KEY POINTS:
Be careful what you wish for. That's the advice given by Hamilton400 organiser Steve Vuleta's wife Carolyn.
"Because you might just get it."
Since going to the street races in Wellington in the 1980s, Vuleta has wanted to organise a V8 street race.
But after two years of working 16-hour days, six days a week (and, more recently, 18-hour days, seven days a week) you'd think the novelty may have worn off.
Vuleta has always been involved in motorsport and met Dean Calvert four years ago when they were working for IMG and promoting the failed Auckland bid.
Hamilton's then mayor Michael Redman put his hand up.
"When Michael said he wanted to have the race in Hamilton I asked him if he really knew what he was letting himself in for," said Vuleta.
"The V8s are big business it's worth a billion dollars a year."
Right from the outset the entire council bought into the idea and Hamilton has taken ownership of the event. Although it's been hard work, it's manifestly obvious it's been easier to get things done in Hamilton than it ever would have been in Auckland.
Driver input has been important and other than Russell Ingall who said the race might become a "crash fest", all the drivers who have seen the circuit are enthusiastic about it.
"At the end of the day a street circuit always brings out the hustler," said Vuleta. "But because it's wide and smooth it'll also benefit those who are consistently smooth like a Craig Lowndes."
Hamilton will be home to the New Zealand leg of the V8 Supercar championship for the next seven years and just as the city has made a commitment, so has Vuleta by moving with his family to the area.
