Bathurst 24 Hours - Cancelled.

[FourWheelDrift]

Crash.net said:

Any hope that the Bathurst 24 Hour race would be run in November this year has faded with an announcement from Bathurst Regional Council and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) ending speculation. Rights to the event were handed over to CAMS from creators of the endurance race, PROCAR's Palmer Group, just over a week ago but the search for a new promoter has proved too difficult. Council Administrator, Kath Knowles, said there were just too many obstacles to getting the event off the ground in under three months. "As we had suspected, the level of organisation required in an event of this scale within three months is not really feasible. "With the news this week that it was unlikely that a television broadcast deal could be secured for the event and serious doubts about the sustainable viability of the current proposals it is no longer an economically viable option. "Although there was some strong interest from a number of international teams in recent months, the ground work required to secure these and other entries could not be achieved by November. "Council is very disappointed that the event will not go ahead this year but remains optimistic for the future." CAMS President, Colin Osborne, said it was always going to be difficult to put together a viable business plan for the event this year given time and other constraints. "It is very disappointing but we should acknowledge the efforts of Bathurst Regional Council and others in exploring all available commercial opportunities that would enable the event to go ahead. "There was always going to be a marginal viability to an event of this kind in the short term but we are confident that in the long term the Bathurst 24 Hour Race or a revised version of this event will go ahead."

Bugger.....................last year was a great race too.

[agent006]

Can't organise a race in 3 months???

1) Put out entry details
2) Get snowed under with entires
3) Put out request for marshals
4) get snowed under with applications to marshal
5) race

or am i missing something?

[docevi1]

Why was it cancelled in the first place?

[FourWheelDrift]

Crikey.com said:

27 April 2004 The deeply troubled local motor sport PROCAR Champ Series under the management and ownership of Brisbane businessman and chairman, Ross Palmer, has financially imploded after a series of disastrous setbacks and unprecedented acrimony over the last six months. Ross Palmer issued a media statement on Friday afternoon to confirm that following a PROCAR board meeting, the directors had unanimously agreed to commence a “strategic withdrawal from the motor sport industry”. The statement went on to say PROCAR Australia has in the past been supported by a substantial subsidy from Mr Palmer personally and also other businesses within the Palmer Group of companies, but this was a situation that could no longer be viably sustained. Until it ceased operations with immediate effect on Friday, PROCAR events encompassed classes contesting the Australian Nations Cup Championship, Australian GT Performance Championship, Australian Production Car Championship and V8 Brutes Series. According to the same media release, “strategic alliances were also in place to run Formula 3 and Porsche Drivers Challenge races at PROCAR Champ Series events”. Interestingly there is no mention of another business alliance that has been cause for much intrigue and has been of interest to Crikey for some time given the many wild claims made for the business and its success both locally and offshore – Futureracing Pty Ltd. While the demise of PROCAR, which was founded in 1994, has come as no surprise to the many critics of Palmer and chief commercial rival AVESCO which runs the hugely successful V8 Supercar Championship. PROCAR online forum chat groups were shocked by the developments, including it seems even key participants in the sport itself. One such contributor wrote: “Why do I feel there is more to this story though? The media get a press release at 4pm, I contact a few teams who know nothing about this. I then spoke to someone who had spoken to one of the directors and they weren’t too sure on the subject. I feel truly sorry for the teams that have busted their ass*s in getting sponsorship together along with new cars etc. PROCAR, you have disappointed a lot of people. You should of done this at the end of 2003 or at least have the balls to tell the teams first rather than them reading it on the website or hearing it from someone else. Shame, shame, shame... I can only hope AVESCO pick up a few categories.” The timing of Palmer’s demise is extraordinary for a sport just two events into its 2004 racing season. Not only has it left teams and sponsors high and dry but obviously fans and TV rights holders such as they were. Palmer said PROCAR would consult with its “competitors and other constituents to seek input on the future of the company's intellectual properties, including the racing categories”, with a meeting possibly set down for tomorrow in Sydney.

I'm too tired to type it all myself.

Western Advocate said:

2 August 2004 Procar's Palmer Group announced it would give up the rights to staging the race in November., Procar's Palmer Group chief executive officer, Frank Slowiak, said the company was handing all rights to the Bathurst 24-Hour race and Procar Champ Series to the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS)., This decision leaves CAMS with the job of finding someone to invest in and take on running the mountain marathon., However, with a little more than three months before the event, it would be a bold forecast to predict a backer can be found before November., Bathurst Regional Council administrator Kath Knowles refused to concede the 24-Hour race was lost to the city., Ms Knowles expressed disappointment at the Procar decision but was not prepared to give up hope the event would still run this November, despite the race against time., "It is unfortunate Procar, under the Palmer Group, are unable to continue running the event they created, but council is very hopeful this is not the end of this wonderful event,” Ms Knowles said., "Council is prepared to make a considerable commitment with any serious race promoter to see the event run. , "However, at the same time there are limits on the risks we are prepared to take with ratepayers' funds., "I think ratepayers would expect me to act responsibly with their money. , "If we couldn't guarantee a return on our investment in the 24-Hour race, we just couldn't proceed.”

[mojocvh]

What a shame. I hope that it can be brought back.

cheers

MoJo.