20 September 2014

Isle of Man TT style race for Canberra / region?

| duckylucky
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I’ve been reflecting on recent RA posts about events in Canberra (i.e whether or not Canberra is a boring place), and this prompted me to think what sort of event would put our fair city on the world stage.

Now, we already have Floriade and Summernats, the Balloon and Folk Festivals, various NGA exhibitions, the CIRC 24 hour and the Charny-Carny, just to name a few events thats draws local support and some interest from interstate. But what do we have that puts Canberra on the world stage?

Back in 2009 on RA I suggested hosting a Red-Bull style air race. It seemed to get some support from the RA regulars back then but alas, it seems our civic leaders must have missed that post….

Now, thinking about something more down to earth… how about a long distance motorcycle race, say similar to the TT race held in the Isle of Man??? the Canberra TT???

If you are not familiar with this race, then youtube is your friend.

It goes for over 300km and laps the island, taking in the quaint villages and island farmland /wilderness areas. Also, there are no barriers between spectators and contestants, which makes for some pretty thrilling experiences with the 1000CC bikes whizzing by at up to 300km/h.

Okay, spectators and contestants have died, but overall, it seems, the race is strongly supported by the majority o the island residents and the UK motorcycling community who swarm to the island in their droves – up to 50K visitors I’m led to believe.

I think Canberra would be ideally suited for the race… close your eyes and imagine (make sure you watch the video first), starting on the southern / eastern side of Anzac Parade as the start / finish line, up to the war memorial, sharp left then back down Anzac Parade again, right onto Parkes Way and out to Coppins Crossing, then out to Stromlo, down the Cotter rd, onto Paddys River Rd, Tidbinbilla Rd, through Tharwa, up the Tuggernong Parkway, right at the Cotter Rd, onto Adelaide Ave, left onto State Circle and then left onto Kings Ave, Left onto Parkes Way, right onto Anzac Parade…

So, brilliant idea or what…?

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rommeldog56 said :

watto23 said :

I think the closing of roads and safety are the main issues. Plus as someone with my motorcycle license, the attitude of car drivers towards anything that isn’t a car probably means they complain about it too much.

I thought the rally was good and not sure what happened to it and why they didn’t try and get the WRC round here instead of Coffs Harbour!

But we reallt need events here with some level of uniqueness that will survive the test of time.

Agreed – when the Rally of Canberra was part of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, it was a great event. We have some of the best rally roads in the world around here.

Instead, the then ACT Gov’t just pulled the plug on the funding, as I recall.

The WRC in Canberra would have been a great tourist attraction and revenue earner.

What about, instead we mimic the ferry boat races on Sydney Harbour ?

Maybe Canberra could have tram races from Gunners to Civic ?

I stopped going to see the ROC when they started charging admission to see it in the bush. I went to Kowen and missed all of the top cars because they made you park at the bottom and bussed you in, it was a complete shambles and a waste of money (quite a few years ago now).

Call me a stooge but the beuty of rallying was that you could drive in before the stage start, prop on a safe rock on a good corner and watch all of the action for free.

The biggest problem with it here now is the closing down of all the areas west of Canberra, there is such a small pool of tracks that they can now use that its hardly worth it.

Old idea: return of the Birdman Rally. New idea: Billycart Bash — Warragamba Ave in Duffy, between Eucumbene Dr. & Dixon Dr, would be ideal. (Canberra Tourism, you can thank me later…)

Billycart Bash on Warragamba Ave = Old idea. Who else remembers the organised races down that hill many, many years ago?

For those that remember, we also used to have a motorcyle road race here in Canberra. Around the suburb of Macarthur, when there were just the streets but no houses for miles around.

Bring back the glory (read pre-litigious) days!!!

watto23 said :

I think the closing of roads and safety are the main issues. Plus as someone with my motorcycle license, the attitude of car drivers towards anything that isn’t a car probably means they complain about it too much.

I thought the rally was good and not sure what happened to it and why they didn’t try and get the WRC round here instead of Coffs Harbour!

But we reallt need events here with some level of uniqueness that will survive the test of time.

Agreed – when the Rally of Canberra was part of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, it was a great event. We have some of the best rally roads in the world around here. Instead, the then ACT Gov’t just pulled the plug on the funding, as I recall. The WRC in Canberra would have been a great tourist attraction and revenue earner.

What about, instead we mimic the ferry boat races on Sydney Harbour ?

Maybe Canberra could have tram races from Gunners to Civic ?

I would LOVE something like this in Canberra. I’d even be happy to have the V8s back, despite not being a big fan of the series. I think Canberra gives in to the NIMBYs all too often and I’d love the chance to support something different from the usual things we have going on here.

Unfortunately, the ACT government isn’t interested in anything particularly exciting, for fear of p$ssing of the beige cardigan wearers. Which is a real shame.

I think the closing of roads and safety are the main issues. Plus as someone with my motorcycle license, the attitude of car drivers towards anything that isn’t a car probably means they complain about it too much.

I thought the rally was good and not sure what happened to it and why they didn’t try and get the WRC round here instead of Coffs Harbour!

But we reallt need events here with some level of uniqueness that will survive the test of time.

We already have several major roads with timing equipment installed…

A TT or Irish GP would be so sweet up around Cotter

Might have to wait for the Liberals. Katie Gallagher’s “nanny state” approach to OHS in all walks of endeavour across the ACT will probably mean that replicating the Isle of Man “death race” isn’t well aligned with Brand Katie and Shane …

opps…CORC…should have read it through prior to posting

As for a unique event…. perhaps a taxi GP?

CIRC 24 hour? I think you mean the CORC 24 Hour MTB race? Unfortunately after 15 years attendance is down. I would have blamed Marathons (100k) but

The Manx TT only happens the way it does today because of it’s heritage. I’m more interested in seeing someone stand up and say “Here’s an event for Canberra that no-one else is doing!”

Motorsport??? In Canberra??? Pwaaaaaaahahahahaha !!! Funniest post ever!

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