Drag venue lack costs millions

The State is also neglecting an opportunity to get hoons off the streets and into a safer, regulated location to show off their cars, according to Australian National Drag Racing Association project director, Gary Miocevich.

Miocevich wants the Victorian Premier, John Brumby, to intervene in the three-year battle to get a new facility, particularly with a State election due this year.  "He should show some leadership on this," Miocevich says.

More than 1700 people have registered their views on the Victorian Premier's website.  Miocevich is the project director of the Andra initiative, Motorvate Melbourne, which is campaigning for a new Victorian drag racing facility.

He says the government's own studies have shown a drag venue would bring in $190 million a year to the state.  "The Government is supportive but they don't seem to understand what a drag racing venue really is," he says.

"Quite frankly it has not being listening to their constituents and in reality drag racing is part of the Labor heartland."  The proposed Melbourne venue would combine drag racing with a kart facility, driver training and have room for grassroots motorsports enthusiasts for drifting and motorkhanas.

"It makes sense to combine a whole lot of motorsport activities in one area," Miocevich says.  He says it is curious that government costing of the facility has blown out from $38 million to $60 million when a state-of-the-art drag venue in Perth cost $20 million.

Andra wants a new facility beside the Melbourne-Geelong freeway between Melbourne and Avalon.  The Calder raceway has been ruled out because it is too close to new housing developments.  "Nor does the venue meet the FIA or ANDRA standards for drag racing," Miocevich says.

Miocevich says that if a track was approved tomorrow the "longest part of the process is getting the government to come on board".  "The shortest part of the whole job is actually constructing a venue," he says.

"The Perth venue was built in 10 months."  Miocevich says a specific facility would provide significant social and community benefits.  "You can see the frustration with youth on the streets," he says.

"The illegal hooning and street racing that occurs is not motorsport.  "If you can provide a safe and organised venue where these people can go, you won't eliminate the problem but you have a safe and legal place for it."

Miocevich is disheartened over the lack of action.  "I guess it's easier for governments to do nothing than address the issue," he says.  "If you look at drag racing there has been no ANDRA championship venue for 10 years and that's just unacceptable."

Miocevich says the Government is happy to invest in facilities for AFL, tennis, golf and harness racing fans but when it comes to motorsport "unless you come from the big end, the Grand Prix end of town you don't get a look in".  "I think its unfair and its wrong," he says.