and run a big meeting on the same weekend at HD.
I know.I know .I'm like a women, asking to many questions at once.
esprit, Jul 17, 6:41am
Yes, but HD wasn't asking, nor would it need any public money. If the V8s signed up for 5 years, HD would be able to raise the funds PRIVATELY to pay for themselves. I myself would have bought a property at the track if the V8 Supercars deal had been signed.

The only public money input would have had to have been in the way of traffic management, which would have had to have been spent at any event of that size, regardless.
kazbanz, Jul 17, 6:46am
Hey socram-I can fix ALL the HD funding issues.Put a rugby goal post up at each end of the pits and paint the tarmac of the pits green.
bingo all the local bodies will fall over each other to encourage grasss roots rugby
splinter67, Jul 17, 6:53am
Its not only the consent thats stopping H D from getting the v8s
Who would go to a race meeting at HD while the v8s where on at puke
and who would race. I know where I woud go
socram, Jul 17, 7:41am
LOL!
If we had sufficient marshals and people available to run it, I'd happily run a race meeting on the same day (and spectator entry would probably be free), but unfortunately, the volunteer marshals would be at full stretch at a large meeting and that is the only reason I wouldn't do it.We do need expertise on the day in race control and the V8s would be far more demanding than a clubby.

Each marshal point still needs to be adequately manned (but there are plenty of racers who are just as happy recording the V8s whilst being able to race).They are stretched already when there is a meeting on at Pukekohe on the same day as HD.It happened earlier this year at our April 1st HD meeting but we managed - just.
splinter67, Jul 17, 7:58am
I didnt realize you ran HD running a meeting while the V8 supercars are on at puke that would make great business sense not. People wonder why HD didnt get the V8s with decisions like that its no wonder
serf407, Jul 17, 8:01am
Would a drift day at HD be able to be held the same weekend as the Pukekohe v8s. Slightly different crowd demographics !
singing1, Jul 17, 10:32am
You seem to be in the know.tell us what else it is then!
Not every petrol head is interested in the V8's in fact its kinda boring.(There are plenty of other vehicles with pistons).I, for one won't be going BUT I would go to a meeting at HD or volunteer as a marshal or anything else they needed.
socram, Jul 17, 10:40am
Our meetings are totally self supporting as are most club events.All expenses are met by competitor entry fees, so whether there are paying spectators or not is irrelevant.If you can grab 100 paying drivers, you are home and dry.
Just like major events, be they Australian V8s, NZ Super Tourers or even Tier 1, the only way you make a loss is by spending money you don't have coming in.
That, I would suggest is not good business!

Just to clarify. I have no official involvement with HD or the running of HD so any decisions as to V8s or no V8s are absolutely nothing to do with me.I am simply a person who runs two classic race series and elects to hire Hampton Downs once a year and pays the circuit hire fees, which is an option open to anyone.Sure, I am a shareholder in a company that owns a freehold apartment at HD, but that is as far as it goes.
I just happen to know the principals very well and have done almost since the day I first arrived in NZ.I have huge respect for them and what they have achieved and their vision for the future.NZ (and particularly the Auckland region) needed a dedicated motorsports centre, not a venue where there are always clashes with the horse fraternity or noise issues.
Investors into HD sign a document that effectively precludes any complaints regarding circuit noise, or any knock on effects from the landfill and the prison.
We invested, as when the plans were first put to me privately, way back in about 2001 or 2002, I was very enthusiastic about the long term potential and I still am.So yes, I go to bat for them, as the region needs a successful, dedicated centre to celebrate motorsport and when it is complete, it will be a place to be really proud of.

Pukekohe has been running since 1963 as car venue, but come on, just look at it. Almost fifty years and every step forward is a struggle. We all want it to improve and we need it to succeed, as it is a great track and totally different from HD, which is ideal for any racer.
splinter67, Jul 17, 10:58am
Read the rest of the thread and if its so boring why dose Hd want it cause its one of the biggest money spinners if not the biggest in motorsport in NZ
socram, Jul 17, 11:20am
Money spinner for who!Hamilton!Sydney!Canberra!HD is happy for Aussie V8s to hire the track under their normal terms and conditions, and take the income from spectators, advertising etc (they are offering a clean venue), but the hirer pays for all other temporary structures, security etc., but HD are not going to pay them to come!

Rally NZ is probably a far bigger money spinner overall.When it was based at Sky City, it was very profitable for many involved parties and has a greater TV coverage world wide promoting NZ.
splinter67, Jul 17, 11:24am
socram good luck getting 100 racers to attend a meeting while the v8s are racing.
splinter67, Jul 17, 11:29am
How many people paid to get into rally NZ dream on
The teams champs in palmy north would have made more money than Rally NZ
singing1, Jul 17, 11:34am
Puke is just wanting something for nothing.take a look at the place.its a bloody disgrace. And the buildings that were put in for the last bunch of V8 super-cars that raced there, what maintenance has been done to protect the investment! NOTHING! The pit buildings were unsafe on the upper level within a couple of years and now they are just a rusty wreck. When complete, (even now, just ask the visiting drivers) HD is a world class facility and a far better showcase for NZ motor racingthen that rubbish we know as Puke. Christ I have been at Puke when the outer pit/parking area filled with water right up to the sills of the cars parked. Its a dump. Only my opinion though.
floscey, Jul 17, 12:50pm
if it rains at pukekohe im taking a tow truck into the carpark and charge $10 bucks a tow to get them out .
socram, Jul 17, 2:42pm
Do you really believe that all the active racers, particularly the classics, really care about the V8s that much! It isn't going to happen anyway, but there are more classic racers regularly supporting events than you probably realise.

Take your pick from 4 grids of BMWs, 1 Alfas, 2 ERC, plus Formula Junior, Historic FF, Super historics, historic sports cars, F5000, Muscle Cars x 2, Japanese Classics, Classic Trial, MG Series etc.If you like, you can even add the Vintage Car Club guys to the mix.

Tier 1 at Taupo a couple of years ago our premier race meeting - 68 cars (included NZV8s of course, before V8 Super Tourers appeared).Same day at Hampton Downs, 250 classic/historic cars.
singing1, Jul 17, 2:46pm
And after that there is all the motorcycle racing classes.
socram, Jul 17, 2:50pm
Well, as the official merchandisers at the time, we were selling the tickets for Rally NZ, for the road stages plus the super stages at Manukau City plus the programmes, I can assure you, the numbers were pretty good, with a lot of people going for the "Gold Pack" - which we sold out of!We were flat out for two weeks up to and including the event and often weren't able to pack up until 11pm.A large group came over each year from New Caledonia just for the rally and boy, did they keep us busy!
hornnett, Jul 17, 3:05pm
POM!If its a yes then it all makes sense.
"I won't feed the troll again."
hornnett, Jul 17, 3:10pm
" Sure, I am a shareholder in a company that owns a freehold apartment at HD, but that is as far as it goes"
And I am also a shareholder who will benefit from any major race held at HD,but that is as far as it goes.So come on ratepayers/taxpayers let get some money spent on this place.
"I won't feed the troll again."
singing1, Jul 17, 3:13pm
Mate you have no idea how the system works do you! How will socram benefit! Rent the apartment for a couple of weeks.WOW that isn't going to put butter on the bread.
geedubu, Jul 17, 3:21pm
I think it is time for anybody who cares about motorsport as a spectator (my main role in this) or a potential competitor, to throw their weight behind Hampton Downs.There are no hidden agendas behind this, it is a great track with good viewing opportunities for people who like to watch & a good track for those who want to race.Forget the politics, help this fine effort, built for motorsports only, succeed. There are no conflicts of interest at this facility, it is there to let keen enthusiasts enjoy the sport.If it is a business, good on the heroes who got it this far.
splinter67, Jul 17, 3:22pm
whats a large group from New Caledonia got to do with it do you think that only kiwis go to the v8s in NZ Australians come over in there droves how many went to the super stage at manukau not the same amount that attend the v8s for the 3 days
socram, Jul 17, 3:28pm
It was in reponse to the comment about Rally NZ not making any money out of spectators.
socram, Jul 17, 3:28pm
It was in response to your comment about Rally NZ not making any money out of spectators.Read your own post.