The Warrnambool Drag Racing Club has welcomed the State Coalition’s commitment to build a new top-class drag racing track but is disappointed the parties aren’t looking at a country venue for the facility.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The club’s president Paul Cleaver said it was good the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition had recognised the economic value of legal drag racing by promising the new track.
However Mr Cleaver said he understood the coalition was considering building its proposed new track near Melbourne.
The Warrnambool club has been searching for a permanent home after its application to develop a track at Koroit was rejected both by Moyne Shire Council and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
The coalition’s sport spokesperson Danny O’Brien said the venue for the proposed new track would be worked out in conjunction with the motor sport community.
The coalition has promised to invest $10 million to develop a masterplan and work with the motorsports community to buy land and begin building a permanent race track for drag racing.
The coalition said having a new drag racing track in Victoria would encourage a new stream of tourism outside of Melbourne’s CBD with meets often running over a weekend, encouraging overnights stays and the associated spends in the hospitality industry.
The potential economic value of the industry had been estimated at $190 million a year, the coalition said.
Mr Cleaver said his club was moving forward after the setback of having its Koroit proposal rejected. It was planning another drag racing meeting for January at Warrnambool airport, he said.
The club was offering $10,000 prize money for the event, which was expected to attract about 100 entries from a wide area including Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, Mr Cleaver said.
About 150 cars are expected to compete in the event that is likely to draw a crowd of up to 4000 people.
