What are the promoters going to do differently at Waikaraka? (Read 3,479 times)

[888hsv]

Cant wait for the season to start and looking at the race calendar's of some of the other tracks I wonder what is WP going to do this year too .....

a) Get more race fans to the meetings

b) Get bigger fields of cars

c) Are they going to put to together some series for some or all classes so that the contracted drivers and visiting drivers want to be apart of these thru out the season or does WP, Huntly, Kihikihi, Bay Park and Rotorua  work together in a 5 round series where there are no conflicts in calendar's and would the drivers from these tracks be interested in competing in it?.

d) Work with WS and bring the TQ's, Midgets and Sprint cars to WP so that the WS drivers can have a few more meets in Auckland?.

Interested in your thoughts and idea's and hopefully they will get back to the right people to make it happen if possible???

[orapiuwharf]

Waikaraka park is getting much better. In my opinion as I and most people are not at all interested in six shooters or minisprints. We avoid these meetings. They do not belong at the park. Either the springs or Waiuku would be more suitable. The park would be much better off having less meetings working with other tracks to ensure the meetings they do have have did not include beginner/ entry level races. All Waikara races should be of high quality suitable for the biggest city in the country. Note even though mini stocks could be considered entry level or program fillers it is the future of the sport although they should have their first race before the official start time. Another important issue is start time is 7.00 not 7.20 or 7.25 or 7.30 or 7.40 the first proper race should have the green flag drop at this time with no exceptions.

[Devilracer]

Replace the wall should be the first thing on the list.

[Hooncorp]

That's an excellent question there 888hsv,

I think that is a question best asked to ALL the speedways tho, not JUST Waikaraka, and the responses would be interesting.

Hooncorp.

[cookster]

So if you dont have beginer drivers/entry level drivers where do they go....? All drivers are beginers at some time.
To me any driver that has spent the money in getting started and is willing to have ago should be allowed to race.
Out of interest Orapuiwharf how many years have you been driving?

[cookster]

I like the idea of the 5 clubs having a mini series, its a bit like the super saloons

[888hsv]

Aug 24, 2014 11:13:57 GMT 12 orapiuwharf said:

Waikaraka park is getting much better. In my opinion as I and most people are not at all interested in six shooters or minisprints. We avoid these meetings. They do not belong at the park. Either the springs or Waiuku would be more suitable. The park would be much better off having less meetings working with other tracks to ensure the meetings they do have have did not include beginner/ entry level races. All Waikara races should be of high quality suitable for the biggest city in the country. Note even though mini stocks could be considered entry level or program fillers it is the future of the sport although they should have their first race before the official start time. Another important issue is start time is 7.00 not 7.20 or 7.25 or 7.30 or 7.40 the first proper race should have the green flag drop at this time with no exceptions.

Yes I agree meetings should start on time unless weather has played its part. I don't mind watching Six Shooters or Mini sprints as long as there are good fields of cars ( at least 10 cars ) anything less then its not a spectacle. We still need the entry level mini stocks etc as these guys and girls will be the racers over the next couple of decades and if we want to watching the sport we love then we have to accept and support such classes.

[888hsv]

Aug 24, 2014 15:06:35 GMT 12 cookster said:

I like the idea of the 5 clubs having a mini series, its a bit like the super saloons

Yes we could call it the Top Half series or similar and my gut feeling is it could have wheels across some of the classes ie Stock cars, Superstocks, Modifieds, Saloons and if possible Super Saloons given that it may be in conflict with the DHL series.

[888hsv]

Aug 24, 2014 13:14:33 GMT 12 Devilracer said:

Replace the wall should be the first thing on the list.

    That should be a given in!!! has this been completed or is it work in progress???

[888hsv]

Aug 24, 2014 14:37:28 GMT 12 Hooncorp said:

That's an excellent question there 888hsv,

I think that is a question best asked to ALL the speedways tho, not JUST Waikaraka, and the responses would be interesting.

Hooncorp.

True but with AKL having the biggest population what is WP doing to attract the punters - (spectators and drivers) we need to grow this sport so that it rivals P-North their are a lot of visiting drivers turning up to theirs events!!! it would be great to see some of the top drivers turning up to WP on a regular basis!!. I know part of the reason is peoples budgets and how many events they can do locally etc etc but if we could get (  new ) and increased spectators at meetings surely that would help with better travel money and prize money??.

888HSV

[superstock]

I just don't think aucklands a stock car city, palmy lives and breathes superstocks

also you could say stratford and possibly hawkes bay. im talkimg passion ,top teams, builders , resellers. keen sponsers

id say aucklands a western springs place...midgets -possibly sprinters


even pukekohe doesn't get much support

[orapiuwharf]

Waikaraka Park used to have big crowds to regular meetings. I have been to big meetings where the grand stand was full and for major events it was full and no more access 30 minutes before the start. Additional the park was at capacity and gates closed as the meeting started. This was a long time ago in the 80s and 90s.
The cash registers were ringing and big money was made on the night. Drivers were paid good prize money and those that traveled were paid money to travel.
This can happen again and I believe the current promoter is capable of doing this.
Just don't expect the paying public to want to get money out of their pocket and use their valuable time watching mini sprints and six shooters race around a track. There are too many other attractions in this city. Hardened speedway supporters will go rain hail or snow but Joe blogs public wants to see a quality and if they do not they just don't come back.
Cookster just so you know my racing career was not long not even a full season and due to the time i had available to prepare i should have not been racing. Although for about 6 years I was the sponsor of a class feature race.
This stopped when i could no longer justify the expense to the owner of the company due to dwindling crowds.
So what i am trying to say is Waikaraka park can rock again but not with budget racing.Quality never goes out of fashion. When we get double or even triple the crowds and then prize money and traveling wont be an issue. Sponsors will be easier to get.
Get back the park to what it used to be.
Blasts from the past Clark Proctor,Frank Irvine ,Ray Jordan, Ray Makene, Ray Wright , Roger Bertram, and many more. The good old days can come back as the good new days.

[Deleted]

Auckland has in the past been a very strong club for Superstocks as well as Stockcars , and by the look of things is heading back up there again .. Just the right people at the helm is all it takes..

[cookster]

I do agree to the majority of Auckland not being a Speedway Town.Most people who have any money generally have a boat. But it is not often I see or hear much advertising the sport, maybe some radio when a big event is on. I think there is scope for more to be done in Auckland but it is not a quick fix and time and money is needed to do this. I am pretty sure the promoters running WP now are doing a great job and will build it in the years to come.
As regards to the wall, I am led to believe it will be ready for the start of the season.
We all want to see or be the best racer out there but in every motor sport there is the elit, the ones in the middle and the ones at the back. They are all there for there own reasons. Tell the guys who always qualify last in F1 they are not welcome.... it just doesnt and shouldn't happen

[beachboy]

Aug 24, 2014 11:13:57 GMT 12 orapiuwharf said:

. The park would be much better off having less meetings working with other tracks to ensure the meetings they do have have did not include beginner/ entry level races.

You won't build up to getting full fields if you don't encourage new drivers, they will simply go and race somewhere else and never want to race at WP if that's the Auckland attitude.

[superstock]

Auckland as a whole is spoilt for choice motorsport - there is just down the motorway ..either way

huntly , meremere, Hampton downs, the dragway, WS, WP , puke raceway, various grassroots speedway/ and the like

possibly others .so that's really 3 major speedways in the city counting huntly which mostly runs the same night

[cookster]

I so agree with you Beachboy.
I know that is not the attitude or I would be of to Huntly for my first season....lol

[sonic33]

WP has arguably the best champ meets this season, plus mod dirt cup, plus BK series x 2, plus teams nats, plus Webster Mem etc.

If WP can't get decent crowds this season then they are a lost cause.

From Tauranga I will be up there lots and I don't normally.

[888hsv]

Yes Aucklanders are spoilt for choice of activities ..... however as I read people's response and comments we all need to do our bit to get WP up there and promotion and strong fields will play its part but what can the harden supporters bring to the table?? word of mouth can be a very good to attract virgin punters and I believe by talking with colleagues at work or friends that haven't been to a meeting we need to select the right meeting to get them along. I can say this works as I changed employment and built relationships at work and we all talk about our weekends and this sparked interest and they came along and didn't know about WP and what it was about and they are now punters that now turn up to regular season meetings and we are going to do some roadies this year. Anything is possible and yes it will take some time and money and maybe vehicles need to be put on show with videos on big screens maybe in some Westfield malls to promote WP and what's on offer with discounted vouchers given out??.

[midway]

Gosh these new brooms ,must of been on special this week ,may of been some from Frances,warehouse,,its great to see such enthusiasm going into promoting the place ,i only hope they dont have cheap handles ,and the brissles fall out, that often happens .