Full Throttle

Call this funny or sad, your choice. I call it politicians meddling in something they have little understanding of. (OH, what a shock!)

The New South Wales Government, headed by its Premier Nathan Rees, recently approved a $30 million AUS (24 mil plus in USD) expenditure of tax dollars to hold an event through the streets of Homebush, Victoria for the countries top racing series the V8 Supercars.

Nothing terribly unusual in that, similar things occur in the U.S., and several former drivers have come out in favor of the idea. The most prominent being Ford Performance Racing’s (FPR) Mark Winterbottom.

Little surprise there as FPR’s home base is located in Victoria and Winterbottom “grew up a few kilometres away” from the proposed street circuit and relishes the thought of possibly winning the 2009 V8 championship just “20 minutes from his childhood home.”

Premier Nathan Rees in announcing the rape of taxpayers 30 million dollar project claims it will generate “more than $100 million to the NSW economy.”

Ok, I get it, the premier is trying to recreate the mid-19th century Gold Rush to New South Wales, albeit on a smaller scale, and with mechanized vehicles rather than horse-drawn wagons.

But there’s a problem with his plan, he’s claim jumping.

Eastern Creek Raceway already has a claim on V8 Supercars and in fact the second round of the series was run there in March with Jim Beam Racing’s Will Davidson taking the round win.

Granted an event there is about 40 Klicks west of the street event Premier Rees is proposing but a claim is a claim in my book.

In addition the Eastern Creek “claim” also includes events for the Shannon’s Nationals, the Aussie Super Bike Championships and several other large events.

And well, there is one small problem, they are also courting NSW tax dollars with dreams of upgrading the facility to FIA[sco] standards and lure Formula One to Eastern Creek if Uncle Bernie gets his way and boots Melbourne off the calender.

So what we have are two tracks (within 40 klicks of one another), one a permanent facility hosting several large events at present, and a second one that wants to host what in all probability is a single event yearly, and both want to spend tax dollars from the very same pot of gold that is the NSW treasury.

Aside from the taxpayers who all get screwed, one of these two tracks are going to come up empty, at this point Homebush has money allocated, Eastern Creek’s expansion purse is empty so the early lead goes to Homebush.

Of course none of this addresses the overriding issue in my book (Hey, they ain’t spending my tax bucks), what the hell will the V8 Series do? Will they stay at Eastern Creek, move their event into town and the street circuit, or add another Sydney event to their schedule?

Peter, how about you, happy with where your tax dollars are going?

Somehow I doubt it and a rant will pop-up in the comments section very shortly.

Cross posted @ Asian Motor Sports.