62 replies to this topic

[scoobygirl]

How can you have a back up plan?

"If my car breaks I am walking home" is about the only plan you get!! All good if you live in the 'Vile but when you're 350km away your choices are limited!! My car doesn't get on a tow truck but if it did 350km tow would be awesome to pay for.

Don't worry matt, if it breaks in the 'ville you can always leave it at my place down there and I guess I could drive it back for you once fixed. I mean its a big ask but I guess I could manage it

Edited by scoobygirl, 15 October 2007 - 07:33 PM.

[littlefireyone]

Agreed. Every time somebody asks me about racing and how to do it (and natually how much does it cost) they are put off by whatever I say. I feel it's more expensive to lose my car or continue getting fines that's why I make a much more consistant effort to attend\ help out\ participate at these events.

That's another thing I love about the racing, most people I know who do these things the right way have respect for each other and it really shows. I may still be considered an assclown on the scene but out there at events I am respected like any other person and that's why I come back.

Just pay the money and go racing the right way, I'll respect you for it.

[UDLOOZ]

If you cant afford to trailer your car to Townsville to drag race it, quit drinking, quit smoking, work hard, budget and save save save. This is the difference between an enthusiast and a hoon. A real enthusiast will make the sacrifices and work their guts out to do something they really love doing and do it legally on a strip.

Thats well put, pretty much the point i was trying to make but sucked at doing it haha

Cars that go round corners arent fast in a straight line unless they have an Big R badge!

Bite your tongue Evolution badge.. haha

Edited by BLK EVO4, 15 October 2007 - 08:56 PM.

[WYT_GTR]

If you cant afford to trailer your car to Townsville to drag race it, quit drinking, quit smoking, work hard, budget and save save save. This is the difference between an enthusiast and a hoon. A real enthusiast will make the sacrifices and work their guts out to do something they really love doing and do it legally on a strip.

A hoon will do it on the street anyway.

I would tend to think that a "hoon" wouldn't even stop to experience the culture the car enthusiasts try to bring up and develop. A "hoon" would drive past the event and chuck a skid to get noticed by people who would happen to be standing nearby within ear shot.... however you would almost never see them spend the 20 bucks they have in their pocket to pay to watch something.... or part with 50 bucks to give their car a lash and test their limits and skills within a controlled environment. An enthusiast might want to contribute more into something they appreciate and like doing... however be their employment status, family life, any liabilities hanging over their heads would all affect how much time and money they could utilise to support their hunger for the culture. Sure enough some people live off 2 minute noodles for months on end, never go out and don't wash themselves to save every penny to buy that Bride seat or KKK turbocharger... but not everyone can afford to go to such extremes..... and it is sometimes the little guys who don't have much money and spend what ever chance they have not only to compete but to help support something that they see as worthy their time and participation.

But you can't forget though, not many of us bought a car to solely race it at a drag strip every weekend, these are daily driven vehicles in most cases and this environment that we experience and support is something that has grown up from on the streets..... only coz we try to convey that everything is perfect in our world (we drive safe, go to church blah blah blah)... there will be the few people that do believe that car enthusiasts are a group of people that cater for all forms of motorsport, be it drag racing, speedway, rally, hillclimbs, drifting and also illegal street racing.... because motorsport evolves... from the street to something more safer..... drag racing didn't start on tracks did it.... nor did drifting.... so in a weird twisted sense you can thank illegal driving on evolving the culture of motorsport coz in a way it has help make the streets safer....

It's a touchy subject but what you can only do now is portray the difference between these two categories...... however hard it is, there needs to be a bold definitive line that seperates the two so misconception and confusing is something that is not regularly come across in the future....

[R32 GT-R]

I think drifting will hang around a fair bit longer than a lot of people give it credit for. The funny thing is look at the top level of drifting and i could just about garantee that the average age of the drivers wouldn't be far off f1 or the likes most of them are middle aged men with 10's of years of experience... the fact that it's boomed amoung young people will only see the sport grow, I don't think it's another teenage fad. Most younger generations can't afford the tyre bill alone to go drifting.....oh yeh go the big "R" badge, the big red one normally found under a chrome GT

[200sxxx]

because motorsport evolves... from the street to something more safer..... drag racing didn't start on tracks did it.... nor did drifting.... so in a weird twisted sense you can thank illegal driving on evolving the culture of motorsport coz in a way it has help make the streets safer....

In a partial sense you are correct. Today's hoon motorsport events such as drifting and drag racing did begin on the street and as any true motorsport enthusiast will tell you, they don't deserve FIA approval in any way shape or form.Look at the highest end of the motorsport scale. Formula 1, WRC, LeMans... All of these professional events, unlike drift and to a lesser extent drag racing, began as motorsport events. Engine and car companies actually invested money into designing the vehicles that were to compete, not evolving street driven vehicles.So your post did contain some truth, but misses the point completely - no influential and wealthy elitist in the Cairns region will promote a hoon event like drift racing. That image is so very tarnished with the children driving their "wannabe" racers causing accidents and general mayhem on the streets of Cairns. (You know the type - the cars with pointless exhausts, big stereos, plenty of stickers and poor drivers)I for one will boycott any attempt to bring a hoon event to Cairns. Drift racing will run its course once the current generation of kids find another movie to follow.And Ian, if you mean an R badge such as in "RS" then i agree with you.

ban him matt

because motorsport evolves... from the street to something more safer..... drag racing didn't start on tracks did it.... nor did drifting.... so in a weird twisted sense you can thank illegal driving on evolving the culture of motorsport coz in a way it has help make the streets safer....

In a partial sense you are correct. Today's hoon motorsport events such as drifting and drag racing did begin on the street and as any true motorsport enthusiast will tell you, they don't deserve FIA approval in any way shape or form.Look at the highest end of the motorsport scale. Formula 1, WRC, LeMans... All of these professional events, unlike drift and to a lesser extent drag racing, began as motorsport events. Engine and car companies actually invested money into designing the vehicles that were to compete, not evolving street driven vehicles.So your post did contain some truth, but misses the point completely - no influential and wealthy elitist in the Cairns region will promote a hoon event like drift racing. That image is so very tarnished with the children driving their "wannabe" racers causing accidents and general mayhem on the streets of Cairns. (You know the type - the cars with pointless exhausts, big stereos, plenty of stickers and poor drivers)I for one will boycott any attempt to bring a hoon event to Cairns. Drift racing will run its course once the current generation of kids find another movie to follow.And Ian, if you mean an R badge such as in "RS" then i agree with you.

every car I have seen like this are FWD veichles that obviously dont want to get involved in drifting

[sinister]

Drifting is a new fad created by movies? Wow, that's news to me. It's been a sport in Japan for over 10 years and has boomed there long ago and still going strong. It has only boomed in Australia recently (last couple years).... the only reason it is so well known about now is as you say certain movies but that doesn't mean it is a fad or hoon sport.

No one would support a 'hoon event?' D1GP has been around for ages and it is huge now also in the US where it is also huge, but who would support it? It does as you say how ever have a huge street following but what motorsport doesn't? Toyo in Australia is the main sponsor of DA, and has many work shops behind it.

Drift is about as much of a hoon sport as drag racing... if you don't like the sport than that is great for you... It is people like yourself that ruin things for others. Just because you simply do not like something is no reason others can't do what they enjoy. How about all the people who hate drag racing go out and have a cry because your choice of sport is frequently (far more than drift) participated in on the street and is a dangerous hoon sport!

Australia is full of twats that like to ban or stop anything they don't understand or like. It is supposed to be a FREE COUNTRY, not a country full of people that moan and cry about everything. Australia needs a big cup of cement I think

Oh, and if you think any sort of hoon activity is bad in Cairns (or Australia for that fact) maybe you should look at some places over seas like New Zealand, Japan, USA, Sweeden. These kind of places have HUNDREDS and in some cases has been known to have thousands of street racers (drag racing) on public roads.... it is not as bad as the general public think it is here.

[sLaSh]

(You know the type - the cars with pointless exhausts, big stereos, plenty of stickers and poor drivers) [/quote]every car I have seen like this are FWD veichles that obviously dont want to get involved in drifting
[/quote]

Hope that wasnt aimed at me Cause I still would go to a drift event, just wouldnt be eligeble to enter..

[The Don]

It won't get on a trailer or tow truck.... it is far too low. Been a bit of a dilemma on two occasions when I had to tow it because I quite simply couldn't. Getting on hoists is sometimes an issue. Last time I went to get a wheel alignment they asked if they could take off the front bar!!! I can't even jack it up to work on it with a hydraulic jack. I have to use a scissor jack to get it up a bit to get a hydraulic under it. Real pain in the ass sometimes.

hey matt i bet anything that your car would go on (NOPSI) car trailer he has the bomb trailer goes to about 45mm with low ride hight and long ramps on special custom tilt.

[sinister]

I'm not real interested in racing it anyway.... point was more so it's hard for out of towner street car to race with out a budget and with closing of venues it becomes even harder.

[HePiL]

how about we convince the ingham council to get some grants and funding and put the complex in the middle of the two cities, god knows there is enough room to build it there.

[yamahore]

Back onto another topic...

Can anyone confirm this?

I heard that the go kart track and some of the land around it used to be a fuel dumping ground in World War II so they can't build residential property on it. On top of that the drag strip used to be an air strip back in WWII. I am not saying this will save either venue I just don't think it will be houses dumped on them tomorrow. Its a shame know one will come up with real dates and so many people get mixed information... There is a difference between the speedway and the dragway...

But like people said I really doubt the drag strip will still be there for 10 years.

[sinister]

I don't think a bit of fuel 50 years ago is going to stop houses now. Money to be made and not much will stop those who are making the money.

No dates are confirmed as far as I know. Townsville Drag Way released a statement about their future but it does not spring to my mind at the moment so I won't comment in case my comments are incorrect.

Also, it's not the houses on the current venue property that is the problem. It is the noise involved with the venue that new residents get upset with and complain to council.

Of course, anyone with a brain would say "why did you move in to a place right next to a motorsport complex and not expect a bit of noise?" but common sense does not prevail unfortunately.

There are lots of rumors floating around about a new complex in both Townsville and Cairns but at this point I think they are just that, rumours. Nothing is confirmed about a future complex.

[WYT_GTR]

Petroleum products last for an extremely long time.... if its tainted in the soil it will be there for generations to come at least...... after all it is an oil based product and everyone knows how severe it is to clean up oil in landform.... imagine an area that large being dug up X by X by X...... then it starts to pan out problems for residential communities to develop upon..... dont think people want funky diseases and shit popping up 5 years after they move in because of all the shit thats in the soil below that rises everytime it rains....

[Zagar]

Of course, anyone with a brain would say "why did you move in to a place right next to a motorsport complex and not expect a bit of noise?" but common sense does not prevail unfortunately.

It always amazes me how people can move next to a dragway and think that it is going to be quiet.

[$Blinga$]

I understand the whole controversy of not having anywhere to race cars in the future.. In the car scene I'm into, nothing involves racing at venues or so forth , its more about the sub culture and friends that goes with it.. Queensland doesnt allow my vehcile to be driven legally on the road.. Therefor I'd have to get special permits on cruises/events also trailer it everywhere. So I order to battle this issue, I'm simply going to move to NSW where I can drive my poo tin truck and enjoy what I've been building over the last 2 years...

Anyway back on topic I race dirtbikes, and in the class (enduro) I race in I useually have to travel a minimum of 4 hours to get to a event. Which is mostly held up in Atherton and surrounding areas. Townsville desnt hold enduros. It sucks yeah but I'm pssionate enough it doesnt bother me to travel that far and run lack of sleep just to make a weekend event racing in the sport I love..

[Swiftpimp]

Of course, anyone with a brain would say "why did you move in to a place right next to a motorsport complex and not expect a bit of noise?" but common sense does not prevail unfortunately.

It always amazes me how people can move next to a dragway and think that it is going to be quiet.

this is why lakeside and mt cotton were closed down. absent minded fools decided they wanted to live near the racetracks, then complained about the noise! would you live near a racetrack for the peace and tranquility??

it seems the V8 supercars will be appearing around here soon enough, but they haven't said too much about the motorsport complex. surely they must see it as good thing. look at the employment it would create, not to mention the events they could hold there

[Redman180]

i've gotta add here that in Townsville at the moment 1 who wishes to take their car to the strip legally can only do it once a week at a street meet and thats providing there is no special event happening. If the drag strip reckons that QSS won't bring enough members to a meet then they should hold one and see, my point here being that alot more of us would show up to a closed meet to be run under our own system rather than put up with other people not in our QSS family who won't follow any plans we have set. A closed track will bring alot more QSS members to an event then a open street meet.

I do beleive a proper motorsport complex needs to be built, and without being biased Townsville would be the place to do it as it is in the middle of mackay and cairns, where a lot of competitors and supporters would come from. Another thing that a proper complex would provide is a huge boost to the economy. Businesses may see it as great thing and start sponsor ships, businesses would have better support for our ever evolving modification world and parts would become cheaper and more available, mechanical services and all motorsport related shops would raise their standards to a level we desire.

It would show the people who frown upon us that when we have a facility available we have a place to go and release our adrenaline and passion for what we do best in the safest environment possible.

You cannot relate skate parks to motor sport complexes for one, do the skaters/bmx riders have to pay to use the tracks/areas built for them no, but it did stop alot of them doing it through schools, and other areas that they shouldn't have.

For as long as there is a cost to legally do motorsport alot will still stick to the street. In saying that tho the more who have a punt and save and go to the events the cheaper it will becom the more support it will get and that will reflect back into our pockets as prices drop and numbers increase. (same theory as getting home from town....by yourself it's a $40 cab ride, but with 3 of you it's only $12 each.)

As for the Dragway closing the second 2 houses are moved into there will be complaints...exactly like the strand turned out. It has always been a car enthusiasts hang out and great place to go, then residents moved in started complaining, and it doesn't help that our 17yr old p platers bring all their drunk mates out and yell shit at others swearing their heads off, and all the bogans pulling skids when they leave.

Even if we could just get a few nice wide streets built somewhere and the cops let us use these to stisfy our passion at least there would be noon to hurt except our cars and our pride lol.

My few cents worth anyway

[AE864thachicks]

I really enjoyed participating in the stadium drift event last september, and im sure everyone else who was there that day, did as well. I know the track was no qld raceway or equivalent, but it was good enough for everyone there, and also attracted a decent crowd. Reason I say this is because it was a great event for Cairns, well advertised and a full list of entrants. Now we are without this track for a while and events cancelled, which obviously does nothing for the growth of this highly entertaining sport. Maybe organising a fundraising cruise, sell raffle tickets (not sure on gaming laws) for a nice prize... there's gotta be something hey, lets get this track fixed!!

As far as other forms go, I had no idea that the townsville dragway was in jeopardy, which hopefully will be resurected by a new venue.
Another thing im not too sure about is the hill climb events... do these exist and where or how do you get involved??

And I know there is a rally club (I know this is not for everyone) that runs I believe every month up in the tablelands somewhere. Maybe the people if they haven't done so already can get a thread going with more info and dates etc.

Politicians have too much on there poor sorry arse minds already, they dont give a FAAAAAARRRRRt about motorsport, as they are busy with issues (apparently) that affect more then just a small percentage.

And if we do come to a stage of illegal street activity, do so on a nice out of the way road with communication between start and finish as to warn of traffic, be safe.

[sinister]

That is one reason why I started QSS. Promote awareness of motoring events. There is heaps that goes on up here that no one has any clue about including people who are car nuts. It is intended to be a central place where everyone can come and see what is happening and discuss things with like minded people. Over the years I think it has achieved that and has flourished with members from Cairns, Townsville and surrounding regions.

I wrote the original post quite a while ago and some things have changed since then.... but the point behind it is still fairly accurate.

Unfortunately I don't think much will change in the form of support financially from the Goverment towards facilities. With that said how ever there is a lot the average enthusiast can do.

Simply supporting events by participating and/or spectating. If people do not participate and/or spectate the events will quite simply die. No event will continue to run at a loss so make your best to get to every event you can.

Volunteering your time to help organise/run events is also great. A lot of motor events don't have big budgets and need all the help they can get. If they had to pay every volunteer be it at events, organising events, carrying out venue maintenance or upgrades, etc there would be a lot less events/venues.

The biggest problem with the drifting in Cairns is conflicts of interest and no one has the money to repair any possible damage that does, and probably will, happen.

Solution? Fund it privately. I've said it in another post/thread but if every person who was serious about drifting put up $100 towards permanent repairs / upgrades it would go miles and leave the drift boys/girls in a better position for access to the track.

100 people? $10,000. 500 people? $50,000.

$100 may not seem a lot but once the numbers roll it adds up very quick. It'll also sort out the serious from the people who ones who talk crap.

Ultimately the next best option to drifting in Cairns is heading to Brisbane. There is no where else in QLD you can go.