[AshSimmonds]

http://www.messengerwest.com.au/article/2008/01/22/3532_west_news.html

A MULTI-million dollar motorsport hub could be built on Garden Island, which is one of four sites being considered by a private consortium.
Consortium spokeswoman Anna Micheel told the Portside Messenger the idea had been in the planning for about 12 months although she would not disclose the names of the private backers or the three northern suburbs sites also under consideration.

``We have backers, we have a plan, we just need suitable land,'' she said.

``It is essential for the success of this for it to be close to the CBD but far enough away from residents.''

Ms Micheel  a former manager of Adelaide International Raceway at Virginia  said it would be a multi-purpose track capable of hosting a range of motorsport categories.

She said it would be loosely modelled on the Kwinana Motorplex in Perth and involved ``many millions of dollars''.

Ms Micheel said such a venue would be a much-needed boost to the state's motorsport industry.

``It could be used for anything from drag racing to sprint cars. It's also something that will have an impact on hoon driving.''

Ms Micheel said she expected a site to be confirmed before the end of the year. The consortium has held discussions with the State Government and Port Adelaide Enfield council, she said.

``All have received the information with enthusiasm.''

Transport Minister Pat Conlon did not respond to requests for an interview before deadline.

Port Adelaide Enfield mayor Gary Johanson supported the idea. ``From a tourism point of view, it's something that's missing at the moment  what an incredible benefit to the state it would be,'' he said.

``This is an opportunity to have a world class facility without any cost to the taxpayer.''

Mr Johanson said if the complex were built at Garden Island, it could replicate the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria.

``When I heard about it, I immediately thought of Garden Island.''

[SiFi]

More from the Tiser.....

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23209554-5006301,00.html

LAUREN NOVAK TRANSPORT REPORTER
February 14, 2008 12:30am
AN 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.

[AshSimmonds]

Nice - so it's maybe not just someone pissing in a pocket...

[SiFi]

For some reason I think it may come a cropper, if not sooner, likely later. There will always be people who just don't like the noise across in Taperoo or Port Adelaide from the one day where the wind is blowing in the wrong direction.

Also just think of the mozzies around there in the mangroves. Aerogard would be at a premium.

[dkabab]

Saw a preview for tomorrow nights channel 7 news, that there is a proposal at the moment for a motorsport hub.
its to have a race track, drag strip, driver training centre etc....

couldnt find any articles... but will keep looking.

[AshSimmonds]

couldnt find any articles... but will keep looking.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=new+Adelaide+dragstrip

*merged*

[dkabab]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=new+Adelaide+dragstrip

*merged*

i like that function..

[265T]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25831465-2682,00.html

Fight is on for $25m motor sport venue

July 24, 2009 11:00pm

A $25 MILLION state-of-the-art motorsport complex for Adelaide has been rejected by the State Government but the developers behind the proposal have vowed to make it an election issue.

A group of Adelaide investors, who have been planning the complex for two years, wants to build the multi-purpose venue which would include a race circuit, skid pan, drift circuit, jet sprint boat course, drag strip, speedway, business park and conference centre.

The Land Management Corporation this week told the consortium that the proposed parcel of land in Gilman, which was suggested by the LMC two years ago, was no longer suitable.

Adelaide International Raceway director and consortium spokeswoman Anna Micheel said: "We were gutted to say the least.

"But at the same time, now the fight begins. We were told the other day they (the Government) didn't want it to become an election issue, but it will become an election issue - there are too many motorsport enthusiasts not just in this state but around the country who want this to happen."

Ms Micheel said the Government had grossly underestimated the popular support for the complex.

Since being notified of the LMC's decision on Tuesday, the consortium has taken the fight to the public - setting up a Facebook group which has already attracted more than 1600 members.

She said not only had the Government "shafted all the motorsport fans in SA", it had also missed the opportunity to put Adelaide on the lucrative national motorsport events calendar.

"They are missing out on a $25m investment in the state, they are missing out on a massive boost to tourism figures, they are missing out on the positive economic impact of motorsport because it attracts its own cluster industries, and they are missing out on job creation," she said.

Consortium member Bill Russo said it was disappointing the Government supported the Clipsal 500, but not a local industry.

Port Adelaide-Enfield Mayor Gary Johanson said the venue would prove a much-needed boost to the Port area and said he was concerned the Government was not assisting the consortium.

[dkabab]

its funny that they cant spend $25million on a motorsport park when they spend simalar dollars doing 1 overtaking lane on the highway. btw, $25m actually sounds pretty cheap to me.... from memory bahrain, turkey, china etc... have all spent $150-200m on their f1 race tracks. i know this isnt going to be an FIA circuit... but no point doing it half arsed

[app]

its funny that they cant spend $25million on a motorsport park when they spend simalar dollars doing 1 overtaking lane on the highway. btw, $25m actually sounds pretty cheap to me.... from memory bahrain, turkey, china etc... have all spent $150-200m on their f1 race tracks. i know this isnt going to be an FIA circuit... but no point doing it half arsed

im assuming that if the govt does approve this at some point, one of their motivations will be to stop hooning. if they are attempting to do this to stop hooning, i doubt its going to do anything.

after the 2 ricers crashed on magill road, there was a lot of talk going around by the hoon drivers themselves both anonymously in the newspaper and on the radio. there were a couple of things they all said. one was, they refuse to go on tracks such as mallala because apparently according to them cops sit in the grandstands and record the info of those driving ricers and sometimes defect their cars after they drive off the track and onto the roads. second, they said there is a thrill that makes them do steet racing that a good race track wouldn't stop.

as long as the track for the right reasons, it will be fine. but if one of the reasons to build it is to stop hooning, its a waste of money.