Mr MITCHELL - 1999-04-21
I know the Chief Minister was one of the 35 000 people who watched the touring car race held at Hidden Valley last year, along with myself and many other Darwin people. Can he give us details of what the Territory government is doing out there to facilitate the races this year?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the first thing to say about the Shell Championship Series is that the punters love it. I loved it as one of the spectators out there. Last year’s race injected between $1.3m and $2.7m into the Territory economy. 35 000 people attended the meeting over 3 days, and 5000 of the 26 000 who attended on race day, the Sunday, were from outside Darwin.
I am looking forward to going out to inspect the $2m-worth of improvements that have been made to the facilities. I’ll do that today. I told my driver to get the tyres of the car pumped up because I’m hoping Dick Johnson might give me a run around. He will be out there with Craig Lowndes. They tell me he got the Chief Minister’s car up to 190 km/h last time. With a bit of luck, I might get a run around the track. It is also Dick Johnson’s last race here. This is his farewell series around Australia. I’m sure Territorian fans will give him a great farewell cheer as he goes around the track on his final lap.
The $2m in improvements include 25 permanent pit garages. There were temporary pit garages there last year. Certainly, dust was a bit of a problem with cars travelling at 200km/h, not only as a danger to drivers if cars in front slid off the track, but also as an interference to spectators’ vision. A lot of work has been done on grass on the sides of the track, improving the comfort of spectators and the safety of the race remarkably. Big screens have been added so that spectators will be able to see more of the race as it goes around the track. More toilets will be there, and more facilities for people to get refreshments throughout the day. It’s going to be a great race, and I’m sure Territorians will welcome the improved facilities.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the first thing to say about the Shell Championship Series is that the punters love it. I loved it as one of the spectators out there. Last year’s race injected between $1.3m and $2.7m into the Territory economy. 35 000 people attended the meeting over 3 days, and 5000 of the 26 000 who attended on race day, the Sunday, were from outside Darwin.
I am looking forward to going out to inspect the $2m-worth of improvements that have been made to the facilities. I’ll do that today. I told my driver to get the tyres of the car pumped up because I’m hoping Dick Johnson might give me a run around. He will be out there with Craig Lowndes. They tell me he got the Chief Minister’s car up to 190 km/h last time. With a bit of luck, I might get a run around the track. It is also Dick Johnson’s last race here. This is his farewell series around Australia. I’m sure Territorian fans will give him a great farewell cheer as he goes around the track on his final lap.
The $2m in improvements include 25 permanent pit garages. There were temporary pit garages there last year. Certainly, dust was a bit of a problem with cars travelling at 200km/h, not only as a danger to drivers if cars in front slid off the track, but also as an interference to spectators’ vision. A lot of work has been done on grass on the sides of the track, improving the comfort of spectators and the safety of the race remarkably. Big screens have been added so that spectators will be able to see more of the race as it goes around the track. More toilets will be there, and more facilities for people to get refreshments throughout the day. It’s going to be a great race, and I’m sure Territorians will welcome the improved facilities.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016