Grand Prix In Australia And New Zealand?

[Primary Chain]

As I see it the best outcome would be for a joint proposal for a GP taking in a car track(M.A and track promoter) and removing the clay for the event.

This happened at Mount Gambier for the Aussie solo titles a couple of years ago and the bikes were flying.

If this could happen then I would pump for either Parramatta(NSW) or Virginia(SA).

Of course its all academic but still makes for an interesting conversation during a European winter.

[BigFatDave]

How about Homebush Park again? Not sure if ANZ Stadium would be the best choice but there is a 460m speedway track on the new Sydney Showground. The only issue with it is that fences are concrete and even putting air fences on it does not make it safe enough. The showground's infrastructure isn't good enough from my point of view. Although if GP could have been run in Vojens, Linkoping, Mallila or Krsko, then the showground doesn't look that bad (despite poor vision at the second bend).

 

Parramatta could be another pick. It is used for sprintcars only though.

Ten-time Aussie Sprintcar Champion Gary Rush, one of the new operators of Parramatta Raceway, has stated that if the bikes want to use the track they will prepare a track for them. Parramatta is used for all classes of four-wheel speedway, not just Sprintcars.

 

The only logical options, IMO, are Newcastle Showgrounds and Gillman, both of which would need large temporary stands, and Wayville Showgrounds, which already has most of the required infrastructure in place. Of these, Wayville is probably the most logistically-accessible with an International Airport nearby but Gillman, despite being buried in the backblocks of Port Adelaide is without doubt the best circuit in Oz, although with more events happening now at Newcastle the racing is definitely on the improve, the second half of the recent Ozchamps meeting being a perfect example. Sidecar Nationals are there at Easter, April 2-4; it'd be good if the races were 4-lappers.

 

[philmac]

Gillman and wayvill dont and couldnt hold enough spectators for a gp , wayville track is around 500 mtrs or more.A stadium of 30000 or more spectators is needed so that only leaves non speedway stadiums such as the olympic stadium (to Expensive) or edihad stadium in melbourne which is the best stadium in oz and has a roof and being in melbourne would pull a large crowd as melbournites will turn out in large numbers even for a marble game.

[whowasthatberntpersson]

A stadium with a roof would have to be on the agenda, not sure whether the cost involved in hiring the edihad stadium would fit in the budget.

 

My next pic after Ethiad Stadium would be Brisbane's "Ekka" although I don't know what politics would be involved in staging the event there.

 

I personally don't like the current Newcastle Showground track...its way too big, and the racing isn't that good but I'd watch a GP in Australia wherever its held..

Edited February 14, 2010 by whowasthatberntpersson

[Bavarian]

The Ekka, Melbourne Showground and Western Springs, that would make a good little series of three GPs (Australian GP, Australasian GP and New Zealand GP).

 

Does the Melbourne Showgound track still exist?

[DSC67]

Don't think that a GP in Australia or New Zealand will ever happen , due to the expense of shipping the bikes out there , can't see the riders being to keen to go all that distance for a couple of meetings , perhaps if there where some more dates down there that might change , but I can't see it just now

[Bavarian]

That's it, it would not make sense to send all the riders and stuff down there for just one GP meeting. Therefore it should be at least three GP's (two in Aussie and one in NZ), Ideally there could be another one as a stop over in Singapur/Malaysia or in the Arab Emirates, but that is a bit pie in the sky at the moment, since the Malaysia Speedway venture sadly failed after just one season there. Still they could be interested to stage one big meeting (SGP) in a big stadium there, who knows! It was teh malaysians original intention to have a GP there in a few years time. They certainly have the money do do it!

[BigFatDave]

Don't think that a GP in Australia or New Zealand will ever happen , due to the expense of shipping the bikes out there , can't see the riders being to keen to go all that distance for a couple of meetings , perhaps if there where some more dates down there that might change , but I can't see it just now

FIM were out here late last year checking out various sites including Newcastle and Gillman. Certainly a series opener in March or early April would be on the cards.

 

Melbourne hasn't got a track at the mo; big punt taking on Etihad but very feasible given, as philmac says, Melburnians' love for any sport.

[iris123]

That's it, it would not make sense to send all the riders and stuff down there for just one GP meeting. Therefore it should be at least three GP's (two in Aussie and one in NZ), Ideally there could be another one as a stop over in Singapur/Malaysia or in the Arab Emirates, but that is a bit pie in the sky at the moment, since the Malaysia Speedway venture sadly failed after just one season there. Still they could be interested to stage one big meeting (SGP) in a big stadium there, who knows! It was teh malaysians original intention to have a GP there in a few years time. They certainly have the money do do it!

That is true.It was ex GP sponsor Meridian Lifts man who hinted a few years back that an "Asian" tour was on the cards and a few GPs in Asia/Australasia were being looked at.Would be great and a fitting tribute to the NZ Champs,Moore,Briggo and Mauger if a GP could be held in NZ before one or more kick the bucket

[Trees]

Would be great and a fitting tribute to the NZ Champs,Moore,Briggo and Mauger if a GP could be held in NZ before one or more kick the bucket

Given that, as I read in Briggos 1975 book, he and Ivan Mauger had the idea of a World Championship Series in 1972 and he writes "I've always been a great one for the idea of running a series of maybe ten meetings in all the different major speedway countries."

 

He also says in the same book re the Wembley World Final, "as things stand at the moment a lot of the proceeds are diverted back in to British Speedway by way of the annual share-out to tracks."

Edited February 14, 2010 by Trees

[Bavarian]

Solos made a sensational comback at Western Springs last night (13th). This was the first time in many, many, many years that the solo bikes returned to New Zealands No.1 speedway venue! Signs of things to come? SGP? Western Springs?

[mp2]

I wouldn't discount the Gold Coast's Skilled Stadium, it has been purpose built with direct public transport from Surfers Paradise and Brisbane. It holds an awesome atmosphere, although I'm not sure how the owners would see the track being put onto the grass - having said that the Crusty's held a show there 2 years ago.

 

The other stadium is Brisbane's Suncorp, but it would run into high expense. The Rugby stadium - Ballymore - seems to be the subject of a revival at the moment, too, but having never been there, I don't know what its like.

 

Etihad or the new Melbourne Heart stadium would also work well.

[Humphrey Appleby]

Given that, as I read in Briggos 1975 book, he and Ivan Mauger had the idea of a World Championship Series in 1972 and he writes "I've always been a great one for the idea of running a series of maybe ten meetings in all the different major speedway countries."

 

The reality though, is that the world has changed, and speedway attendances have fallen in nearly every country since then. There are not even ten countries even close to being 'major' nowadays, far less able to support a GP.

 

He also says in the same book re the Wembley World Final, "as things stand at the moment a lot of the proceeds are diverted back in to British Speedway by way of the annual share-out to tracks."

 

But where do the proceeds go now? Not back into speedway it would seem.

 

[Humphrey Appleby]

This happened at Mount Gambier for the Aussie solo titles a couple of years ago and the bikes were flying.

 

You couldn't seriously hold a GP in Mount Gambier, even if it has the facilities. With the greatest of respect, it's in the middle of nowhere.

 

A GP needs to be held somewhere relatively close to a major conurbation, that people can fly to.

 

[BigFatDave]

You couldn't seriously hold a GP in Mount Gambier, even if it has the facilities. With the greatest of respect, it's in the middle of nowhere.

Slightly to the south of the middle of nowhere in fact, Humphrey. There is an airport about 15 ks outside town but whether it'd handle anything bigger than a Dakota is a moot point; a pleasant flight from Adelaide. It is a lovely track, tho, about 8 ks east, no public transport apart from taxis. Mildura Airport has now got its own baggage carousel - beats having to unload the cart yourself.

Three Consortia in the running with FIM for an Australasian GP in March 2011; two in Oz, one in UnZud.

[Primary Chain]

You couldn't seriously hold a GP in Mount Gambier, even if it has the facilities. With the greatest of respect, it's in the middle of nowhere.

 

A GP needs to be held somewhere relatively close to a major conurbation, that people can fly to.

 

Wouldn't argue with your comments Humph.

However what I was attempting to point out was that using speedway tracks dominated by sprint cars and the like is possible. Mount Gambier was used as an example.

A round of the GP would have to be in a capital city and,as I have already said, Parramatta or Virginia (Adelaide) could fit that bill.

Of course it is all academic but makes for an interesting and robust conversation.

[BigFatDave]

Wouldn't argue with your comments Humph.

However what I was attempting to point out was that using speedway tracks dominated by sprint cars and the like is possible. Mount Gambier was used as an example.

A round of the GP would have to be in a capital city and,as I have already said, Parramatta or Virginia (Adelaide) could fit that bill.

Of course it is all academic but makes for an interesting and robust conversation.

One of the Consortia in the running isn't from a capital city, and they have a very good proposal on the table; another proposal could see me move home for a month with a Festival-type series of events; since when did a GP have to be in a national or even provincial capital anyhow? Sweden gets away with one that's almost as remote as Mt Gambier!

[Humphrey Appleby]

Sweden gets away with one that's almost as remote as Mt Gambier!

 

Malilla is admittedly a bit remote, but it's still not 6 hours drive from everywhere!

 

[spiderweb]

One of the Consortia in the running isn't from a capital city, and they have a very good proposal on the table; another proposal could see me move home for a month with a Festival-type series of events; since when did a GP have to be in a national or even provincial capital anyhow? Sweden gets away with one that's almost as remote as Mt Gambier!

 

 

hmmmmm Wonder how much per room I should charge!!!!!

[thehammer]

AMI Stadium in Christchurch would be a good place to build a track for a one-off (and would mean I wouldn't have to find accomondation! - I could even rent out the living room, kitchen and any other floor space I can find!)

 

But just the prospect of getting one over here would be great, I'll be there no matter what, may even make a visit to Oz if they have one there!

 

Would be good for us to know asap though as my parents are on about coming back over in Feb next year, but if the GP was here in March I'm sure they'd delay there visit that little bit to fit in with it