Waikaraka Park Speedway Grandstand top level open (Read 3,630 times)

[speedinaway]

Hi All, 

Here's a few pix of the temp grandstand currently being erected. Almost 800 seats about 2 meters from the safety fence, great view and feel. The guys on site said they would have it finished tomorrow. Temp toilet blocks are also plummed in and ready to go. Stadiums Auckland & Mt Smart have come to the party with the use of the grandstand till the end of the season. (we might get to keep it). During the process the club has been offered 5000 seats (free) which could also come in handy. Need to be bolted to a concrete base. 

There's a club member (not me) that has put a HUGE amout of effort into sorting this whole process with Council etc and sourcing the only available grandstand in the country, (due to the soccer would cup). Come and see me if you want to shake his hand or buy him a beer. 

Several other club members, non club members and Committee have also contributed to finding a solution. Plenty more to be done before things are fully sorted.

Committee has a meeting with Council on the 19th of Jan to further discuss our lease and the bigger picture re the grandstand. 

In the meantime get ya backsides trackside for our Christmas special this Saturday from 7pm, Superstocks, Stockcars, Modifieds, Saloons, Ministocks, Streetstocks, Six Shooters and possibly some Supersaloons. Pits are gunna be chocka.

Weather forecast has improved somewhat and track is dry as so could handle a sprinkle or two.

Come check out the new view from the grandstand. Those plastic seats will be better than the hard concrete 

Dion

[beachboy]

Looks good, well done.

[cards]

Really good to see "speedinaway" the positive response to what has been a trying time for your club.
I'm a Midget fan, who likes to cross town to watch the big Superstock and Super-Saloon meetings.
I was fearing for the future of the Waikaraka Park venue with the condemning of the old concrete stand, but it now appears your club has taken a pro-active response to the situation.
Top marks to those involved.
Looking ahead, that 5,000 seater would look good down the back straight. All the best finding sponsors to help getting that in place.

Cards

[speedinaway]

Great news everyone, 

Just had word from the Council and Engineers looking at the Grandstand. The Engineers have given us the go ahead to re-open the upper level of the grandstand until the end of the season. Looking at the last photo of the temp grandstand, pretty sure you can see straight over the top of the temp stand from the upper level of the concrete grandstand.
Still seismic testing to be completed and an ultimate outcome to be decided come end of season.

Dion

[Admin]

So it is Christmas and Santa has delivered early . Great news Dion.

[jimmyj]

Just as well 1 racing family looks after waikaraka park it seems ///

[theycallmewade]

Dec 22, 2014 14:17:17 GMT 12 speedinaway said:

Great news everyone, 

Just had word from the Council and Engineers looking at the Grandstand. The Engineers have given us the go ahead to re-open the upper level of the grandstand until the end of the season. Looking at the last photo of the temp grandstand, pretty sure you can see straight over the top of the temp stand from the upper level of the concrete grandstand.
Still seismic testing to be completed and an ultimate outcome to be decided come end of season.

Dion

Fantastic result Dion! Well done.

By my reckoning that's about 2000 seats on the front straight, all with great views!

[percy]

I feel really sorry for the team at Waikaraka Park. One moment the whole stand is no good so they go to the time, cost and expense of erecting a temporary stand. Next moment the top of the stand is ok and they probably didn't need the temporary stand after all.

Hard to run a professional promotion under such circumstances.

The meeting on January 2nd looks like it will be worth going to. Sounds like there should be a good Modified field with a couple of Stratford hotshots to complement the Auckland Streetstock Champs and the Stockcar Teams Race.

[theycallmewade]

You do what you have to with the information at hand. The real message is the club took matters into their own hands and sorted it under trying circumstances with a great result. Temporary seating is really excellent, late notice of extra seating in the top stand is a big bonus!!

You are right though, the Jan 2 line up is looking tasty. Club deserves a good turn out and a good nights racing.

[steelpanther]

Totally agree with the last two comments. Awesome work Dion and the rest of the WP committee. There is no doubt the club have worked hard under difficult circumstances. The thought of a new stand that close to the action is extremely appealing. Looking forward to making the trip on January 2. Just hope the weather behaves. Merry Xmas!!

[insane1]

well done dion and all the wp club committee a very good outcome in a trying time for all.

[krizo]

awesome team....well done