Geelong Speed Trials called off again

[bArNsY]

History at risk
Cities circle speed trials

BY ANDREW MATHIESON
Other venues are circling Geelong's speed trials as the historic event spends another year off the city's major events calendar, the organiser has warned.

Speed trials director Gary Grant said he was resisting offers to shift the event but interest was coming from prospective hosts including Melbourne's Docklands. The trials have been a Geelong institution since 1956 but have gone into recess since 2004 amid a dispute between Mr. Grant and City Hall.

A return this year has been ruled out. Mr. Grant said he was fielding offers to host the trials outside Geelong "all the time". He did not want to take the event to Docklands. "It wouldn't be the same," Mr Grant said. "You can't substitute history." Mr Grant, a state manager with Australian Motor-sport, admitted to "frustration" over a lack of support from Geelong's council. "I'm helping run or facilitating events around Victoria but I can't run something significant in my own backyard," he said.

Mr Grant blamed "ideology" at City Hall for the fall out as well as a new generation of councillors and officers who "wanted to do their own things". Council major events portfolio-holder Bruce Harwood denied Mr Grant's allegations that City Hall would not cooperate. "The City has in the past recommended a range of improvement options relating to the event's infrastructure, funding, management and sponsorship procurement, with the key issue being the disruption to traffic and other activities on the waterfront,” he said. Council's Geelong Major Events had not received a funding application for the speed trials since 2004, Cr Harwood said.

Taken from Geelong Independent 4/8/06

[xbgs351]

I think Geelong's council must hate cars. Just look at what they did to Malop St and the Esplanade. They went from two lanes each way to a constipated single lane each way. They deliberately screwed Ritchie Boulevard up so that it was unsuitable for the sprints.

[Jason[98.EL]]

the city of greater geelong need to have their heads read

the amount of people it brings to geelong is enourmas and the money they spend is huge

jason

[LUXO_8]

such a shame....i used to go every year

was an awesome event!

[jd dad]

Whats next? The All Ford Day?

[LUXO_8]

Originally Posted by jd dad

Whats next? The All Ford Day?

they wouldnt bloody want to :jab:

[Brute6]

This was one of the biggest money earners for Geelong. How can the council not see how much it benifits the whole region? But I guess its just typical of councils to ruin anything positive other than their own pay packets.....

[Polyal]

Im so ****ed about this.

Im moved to geelong about 4 years ago, and I missed it the first couple of times as I didn't know about it.

I find out, and every year its been cancelled. Butt Holes! if its not on next year then it should be moved for sure.

[Bossxr8]

What do you expect from the Geelong Council. They cut 2 lanes down to one to INCREASE traffic flow, spend millions doing it before they realize that it makes the traffic worse so plan to spend another few million to undo it. Retards.