Post by barracuda on Dec 15, 2004 16:32:12 GMT 12
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: 021 456 449
MIT Development spokesperson
Chris Abbott
Ph: 06 877 3467
Mobile: 021 994 777
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: 021 456 449
MIT Development spokesperson
Chris Abbott
Ph: 06 877 3467
Mobile: 021 994 777