Watching the Russion at GP at Sochi, on the site of their (winter?) olympic games, using the access roads, it just reminded me of the lost opportunity when they built the loss making North Harbour Stadium at Albany, where they could so easily have done a similar thing!
The Logan Centre just south of Brisbane is another multi sport's site where athletics, gymnastics, swimming centre, velodrome and sports hall all share the same large site and a decent Aussie V8 race could have been held. Too many single sport venues around; too many bland GP tracks.
brapbrap8,
Oct 13, 9:21am
Too many NIMBYs in our part of the world to do that. Imagine the outrage if you wanted to close or partially close main streets in Auckland (for example) for a few weeks to construct a race track. It isn't an issue in Australia, I was there last year while they were setting up for Surfers Paradise round, and there was huge disruption and main roads closed for weeks but everyone was happy with it because it is such a great event. Then you see how much problems they had in Hamilton with people whinging about the inconvenience of setting up the race track in Frankton, and it is easy to see why races will only ever be held on race tracks in NZ now.
Even North Harbour stadium would be too hard I think, they would never get it off the ground because local residents and businesses would complain about the noise and disruption.
eagles9999,
Oct 13, 9:30am
Older Motorsports fans will remember when Levin and Bay Park were closed due to NIMBYpressure
bill-robinson,
Oct 13, 10:59am
not that long ago, okay 30 years, the nimbys were trying to shut goodwood race track but keep the airfield running.
bill-robinson,
Oct 13, 11:54am
sorry, I got called away. lord march, who owns the airfield, attended the public meeting about this problem. Having proved his right to be there,ratepayer, proceeded to tell the public, if they shut the race track he would build houses over the airfield thus doing away with the green field aspect of the existing houses. quite well put I thought, and you all know the result
purple666,
Oct 13, 12:12pm
Bay Park was closed for other reasons, not NIMBY pressure directly.
elect70,
Oct 13, 12:28pm
Auckland is well served by 2 race tracks & speedway track , certainly doesnt need any more. . plus too close to residential area & the nimbys would stop it . even Puke is only just hanging in there with its neighbours trying to get rid of it . Cities are riddled with under utilised sports arenas testimony to to Council/Councilors big dreams & consultants reports of big $ for the city & "huge demand by ratepayers "
tigra,
Oct 13, 1:19pm
So was Levin but it came down to residential clamour when they discovered there was a Race Track up the road even if it was only run 3 or 4 times a year
socram,
Oct 13, 2:35pm
There are NO tracks north of the harbour bridge. When the Harbour stadium was built, there was just Pukekohe as a sealed track and as you say, that is only hanging on by a thread - and even that is getting thinner by the year. As far as I am aware (and happy to be proved wrong) there isn't even a kart track serving the north.
there is a cart track beside the motorway just before the silverdale off ramp. grand prix tracks to cart tracks in 10 posts
serf407,
Oct 14, 7:54am
Manukau Kart track underconstruction out by the Airport? Have been 4 dirt tracks in Northland. Kaikohe Speedway Dargaville Speedway Taipa Speedway Whangarei Speedway
socram,
Oct 14, 7:59am
Silverdale has closed. I believe it is on the market - or was three weeks ago when I last went past.
Manukau is not north of the bridge! Some will remember ambitious plans for a motorsport park at Manukau, that even included a monorail link to the airport. Rally NZ used the same site a couple of times for a super stage I believe.
Kart tracks or speedway tracks are indeed a fair way removed from sealed race tracks suitable for cars. After the Whangarei street race in early 2000, there were two plans for permanent tracks not so far away, but neither amounted to anything.
bill-robinson,
Oct 14, 8:54am
I stand corrected. have not been down that way for a couple of months.
elect70,
Oct 14, 1:34pm
As Auckland residential expands north any track built would likely come under pressure from the nimbys within few years .
kazbanz,
Oct 14, 2:13pm
Hmm--battle of the streets,Nelson street race,greymouth street race. Theres three street races currently run in NZ. of course they are for REAL racers.
kazbanz,
Oct 14, 2:18pm
Whats really sickening from my POV is that in the late 80's there was an opportunity for the various motor sport bodies to build a purpose built track out by Auckland airport. The ball got dropped and the chance has now gone
geedubu,
Oct 14, 9:18pm
Hampton Downs is a terrific facility and makes up for many other shortfalls around Auckland. I hope it thrives and I don't mind if we don't get anything else in the meantime . (Apart from being annoyed by the nimby ruination of Western Springs which is near my home, it should stay as a speedway track)
woodsy2,
Oct 15, 6:41am
Colin Dale Park was designated for motorsport in Manukau. According to a google search the council has started works on site as of early this year.
socram, your remark about bland GP tracks can be traced back to car regulations. the introduction of the 'plank' to limit ground clearance being the start. smoother tracks were needed for the recliner drivers to extract the maximum from their rides. This was provided and aero became the needed improvement. with'aero' lumps, humps,and hills on a track were out of the question as to much air got under the car and would cause flying accidents as have been seen in sports car racing. so now we have flat park like 'stadiums' fro the pinacle of motorsport. which are constructed rather than roads being adapted for racing this is the problem as I see it
elect70,
Oct 17, 2:07pm
^^its a wonder they still race at Monaco guess the big money on offer smooths out the " bumps "
bill-robinson,
Oct 17, 5:01pm
also known as poser's paradise is now only run for sponsor benefits and they do try hard to get rid of the bumps
socram,
Oct 17, 5:22pm
Bring back the Nurburgring. Mind you, I can't say that a 14.2 mile track is very good value for spectators, especially these days.
Went to Monaco for the Historics in 2012. Never again. Just nine races in a day and penned into one stand - even though no others were anywhere near full.
Its all for TV these days and sod the paying spectator.
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