Quote Originally Posted by Parnelli View Post
Whilst differing opinions is healthy to any debate ,I can not let the “freeloaders “ label go unchallenged. As an apartment owner ( actually the bank owns most of it ) I have put my money where my mouth is in support of this development and motor racing in general. I have neither a business to right this expense off against nor an in heritance to pay for it, so to be labeled as such just shows the intellect of a large number of supposed motorsport supporters. If the apartment owners had not stumped up then H.D. would still be just another pipe dream. For promoters to whine about the apartments getting a free ticket is so hypercritical when we all know that these same promoters give away thousands of “corporate freeloader “ tickets to every event they put on ! Whilst some thought they were not loud enough and others found them too processional , I thought overall they put on a slick show. Yes, they need a larger grid and yes, they need a reverse grid race , but other than the purists, I think most spectators would have come away fairly impressed.- especially given the ticket pricing. As for the BMW festival, then it has got to be acknowledged that aiming it at predominately a European marquee then it had limited appeal to the average NZ motorsport supporter. A gamble that may not have paid off ? A return next year to Denny Hulme should see the crowds come back.
Parnelli, i believe you are quite rite that the European marquee probably had limited appeal to the general public/come racer. But having just read the editors comments in the latest "Classic Driver" you would tend to believe that even the 60's/70's Historic Muscle car class has a limited appeal as well, Hmmmmm. And at the Skope with probably the worst class's i'd ever raced in, but with a huge crowd attendance, maybe we do have it all wrong!!! but i tend to believe that the Januarys dates collide with too many other automotive events and the paying public can only stand so$$$$$$$ much.

As a point of interest, at the Monterey Historics last year, probably the largest USA west coast historic event, it was spot the spectator!! i question my american mate,(who was racing) about this and his comments were they are not intested in the public as its a "Historic" racers event only and if some public come along thats OK, as for funding? its the competitor that pays and believe me, DO THEY PAY!!

Dale Mathers