MASTERTON Motorplex officials are looking back on their best season ever ? "by a long way" ? says events organiser Bob Wilton.
A 260mph run by Richard Smith's jet-powered Warhawk, the fastest-ever down the Hood Aerodrome strip, and the turnout of seven top Australian drag bikes plus all the usual drag action provided plenty of entertainment for a smaller-than-hoped-for crowd.
"Unfortunately we didn't meet crowd expectations," said Wilton.
The turnout underlined the fact that there's a saturation point for any motorsport. People had asked him why there weren't more meetings at Hood, and the crowd numbers answered the question.
"People are worn out," he said. "Port Road had to be called off last week," he noted.
That Hood attendances have held up so well is largely down to Wilton's philosophy of constantly altering the mix, bringing in star turns to bolster less-appealing meets and ringing the changes to retain spectator interest.
Already there are plans for next season. The club hopes to establish a burnout pad at Hood where a couple of meetings a year can be held. The pad would be away from the runway and thus have no effect on normal flight operations.
Much has been achieved this year, Wilton said. A large area which used to be either muddy or dusty has been gravelled, the concrete pad at the start area has been extended, and new timing gear and weighing scales have been bought. The last two items allow New Zealand records to be set and recognised here.
Wilton said Smith and his American crew had thoroughly enjoyed their visit, saying it was the best venue they'd been to. Ditto the Australian drag bike racers, who were rapt with the meeting.
Big finale for drag racing season
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