NEW Taupo Drag Strip Info

[barracuda]

Just to let you know, plans for the new taupo drag Strip have been released. here is the press release I have recieved. Jeez, the Drag racing Calender will be full when this one happens!!

MEDIA RELEASE
14 December 2004

INTERNATIONAL DRAG RACING FOR NEW TAUPO TRACK

The New Zealand Drag Racing Association has signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) to consider bringing international drag racing to Taupo each year from next summer.

The MOU is with MIT Development Ltd, the company undertaking the multi-million development of the motor racing circuit on Taupo District Council land at Centennial Park, Taupo.

“We will be looking at bringing various events to Taupo starting with a round of the Australian Doorslammer Championships” says Chris Tynan, National Administrator of the NZDRA. “We want promotions that will stimulate our existing national racing and hosting a round of the Australian championships would be a great boost to the local scene. Eight of the top Aussie cars up against a similar number of locals would be a great spectacle – a total of 16, 6 second, 400kph Doorslammer races over the race meeting, with our 12 national competitor divisions as support racing.”

Doorslammers are a category of drag racing unique to New Zealand and Australia. There are few rules other than the car must have doors.

“The cars run on alcohol with about 3,000 horsepower at 10,000 rpm” says Tynan. “That’s pretty impressive for a pushrod V8 and is largely due to advancements in supercharging and fuelling technology. Modern superchargers are so effective, the car effectively has 100 mph air rammed in to it before it leaves the start line. With more torque available than a railway locomotive, the emphasis these days is on tuning the transmission and chassis to the track conditions so you don’t light up the rear tyres at 330 kph plus”.

MIT Director Chris Abbott says drag racing is a key component of the business case for the new Taupo facility. “We realised at the outset that Taupo’s geographical location had a great deal to offer promoters of drag racing. Taupo’s summer holiday population grows to 60,000 and drag racing will be high on the agenda of activities for a lot of them, even those with only a passing interest in motorsport. We have designed the drag racing circuit at the new facility to provide for true, hard racing and to cater for crowds of 30,000 plus.”

The development includes expansion of the Taupo Car Club’s existing motor racing circuit to the standard required for international car and motorcycle racing and development of a motorsport-industry business park on an adjacent 11.8 hectare block of Council-owned freehold land. The total cost of the project is over $14 million.

Resource consents for the project were gained late last year and contracts and other arrangements for the development are in their final negotiation stages.

ENDS

For further information contact:

NZ Drag Racing Association spokesman
Chris Tynan
Ph: 07 846 4001
Mobile: [phone]

MIT Development spokesperson
Chris Abbott
Ph: 06 877 3467
Mobile: [phone]

[avgas]

Excellent news, its not like we dont need another strip.

With taupo and then hopefully something in the Lower North Island not long after, we will be set and the good thing is, new facilities mean more events, more seat time and fun for us. Yah

and the other upside as I see it, is that with new facilities comes competition, and just like in business competition is a good thing, keeps you on your toes, and maybe this will have a positive spin on say meremere in that if they want people to continue coming, specially when theres other options available, then the will have to spend more time and $$ on a more regular basis, specially on the track surface and keeping it flat, level and smooth.

Turnkey or partime strip, doesnt matter, its a new venue and good for the sport. l

[barracuda]

I agree.

BUT

Theyre talking about running these large events in the silly season, when there are 60,000(?) people around. Hell, taupo around xmas/new year is a nightmare.....hopefully some cheaper accomodation becomes available, else where are WE all gonna stay? The camping grounds around there are like citys, and all you can see from a**hole to breakfast are NO VACANCY signs, if you are lucky enough to get a room, you pay $$!
And I know some guys who quibble about a few bucks at Masterton!

Just a thought!

[nos]

maybe we should all have a whip round and buy a nice lakeside villa and "rough it" with the locals!!!!!! how do you think they would like it if we all cleaned our carbs uncapped at 7:00am the morning before the racing!!!!!!!!

BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[barracuda]

Yip, I can see it now, 60,000 holiday-makers chasing you and pete up the road waving thier fishing rods in thie air ;D
I's hard enough getting accomodation in Masterton, let alone taupo!
Maybee a camping area will be set up on the grounds somewhere. heres hoping!

[nos]

We could all stay in Blithey's Hummer ;D

[avgas]

Its big, but not THAT BIG, but thats were I will be staying, not for any other reason, than Im cheap and it keeps costs down.

When i see a room rate, all I can think of, is how much fuel I can buy for the same amount of $$ let alone availability of rooms, nothing wrong with camping in the pits. as opposed to camping being the pits ;D

[barracuda]

Speak to Mark Thomas, he has some accomodation, should sleep a few hundred people, clips onto the front of the Holden Ute.
;D
I guess you had to be there....

[magn1t]

Is there any word on who's behind MIT development. I mean it's not some kind of Maori trust is it?.

Steve

[avgas]

Steve

that a question or a statement, you never can tell on the net, and even the ? doesnt necessarily guaraentee its a question.

[holden_fan]

just make a camping area, like the old days at the nats, every1 camping, now at the nats, me, ma dad and lowie usually