KEY POINTS:
Hamilton police today praised the behaviour of the large number of motor-racing fans who have descended on the city for this weekend's Hamilton 400.
About 65,000 visitors are believed to have swelled numbers in the city for the meeting on the city's new street circuit.
The feature event is the Hamilton round of the V8 Supercars, which began with practice yesterday and continues today with qualifying and the first of three races.
There was also the second leg of a sporting double header last night, with the Chiefs beating Super 14 rugby leaders the Crusaders at Waikato Stadium.
Despite the huge influx, Waikato police reported just 21 arrests overnight, which Inspector John Kelly described as below the average for a Friday night and Saturday morning.
"Up until now, it's been wonderful," he said.
"People have along to enjoy themselves and have a good weekend and that's what we want to see -- a lot of people in town with a really positive attitude and making it a good weekend."
Most of the arrests were alcohol-related, including breaches of the liquor ban and disorderly behaviour.
Mr Kelly, officer in charge of policing for the Hamilton 400, believed the type of people at the meeting was the reason there were fewer problems than expected.
Unlike cases such as New Year trouble spots, they were older and there were a lot more families.
Mr Kelly said many of the expected traffic issues had been avoided by fans leaving their cars behind and taking advantage of free buses to get to the venue.
For operational reasons, Mr Kelly declined to say how many extra officers had been brought in this weekend.
There was more police staff because there were a lot more people around and booze buses were operating around the clock.
"The city council has extra security and there are about 20 Maori wardens walking the city at night, so the community had got out there and provided a response to mitigate anything that might go on," he said.
"Up to now, we're very happy and the crowd have played their part."
- NZPA
