Chic Henry spins in ever decreasing circles at ever increasing pace

Does not the Kanga Cup Kids event deserve police overtime … or is it something about the brash youth of today driving old, purple Geminis and Common Doors? Does Chic ASK for the extra police or does Mr Stanhope offer/insist on it then whinge about the cost? Does anyone think dexi could get a four day a year job at the Nats? You would have to trust Mr Henry as an employer, right?

Mr Evil, same thought occurred to me on Saturday when I was out getting drowned at Dickson. It’d be hilarious if it pissed down for the whole of boganfest – even better localised to EPIC.

Sorry for all of you who have already made plans, but I’ve asked God to make it rain in Canberra from 31st December until the 3rd January.

Summernats is the only event that actually drives a number of people out of town for the duration.

And it must cost a bomb in police time over a public holiday and the weekend.

Sporting stuff like the Kanga cup brings stacks of people to town.

vg said :

A bit trite to describe Summernats as an ‘event’.

Its just an expanded Kambah Tavern with cars. Another event that attracts just as much money over as many days, try the Ulysses (spelling?) MC convention a few years ago.

If you really think that the ‘millions’ that the Nats allegedly contributes to the Government coffers is a big deal you need to think again. Accommodation being scarce in Canberra for 3 or 4 day events isn’t a rare occurrence and considering that a great part of those ‘millions’ comes from people who already live here it ain’t a big deal in totality.

Do you honestly reckon there’s be a huge hue and cry if Chic’s bluff got called and Summernats was held somewhere else next year? Honestly?

**Inserts the sound of crickets**

A bit trite to describe Summernats as an ‘event’.

Its just an expanded Kambah Tavern with cars. Another event that attracts just as much money over as many days, try the Ulysses (spelling?) MC convention a few years ago.

If you really think that the ‘millions’ that the Nats allegedly contributes to the Government coffers is a big deal you need to think again. Accommodation being scarce in Canberra for 3 or 4 day events isn’t a rare occurrence and considering that a great part of those ‘millions’ comes from people who already live here it ain’t a big deal in totality.

Do you honestly reckon there’s be a huge hue and cry if Chic’s bluff got called and Summernats was held somewhere else next year? Honestly?

“Millions* Damned penultimate day of the year fingers…

Growling Ferret said :

As there is no BYO into Summernats, this should allow NYD to be a good family day.

For all the criticism this event gets, Chic does something positive and again gets panned by the NIMBY’s.

FFS, name another event that Canberra could have from NYD for three or four days, contributing millions to the economy at a time when the city is otherwise completely dead?

What about an Anglican or Catholic church conference? From what Eros were saying last time one was held here Mmllion were spent in Fyshwick and Mitchell.

dwarf throwing? That’s at the Highland Games at Bundanoon.
flying machines and jump off a platform Hmm. Worked before on the Canberra Day or Australia Day weekend, but I doubt it brought in 5000 tourists for three days.

Still looking for an event…. Come on collective genius of Rioters, you are better than this!

(and Danman, 3-6 is a long hot dry spell to not have a beer in the middle of the day if you have been on it all night the night before, then a couple of hair of the dogs the next morning…)

So a 3 hour window – late in the day – I guarantee drinks will be flowing faster previous to this time.

No alcohol between 3pm and 6pm does not = no drunken yobs.

Growling Ferret said :

from NYD for three or four days
Floriade

A flower festival in the middle of a hot summer – not in Canberra.

Next

Some kind of radio station sponsored event where punters make flying machines and jump off a platform with the winner being paid very little (profits to charity) but they get the adoration of the massed crowds?

dwarf throwing?

from NYD for three or four days
Floriade

A flower festival in the middle of a hot summer – not in Canberra.

Next

Growling Ferret said :

As there is no BYO into Summernats, this should allow NYD to be a good family day.

For all the criticism this event gets, Chic does something positive and again gets panned by the NIMBY’s.

FFS, name another event that Canberra could have from NYD for three or four days, contributing millions to the economy at a time when the city is otherwise completely dead?

Floriade

A celebrity pro-am toad sexing festival?

As there is no BYO into Summernats, this should allow NYD to be a good family day.

For all the criticism this event gets, Chic does something positive and again gets panned by the NIMBY’s.

FFS, name another event that Canberra could have from NYD for three or four days, contributing millions to the economy at a time when the city is otherwise completely dead?

What no wave of the hand in the air to indicate “Show ua yer tits”?

Fingers crossed it moves to Sydney – capital of the fully-sick bogan-rev-heads

Hello hello, it seems Mr Henry has got the hint. In today’s CT:
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/summernats-bans-alcohol-for-family-day/1396702.aspx

He’s declared New Year’s Day shall be Alcohol Free, so Families who are “concerned” about drunken behaviour can come and see the summernats.

But reading on, this applies from 3pm to 6pm on NYD AND only refers to the official selling of alcohol, not other alcohol.

So who wants to take their family in the interests of research?

As this topic seems to be quietly dying, can I just regsiter my vote for its title being nominated for “Best Topic Title” at the End of Year RiotAct awardds?

Thanks.

I notice the ads on TV for Summernats are featuring lots of roaring cars with much smoke, no girlies or drunk yobs. I am wondering though, are these perhaps ads specially for Canberra? I wonder what the ads in other parts of Australia are like… just cars, or the usual ones with cars, girlies and yobbery?

Well at least the people that come for Summernats spend money in Canberra. OK, so it might be Dickson Macca’s and the bottlo but better that than the World Youth Day crowd who camped and drank water from the toilets.

Mr Evil said :

Maybe VB should market a new Chic Henry doll to replace those stupid Boonie and Warnie dolls? When Stanhope appears on TV it could pipe up with “I need more money to run Summernats”, “The insurance costs are killing me”, “I’m moving Summernats to Alice Springs”, “The wet t-shirt contest is family orientated – your daughter can enter whenever she wants” or “Mummy, everyone’s picking on me – I need a cuddle”.

Mr Evil, FTW! That was inspired.

Chic Henry, it is time to leave the island. And don’t let the door hit your arse on the way out.

LOL!

Tits, out, for the boys.

Well, theres also the option of GETTING A JOB.

poptop: Obviously you are a wet behind the ears newbie.

Funny that manboobs Jackman comment came from a women that enjoys other wimmin with large boobs.

Obviously you don get it.

Pandy, are you making a late run for Misogenist of the Year?

Many women can tolerate this sort of behaviour if the comments are vaguely funny or make the effort to be correct [Hugh Jackman perhaps?].

Knob – just because you have one, doesn’t mean you have to be one.

If its public money, and spent in a way that satisfies the independent auditors, its fine, so long ap it isn’t politically inflammatory.
But asking for significantly more public subsidy when the (self determined) costs of providing your services to yourself has grown by a significant amount in that same financial period?

You probably wouldn’t survive the audit, let alone the politics.

I think the majority of us have had a gutful of Chic. Any subsidy for the event should be minimal if anything, but Chic trys he same sht every year. If he really is taking a 200k cut from the event that’s an absolute rort, the only public servants on that pay are chief executives, private sector would be different, but I doubt Chic spends the majority of the year working rediculous 12+ hour days. If he really wants to go, then CYA!

Oi!! I notice RiotAct is advertising Lesbian perfect matches. Are they hot?

I enjoy perky “Show us yer tits” shows. Like Australia with Hugh (man boobs) Jackson.

See ya chic

Take your bogan mates and there noisy shitty cars and go else where !!

Your not wanted here

{rant}Remember people, the ACT budget includes huge amounts of money for public service ventures that no-one has ever heard of or is ever likely to hear of.

Apparently it includes [pet hate]! How ridiculous is that! {/end rant}

The few hundred thousand we are arguing about here (either as Mr Henry’s wage/profit, or as cash subsidy) pales into insignificance next to all the indirect cash costs — eg policing.

Every year Chic Henry has a whinge and threatens to move Summernats unless he gets more handouts from the ACT Government (ie ratepayers). I say “go for it Chic”. He treats Canberra and its residents with nothing but disdain.

Summernats may bring in tourist dollars into the ACT but it remains to be seen exactly where those dollars are spent. From all reports, the dubious owners of Sinsations would be the biggest winners. I do, however, congratulate the business-savvy owner of the mobile coffee van who allegedly set himself up in the Sinsations car park last year and made a fortune. At least someone local and legitimate made some money out of the whole sad debacle.

The plot thickens:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/08/2440864.htm

Lots of businesses and organisations get subsidised by the ACT Government. It’s just a few nitpickers who single out Summernats because they personally don’t like the event.

The Raiders get funding? They’re responsible for more drunkenness and burnouts then the summernats, surely.

I think the issue here is whether we think this event is worth subsidising. Remember that both the Brumbies and the Raiders get multi millions in support each year as well as arts events and Floriade. So providing assistance for events is nothing new.

But are we residents happy with what the tax dollar is subsidising?

Duke said :

PM said :

You’re right – I take my comments back. I still doubt it’s the whole year.

I can assure you it is the whole year. Chic already leases office facilities from EPIC and has several full-time staff. I would also point out that 200K is not a huge income in Canberra terms. There are plenty of public servants earning that kind of money. After organising Summernats for 20 odd years 200K sounds like a reasonble salary to me.

Ok, I’ll take the not huge salary of $200k as I live in Canberra and my salary is paid by the public…. it’s much much more than I earn – JB how does it compare to the recent poll?

The cat did it said :

Perhaps he could get a part-time position as an exhibit at Questacon.

That is the stupidest suggstion I have ever heard on RiotACT. Why the hell would Questacon want to exhibit a Neanderthal? 🙂

Maybe VB should market a new Chic Henry doll to replace those stupid Boonie and Warnie dolls? When Stanhope appears on TV it could pipe up with “I need more money to run Summernats”, “The insurance costs are killing me”, “I’m moving Summernats to Alice Springs”, “The wet t-shirt contest is family orientated – your daughter can enter whenever she wants” or “Mummy, everyone’s picking on me – I need a cuddle”.

If Chic is spinning in ever decreasing circles at ever increasing speed, then (assuming no external interfering) he appears to be demonstrating the conservation of Angular Momentum. Perhaps he could get a part-time position as an exhibit at Questacon.

I’m wondering if an angry person with a car-related name and the appellation “newbie” will appear shortly, to abuse everyone and who’ll be strangely well-informed?

Chic doesn’t pay for police or road traffic control – these are provided for free by the ACT…

From CT website: “Mr Henry denied his threats to take Summernats out of Canberra had become an almost annual event to try to strong-arm money out of the Government.

He also claims to get attractive offers to move the event interstate.

Then why stay? If he’s running an unprofitable business in the ACT and has people courting him to move, why not move?

Unless the offers are a fiction designed to get more ACT money…

I’m sure there are towns and cities all over Australia clambering over one another to ‘win’ the right to host Summernats!

Cry me a river, Chic…..

+ what is the ratio of sexual assults vs government dollars spent on summernats?

I agree with ant – why are we subsidising this event? Don’t tell me it is the massive influx of dollars into the ACT.

If Chic wants to hold his event he should pay the going rate for things. In fact, does Chic chip in money for all the extra police and road closures, infrastructure that are needed for Summernats?

Hasn’t Chic cried poor every year this event has been run?
boohoo, the rent is too much, boohoo, insurance is too much, boohoo, safety fences cost too much – it just goes on and on.

“The organisers of the Summernats car festival say funding from the ACT Government has been “absorbed” into general funds.
A one-off donation of $300,000 from the treasury emergency fund was given to the car festival just before Christmas.”

That was late 2006 – so, he was given 300K which was “absorbed” into his costs.

So then Chic cuts the profit margin down while increasing his salary – sounds like fancy accounting so as not to piss off the ACT government cash cow.

2006 – chic said “I’ve been incredibly proud that we’ve never had to put my hand up.”
(the royal we?)

So, is he no longer proud, or did the ease of getting 300K last time he begged make him greedier??

I wonder when the ACT Gov will call his bluff?

I reckon the concept of having traffic diversions for less than a week per year is no big deal.

Unless you work for a company who are moving premises from Mitchell to Fyshwick that week… Boy did the road diversions/traffic suck that year…

spoonbill said :

Summernats possibly going to Sydney…best news I have heard in a longtime. That said the best reason for living on the southside is summernats

Fair cop that one. However, when I lived in Nicholls it was never really an issue. But at that time there was no Harrison etc, which tends to make the need for Flemington Road a but greater than it ever was.

That said, (Watson residents aside, who cop the worst of it), I reckon the concept of having traffic diversions for less than a week per year is no big deal.

Whether those traffic diversions are worth it fr the ‘Nats is a different question, haha.

It doesn’t really affect me, so I couldn’t really car less either way. I support the idea of the event in principle, but if it just keeps attracting morons then you have to question its relevance, regardless of where it is held.

Well, if he can’t run this event without a handout, maybe his pay IS excessive!

Considering that Chic set himself up and managed to run a successful event for 20 years, I think people are being a bit harsh. I also think $200k per year for what he does is not ridiculously large. And there are a number of people (including people I know) who earn that kind of coin. If you think you’re hard done by, find another job. Or take a risk and start your own business.

The event itself is another issue altogether.

Summernats possibly going to Sydney…best news I have heard in a longtime. That said the best reason for living on the southside is summernats

Duke, maybe his earnings aren’t excessive, BUT, other people earning that kind of money aren’t crying poor and trying to scam taxpayers’ money. Even without a government handout, the event is still massively subsidised (do the police and ambos send them a bill?!).

If the event isn’t viable with handouts, I cannot imagine why any competant businessperson would continue holding it. And if it IS viable, why on earth is he on the scrounge for public money?

when are the winternats?

Good, move to Sydney. Stop bringing all the bogans and ulehs to our fine city.

wishuwell said :

Duke- I agree that there are public servants on 200k+, but not all that many. One thing I know for sure is that those who are have greater responsibilities than running a 4 day event and are answerable for an amount of money that would probably equal all the income of 20 summernats if not more.

I chose public servants (unwisely it seems) as an example because I couldn’t be bothered listing all the other professions where people regularly earn 200k……accountants, lawyers, some tradesmen, small business owners etc etc. My point is that it should not be a surprise to anybody that a person who has been running their own business for 20 plus years is earning 200k.

Bye Chic….. I won’t be shedding a tear at the demise of Summernats in Canberra…

Perhaps Summernats patrons should be forced to endure the limitations of other canberra events – no passouts. Keep ’em locked into Natex… er.. EPIC until they’reready to go back home.

Duke- I agree that there are public servants on 200k+, but not all that many. One thing I know for sure is that those who are have greater responsibilities than running a 4 day event and are answerable for an amount of money that would probably equal all the income of 20 summernats if not more.

Chic is being very “clever” in the way that he talks about his salary.

Naturally, as a small business owner, he’s entitled to draw a salary. What he doesn’t mention is that, as the only shareholder of his company, he gets to keep all the profit as well.

Duke said :

I would also point out that 200K is not a huge income in Canberra terms. There are plenty of public servants earning that kind of money.

I dunno about ‘plenty’, that seems like quite a stretch.

If you seriously don’t think that 200k is a ‘huge’ salary then you’re mixing with a very different crowd than anyone I know. Hell, the PM only gets around $350k per annum, and he’s running something a little more full-on than a car festival.

The title of this topic made me guffaw… excellent visual image, and so very, very apt.

I think the gentleman has outstayed his welcome, and has misjudged the mood of the people. He’s been given an inch numerous times, and has taken a mile, all the while trying to cloak his loutish booze and tit fest as Family Entertainment.

Insert old saw about fooling people some/all of the time. Find a nice paddock, Chic, and rent some toilets. Teh businesses who currently make money out of summernats can load up their trailers and take their wares to the event, and continue to make their money. The majority who don’t want their town back.

PM said :

You’re right – I take my comments back. I still doubt it’s the whole year.

I can assure you it is the whole year. Chic already leases office facilities from EPIC and has several full-time staff. I would also point out that 200K is not a huge income in Canberra terms. There are plenty of public servants earning that kind of money. After organising Summernats for 20 odd years 200K sounds like a reasonble salary to me.

God how I wish the whole thing would move away but the bigger the city, the bigger problems they will attract.

Whether it’s 4 days work or a 12 month project {which I suspect it is), I would love that kind of income in return for doing something I really love. Sure beats what other people have to do and put up with to put food on the table.

You’re right – I take my comments back. I still doubt it’s the whole year.

Pffttt hey Chic the greater majority of Canberran’s couldn’t give a stuff about Summernats, so you know if you want to make veiled threats about moving it to Sydney, back it up and move it to Sydney, I shall not care nor raise a whimper in protest.

PM, to be fair you can be certain that a lot more than 4 days work goes into a 4 day event.

Hey Chic – get a real job if 4 days a year doesn’t provide enough money for you.

Anyone see the article in CT today about ‘poor’ Chic only pulling a salary of $200k this year?

I don’t mind him making the request. However it’s just that – a request, the gov’t \ EPIC has every right to refuse the request.

I kinda refuse to believe that he only has 4 days to make money off the event, yes the event is a flagship event for the company, but I saw a summernats branded store at the races yesterday at oran park. Either they are using his branding without permission, or it’s a store set up to sell car related stuff as part of either his company, or at least after licesing the logo and images to another company.

If only we only had to hear from him 4 days a year…