Mount News

[louonline]

From BCC website...

Federal funding sees major development on track at Mt Panorama
12 May 2004

MEDIA RELEASE

Mount Panorama will soon start to look a lot more like the world class motor racing venue it has established itself to be with news of a $10 million Federal funding boost announced in last night's Federal Budget.

remainder of post deleted - Wrex

[louonline]

Also from BCC website...

AVESCO announces most significant deal in Bathurst history
13 May 2004


The long-term future of one of the world's most prestigious motor racing events, the Bathurst 1000, has been assured through a 20-year deal between the Australian Vee Eight Supercar Company (AVESCO) and the Bathurst City Council.

AVESCO Chairman Tony Cochrane and Bathurst City Council Mayor Kath Knowles signed the deal at the historic Mount Panorama circuit today. It means AVESCO Events will promote and run the race for the next 10 years with an option to continue for a further decade after that.


remainder of post deleted - Wrex

[Bigguy]

Great news Lou! Hopefully this will quieten the naysayers about there being nothing in it for race fans.

It's all good... whether we like it or not, head honchos of major sponsoring companies, not necessarily being revheads, need appropriate surroundings if they are going to maintain their willingness to contribute (after all, at least to some sponsors, the VIP treatment might actually be the main incentive for the support of their oganisation!). The teams will get better facilities, and the fans will get a range of improvements to make their time at the Mount more enjoyable.

[Wrex]

Lou, we dont allow full 'copy and pastes' for obvious legals reasons, please feel free to summarise and post the link to the whole story.

Thankyou

[louonline]

Yeah BigGuy, that’s pretty well the way I see it.
I was actually at the official handover function by the Minister for Sports (Jackie Kelly) to BCC. I got the impression she was a bit of a ‘rev head)
I had a chance to speak to the BCC General Manager .
He said they are going flat out but all that needs doing will not be finished this year but come Oct. 2005 every thing should be in place.
I specifically asked about camping facilities and he said that as well as improving the existing site there would be another site developed.
Tying the V8’s for 10 years is a good anchor point but my real passion is for the B24, hopefully a sponsor can be found for it to go ahead this year.
The General Manager is going to Sydney for ‘talks’ next week.

[louonline]

Originally posted by Wrex
Lou, we dont allow full 'copy and pastes' for obvious legals reasons, please feel free to summarise and post the link to the whole story.

Thankyou

OOPS.. Sorry.
Here are the links for the above media releases.
http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/news/...130_22250.html

http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/news/...7439_3517.html

Makes interesting reading and should answer some questions regarding spectator facilities.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by louonline
I specifically asked about camping facilities and he said that as well as improving the existing site there would be another site developed.

Fan-bloody-tastic!! Great news Lou Cheers

[DAVID PATERSON]

Where will the new camp site be?

[DAVID PATERSON]

I've just gone and read Lou's links, thanks for those, and the 400 new campsites will be in the paddock which will be levelled in stages. Also, the extra mounds on the 3 bottom turns will be good for spectators.

[louonline]

Hi David,
I have no doubt that when all the proposed improvements are completed Australia will have a motor racing track it can truly be proud of.
There is no way that everything will be finished this year but come Oct. 2005 we should see it in all it’s splendour!
Unfortunately all this will be lost on me if the B24h doesn’t go ahead.
You may think I’m a real “Rev Head” reading some of my posts but the fact is that I lost interest in motor sport for 20 odd years until the B24 came along and rekindled the flame.
If you or anyone else here can come up with any good practical suggestions to held Ross Palmer stage this event I’m sure it would be appreciated.
Wish I had a friend at Microsoft.

[DAVID PATERSON]

Bathurst is already something very, very special, easily the best track in the southern Hemisphere, but I think it will be even more of a shame that it's used just twice a year when all this work is done. One or two club/state race meetings a year would help to amortise the cost and offer significant benefits to the town, as clubbies buy all their stuiff locally, they don't get it from tenders in Sydney or Melbourne.

[Chronicle]

Hopefully the Bathurst 24 hour can reap some of the benifits as well.

[louonline]

Originally posted by DAVID PATERSON
Bathurst is already something very, very special, easily the best track in the southern Hemisphere, but I think it will be even more of a shame that it's used just twice a year when all this work is done. One or two club/state race meetings a year would help to amortise the cost and offer significant benefits to the town, as clubbies buy all their stuiff locally, they don't get it from tenders in Sydney or Melbourne.

Hi David,
By 2006 Mt. Panorama will be able to hold up to five full meetings per year.
If a promoter wants to run a club/state race meeting and can come up with the necessary cash there is nothing to stop him/her from doing so.
I don’t know what sort of money is involved but I doubt a club/state meeting would generate enough income to make it viable.
The only way I can see clubs getting a go at the Mount is if they can persuade the promoter of a bigger event to invite them.
This is only my opinion and I stand to be corrected.
I don’t know, perhaps all the club racers could pool their resources and get behind Ross Palmer to help him promote the B24 provided the got a day’s racing in the lead up to the main event.

[louonline]

BCC administrators are going to Sydney this week for "talks" regarding the B24.
Hopefully they'll come back with some good news.

[louonline]

You may be interested in having a look at BOB JANE'S web site for more info on Mt. Panorama.
Mainly about Bathurst 1000 but other news as well.
http://www.bobjanetmarts1000.com/

[DAVID PATERSON]

Thanks for the link Lou. I have just subscribed to their news service.

[louonline]

Here's an interesting bit of info re Mt. Panorama....

The Western Research Institute in 2000 estimated
the economic impact of motor racing at Mount
Panorama as follows:
_ for Bathurst - 570 jobs, $22 million in gross
regional product (GRP) and $14 million in
household income
_ for NSW - 800 jobs, $46 million in GRP and
$22 million in household income
_ for the nation - 1000 jobs, $70 million in GRP
and $32 million in household income.

[louonline]

This morning I spoke with Karyn form BCC regarding the B24.
She told me that ‘talks’ are still taking place.
Unfortunately all these discussions are very confidential, the only thing I can state is that “its still not dead”.
Council is very conscious that time is running out for potential teams to organise themselves to enter the race and is moving as fast as possible to announce a decision.
She assured me that BCC will leave no stone unturned in staging this event.

[louonline]

To anybody interested in the Bathurst 24 Hour

To show Council that there is fans out there eager for this race to happen, give the Visitors Centre a ring on this number.

1800 68 1000 Be sure to tell them to let Council know of your enquiry.

The more enquiries they get, the more they will be encouraged to pull out all stops to run the B24 event.

[louonline]

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

24 Hour race looking stronger following Council talks
21 May 2004


The likelihood of a Bathurst 24 Hour Race running in November this year is much stronger following a very positive meeting between Bathurst City Council and PROCAR representatives.

Bathurst Mayor Cr Kath Knowles said representatives of the Board of PROCAR Australia are working with Council to see that this world-class event continues for a third year.
......The whole press release is here
http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/news/...258_26845.html

[louonline]

You can read about the BCC and Evans Shire amalgamation here.
http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/

This should not affect B24 race negotiations.
The last word re B24 is "the likelihood of the Bathurst 24h going ahead looks positively stronger"

[louonline]

I had a look up there today and even though they are working on the project six days a week to the casual observer it doesn't look much different than three weeks ago due to all the scaffolding that surounds the complex.
However I can see that a lot of progress has taken place both on the pit complex and the paddock area as well as spectator mounds around the track. It won't all be finished by October but when the scaffolding comes down in a few weeks time things will look a lot different. There is a huge amount on concrete pipes stock piled ready to be laid for drainage. (drainage was really bad in the old pits)
The $50 million dollar private development near the Dunlop Bridge has been fenced-off but no sign of construction yet.

[louonline]

If anybody is interested there will be an "open day" on Sat.30th. Oct. between 10:00AM & 2:00PM so people can inspect the new pit complex.
There will also be a garage sale.

[Bigguy]

Originally posted by louonline
If anybody is interested there will be an "open day" on Sat.30th. Oct. between 10:00AM & 2:00PM so people can inspect the new pit complex.
There will also be a garage sale.

WHAT? They are selling them already????

[louonline]

Originally posted by Bigguy
WHAT? They are selling them already????

LOL.
If you get in early you can get it painted to your own colour scheme