New track development on the Central Coast

[mx5racing]

Last night we met with Wyong Shire Council to discuss the proposal for a driver training and motor racing facility here on the Central Coast. We submitted our discussion paper and were able to answer questions raised by all the Councillors. At the end of the discussion the proposal received a unanimous vote of approval. Councillors Best, Wynn, and Vincent all stood and praised the benefits such a facility would bring to the Central Coast from a road safety, economic and tourism point of view.

The next step is to investigate suitable sites and whilst there is one in particular that is leading the way, all sites will be assessed with the discussions to cover a wide range of the Wyong Shire.

If you would like any more information or want to be included in our mailing list please email me at ozcooper@primus.com.au.

Regards,

Chris Gough.
MX5 Racing - mx5racing.com.au

[Mazda Mandi]

That's great! Well done!

[Garry]

What happened to the track that the MG car club was proposing to build up there?

[mx5racing]

What happened to the track that the MG car club was proposing to build up there?

After a long and protracted battle with the Land and Environment Court the MG Club was defeated and the plans shelved. It is widely accepted the Port Stephens council were against it from day one.

The benefit we have is the Wyong Shire Council have expressed unanimous support for our proposal - this must be a first for any Council when it comes to motorsport

We have been working on this for several months, flying under the radar, and gaining all the information we need to make this a successful development. Now that it is all public we hope the broader community can see the benefits of such a project and get behind it.

[Garry]

Cool, well done.

[mx5racing]

Thanks for yor comments, calls and emails. I can assure you there has been a group of us dedicated to get this off the ground. I am part of a 6 person committee and we are totally focused on this.

The site being assessed as the primary location is the Buttonderry Waste Facility (tip!!). Attached is a map to show you.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=102987340278020103375.000461fb8c22274ae129b

Obviously as it is a tip it has all the environment reports and monitoring done on a regular basis. Additionally it is adjacent to the F3 freeway, airport and in an area with little residential land. This is far from a definite site however things are pointing the right way.

As things progress we will keep you all updated. We are about to set up a website and the domain name will be sorted in the next few days.

The important thing to remember is we are aiming this at CLUB BASED MOTORSPORT and driver training. We will all benefit from this and if I get a say we will have a track thats perfect for MX5's Exciting times ahead!!

[Hammer]

This is great news. I hope it comes to fruitition, and that the track have plenty of run-offs like Wakefield

[CT]

Awesome work Chrisso - keep it up mate.

As for circuit design my 2c is now, we don't need another wakefield, we need a Spa, Instanbul, Bahrain, Donnington. Something with width and flow designed to host multiple events and disciplines from the get go. The newer generation circuits are actually designed for overtaking and racing - something some of our older circuit designs lack. Has consideration been given to who will be engaged to do the circuit design? I know someone like Herman Tilke will be a tad (!) exxy but using someone with international pedigree has got to be a smart move. The guys the ARDC used from the UK appear to be fairly switched on based on the EC redesign.

Anyway, with Oran coming to a close, I thoroughly applaud and support any move by any party to add a venue to this country. Good luck!

[Benny]

This could be a fantastic thing for grass roots racing and for car clubs in general.
Great work guys, we all appreciate your efforts.

Just one thing though, who is going to pay for it?

Perhaps a consortium of clubs could get together and put some money down, then pay it off by leasing the track on a daily basis for the clubs and even magazine testing and new-car releases etc.

My sentiments are very close to CT's in that the complex has to be designed properly.
Even if it does cost $$$, a good design will often pay for itself time and time again.
Being able to do circuit work, skid pan and hill-climbing would be great, and even a drag strip integral with the track would be a welcome addition.
If you can convince the local council that the local high schools should also use it for training of young drivers, as they do in the USA, then perhaps you could even get some government money to go towards it.

Best of luck and let's all of us hope it does come true.

[greenMachine]

...The benefit we have is the Wyong Shire Council have expressed unanimous support for our proposal - this must be a first for any Council when it comes to motorsport

...

Get it locked in before the next council elections - this may be a temporary phenomenon

[mx5racing]

The number one thing these days is the almighty $$. Eastern Creeks redevelopment plans alone cost upwards of $250,000 and were quoted at AU$90 million to complete. It's safe to assume with the recent financial issues around the world it may have increased a tad more... Considering the track was only going to be extended by some 800 metres, we can probably spend our money a bit wiser

We do have a few ideas when it comes to tracks with the overriding factor being to make it versatile. A good track can have a fast corner changed into a medium or slow corner with the use of an alternate entry etc. I dont want to start a debate on what makes a great race circuit however I do know that one used for driver training has other needs ie slower speeds and less walls to hit . As for Tilke I think the jury is still out on whether his layouts are a good move. Turn 8 in Hungary yes.. but as was recently pointed out to me - one corner does not a good track make

Morgan Park is the complex that has been my main reference point. A fantastic multi layout facility that encourages good, clean driving from a racing and training perspective. To a similar sized centre you could add a skidpan and training centre and get started. As with Morgan Park, top level pit facilities, garages, grandstands can come in time as the wider community sees the benefits that an operational facility will bring.

We have a couple more meetings in the coming weeks that should bring us another big step closer and I will keep you updated.

[Hammer]

I vote for plenty of run off areas

[whoa_dang_96]

DOn't tuck the MG Car Clubs track plans in to bed yet - its not bedtime. This project is NOT dead.

[greenMachine]

DOn't tuck the MG Car Clubs track plans in to bed yet - its not bedtime. This project is NOT dead.

A case for a mercy killing then? Sometimes reality has to be faced, unpleasant though that might be, and maybe pooling resouces behind something that has what appears to be appreciable official support would be more likely to get the right result...

I am not up there, and don't know all the details of who is in bed with who, who is fighting who, and who owes (and is owed) favours... but sometimes the view from afar is clearer than through the dust of the action ...

Whatever, another track (even one far away from here ) would be welcome, and I just hope SOMEONE can triumph!

[Tedsmx5]

Wakefield too far from home, Wyong... I'll buy a second MX-5 and take up motorsport. Towing the car home from from Wyong is feasible, from Wakefield it would be the end of my interest in motorsport.
Ted
Newcastle