New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing (2014)

[Howard Wood]

Hi Habu.
As one of the directors of the Festival, I can tell you that we think long and hard about the upcoming Festival and try to make each year a bigger and better 'circus'. The competitor entry was down, noticeably the BMW's, but the new class of Sports Sedans added many interesting cars. Next week there will be three new classes, including Formula Libre. The Taupo round the weekend before does impact on the Festival, but HRC has many competitors asking for that event, so what do we do? There were more trade stands than last year, positioned down the wall where the spectators come in. Ray mentioned that some classic and historic events are free for spectators, but these are the low profile events that cater solely for the competitors. All HRC events are marketed and advertised to try to build up classic and historic racing and a gate charge is made to cover these costs. We are trying to build up motorsport overall, firstly by building a circuit and then promoting race meetings to the public. I know the $40 entry charge is at the upper level, but early bird and online purchasing is cheaper. (V8 Supercars are considerably more expensive). My wife and I went to the movies the other night the other night and paid $17 each for a two hour film - 8 hours of motorsport is much better value! I think we have learnt that both competitors and spectators are fickle and we definitely cannot please them all, but I guess we will keep trying!

Hi Tony,

As you know there is so much competition for the entertainment dollar today and despite the predictions there seems less leisure time available so most attractions have to reinvent themselves every so often to stay fresh and relevant.

As a competitor with very strong views on the need to maintain historical accuracy in "Historic" classes I fully support the direction and ethos of the festival and would love to see it develop to become the equal of any of the major festivals word wide. I also realise that you need to offer more than one weekend's racing to attract overseas entries and this is particularly true for the F/ Juniors next year. On the other hand, for local entrants particularly those running in other concurrent series the two weekend format can be a challenge. In my case, the Taupo BMW series round Jan 11/12 folllowed by two weekends of the Festival requires other family members sacrificing too much of their available holiday time year after year than is reasonable.

In addition, the date clash with the Scope races in the South Island means that many potential competitors (and I know several FFers in this category) have to make a choice between the two. Is it practical to split the festival format over two weekends between HD and Scope (or some other venue such as Queenstown) with the option of a either a one weekend or two weekend entry fee? It seems to me that this might offer something to attract more overseas entrants, show other parts of the country what you are trying to do here while catering for time poor local competitors such as myself.

[Habu]

Hi Habu.
As one of the directors of the Festival, I can tell you that we think long and hard about the upcoming Festival and try to make each year a bigger and better 'circus'. The competitor entry was down, noticeably the BMW's, but the new class of Sports Sedans added many interesting cars. Next week there will be three new classes, including Formula Libre. The Taupo round the weekend before does impact on the Festival, but HRC has many competitors asking for that event, so what do we do? There were more trade stands than last year, positioned down the wall where the spectators come in. Ray mentioned that some classic and historic events are free for spectators, but these are the low profile events that cater solely for the competitors. All HRC events are marketed and advertised to try to build up classic and historic racing and a gate charge is made to cover these costs. We are trying to build up motorsport overall, firstly by building a circuit and then promoting race meetings to the public. I know the $40 entry charge is at the upper level, but early bird and online purchasing is cheaper. (V8 Supercars are considerably more expensive). My wife and I went to the movies the other night the other night and paid $17 each for a two hour film - 8 hours of motorsport is much better value! I think we have learnt that both competitors and spectators are fickle and we definitely cannot please them all, but I guess we will keep trying!

Hi Tony,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my criticisms. In relation to the trade displays, I clearly missed their representation. Although the entry price was $40, I didnt feel as though I had the same value for money relative to previous years - clearly my expectations had been exceeded by your previous efforts! As you have correctly indicated, compared to the movies, the Festival does represent good value for money for the time you can spend. The $5 parking charge could hardly be classified as exorbitant. As far as the Hampton Downs facility is concerned, it is always a pleasure to visit.

As a fickle spectator, I look forward to 2015.

[John McKechnie]

Further to what Steve said above- quite simply, we all know these guys and the cars.
If we want to see them continually demonstrate racing their Historic cars then

adopt one, be part of that family, help the owner keep the dream alive, help when needed, help when not needed, go to night school learn some fabricating skills,take the pressure off the guy that it is up to him and only him to prep the car, fuel it, check oil, tyres and bonnet pins just before a race.
There can never be too many supporters

Just an observation on keeping numbers up.

[Oldfart]

Well said John. There was a time (good old days?) when the "hangers on" were what made it possible. That hasn't changed. Flaggies are always in demand too!

[John McKechnie]

Flaggies are always in demand too!...........
.I can see the bumper sticker now *Sleep with a flaggie, we need more of them*
Do you want a dozen of them Malcolm?

[Malcolm McLeod]

If they're good looking and female!!! LOL

Flaggies are always in demand too!...........
.I can see the bumper sticker now *Sleep with a flaggie, we need more of them*
Do you want a dozen of them Malcolm?

[Malcolm McLeod]

Oh you meen the stickers.......I'll grab them on Sunday.
(Thought you meant flaggies...lol)

If they're good looking and female!!! LOL

[RacerT]

Hi Tony,

As you know there is so much competition for the entertainment dollar today and despite the predictions there seems less leisure time available so most attractions have to reinvent themselves every so often to stay fresh and relevant.

As a competitor with very strong views on the need to maintain historical accuracy in "Historic" classes I fully support the direction and ethos of the festival and would love to see it develop to become the equal of any of the major festivals word wide. I also realise that you need to offer more than one weekend's racing to attract overseas entries and this is particularly true for the F/ Juniors next year. On the other hand, for local entrants particularly those running in other concurrent series the two weekend format can be a challenge. In my case, the Taupo BMW series round Jan 11/12 folllowed by two weekends of the Festival requires other family members sacrificing too much of their available holiday time year after year than is reasonable.

In addition, the date clash with the Scope races in the South Island means that many potential competitors (and I know several FFers in this category) have to make a choice between the two. Is it practical to split the festival format over two weekends between HD and Scope (or some other venue such as Queenstown) with the option of a either a one weekend or two weekend entry fee? It seems to me that this might offer something to attract more overseas entrants, show other parts of the country what you are trying to do here while catering for time poor local competitors such as myself.

Thanks Howard.
Very constructive and well thought through, as all your posts are! TR

[Racer Rog]

In the deep South (Mainland) we run the ENZED CLASSIC, this is the weekend after the Skope, so we are always interested in working in with the others, in fact we organizes to get the Formula Juniors down to the South Island with the support from our own club (CMRC) and Toll Logistics, and this was the icing on the cake for these guys, we think that we have one of the best little Historic and Classic meetings in the South and we do try to stick to H & C type cars and in the main we do, but also have invited cars of interest, and this is to fill the fields. Our prime objective to make sure every one has fun and we ensure a great social side to the meeting, as many from the North Island can attest to, yes we do let them run provided they have a letter from their mothers saying that they are allowed to play. At this point in time we are accepting late entries for this years meeting, starting on Waitangi day with qualifying starting on Friday at noon. if any are interested PM me.
Roger

[ERC]

From today:

No not mine...

Not many spectators at all today. Maybe many will be elsewhere for the long weekend.

Good to see Grant Kern back again. It wasn't the gearbox last weekend, it was the clutch.

Gordon Burr had to bring the V8 Escort rather than the Alfetta.

When I left, Barry was awaiting fuel for the Monaro.

John Dennehy's rare Aston Zagato popped a plug.

[SPman]

Shit - what happened to George's Mustang?

[John McKechnie]

front suspension problem, he hopes to back asap

[stirlingmac]

Any pics of Burrs' Escort is that the ex Ian Taylor car from Wellington ?....I have fond memories of that car

[ERC]

Yes! And yes...

[CUSTAXIE50]

well it was my first time at HD on friday, and it was the last outing for the day,so you could say i was late.Thanks Tony for the bread roll i had it on my way home in Cambridge where i fueled up.Now the first thing for me at HD i could not see all the track from where i was by the Grandstand and also in the pits, its a great looking place but i cant see all the racing i can hear it.I was in Morrinsville picking up a gearbox, so i was almost there so i came up for a look see i wanted to see Georges Mustang,but looking at the photo up here hes got his hands full at putting the old girl back to the way it was at the start of the day.I had a wee lol at the signs on some of the buildings,it went something like this-- No jacks-No axle stands and No refueling on the tar seal and if you do it will cost you$100. Well there was one f5000 that they started, that part was alright but i moved away when they started refueling it with the motor running on the tar seal with a 20litre fuel can,its not the fuel that they are putting in the tank that turns to fire its whats in the can also Fuel Vapour not very safe at all with the other cars around them only my view.Well will have to get my a into g because they are running the north island sidecar champs at palmy speedway tonight and i dont want to be late for that.All the best to all at HD for the weekend and be safe out there.

[ERC]

Custaxie - some people do not seem to be aware of the current MSNZ regulations regarding refuelling...

As for viewing. ALL my photographs at HD are taken from spectator allowed areas. Very few road tracks anywhere in the world allow 100% track viewing from any one point and generally those that do, are not that good for taking photographs anyway.

Very few also allow unlimited paddock access for free either.

I spoke to a neighbour who went to HD last week and he was blown away just how spectator friendly it was and more to the point, how friendly all the drivers and support crews were.

Good crowd there again today - Saturday.

What many wanted to see. A few teething problems though, so you had to grab a pic on lap one or two.

[ERC]

[Powder]

Is the Mustang an original Group A car? I thought they'd all found their way back to Australia but perhaps George S. has had one tucked away.

Interesting to read the comments about how to target the event to spectators.
I've attended all the previous festivals but decided to skip this one simply because I'm not a big Ferrari fan.
The HMC has a lot of appeal to me but that'll be bigger and better next year so I don't feel I've missed too much.

Ticket price is largely irrelevant (within reason) for a once a year event. If it's something I really want to see I'll pay $100 or more.

I also agree with Steve H's comments on quality rather than quantity, but I'd include races per day in the argument. Currently if you want to have a good look around the paddock then you're missing action on the track. I see nothing wrong with 8 races per day with 40min breaks. Perhaps even the drivers/crews would prefer a less hectic schedule?

The Howden Ganley event has the potential to be quite interesting as he drove a wide variety of cars (any chance of a Le Mans Matra making an appearance?). I also hope the list of future events might include a Porsche Festival. The company has a good sporting history in NZ (well, more so than Ferrari anyway) and the Porsche Museum has been very supportive of similar events overseas. But if you had a Mustang Festival I'd be there all 6 days .

Malcolm

[CUSTAXIE50]

Ok, what good is it to me if i pay to get in and sit in the grandstand only to see the front part of the track.

[Andrew Metford]

I also hope the list of future events might include a Porsche Festival. The company has a good sporting history in NZ (well, more so than Ferrari anyway) and the Porsche Museum has been very supportive of similar events overseas.

The 2015 Festival is celebrating Porsche, so book your hoildays now