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10Speed

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    Taupo Circuit Up For Sale

    in General Car Chat

    Posted

    maybe we should pool our pocket money and buy it?

     

     

     

    QUINN PUTS IN OFFER FOR TAUPO.
    Tony Quinn has put in an offer for the struggling Taupo motor racing circuit. Quinn had expressed interest in buying both Hampton Downs and Taupo on and off over the past year or eighteen months.
    It's been no secret that Taupo has had increasingly serious financial difficulties and Quinn, if successful with his offer, will remodel this place in the style of Highlands at Cromwell — a tourist attraction first and a motor racing circuit second.
    Taupo has struggled financially since it was remodelled for the short-lived international A1GP series. Given the high profile of the New Zealand team in the series, and the claimed loved of motor racing in the F1 style by may NZers, the crowds at these A1GP meetings were disappointing.
    This lack of spectator appeal certainly raised questions in the minds of many about the long term appeal of Taupo to host big-scale meetings.
    The circuit has an interesting history, with the current set-up, being created in three stages.
    STAGE 1. The first being originally a small-scale club circuit owned and operated by the Taupo Car Club for many years. It was small, and tight.
    STAGE 2. The second was a major extension which made it suitable for (successful) national meetings.
    STAGE 3. The third was the "A1GP upgrade" and ir was the millions spent on the "A1GP upgrade" that burdeed the place.
    Taupo Motorsport Park (TMP) is a private company that was set up to develop Taupo from Stage 2 into Stage 3 — something that was accelerated when A1GP appeared on the scene.
    Initially, some well known motorsport people, from outside the were involved in this but it was then taken over by local "business interests".
    However, the Taupo Car Club remain an interested party and have sent out this message to try and retain some sort of involvement.

    Dear Class Representative, Competitors and Race Contacts,

    There are rumours circulating about a proposed interested buyer of the Taupo Motorsport Park (TMP) and that TMP are not in a strong position financially. These are both true and an offer has been made to the TMP Board of Directors, but the sale has NOT happened and it will be up to the TMP Shareholders (TCC are shareholders also) to decide at a Special General Meeting to be held on the 26th February.

    TCC( Taupo Car Club) along with TMP and Taupo District Council (TDC) have a tripartite Lease Agreement Contract that gives TCC certain use arrangements as remuneration for us giving over our existing track, plant and equipment that was valued at $1.2m.

    If the sale is approved, the interested buyer has made it very clear that we will lose those use arrangements and this will most certainly affect ALL of our race meetings. He has also indicated that he will, upon purchase, close the entire facility for at least 3-6 months, upgrade it and re-open with a new image and name. Needless to say his vision is very different to the current arrangements. This means that our Easter and Truck Race Championship meetings and Winter Series for 2015 will be affected. Also in the future we may no longer be able to, nor afford to, hold our ‘traditional’ race meetings.

    TCC has several options we are looking at within the next 7 days and we are seeking legal advice with regard to our Lease Agreement Contract. One of those is to look into the possibility of buying some of the debt TMP is struggling with, thereby keeping the place running. Another is to look at purchasing the business ourselves and this is where we need your written and possible financial support.

    Therefore we would appreciate a letter from as many of you as possible in support of Taupo Car Club to present with our proposed business plan and to our fellow TMP Shareholders with a view to continue to provide a motor race circuit where we can foster all motorsport at all levels from grassroots to championship. Please pass this onto your fellow competitors and anyone that you wish to. All support is appreciated.

    Please send your letters to me at this email address racecoordinator@taupocarclub.org.nz

    I thank you in advance from the tireless volunteers of Taupo Car Club who are looking out for the best interests of our customers.. YOU.

    Regards
    Melanie Coleman & Terry O’Brien
    Taupo Car Club Representatives

     

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    10speeds awesome dub of awesomeness

    in Project Discussion

    Posted

    the bushes themselves are easy to fit, but there will need to be a little supporting work to make sure a few other mating surfaces are parallel... should wind up with 2 degrees of negative camber, which I expect will make a world of difference compared to the current 1 degree positive... 

     

    we'll find out for sure at the OS track day (touch wood)...

     

    Fvee265.jpg

    (random pic of naked formula vee)

    • Like 1

    64 Valiants 68 VW Beetle

    in Project Discussion

    Posted

    people say the solenoid can give trouble when putting 12v through a 6v starter, but it's never given me any grief in the years I've done it...  tried putting it in 3rd and rocking the car back and forth?  has free stuck solenoids for me in the past

     

    (btw 6v and 12v ring gears are different if you wind up shopping for a new starter)

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