Motorsport: Horse-power takes over the racing cars

By BOB PEARCE and MIKE DILLON

The Counties Racing Club has bought the licence to operate the motor-racing track at Pukekohe.

The multi-million-dollar deal has been signed with licence owner Bruce Pulman, and the club will take possession on June 1.

Motor-racing will continue at Pukekohe, and local promoters are not worried about the change of ownership.

Eric Mallard, chief executive of the New Zealand Grand Prix, a former holder of the licence, said his club had maintained a good relationship with what was originally the Franklin Racing Club since the track was opened 40 years ago.

"The motor-racing meetings at the track are mostly promoted by us, the Auckland Car Club, the Northern Sports Car Club and the Auckland Motorcycle Club and we expect to carry on as before,' he said.

"There are only two or three weekends a year when the track has not been available for motorsport, and there has been very little conflict with the horse racing.

"What many people don't realise is how much use the track gets with corporate days and testing during the week. This produces good revenue for Pukekohe Park Raceway, which I'm sure Counties will appreciate.'

Pulman, who came to hold the licence through the involvement of his company, Heb Contractors, in track improvements, had 15 years to run on his licence.

He said he wished the sport well and hoped that it would continue to flourish at the track.

"The park is brilliant for the area and the council is behind it," he said.

The track's future has been in the news since the promoters of the Australian V8 Supercars indicated that they were not prepared to use it after next year, preferring a street circuit in Auckland City.

There are no ready-made alternatives for a regular motor-racing circuit, though sites have been suggested near Auckland Airport, close to the drag strip at Meremere and at Whenuapai airfield.

The Counties Racing Club sees the purchase of the motor sports rights as part of a three-way improvement package for the club.

"It is very closely tied to the recently-announced Franklin District stormwater scheme and the development of a new regional training centre facility at Pukekohe Park in conjunction with the Auckland Racing Club," said Counties Racing Club president Alastair Ring.

"There will be no changes to either activity at Pukekohe Park."

Ring said the motor sport would provide good revenue for the racing club.

The Auckland Racing Club agreed to a joint training centre venture with Counties when plans for the proposed Prices Rd training facility were dropped late last year.

The development of a synthetic all-weather training surface is being considered.

Two weeks ago, Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett and fellow Counties Racing Club committee members Greg Mitchell and Stephen Cole and Auckland Racing Club board member Peter Walker went to Dubbo in New South Wales to inspect the club's sand, synthetic and rubber surface.

"At the moment we're looking at the maintenance," said Ring.

The horse racing track and the motor racing surface will be out of action for 90 days from November 1 to accommodate the multi-million dollar stormwater drainage scheme.