2Hot2 Handle

[grayscout]

Well, what did you think of the event overall - the display cars, the street drags??

[avgas]

I thought for a 1st attempt, show it was pretty good nothings ever perfect and there are areas needing improvement, but overall good.

I think theres abit of discontent by a few car club groups, that were down below, concerning lighting, security etc. if those issue can be addressed you will get more people to enter.

the drags, I could have entered in the end as I got my car going, but then I had a commitment on the day at the show, which ment I wouldnt have been able to race.

Im glad I didnt, the track was miles to narrow, it was good to see the drags and good for the general public of wellington who wouldnt usually go over to MMP. But the track was so narrow it was boarderline unsafe I saw cars tapping each other and the barriers.

I realise only the southbound 2 lanes were used, maybe to run a return road, but for saftey sake, why not use both sides of the road, and hold all the cars at the other end, like they do at Port Road, then bring them back in a group.

the cars could have parked by platfrom 9 at the top end of the station.

It just was 2 narrow specially with water barriers on both side and cones in the centre to start with, plus the camber of the road meaning there was cars being held and pushed in the burnout to stop them slewing sideways into the kerb. Not safe and not good.

I realise you couldnt run the drags up the other way towards the ferry term inal as there would be limited seating, but next time use both sides of the quay and it was good to see all the people standing on the bridge and top deck looking down on the racing.


good to see no skanky bikini show like they hold at import shows, which are just a strip show almost, keep the family thing going, the promo girsl shoud be enough the perf on anyway.

Put "This Way" signs up so that everyone goes around the circle the same way, that was a big pain specially when crowded with people, baby buggies, people wanting to stop and look at cars etc.

just minor things, rome wasnt built in a day and it was a good start, hope it becomes an annual or bi annual event and that it improves each time.

[barracuda]

I think you hit the nail on the head avgas, lets hope the stands at Masterton can look as full as they did at 2HOT2 Handle some day. Lets say about 20,000 people saw something pretty awesome right in the centre of the city, out of those 20,000, perhaps half havent seen live drag racing before. From the amount of people cheering and clapping when the doorslammers and jet car did thier thing, there is a good chance some of them will decide to make the treck over the hill to see some real drag racing. Get the word out with some savy advertising, and things will get better. The sport can only grow, and there are now quite a dedicated bunch at NZDRA, all with that same plan.
I was totally impressed with the show, what a great range of all things automotive, something like this has been long overdue in the Capital, we petrolheads have rights too, and finally someone is catering for us.
One other negative was the comp cars being hidden down under the stadium, in what was almost a cave. Dark, dingey and hidden away. These guys should be right in the spotlight for the crowds, both on and off the track, they are the top guns of the sport, they spend th bucks, they please the crowds, they shouldnt be put out of the publics eye.
Bring it on next year!