Melbourne's growth

Melbourne's growth

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DangerousDerek

Original Poster:

8,669 posts

227 months

Thursday 14th October 2021
quotequote all
What a fantastic year it has been for the development and improvement of our drag racing venue in the North.

A monumental effort by the straightliners team headed by Trevor Duckworth with help from regular volunteer work parties tirelessly working most weekends.
Thanks to the ongoing fundraising the track has grown and gained facilities.
Further tarmac has been laid, cleaning up of the pit areas, entrance and return roads are being constantly improved.
More cars and bikes are coming back to race on a track that is gaining in grip every meeting.
There have been entertaining fund raising auctions followed by fantastic live bands on the new stage and we had a decent bar and a magnificent 10 minute firework display last week.

This track has the best friendly enthusiastic atmosphere and is going to be even better come 2022.
A large clubhouse will be built for race fans and teams to socialize.
I am sure Trevor has other plans in place i am not aware of too.

Get yourselves along and see what you are missing. I promise you wont be disappointed.

Turn7

24,150 posts

228 months

Thursday 14th October 2021
quotequote all
Im pleased that its still a viable business model and they can re invest in the track again.

I know its only 1/8th at the moment, is there a definite timescale fot he rest of the 1/4 or is just fund driven ?

Been a huge and commendable amount of work by the people involved, good luck tot hem.

DangerousDerek

Original Poster:

8,669 posts

227 months

Thursday 14th October 2021
quotequote all
Turn7 said:
Im pleased that its still a viable business model and they can re invest in the track again.

I know its only 1/8th at the moment, is there a definite timescale fot he rest of the 1/4 or is just fund driven ?

Been a huge and commendable amount of work by the people involved, good luck tot hem.
No timescale as such. The next target is to raise 40k to lay extended braking area tarmac but i think there is still further work needed to allow 1/4 mile racing.

Talking to people, the vast majority have come round to the 1/8th mile racing and embraced it. I want to see the clubhouse up first and am willing to wait a season or 2 for 1/4 mile racing.

Boosted_8

103 posts

44 months

Friday 7th January 2022
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I used to like going to York Raceway. Glad something in the North is being revived. If there was a crowd funding drive I would chuck a few quid in to get it up to scratch with a set of toilets, cafe and full 1/4 mile .

DangerousDerek

Original Poster:

8,669 posts

227 months

Monday 10th January 2022
quotequote all
Boosted_8 said:
I used to like going to York Raceway. Glad something in the North is being revived. If there was a crowd funding drive I would chuck a few quid in to get it up to scratch with a set of toilets, cafe and full 1/4 mile .
Fund raising is still ongoing. Currently the straightliners website is being revamped and there will be a button to donate but incurs paypal charges. There is also a dedicated bank account to transfer to.

Latest news is that a safety barrier has been erected to protect the returning cars to the pits from any incidents that may get astray on the track and the foundation is going to be laid for the clubhouse to be built. As for 1/4 mile we need to raise a large amount so please support the track as it is for now.
I didnt like the idea of racing the 1/8th at first but am loving it now.

Flying Phil

1,659 posts

152 months

Tuesday 11th January 2022
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Very pleased to see that Northern drag racing is getting bigger and better! Well done to all concerned.

Tom Logan

3,418 posts

132 months

Monday 14th March 2022
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Looking forward to the first meeting in April, fingers crossed for good weather.

DangerousDerek

Original Poster:

8,669 posts

227 months

Monday 14th March 2022
quotequote all
Tom Logan said:
Looking forward to the first meeting in April, fingers crossed for good weather.
60% of the time the weather is great everytime!

Enjoy the weekend, sadly for me this will be the first meeting i will miss since the rebirth of the track. I am doing the NC500 in my van. Will definitely be at the May meeting, cant wait for that one.

Tom Logan

3,418 posts

132 months

Thursday 17th March 2022
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DangerousDerek said:
60% of the time the weather is great everytime!

Enjoy the weekend, sadly for me this will be the first meeting i will miss since the rebirth of the track. I am doing the NC500 in my van. Will definitely be at the May meeting, cant wait for that one.
Did the NC500 3 years ago in my Bongo,quite the experience. Enjoy !! thumbup

coppice

8,905 posts

151 months

Saturday 7th October 2023
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And the last weekend of the season , I think, 7/8 October at the ever improving Melbourne, Weather forecast excellent - looking forward to it .If you re local-ish , do support this volunteer run strip.

flatlandsman

764 posts

14 months

Saturday 7th October 2023
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Ot needs supporting as there is going to be extra pressure on SP in the coming years, I know they are established, but that area is ripe for housing and I now work fairly lose by and the noise is not great. I mean noise form conversation, local media, fb groups etc. This is how it begins

coppice

8,905 posts

151 months

Saturday 7th October 2023
quotequote all
True. But for every ten people (even within a 20 mile radius,) who would bemoan the loss of the venue I'd bet 9 have never actually attended . For some reason, most people think that motorsport begins and ends with F1 and BTCC . On telly innit .

flatlandsman

764 posts

14 months

Saturday 7th October 2023
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it matters not, in my experience if someone has enough clout with local councils it matters not a jot,

coppice

8,905 posts

151 months

Sunday 8th October 2023
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Well, having worked as a local government lawyer , it really ain't that simple, trust me .

flatlandsman

764 posts

14 months

Sunday 8th October 2023
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it seems to me with certain locations, no mater how much noise people make venues seem to close far too easily

DangerousDerek

Original Poster:

8,669 posts

227 months

Monday 9th October 2023
quotequote all
What a fantastic end to the season at Melbourne that was.
Speaking to other racers, spectators and the regular volunteers they all agreed there was a feeling that the track had its full mojo back.
Attendance of a great mix of race cars was high.
Having the spiderman jet dragster run 201mph over the 1/8th was icing on the cake.
A fabulous firework display and live entertainment on what was a warm evening for October only added.

I am fully inspired to getting my car sorted to be faster and ready for racing come Spring 2024.
Its only ever going to get better!

coppice

8,905 posts

151 months

Monday 9th October 2023
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Only one request - get the chap back who had the decent coffee van. The alleged cappuccino I bought yesterday was undrinkable gunk.

That quibble apart , I enjoyed it . A lot of bikes and RWYB stuff and perhaps rather fewer heavy metal cars I'd hoped to see , but it is going in the right direction. I do post about Melbourne on a few motorsport sites , and I hope more general car guys and gals show up . The sad thing is that if two BTCC cars turned up, or a bloke off the telly , they'd be queuing to get in