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Post by efliernz on Feb 3, 2010 12:05:41 GMT 12
I attended the recent classic racing (Bruce MacLaren Series) and opening at Hampton Downs with a friend and his dad. I find that my mates dad used to be the Dunlop Tire Field co-ordinator at the original race days at Levin and Ardmore which I'm sure many here will remember. For those that were not able to attend but want a walk through history - here is my photo gallery from Saturday (there is even a P40 in there...). Pete www.pbase.com/ascend_photography/hampton_downs&page=all |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 3, 2010 13:10:53 GMT 12
Great stuff. My Dad used to talk about the races at Ardmore, and about how he met Bruce McLaren and Timmy Mayer there. Timmy let Dad sit in his car - doesn't happen these days!
What is the new track like? I hope to go up to see the opening race in the A1GP season in October there.
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Post by Naki on Feb 3, 2010 13:48:16 GMT 12
A1GP??? Its gone..its a dead duck!
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Post by efliernz on Feb 3, 2010 14:38:54 GMT 12
How's the track??? Bl00di awesum  They line up on the grid, go like stink into a descending blind right-hand sweeper!!! Visibility is great for all spectators - a budget grass-only ticket gives you a great view. Stand tickets give you that much more. The track itself is fantastic. 22 yards wide on the tight corners!!! The old drivers had grins for miles!!! Parking was in the farmers paddocks with a free shuttle mini-bus to the top of the hill, 100m from the gate. Organisation wasn't perfect but as first major meetings go, it was stunningly good. I am looking forward to Chris Amon's classic car meeting same time next year. Pukekoe is looking very lame (if not dead) now. The track is booked up for driver training and club meetings almost daily for the next 3-6 months apparently. I'm not surprised. Oh yeah - I even enjoyed myself Now... time for Tauranga SAA and show this weekend. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 3, 2010 14:47:23 GMT 12
It is worrying to see how close the track comes to State Highway One - a good spectacular crash may result in a more spectacular crash.
Paul, WHAT?? When did this happen? Only a few weeks ago I was reading on their official site how Hampton Downs is to open the 2010-11 season. I hope they haven't canned the best motorsport event ever!!
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Feb 3, 2010 15:26:04 GMT 12
Worse than canned Dave,A1GP is kaput,the cars are under arrest,and mega millions are owed.Theres no chance it will revive.
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Post by Naki on Feb 3, 2010 15:31:57 GMT 12
..as Pool Guy said. ..although some races might happen but that is VERY unlikely with cars impounded, people going to court, bankruptcies etc
The Hampton Downs web site needs to be updated in regards to the A1GP...I did note that they are planning an airshow ..do they have an airstrip in the middle of the race circuit?
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Post by vgp on Feb 3, 2010 15:38:16 GMT 12
as naki just stated re: Airshow hampton downs: Pretty much ? to this one at present info wise. Airshows Home > Events > Airshows Modeled on the hugely successful “Warbirds over Wanaka” but bringing it to the major population bases. These events are hugely appealing to the whole family and are run as a carnival affair, with plenty of supporting acts and exhibits, promising to be one of our biggest events of the year! Keep a look out for the date of our first Airshow! www.hamptondowns.com/pages/58/Airshows |
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Feb 3, 2010 16:15:33 GMT 12
That used to be fun part of going to the Grand Prixs at Pukekohe in the old days,watching all the planes landing on the strip in the middle of the track.Used to be loads of planes crammed in there some years and some interesting short feild take offs,landings and overshoots.
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Post by Bruce on Feb 3, 2010 16:28:37 GMT 12
Kelly Field and the Mercer Skydive Airstrip are both only a few minutes flying time away if they need somewhere to base airshow machines. Once Kelly Field is extended to its proper length most types should manage OK there.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 3, 2010 17:53:14 GMT 12
Oh god, I think I'm going to cry.
This is terrible news.
As for an airshow, that will really please the neighbours who campainged to keep a prison away. Now they have a noisy race track AND an airport. Awesome.
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Post by hairy on Feb 3, 2010 19:21:49 GMT 12
As for an airshow, that will really please the neighbours who campainged to keep a prison away. Now they have a noisy race track AND an airport. Awesome. Did you know that the corrections department appealed against the resource consent for Hampton Downs because the noise from the track may upset the prisoners...............seriously!  Champion dragway now has a noise curfew because of that appeal and are running scared that the prisoners may be upset by their meetings. Is it just me or is that seriously ass-about-face.  As an aside, I was once at a party at a friends place in Paremoremo that was shut down by noise control because of complaints from the scum prisoners.   |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 3, 2010 21:34:12 GMT 12
Unbelievable!
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Post by agile on Feb 4, 2010 7:29:11 GMT 12
I hope they haven't canned the best motorsport event ever!! You cannot possibly be serious! I gave up on A1GP after the first season, because it seemed to be a crash-fest, with some seriously average driving amongst the undoubted talent. It may well be the best event in NZ, (although I'm sure the organisers of such events as the Hamilton 400 and Wanganui Battle of the Streets may argue), but I reckon the IoM TT leaves it for dead. |
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Post by timmo on Feb 4, 2010 9:48:29 GMT 12
hehe not many average drivers are left in the IoM TT  (well...perhaps bits of them are) |
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Post by hairy on Feb 4, 2010 12:06:15 GMT 12
hehe not many average drivers are left in the IoM TT (well...perhaps bits of them are) It hasn't the same since Joey Dunlop and Robert Holden died. |
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Post by corsair67 on Feb 4, 2010 13:35:40 GMT 12
From The Australian - www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/police-to-investigate-a1gp-fraud-claim-after-gold-coast-supergp-collapse/story-e6frg6nf-1225826687956Police to investigate A1GP fraud claim after Gold Coast SuperGP collapse Sarah Elks From: The Australian February 04, 2010 11:57AM QUEENSLAND Police are investigating motor racing company A1GP for suspected fraud, Premier Anna Bligh has revealed. Two reports tabled in Queensland parliament today dissect the failure of the government-funded Gold Coast SuperGP car racing event after the A1GP pulled out at the last minute. An Auditor-General's report into the fiasco found the necessary due diligence had not been completed and that the contract between the Gold Coast race organisers and the A1GP was inadequate. |
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Feb 4, 2010 20:59:51 GMT 12
I think that they would be pi$$ing in the wind with those charges as A1GP is over $300 million down the tubes already.They wont get any blood out of that stone. This article pretty much sums up whats gone down www.autoweek.com/article/20100128/MOTORSPORTS/100129928. Still the A1 owner is trying to fund one of the new F1 teams,but it looks like hes going to have to come up with some serious cash in advance before thats a done deal. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 4, 2010 21:31:26 GMT 12
I'm amazed it has failed like this. It had worldwide appeal, big backing by TV networks (many nations showe dit on Sky, we were lucky having it free to air) and it always got good crowds. It was also bloody exciting racing, unlike the crap that F1 has become (and will get worse now that Schumacher is back, dear god...)
I liked A1GP because it was purely driver skill with equal cars, and it was nation versus nation. A winning formula I would have thought. So have the team owners like Colin Giltrap suffered seriously over this or just the actual top owner?
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Feb 4, 2010 22:00:26 GMT 12
Colin Giltrap bailed out A1GP several times last year,the cars were impounded a couple of times and he freed them,I think he pretty much paid for the whole Taupo round last season,so without him A1 would have died half way through last year.
A1's owner is Tony Teixeira,Google him and add 'blood diamonds'.
If you have Sky TV watch the GP2 series,very similar cars and much better racing.
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