New Zealand Street Race

[Marcos Skaife]

Just saw on the morning news that Pukekohe is to be replaced with a street race in Hamilton. Somewhere in the suburb of Frankton in fact. Last races at Puke will be this year ,then Hamilton is contracted for the next 8.

Don`t know what I think of that and did anyone know this was happening?

[promax]

i just heard that on the radio

[pete55]

The series is sinking further and further every day.

[flyingduck]

Have to say why tie yourself to Hamiltron (city of the future) for so long cause Hamptons downs will open up also Taupo with redevelopment I have heard the track is located only a minutes walk from town so that will be good but 8 years is a long time.

[Tracy]

Hi All

All the details can be found here - will be from 2008 IF it happens - they don't have resource consent yet, and didn't we have all this excitement before from Auckland and Wellington???

[promax]

Last year New Zealand driver Greg Murphy also said he would favour a street circuit for the sake of the motor-racing public. "It's not a case of wanting a street race - New Zealand fans deserve an event like that."

hmm i thought nz fans wanted to see a lot passing and good hard racing?

[Phase3]

Good News, though the regular people will now run out their tired old "grass roots" arguements

[storyline]

Is this anything like the track extensions that were due to be done at Taupo to help them snare not only the V8's but other 'world class' events?

[storyline]

Reading that article - interesting that the contract is between the Hamilton council and AVESCO - hopefully their reporte is just a little behind the times or this is wishful thinking that Hamilton are dealing with a company that no longer exists!

[stalks]

Taupo extensions are nearly finished having there first meeting on the new track next month

[storyline]

Good to hear - what's this though? 2, 3? years after they were supposed to be finished?

[RotorFan]

Seems strange to talk about an 8 year contract for a street race that hasn't even been proven to be successful. What if its a flop like Canberra supposedly was...

I like Pukekohe, I wish they'd stay there. Or make it an *additional* NZ round.

I'd rather the kiwis get an extra round than the middle east or china. And its easier for more Australians to attend.

[Evomike]

Originally Posted by RotorFan

Seems strange to talk about an 8 year contract for a street race that hasn't even been proven to be successful. What if its a flop like Canberra supposedly was...

I like Pukekohe, I wish they'd stay there. Or make it an *additional* NZ round.

I'd rather the kiwis get an extra round than the middle east or china. And its easier for more Australians to attend.

There is one problem, the horsey set, they are not interested in the track. The money made from the race track mostly goes back into horse facilities. Remember the comment made by the Racing Club when it was announced Pukekohe till 2007? Something along the lines of "great the money generated from these races will go straight into the new horse stables" I have also heard Hampton Downs has run into resource consent problems, apparantly the Taniwha has raised its head again. Maybe we should relocate the Taniwha to lake Taupo, much nicer than the polluted Waikato River!

[storyline]

V8 racing around Lake Taupo - as long as they can dodge the floating pumice they should go OK! (Just imagine having to pit for a radiator holed by a piece of floating lave lighter than a ream of paper)

[Vanilla Dice]

Is this the Queensland Raceway replacement round for the year?

[storyline]

Actually - a press release has just bene issued by V8SA - the race goes to Hamilton in 2008 (not 2007):

Hamilton has secured the rights to New Zealand’s only round of the V8 Supercar Championship with a proposed street race starting from 2008.

Hamilton mayor Michael Redman says the city has been working for nearly a year to position Hamilton as the exclusive New Zealand host city for the international event in an arena of fierce national and international competition.

V8 Supercars Australia agreed for a further two-year extension for the PlaceMakers V8 Supercars at Pukekohe Park Raceway this year and finally in 2007, with a preference for a street race for a further seven years from 2008.

[Just Do It!]

Originally Posted by storyline

Is this anything like the track extensions that were due to be done at Taupo to help them snare not only the V8's but other 'world class' events?

Yes, with Peter Brock and Ross Palmer getting behind it to bring the ProCar Series to NZ and Taupo.

The track does look good on a map - havent seen it in person.

There is still much speculation around it all, with conflicting stories rising to the top.

All I can say is that Hamilton have played an ace and won a Queen and huge congratulations to them. The circuit will be interesting. It is very, very good and sticks it to those who said it could, then it couldn't, happen in their backyard.

A rail link and internationally-capable airport will add to the success.

[Just Do It!]

Originally Posted by storyline

V8 racing around Lake Taupo - as long as they can dodge the floating pumice they should go OK! (Just imagine having to pit for a radiator holed by a piece of floating lave lighter than a ream of paper)

Errr... a Taniwha is a mythical Maori monster. Imagine that - something that doesn't exist causing issues for something that wants to exist...

Evomike was eluding to relocating the taniwha near Hampton Downs down to Lake Taupo, where it has a much larger body of water to spend its days.

It shouldn't be a big problem to relocate something that doesn't exist. Of course, a mythical monster would hardly want to dwell with real monsters located in a prison facility that will neighbour the proposed circuit, would it?

[Evomike]

Apparantly it is a capatalist taniwha, it was happy to coexist with the prison after a large sum was paid

[Trevor]

My brother is going to be really please with this news, he doesn't follow motorsport and he lives in Frankton - bugger!!!

[Just Do It!]

I guess he will be blessed by the presence of at least one of the Shepparton Mafia then, Trev?

You can get a direct flight in from Tullamarine as you will no doubt be aware.

[Armco Bender]

Well this should be a goer,using streets that wont affect traffic flows like Auckland and Wellington,and theres no basket weavers or vegeterian tree huggers in Hamilton to complain.

[mountainstar]

Hamilton wouldn't have been my first choice, but I don't mind it to much. Could be worse like Gisborne or Invercargill.

I remember those streets pretty well and it doesn't seem to be a long course nor a scenic one.

[jjd]

Originally Posted by Evomike

Apparantly it is a capatalist taniwha, it was happy to coexist with the prison after a large sum was paid

Uncle Ngatanga sits in his lounge fretting, "Damn, I'm pretty sure that's where I buried Aunty Watangiwhalangi after she found me boning my 14 year old niece after drinking those crates of Lion Red outside the TAB in Porirua that day."

Is that the same taniwha?

[Just Do It!]

Originally Posted by jjd

Uncle Ngatanga sits in his lounge fretting, "Damn, I'm pretty sure that's where I buried Aunty Watangiwhalangi after she found me boning my 14 year old niece after drinking those crates of Lion Red outside the TAB in Porirua that day."

Is that the same taniwha?

Nup! Miles out! Think about it - too far to drag the body. And very, very rough too, jjd. Careful, or you may end up like Vanilla Dice!!