Sandown-like complex planned for Adelaide parklands
3/1/2001 13:32 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - A multi-million dollar Sandown-like racing facility in Adelaide’s Victoria Park – home of the Clipsal 500 – is currently under consideration by the State Government.
Adelaide’s Advertiser newspaper broke news of the upgrade this morning, which will see the city’s world-famous street course become a more permanent fixture in the parklands.
Under the plan, the pit straight complex would be rebuilt as a permanent facility; realigned to incorporate the Victoria Park Horse Racing course.
An aging grandstand used for turf spectators will receive a makeover to be utilised by both the horse racing course and the main straight of the Motor Racing track – which will run parallel to each other. The grandstand will seat 2500 people.
A new complex will be built south of the grandstand, to incorporate 52 pit garages, a control tower, media centre, cooperate suites, and a further 2500 grandstand seats.
While the pit straight complex would be a permanent fixture in the parklands, the rest of the circuit would remain temporary; constructed and dismantled for Adelaide’s two street circuit events – the Clipsal 500 and the American Le Mans Series race.
The development will alleviate the need to construct the extensive pit straight infrastructure before each event. Likewise, rather than leave temporary pit complexes standing between each race (as will happen between last Sunday’s Le Mans meeting and next April’s Clipsal 500) permanent, more appealing structures can remain standing year-round.
It is claimed eliminating that costly construction before each event could save $1.4 million each year. The development would cost between $20 million and $24 million.
The Advertiser reports that this is the second time a proposal such as this has been put to the Government, and while this proposal is less costly than the first, the Government will ask the Adelaide City Council plus Motorsport and Horse Racing interests to foot much of the bill. It is unclear whether AVESCO, for one, would be prepared to contribute.
The development is being described as being in, “the very early stages.”
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