New Motorsport Complex Or Mike Ranns Hoon Laws

[Minibats]

Heard about the mitsi test track years back before AIR closed, main thing was it was too far away and would have cost too much to set up as a drag strip. but would be interesting to find out if and who its actually owned by now.

We booked and used it when I was with SA Rotors. We did the drag strip and then had a motokana set up at the end where the skid pan is. As far as I know now its not used by anyone anymore though we had to have cams people there on the day. will find out from my rellies that live up there about who has it now.

[GROWLY CUSTOM CNC]

Don't worry about finding other places to start a drag strip, if we all stand together and support the current Pt Adelaide bid it will happen.

If you didn't make the last public rally here is a write up :-

Despite temperatures of over 40 degrees, an estimated 10,000 people passed through a display of Adelaide based drag racing vehicles in the centre of Port Adelaide yesterday, in a solid show of support for Australia's quickest and fastest motor sport.

The display, organised by local racers Roc Puccini and Scott Ferguson, with financial support from the Combined Drag Racing Clubs, was put together with little notice after Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Gary Johanson made the Todd Street site available.

Adelaide has been without national standard drag racing facilities since the late nineties. The recent announcement that a local group is planning to develop a new venue, preferably in the Port Adelaide Enfield region, prompted the display and the great response from local competitors. In the days prior to the display over 150 South Australian businesses registered an expected economic benefit from a new drag racing venue in Adelaide.

Thirty five teams presented cars and motorcycles covering every ANDRA Group One bracket and all other areas of drag racing. Because of the break of nearly eight years in Adelaide there were some fans seeing the cars up close for the first time.

Anna Micheel, speaking on behalf of the development group, said plans for the new dragstrip would incorporate separate facilities for other motor sports, including a circuit. Initial funding was confirmed and positive negotiations with the SA Government over a suitable site were proceeding.

"There has been a perception that drag racing in Adelaide has fallen away, but today's response clearly shows that's not the case." said ANDRA Director for SA, Harry White. "Even after the break we've had, over 250 racers remain listed with ANDRA. There are many others with cars and motorcycles in storage and support for our regional series covering the Coonawarra, Whyalla and Mildura remains strong."

"It's also important to consider the options the new venue will deliver to young drivers." White went on to say. "Drag strips in other major capitals now provide up to 50 mid week off-street drag racing events each year, which has reduced the incidence of hoon activities in surrounding areas."

ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton told the crowd that Adelaide was a key factor in the national operation of the sport. "Due mainly to the consistent operation of Willowbank Raceway, drag racing in Queensland has grown steadily over the past 24 years. The new venues in Sydney and Perth, which have enjoyed strong Government support, have generated record levels of interest in ANDRA Drag Racing over the past seven years and we expect a fantastic result in Adelaide."

Thornton said Adelaide had proved to be a great host to major events of all types, and its motor sport credentials were among the country's best. "As well as safer options for young drivers, fresh entertainment and recreational options, positive economic benefits and employment opportunities, a new Adelaide drag racing facility would be well placed to stage a major national drag racing event."

For further information contact ANDRA on 08 8271 5355 or at [email protected]

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At least there are a few politicians thinking with a clear head. Mark Butler has my vote for premier.

Mark Butler (Port Adelaide, Australian Labor Party)

On a hot Sunday in March, around 10,000 people attended a display in Port Adelaide of Adelaide based drag-racing vehicles. This remarkable turnout to a display of these cars when they were not even moving shows how desperate we in Adelaide are to get a national drag-racing facility built in our city. The sad fact is that the many thousands of drag-racing enthusiasts in Adelaide have been unable to attend live drag-racing of any significance for almost a decade. At the same time, we have seen drag-racing go from strength to strength in Western Sydney, in Perth and in Ipswich in Brisbane, as well as in some smaller centres such as the Hidden Valley drag strip in Darwin, which is strongly supported by my colleague the member for Solomon.

I speak today on this issue to pay tribute to the persistence of the Australian National Drag-Racing Association, ANDRA, in their campaign to get a national drag strip in Adelaide. It is a campaign that I strongly support and one that has been driven by some committed businessmen and drag-racing enthusiasts, otherwise known as petrolheads. ANDRA is delegated by CAMS, the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport, to control drag-racing in Australia. In order to attract the best teams to national events held in Adelaide, it seems to me fairly obvious that a drag strip in Adelaide should have its sanction.

A new ANDRA venue in Adelaide would be able to offer up to 70 organised events each year. Those events could include six national open events, at least four of which would have national significance, and one of which would be a major national championship event, attracting the major teams from all around Australia. In between those events, ANDRA would be able to hold lower level competition racing and regular off-street legal drag-racing to cater for local youth.

Experience from other states is that these events provide local youth with the opportunity to race in a safe and secure environment rather than engaging in illegal drags on our public roads. That has been the experience in Darwin, with the Beat the Heat off-street program at Hidden Valley. It is an experience advocated strongly by the police in Western Sydney. I have received correspondence from the sergeant of the Blacktown traffic services, based in that area, where he says:

With the introduction of the Wednesday off street meets at Western Sydney International Dragway, the instances of illegal street racing within the Blacktown LGA has been non existent for the reason that the participants of these illegal street meets have a place to attend and participate safely in their chosen sport ...

It is also clear that the establishment of a national drag strip in Adelaide would have significant economic and tourism benefits for our state. On average, attendance at ANDRA national championships ranges around Australia from 25,000 to 35,000—and these extend to up to three to four days. The time has come to bring off-street drag-racing back to Adelaide. I have read the blogs on the internet that show thousands of South Australians queuing up to fill a national drag strip. I will do all that I can do to support them and the thousands of South Australians who love the smell of burning rubber.

Edited March 30, 2009 by GROWLY CUSTOM CNC

[skipppy]

I was at the rally above showing my full support

Just gunna make some points!!!!

What i dont understand is everyone has a hobby some like cricket they can go the local park and have a hit, or maybe tennis most parks have court also.

All of this is government funded and alot cheaper i know but motorsport is just the same a hobby/sport where are our parks courts ??

We have just had one of the biggest race's in australia come to town and generate shitload of dollars which im sure the state government loved having in there pocket

Wonder how many clipsal drivers had bit of hoon background

Look at Perth the Motorplex its still government funded with the QUIT smoking biso and making $$$$$$$$$$$$$

We are just to backward

[GROWLY CUSTOM CNC]

Here is some more info :-

LAUREN NOVAK TRANSPORT REPORTER

February 14, 2008 12:30am

AN UNDISCLOSED consortium of wealthy Adelaide investors is ready to build a $25 million-plus motorsport complex in Adelaide.

Featuring a drag racing strip, speedway, race circuit and jet boat racing, the complex is expected to be up and running in about 15 months.

Spokeswoman for the consortium, Anna Micheel, said the three mystery investors were working with the Land Management Corporation to secure a site in the north or north-western suburbs within the next three months.

About 120ha would be needed.

"We're hoping to have the first stage up and running within 12 months (after that)," she said.

A former manager of Adelaide International Raceway at Virginia, Ms Micheel would not name the investors but described them as "leading business people within Adelaide who are very passionate motorsport enthusiasts and definitely have the money".

Ms Micheel said the privately-funded hub would include a "business park" for supporting industries and could also provide "a service to the community" as a training ground for emergency service vehicles, driving schools and a concert venue.

"There is no other venue (in Australia) that can house the number of motorsport events that they wish to house," she said.

"It's something that Adelaide desperately needs."

Australian National Drag Racing Association chief executive officer Tony Thornton said Perth, Sydney and Ispwich had top drag racing venues and a new complex would be built in Melbourne by late next year but Adelaide was missing out.

A drag strip in Adelaide would "link up the national chain", he said. Mr Thornton hoped the venue also would improve road safety by holding regular amateur competitions.

"There are lots of young people doing increasingly stupid things on the road and having access to a drag strip to have a go almost whenever they want isn't going to eradicate it (hoon driving) but it provides a safer option," he said.

Since the opening of the Western Sydney International Dragway NSW police said illegal street racing "has been non-existent" in the area.

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If you want a place to drift, drag and participate in driver training make sure you all back this group. There is no reason why we can't have 20,000 people attending the next public rally.

[nisskid]

i was at the last rally and ill be at the next one, just need a date and place and im there.

[Martin Donnon]

I must be getting old or something (likely)

But I remember it differently....

Those that would spend $70 to enter an Off Street Drag Meet, spend $400 on a set of ET Radials, and put some effort into their cars WERE VERY MUCH DIFFERENT to those that bought retreads, bolted on steel rims, and did single pegger burnouts in carparks.

Put simply in my experience none of the real hoons ever went to the track as to be laughed at for a 16 second pass was much harder than 'chucking a guardie' and hangin tough on the street somewhere....much more expensive too.

Some of the members here that actually used to go run their cars at the drags, Whatisname, Munro, etc. might agree with that one too. Its four years later, but really, whats changed? I would love a drag strip for one, but to think it will change anything is a laugh, shhhh dont tell them though, we just might get something for nothing!

Edited March 30, 2009 by Martin Donnon

[DR JOSH]

^^ thats pretty much it, having street meets changed nothing.

I ran my car once just to see how fast it was down the quater, other then that it didnt really get me off the streets at all.

But then again I was still an apprentice back then so was strapped for cash. Whether or not things would have changed if I could have afforded it like I can now, who knows. I probably will never find out.

Edited March 30, 2009 by DR JOSH

[chops]

I must be getting old or something (likely)

But I remember it differently....

Those that would spend $70 to enter an Off Street Drag Meet, spend $400 on a set of ET Radials, and put some effort into their cars WERE VERY MUCH DIFFERENT to those that bought retreads, bolted on steel rims, and did single pegger burnouts in carparks.

Put simply in my experience none of the real hoons ever went to the track as to be laughed at for a 16 second pass was much harder than 'chucking a guardie' and hangin tough on the street somewhere....much more expensive too.

Some of the members here that actually used to go run their cars at the drags, Whatisname, Munro, etc. might agree with that one too. Its four years later, but really, whats changed? I would love a drag strip for one, but to think it will change anything is a laugh, shhhh dont tell them though, we just might get something for nothing!

Too true Martin - I remember lining up for an hour before the gates opened to be sure of a spot to race, and those cars that did bother to come out weren't really like most of what you saw on the street.

I miss the track more than most, and while it might help with the problems, it's far from a quick fix.

[rhys5169]

guys no one is saying that a drag strip will remove hoons all together, that is never the case. at the very least the strip will separate the hoons from the true car lovers, thus meaning harsher penalties can be in place for those who get caught doin a 1 wheel peeler out of macca's carpark on a Saturday night.

even if you were not going to run, imagine having a place where your club could meet to catch up and watch some tuff street cars have a few runs without being thousand yard stared at by police.

its a step in the right direction to improving the over all image of us car lovers, i would much rather spend $100-$150 on wed night out at the drags than throwing it over a bar for some over priced drinks in town.

[nos man]

if we have a drag strip they can come down harder on hoons because there's no excuse now! i don't mind that

[Damo_R34]

having a drag track will define two groups - hoons and enthusiasts. Might mean that the enthusiasts receive some positive media for a change, can see the headlines already "Keeping it off the roads"

[SLED]

gee in that case I must be really old cause I recall a white VF Valiant with the ole 225ci slant six at a national meet back in the 70's that ran 17's throughout qualifying at AIR then dialled in within 2/10's of that time for the evening and due to handicapped racing and good consistency, walked away with a nice trophy (wasn't plastic either)!

You don't need to have a fast car to drag race and its a heck of a lot cheaper than circuit racing for the average Joe Blow......and like I said in an earlier post, if a drag strip had the potential to save a single solitary teenage life, you would find an eternally grateful mother.

[cahlie]

Hey all, I agree with alot of what has been already covered in the last 4 pages. NO a public strip wont stop ALL hoon behaviour. But it will stop some. I know I for one have been burnt by the law for being a twat in my car(s), thus the reason why I wont be off my p's till im like 25. Wrong place, wrong time. I got caught and learnt my lesson..

Mallala is a great track however, if you compare it now to when I used to frequent it with my father back in the early to mid 90's I notice that Bike race meets have taken a BIG plunge in attendance, and I dont even remember seeing one car on the track in those days. Its still owned by the same old guy (who is obviously a ledgend for allowing it to be used still). The grandstands which currently stand were only ever supposed to be temporary, however they are still there. The old clubhouse has been boarded up, but i dont see a new one. The pit area has been upgraded though and looks great, but this is the only improvement in over 13 years! If any of you remember, you really only have to look at all the unused space at a drift event to realise that there seems to be no support for the 1 current motorport venue we currently have. I remember the whole carpark, grass areas, pits used to be chocka block with caravans, tents not to mention a plethora of (bike but none the less) enthusiasts at a race meet, which were more than once a month.

I know times change. Its still sad though. I love going to watch drifting (hopefully will be participating shortly) and although It may be expensive I dont care as motorsport is a passion of mine and any progression towards better facilities will have my support.

Also it might be worth looking into the land behind Mallala (looking north) as i believe its owned by the same guy and is plenty long enough for a strip to be layed down. And its flat. I used to ride my dirt bike out there when we were at the events that went longer than a day.

Just my 2c. and also correct me if im wrong on any of these facts, as my info is from the days of the Phoenix motorcycle club! Long since gone.

Peace

[chef_stagea]

just got my hair cut n the chick only spoke to me about the crash, she (22ish) said we all do stupid shit la la la its just those that get caught ruin it for us all...

she said when she lived in mildura that every fri and or sat they would block off a road (still with acces points around so its not a huge drama for others, they said the cops would be there, ambos and firies just chilln watchn, they loved it apparently and she went on to say how they have a very small road toll. they just blocked off a section of road for us to run a muck, wouldnt cost anything really... few emg services around to keep an eye and just in case.

a cheep, quick and can move it around if need be option... what are your guys thaughts on it? i know milrura is alot diff to here but still a simular concept??

[craig R33]

i think the gov. is more concerned about removing hoons from the street

rather than giving enthousiasts a place to enjoy there pride and joy..

give enthousiasts a place to enjoy there cars, then come down harder on those that persist

to do it on the street, its simple as that really.

that way, the people who continue to be a neusance on the road, wont have an excuse, that they had no where else to go..

!!HOONS AND ENTHUSIASTS ARE TWO COMPLETE DIFFERENT THINGS!!

[rad100]

watch 7 news now... gonna be talkning about drag strip!!

[rad100]

they just talked about turning the old talem bend mitsu plant into drag strip.. 1.6km's baby!

[Martin Donnon]

I dunno, I find it hard to assimilate the two.....a guy/gal thats interested in setting their car up to run quick at the quarter is NOT the same person you find in Bunnings car park at Mile End lining up for a cuise. Well at least never has been in my experience. Maybe the latest generation is a different beast

Edited March 31, 2009 by Martin Donnon

[Dohmar]

I dunno, I find it hard to assimilate the two.....a guy/gal thats interested in setting their car up to run quick at the quarter is NOT the same person you find in Bunnings car park at Mile End lining up for a cuise. Well at least never has been in my experience. Maybe the latest generation is a different beast

Yes but thats the difference... you're an enthusiast and not one of these fooly sik habibs who wanna impress chicks by doing launches in hindley st...

Sadly the general public aren't as astute.

-D

[JMW]

Well a good source let me know today that the suposed track re-surfacing of AIR was a load of crap. Seems he managed to do a site inspection of sorts only to be confronted by weeds growing through the cracks in the tracks surface.