Eric Thompson: Stop whinging - Supercars here to stay

Eric Thompson. Photo / Supplied

Opinion

I sincerely hope this year's V8 Supercars event in Hamilton, the New Zealand round of the series, isn't overshadowed by any small-minded reporting about previous years and how much money was made or lost.

Or the whingeing of some small businesses that claim they're going to lose tens of thousands over the weekend because the thousands who flock to their doors over the four days have been turned away.

If you want examples of a waste of money in the sporting arena, try explaining $30 million for a boat that hasn't raced yet or more than $1 million for a plastic boat for the Rugby World Cup. It's beyond me what a boat has to do with a ball game - oh hang on, I know, it's a "cultural" thing.

One of the most irritating aspects over the past few years has been the continued reporting of reduced tickets sales at the Hamilton ITM400. I'm unsure what planet some people are on but we are, in fact, in a recession and to still get more than 100,000 people to turn up to an event is pretty damn good in my book.

I doubt you'll get that many in total for most of the pool matches in the RWC outside the All Black games. I would hazard a guess that no other sporting event in New Zealand could put claim to the V8 numbers. At recent cricket matches in this country it would be a miracle if a day's attendance reached three figures.

Last year the ITM400 saw 2.3 per cent of the New Zealand population front up. If anyone thinks that's bad they need their head read.

Wandering around the spectator area last year, there appeared to be more fans than previously. It's not motorsport fans who have turned their backs on the event; it's the corporate hospitality people.

Hospitality numbers are counted towards overall attendance figures so if they're down, so is the overall figure. It's the fans who make an event a success, not those attending a free jolly. If the fans are turning up the future of the New Zealand round of the Australian V8 Supercars is here to stay.

It's not only the odd local businesses having a pop at the annual V8 Supercar race; some media outlets have hinted that the event may be on its last legs. Nothing could be further from the truth, as witnessed by V8 Supercars' commitment to the event in taking over its promotion.

They know how important a Kiwi round of this series is to fans in New Zealand and the nay-sayers should pull their heads in. Despite an influx of tens of thousands of people to the area, some locals are convinced the annual event is costing them dearly. On Campbell Live after last year's event, one small-business owner suggested he'd lose up to $25,000 over two days and that none of his customers could get access to his premises. On closer inspection it appeared there were no access restrictions to any of the businesses in the Frankton area. Previous event organisers say Frankton businesses receive $1 million of direct contracted business and a further $2 to $3 million of indirect business from the V8 event each year.

Schools and clubs in the area also earned money for services provided and Wintec students were employed for various hospitality duties.

It's not to say some businesses will not be inconvenienced this year, as we all are when a major event comes to town. Just look what's happening in Auckland in the runup to the RWC.

One thing irks, though, and I hope the organisers have sorted it out: what's with the haka at a motor race meeting? It's motorsport - not a cultural group hug.

Loud noise, the smell of petrol and big fat V8s have always been synonymous with grid girls - not a bunch of unfit, half-naked men leaping about sticking their tongues out.