Warren Dawes
Premium
This seems to be a continuing trend, more events outside Australia, and the decline of genuine dedicated race tracks. Not totally a good trend in my view.
Whilst I think it is a good move for the growth of V8 Supercars Internationally, and may result in more $'s for the V8 industry, I hope it doesn't result in the decline of efforts to grow the series in Australia and New Zealand.
The real sad part is the decline of Aussie racetracks, being replaced by trendy street circuits. Many of our great tracks have been let slowly die with little money going back into upgrades and maintainance. Whilst street circuits may be an attraction to get bigger crowds for specific once a year events, they do nothing to provide facilities for regular race meetings, the breeding ground for young drivers. The permanent tracks can be used for so much more if the effort is made, and maybe they might just help in keeping the hoons off the streets. I personally don't think street circuits are well designed technically (all flat as pancakes, full of curbs, walls, lacking the subtle variations of permanent well designed tracks) and they are certainly not the best for spectators to view most of the track. At best, people get to see the cars scream by in one section and then see little until they come around again., Sure, it may be good for TV, but don't we want people to turn up at the track?
I guess that is "progress", and Barbagallo looks like going the way of Oran Park, Surfers Paradise (old one), Lakeside, Amaroo, Warwick Farm, Pukekohe etc. QLD Raceway is heading for the same future.
Rhys, I suspect that you'll end up eventually with a street race in Perth in the future.
Whilst I think it is a good move for the growth of V8 Supercars Internationally, and may result in more $'s for the V8 industry, I hope it doesn't result in the decline of efforts to grow the series in Australia and New Zealand.
The real sad part is the decline of Aussie racetracks, being replaced by trendy street circuits. Many of our great tracks have been let slowly die with little money going back into upgrades and maintainance. Whilst street circuits may be an attraction to get bigger crowds for specific once a year events, they do nothing to provide facilities for regular race meetings, the breeding ground for young drivers. The permanent tracks can be used for so much more if the effort is made, and maybe they might just help in keeping the hoons off the streets. I personally don't think street circuits are well designed technically (all flat as pancakes, full of curbs, walls, lacking the subtle variations of permanent well designed tracks) and they are certainly not the best for spectators to view most of the track. At best, people get to see the cars scream by in one section and then see little until they come around again., Sure, it may be good for TV, but don't we want people to turn up at the track?
I guess that is "progress", and Barbagallo looks like going the way of Oran Park, Surfers Paradise (old one), Lakeside, Amaroo, Warwick Farm, Pukekohe etc. QLD Raceway is heading for the same future.
Rhys, I suspect that you'll end up eventually with a street race in Perth in the future.
