North Queensland communities show support for V8 Supercars
28/9/2004 13:16 (Press Release) -
The Castrol Formula R V8 Supercars Road Trip roared into Bundaberg on Monday to an overwhelming response from the local community and continued to receive the same reception at Gladstone Marina yesterday.
Bundaberg was the first stop for the official Road Trip which has dropped into Gladstone, followed by Rockhampton today, Mackay on Thursday and the final destination of Townsville this Saturday.
More than 6,800 people turned up to the Bundaberg Showgrounds and over 5,300 at the Gladstone Marina to catch a glimpse of their favourite V8 Supercar drivers, get up close to a real V8 Supercar and take a lap around Mount Panorama in the V8 Supercar simulator.
The Road Trip was officially launched by Bundaberg Mayor Cr Kay McDuff at Bundaberg Karting Track on Monday with local sporting hero and Australian Kart Champion Kel Treseder showing his talents on the track as he took on Castrol Perkins Motorsport V8 Supercar drivers.
V8 Supercar drivers Steven Richards, Paul Dumbrell, Tony Longhurst, Bathurst legend Larry Perkins and Ford Performance Racing’s Craig Lowndes signed continuously for three hours in response to the large number of passionate fans who came out in force, with some travelling more than two hours to grab an autograph off their favourite driver.
Gladstone Hospital and local Holden and Ford dealerships also benefited from the V8 Supercars Road Trip as drivers met members of the public in response to the large amount of publicity the Road Trip has received prior to hitting town.
The Road Trip has already raised in excess of $4,000 for Queensland’s Royal Flying Doctor Service through the Charity Auction which will be held at every stop and hosted by the V8 Supercar drivers themselves.
“The Road Trip is a great initiative by Castrol and AVESCO to bring V8 Supercars to rural areas of Australia who don’t regularly get to experience V8 Supercar action,?Castrol Perkins Motorsport’s Tony Longhurst said.
“By involving the community with auctions and giving them the opportunity to grab some great V8 Supercar memorabilia, as well as to raise money for such a worthwhile cause such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, it makes trips like these really worthwhile.?br>
The RFDS has eight bases in Queensland including Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Townsville forming a strategic network that facilitates the effective and efficient delivery of health care throughout the state.
In Queensland alone, the RDFS conducts over 49,000 patient consultations per year. While emergency aeromedical retrieval remains a primary duty, the RDFS also provides primary health care to thousands of people living in isolated regions of Queensland.
The Castrol Formula R V8 Supercars Road Trip has exceeded all expectations with a further two towns on the schedule before the final destination of Townsville.
“The initial idea of the Road Trip was to bring V8 Supercars to the passionate and enthusiastic market in regional Queensland,?Castrol Sponsorship and PR Manager Sue Dilger said.
“All of the fans who have turned out this week rarely get to see live V8 Supercar action or get the one on one experience with V8 Supercar drivers. The Castrol Formula R V8 Supercars Road Trip success to date with only two towns visited has provided us with a fantastic benchmark for future V8 Supercar Road Trips that could possibly branch out to other towns around the country.?
Admission to the Castrol Formula R V8 Supercars Road Trip is free.
Rockhampton:
Date: Wednesday 22nd September 2004
Venue: Rockhampton Showgrounds
Time: 2pm ?7pm
Driver Appearance: 4pm ?7pm
Mackay:
Date: Thursday 23rd September 2004
Venue: Mackay Showgrounds
Time: 2pm ?7pm
Driver Appearance: 4pm ?7pm
Townsville:
Date: Saturday 25th September 2004
Venue: Townsville Showgrounds
Time: 11am ?5pm
Drivers Appearance between 12-2pm and 3-5pm
Release Date: 22/09/2004
AVESCO
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