New Motorsport Park for S.A?
Posted: February 14th, 2008, 9:39 pmAN 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.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html
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.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html
- NO info on what's happening to the actual track.