Discussion
vtgts300kw said:
GravelBen said:
Isn't the choice more about corporate facilities and money etc? Hampton Downs is a brand new FIA Cat-2 circuit. Taupo should be well up to the required level too (it had a big upgrade for A1GP) but is a bit further from cities. Pukekohe on the other hand is a bit past it IMO.
They will have to invest in the facilities at Pukekohe, this didn't really seem to be a deal breaker though.Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 22 May 03:18
Hampton Downs is the best option ( Taupo amongst other things lacks accommodation ), but the resource consent issues regarding traffic would be a headache Cochrane doesn't want a bar of, and I can't blame him.
BUT, it is essentially bankrupt and therefore the facilities are limited, especially for hospitality...and it's chicken and egg...without blue riband events it won't get the investment in facilities needed to attract those blue riband events.
I am told Pukekohe has just had a grant approved to upgrade some elements. It didn't sound like a huge grant though, so I wonder just how much difference that will make.
rubystone said:
Hampton Downs in its current form is IMHO just too small for anything like V8s. It's a bit like Brands Indy for DTM - too narrow and too short to allow any real racing in anything big...but if it were extended as planned, it'd be perfect...viewing is great and access is easy to improve and the circuit has been well thought out from a racing driver's perspective.
BUT, it is essentially bankrupt and therefore the facilities are limited, especially for hospitality...and it's chicken and egg...without blue riband events it won't get the investment in facilities needed to attract those blue riband events.
I am told Pukekohe has just had a grant approved to upgrade some elements. It didn't sound like a huge grant though, so I wonder just how much difference that will make.
They would only go if the track was extended., although it is currently still longer than Symmons Plains I think. The facilities arn't the problem, it's the access ( traffic, parking etc ) that is.BUT, it is essentially bankrupt and therefore the facilities are limited, especially for hospitality...and it's chicken and egg...without blue riband events it won't get the investment in facilities needed to attract those blue riband events.
I am told Pukekohe has just had a grant approved to upgrade some elements. It didn't sound like a huge grant though, so I wonder just how much difference that will make.
Government has said it will help fund the Pukekohe upgrades.
Edited by vtgts300kw on Tuesday 22 May 11:28
vtgts300kw said:
[The facilities arn't the problem, it's the access ( traffic, parking etc ) that is.
Government has said it will help fund the Pukekohe upgrades.
The parking is shocking whenever there's an event that attracts a decent crowd...but there's plenty of space to sort that out - but the finance is lacking to develop that. BUT the lack of decent hospitality space IS an issue to the teams who wish to give their sponsors a real "experience". This could be sorted if they do build above the garages, but again, without the money, it won't happen.Government has said it will help fund the Pukekohe upgrades.
Coming from the UK where circuits generally "evolved" and are now restricted by the population that has grown up around them (Brands being a prime example) I find it ironic that Hampton Downs was clearly pre-planned but is unlikely ever to reach its potential despite not being hamstrung by space and noise restrictions.
rubystone said:
Hampton Downs in its current form is IMHO just too small for anything like V8s. It's a bit like Brands Indy for DTM - too nabut if it were extended as planned, it'd be perfect...viewing is great and access is easy to improve and the circuit has been well thought out from a racing driver's perspective.
They run NZ V8 supertourers at HD with no problems, same size and pace of car to Aus V8 supertaxis though the fields are a bit smaller. Still a longer circuit than some of the others they use.IIRC the biggest problem with Pukekohe is the track surface itself, which is well past its prime and getting very bumpy now.
Surely if they had done that then the simple solution is allow them to pass behind the safety car to their original positions? That would be simple and easily passed through the field via their radios?!?!?!?! I still cant quite understand how they help the wrong car and those 2 were the only 2 to suffer?????
Starting the think Lowndes is the joker of the pack with Van Gis and his bad luck charm. Hes having the most unlucky start to a season I can remember watching and VG always seems to be in the vacinity when it goes wrong.
Starting the think Lowndes is the joker of the pack with Van Gis and his bad luck charm. Hes having the most unlucky start to a season I can remember watching and VG always seems to be in the vacinity when it goes wrong.
Villeneauve will be steering the Murphy car in Townsville
http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/v8-superc...
I wonder if he will do better than his last drive where he helped take out half the field on the Gold Coast.
I have never really minded JV until recently when he commented that no one had died in F1 since Senna. He of all people should know that in fact two marshalls have been killed (and a driver during testing?). That really pissed me off.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/v8-superc...
I wonder if he will do better than his last drive where he helped take out half the field on the Gold Coast.
I have never really minded JV until recently when he commented that no one had died in F1 since Senna. He of all people should know that in fact two marshalls have been killed (and a driver during testing?). That really pissed me off.
Rex Ironstone said:
Villeneauve will be steering the Murphy car in Townsville
http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/v8-superc...
I wonder if he will do better than his last drive where he helped take out half the field on the Gold Coast.
I have never really minded JV until recently when he commented that no one had died in F1 since Senna. He of all people should know that in fact two marshalls have been killed (and a driver during testing?). That really pissed me off.
He did alright in race 2 at the Gold Coast though, he finished 5th. http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/v8-superc...
I wonder if he will do better than his last drive where he helped take out half the field on the Gold Coast.
I have never really minded JV until recently when he commented that no one had died in F1 since Senna. He of all people should know that in fact two marshalls have been killed (and a driver during testing?). That really pissed me off.
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