Well the Chronicle completely stuffed up yesterday’s article on the Motorpark because of a certain Councilor’s uncanny ability to put his foot in it. As stated yesterday, the actual position of the project in relation to what was reported is completely different. John Neve has written his response to the article and another was received but due to its length we will request it is shortened so we can fit it in. Following John Neve, regular contributor Ben Collingwood who also co-founded Fraser Coast Motorpark Inc. has given his personal response to the situation.
Bowser Blues -V- Motor Park.
Where are we going? With petrol at an all time high and little
chance of the price ever dropping in a significant way. There
are some amongst us who want to promote fuel usage!! They
want to build a Motor Park!!!
We have people like Brian Canute, a concerned contributor
to this site. Drawing our attention to societies ongoing waste
of the worlds resources, and we have those trying to hasten
the process?
Oil is a finite resource, it will never get cheaper. Availability
will continue to decline and cost will continue to climb.
While a Motor Park may have had some reason for being 20
years ago, although the writting was on the wall even then.
There is no rational or sustainable reason to build one today.
Motor sport as we know it, is going the way of the DoDo.
Until we find a cheap and viable alternative to oil/petrol to
promote motor sport borders on the criminal.
If private enterprize wishes to waste it’s money on such a
project so be it. But please don’t waste public money on a
dying industry.
John A Neve
Strewthisback writes: John you raise some valid points but as Ben Collingwood points out later, the motorsports industry is leading the way in embracing green practices. In fact, many companies use motorsports to develop the technologies that end up in the family sedan. The truth is motorsports has never been stronger and will continue to grow in popularity.
Ben Collingwood adds the following:
In response to comments made by John Neve and others I highlight the following facts about the motorsports industry in Australia:
- NASR the governing body for Speedway in Australia has already identified the need to embrace alternate fuels and have adjusted their rules to allow fuels such as ethanol.
- High level competitive drag cars run on methanol which is a renewable synthetically produced fuel.
- V8 Supercars currently run on a 5% Ethanol Blend with the organisation changing to E85 – 85% Ethanol 15% Petrol from 2009. Further to this the V8 Racing Green program plants 15,000 trees each year to offset carbon emissions from the sport’s 15 events.
- In addition to this, Tony D’Alberto and Road Nash Racing run their transporter on Biomax B20 Biodiesel. Many of the other teams are expected to follow.
- Finally, the Australian Supertruck Nationals is the first racing series in the world to be entirely powered by biodiesel fuels.
These are fine examples of how the Motorsports industry in Australia is leading the way to a greener future. Even the promoters of major international competitions such as Formula 1 and the American Le Mans series, are looking at promoting green fuels as well as endeavouring to establish carbon neutral events. Very exciting indeed and I will be encouraging the group to consider making the project the first “green” Driver Education, Training and Motorsports facility in Australia.
6 May, 2008 John Neve adds the following thoughts:
Like the Dinosaur, the motorcar as we know it, will be a long
time dying. Sad though it will be for those like Ben, nothing
can save it. To endeavour to prolong it’s existence as NASR
is trying to do, is to throw good money after bad. Let’s look
at the facts.
Ethanol will never replace oil, that is unless you are happy to
starve to death. The world can only produce so much grain,
whether we eat it or distil it is up to you.
The only renewable gas I am aware of is Methane, while it is a
good fuel for stationary engines as a mobile fuel it has many
problems. All other combustible gases are as finite as oil.
We can extend the life of the car by; reducing motor size,
improving economy, banning motor sport in it’s current form,
switching from plans to airships, replacing petrol engines with
diesel, but we cannot stop the inevitable.
Congratulations Ben Collingwood. And thank you for explaining a bit of the motorsport project. I must admit in all the time I have heard David Dalgleish talk about it, I did get the impression of yobbos and louts drag racing. Perhaps Mr Dalgleish’s comments were merely to get the media attention and he really does comprehend what is going on and the way it all works.
As far as I’m concerned. Dalgleish is the albatross that will sink this entire project with his brainless statements. For it to work as a legitimate enterprise, it has to have a variety of State Government approvals, amongst these will be one to have it accepted as an advanced driving school, but there are a few obstacles in this, not the least of which is that the Transport Department will not recognise Advanced driving in any shape manner or form. The reason? Well everytime someone scores a win with the department on acceptance, Mr Dalgleish and a few others will let a mouthful go as to their definition of what advanced driving means to them and start grandstanding with all of these totally incorrect theories, so another battle won and immediately lost. I personally think that Geoff Brabham, a long term campaigner would ring his scrawny neck just on principle as on a couple of occasions, Geoff and co have made a valid point and Dalgleish and a few other cowboys have screwed it almost immediately.
It must also be remembered that there is a State Election coming up within the next year and all the signs of this fellow nitpicking McNamara is so constant, that one could be excused for thinking DD may be looking at another tilt at State Politics and any chance he can, he will try to promote himself and denigrate Macca, and as the Wheels on Wide Bay sprint meet is on in the next few weeks he thinks he can milk it for a bit of free publicity as he did at the later stages of last years event, and when it twigs that they need to get various Government approvals and possible grants, who does he have to see as his best chance of gaining these things? Foley an independent back bencher who last I knew was on the Travelsafe committee but who relied on spin doctors in the Transport department to answer any queries or a Government Minister? If the latter, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when he walks into Andy Pandys office with cap in hand to see the reception he receives. The term “snowflake in hells chance” springs to mind.
Sorry, but this guy does not have a clue, has a politicians empty head and big mouth and I predict will totally sink this project if he’s not gagged and sent to Coventry.
I won’t even mention the financial aspect of it, as by my reckoning, at present they don’t have enough to mow the grass and to be talking V8 supercars………try another $20 million and possibly at least 10/15 years before the get a foot in, after all the rich Asian Countries have their cut of the cake where money is no object.
There is a pecking order in Politics and motor sport rates way up the top and the big boys would eat a low ranked local wannabe in 2 seconds.
The system will work, but only if all the Dalgleish boyish fantasies are abolished and the entire project done on a steady as we go, step by step basis and working in with other parties working on the Advanced driving facility, because that’s where the foundation of the business will be.
Valid points made by bayzeyes. There is another part to the David Dalgleish - Andrew McNamara situation that sheds a bit more light.
Apart from his sarcastic side, Mr McNamara [or Andy Pandy as described earlier] is known to hold a grudge for longer than most people. That includes being a sore winner. Mr McNamara beat Dalgleish in a state government election. Most politicians can be magnanimous in defeat let alone victory. Not Andy Pandy. If Andy Pandy does not like someone, you can guarantee that any project that person is involved with, no matter how good it is for the community, will be undermined in the halls of power in Brisbane while Mr McNamara runs around paying lip service and getting good press publicity locally. Yet if he can jump on a bandwagon and get credit for himself then it is all ahead full steam! Just compare the waterpark [Andy Pandy taking credit with no feasibility studies etc] to the Motorsports project.
It is time the community got to know the true character of their state representative. But how can they? When he never attends any public forums where he can be properly questioned on anything? And the council never used to question him due to the interferance and protection given by a certain councillor who has finally [publicly declared her relationship with him]
.
Barfly, the same has been said about many other so called “leaders” in our community. The general concept is simple - Cross me and I will bring you undone.
We are fast to condemn school yard bullies yet our leaders do the exact same thing on a daily basis with each other! Grow up people and lets all work to build a stronger, healthier community.