My wife happens to be coming up to a landmark birthday and for my own personal safety I'm not prepared to say which one. We thought that it would be nice to set up the van in one of the local CPs for a week and on the weekend pay for a couple of cabins for our kids and pre school grandkids to come and spend some time with us. I started looking a month ago for the week that included last weekend and nearly fell out of my chair. Every park was booked out from Swansea to Port Stephens and most of them had a minimum stay requirement of up to 7 days. For example I looked at Stockton Beach CP they wanted $850 for a basic cabin for 2 nights, 114/night for a powered site and were even asking $96/night for unpowered campsites - all of them had the minimum 7 day stay. I didn't realise at the time but we just happened to pick the weekend that the Newcastle 500 Supercars were in town, over the 3 days they had more than 190,000 spectators come through the gates and that included lots of first time visitors to the city who had watched last years telecast. Out of curiosity I looked at the prices for other types of accomadation for that same weekend and it ranged from harbouside apartments at $12000 down to pubstays for $600 and the vast majority were already booked out. I knew that the event would boost the economy of the city but if that's anything to go by then it's no wonder that the Newcastle City Council, the NSW Government and the Hunter region in general want to keep the event as a permanent fixture. The racing was telecast on Foxtel across Australia and the world and the way that the backdrop of city streets, inner city beaches and the harbour foreshore came across it will probably mean that even more tourists are going to be heading here next year. If you had told me 30 odd years ago when they shut down the BHP that one day Newcastle city would become a place that tourists actually wanted to come to I probably would have said "you're dreaming" .
I used to follow the racing a few years ago before the almighty dollar took over big time. Now it's Pay TV and stuff the ordinary fans. No wonder they want to have more overseas races. They're losing the home fans. With the demise of Holden and Ford as well.
We used to get free to air coverage live on whatever station held the rights and even the news used to show excerpts on rival channels with thanks to whichever other channel had the rights.
Lucky now if you get an update the next day.
Even then I never liked the street circuits, too dangerous and very little run off areas. Too much damage to cars and drivers for my taste.
I haven't seen any of the Newcastle track so can't comment on that one but the other track, The Gold Coast Townsville etc. For me you can keep them.
I knew that the accommodation prices would be up there but not in the stratosphere as reported.
Be interesting to see Australian Viewing figures of the Supercars over the last few years.
Good for the accommodation sector in Newcastle I suppose.
I,m not really a motor sports fan I only watched it because I wasnt in the country last year and I was interested in how Newcastle came across as a venue. I know the route that they used for the circuit and it amazes me how anyone could possibly get around it at the speeds they did - not only are they highly skilled but they seem to have little regard for their own self preservation. What I did pick up was that it was the final appearance of the Ford Falcon as in 2019 it will be replaced by the Mustang. Apparently the Holden Commodores will still be running around but really the only thing thats Holden about them will be the badge. One thing I do know is that this event probably did more for tourism in the area than you would ever get running multi million $ advertising campaigns.
You would be surprised how much interest there is in our V8s overseas . The only part in these cars that is Ford or GM is the motor . Which BTW is the older pushrod type engine . Like Romeo GM . Its loosly based on the old 350 . Ford ? Same engine as 302 / 5.0 .Both Motorsport blocks . What the OP was on about is the accomodation . We once decided to go out west and stay in town the weekend . Well ? There was 3 big events on that weekend . Morris car club , country womans annual meeting , Elvis music week also . Almost had to sleep in the car !! Days before motorhome!
Win on Sunday, sell on Monday. Its a big con but it works both here and in the US (ie. NASCAR).
Gday...
It used to be true - probably a decade ago. However, both Ford and Holden did not benefit from sales of either of their vehicles due to their success (or otherwise) on the Strayan racetrack hence they are no longer here.
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Worked when there was 2/ 3 or 4 car manufacturers and a couple imports . But its near impossible to compete against 50 plus other manufacturers. With no import duty !!
On Topic of Landmark B'days and costs.
I turned 70 a month or so back and my wife booked 2 van sites and 4 cabins at Lake Boga Caravan Park.
Normal rates, great service for the 30 + family members who attended.
It was superb.
Why Lake Boga - most centrally located for family spread from Gold down through Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide PLUS the water is the safest we have encountered in the Murray system for the young Grand children, PLUS family History with my Dad at the Lake Boga Flying Boat Base in WW11.
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Cheers - Ian
I slowly realise as I get older that I am definitely NOT the fastest rat in the race.
Also the older I get the more I realise I do not know.
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