Hampton Downs sold

[Grubber]

does he hate motorcycles? My understanding is that Highlands has some very restrictive noise limits that most motorcycles exceed which is why we don't see bikes there.

I hear they have a backer already after they rejected Quinns offer

It does ave restrictions but is still usable for bikes. Problem is it wasn't built for bikes at all. Thus barriers.

Lets all hope it doesn't become a playground for the rich

Highlands has only had Porche racing etc there and only a couple of meets to be fair. Very much picking the cream out.

Yeah, I'd heard he didn't like bikes also, then subsequently heard that this supposition was probably moreso from the fact that Highlands isn't and couldn't be really set up for bikes and other issues.

I was fortunate enough to ride on there last year and that was the last time allowed due to noise for one and a few other issues to boot.

or is it something to do with the conrete barriers and bike safety at highlands

Concrete barriers were put there with cars only in mind, no bikes were factored into the equation at the time.
Real nice track all the same.

[Danger Dave]

Highlands is very restricted to the number of events that it can run hence the reason for only running selected car events, We will see what happens with hampton as the only person who knows what he has planed will be himself, there is a lot of people saying he hates bikes and won't let them run but as fair as i have read nobody can show a direct quote of him saying these things so it's still very much up in air.

The only thing for certain is that he is an avid motorsport fan that has worked hard and has now acheived every motorsport fans dream of not only owning their own track but owning two of them.

[nzspokes]

Especially if he does the extensions and increases the price?
AMCC and the track days might not be able to afford more track hire so that would be a blow to the bike scene.

But if we piss him off with to much speculation an negativity he might say stuff the bikes?

Wait and see I reckon

I was wondering that if it can be split like Taupo to run 2 events at the same time it may get cheaper so more can afford to go.

[jellywrestler]

I was wondering that if it can be split like Taupo to run 2 events at the same time it may get cheaper so more can afford to go.

yes then full track has that option, not everyone has to make a buck out of everything they do, case in point, sidecar boo sponsors several riders, he won't get and doesn't expect a full return on this. some people will go hard out in one area to make a buck , then spend a little differently cause they can acheive their dreams, goals supplemented by income from elsewhere.
one hopes he's sort of collecting the set but realises the need to make it float and won's discount the proportion of income that bikes provide.

[Reckless]

I was wondering that if it can be split like Taupo to run 2 events at the same time it may get cheaper so more can afford to go.

I doubt that very much as you'd need two sets of stands, speaker systems would clash, etc etc
Taupo and Manfield have track options but I don't think they've ever run two big events same day?

Lets not get ahead of ourselves he could well let bikes have more time and create events that make profit and the track rates come down.
The mans gotta love his motorsport that's for sure

[scott411]

I was wondering that if it can be split like Taupo to run 2 events at the same time it may get cheaper so more can afford to go.

it was designed to be that way, a club track, (the bit that is not built yet), a national track, (the bit that is there now) and the international track was the combination of the 2,

in the early days they even had the prices listed to hire each part, or the whole lot,

[sidecar bob]

yes then full track has that option, not everyone has to make a buck out of everything they do, case in point, sidecar bob sponsors several riders, he won't get and doesn't expect a full return on this.

Frankly, I don't expect any financial return at all on bikes/riders I support, it's just fun stuff, but the only reason that I can sponsor people in the first place is because I have a performing portfolio creating disposable income.
It remains to be seen wether this latest purchase of Mr Quinn is that fun stuff he expects no return on, or part of his performing portfolio.

[madbikeboy]

The guys who built Hampton Downs need a bit of recognition for taking the plunge and building the track. I've met them many times, and they've worked very hard to manage costs and see the track to fruition. You need to spend huge capital costs upfront, and then race (crawl?) to profit. In a previous life, we gave the guys 10 km of fibre to run around the racetrack - from the start they had a vision to build a world class facility. No rational person would build a race track from scratch in this day and age.

Specific thanks to Jamie Kett, the ex-sidecar champ who drove me around the track when it was still mud and clay, and who gave me advice on lines and braking points (a couple of times from a double cab ute, which with Jamie driving, is an experience in itself).

[sil3nt]

http://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central...se-park-denied

[GD66]

The guys who built Hampton Downs need a bit of recognition for taking the plunge and building the track. I've met them many times, and they've worked very hard to manage costs and see the track to fruition.

Yes, and they have been trying to flog it for quite a while as they appear to be sick of banging their heads against the wall. If the 13.5 figure is true he has scored an absolute bargain but as a moneymaking venture for the two owners it has been a hell of a lot of hard work and struggle for a meagre return, often against a background of advice from the sidelines from unappreciative critics.
Quinn is not everyone's cup of tea but he is a smart cookie and a racer, so let's see what happens. Some benefactor who has a better idea of looking after club-level participants who want to race for free would be quite welcome to outbid Quinn : yeah, won't be happening...

[Reckless]

Update here girls :P

Tony Quinn hasn’t bought Hampton Downs… yet
World
March 30, 2015FacebookTwitter
AUSTRALIAN GT and Aussie Racing Car series owner Tony Quinn has denied that a deal to purchase New Zealand track Hampton Downs has been completed.

Quinn confirmed that he is in the process of purchasing the track, but isn’t popping the champagne just yet.
The Scot-turned-Aussie is in the final stages of completing the deal.
“We are on the last lap of an endurance race,” he told AA. “It is not 100-percent signed, sealed and delivered, but we are on the last lap.
“Everyone should remember that I have actually tried to buy the track three times before, and mainly due to the vendor’s circumstance it hasn’t proceeded, but this time, we have managed to fills some of the holes.
“It will be a very very good thing for Hampton Downs, because I intend fully to make it what it was always supposed to be – a truly international icon of New Zealand motorsport.
“The main thing that needs to happen is it is business as usual.”
Quinn was quick to downplay any rumours that Hampton Downs would resemble his other track, Highlands Motorsport Park, under his ownership.
“It is a totally different model to Highlands,” he explained.
“Highlands is a tourist venue that has got a race track; Hampton Downs is an absolute commercial race track that services a major population area.
“It is a totally different model, and if people think that Hampton Downs is going to be another Highlands, that is not what it is going to be.
“It is going to be a top class international venue.”
The deal hasn’t been penned just yet, however Quinn hinted that he does have plans to bring international categories to the North Island track in the future.
The V.I.P Petfoods and Darrel Lea boss remained cryptic on which categories he would want to race at the venue.
“It is a whole lot easier to bring international categories into Auckland rather than Highlands,” he added.
“In my head I have tabled Spring of 2016 for the first major international event at Hampton Downs.”
Cameron Kirby

http://autoaction.com.au/tony-quinn-...04021419653102

[neil_cb125t]

does he hate motorcycles? My understanding is that Highlands has some very restrictive noise limits that most motorcycles exceed which is why we don't see bikes there.

I hear they have a backer already after they rejected Quinns offer

.

Hampton downs is a completely different race track and location with a different customer base. Any word of new owners or investors that want to FINISH Hamptons has to be great.

[Reckless]

Any more news on the Hampton Sale????

Taupo is officially on the market now: http://www.bayleys.co.nz/Listings/Wa...-Taupo/4500518

[Shaun Harris]

Any more news on the Hampton Sale????

Taupo is officially on the market now: http://www.bayleys.co.nz/Listings/Wa...-Taupo/4500518

Taupo being on the market finally does not surprise me, ( But one of the controlling parties of it, tells lots of lies) certain people involved in that place have no dam idea how to make money from that place. It is a gold mine just weighting to be opened up

[gjm]

TQ looked to buy Taupo too, but the TCC vetoed it. I think this was short-sighted, but I don't have all the facts.

I understand their position - they want to ensure that grassroots motorsport is promoted and gets use of facilities, but any purchaser is going to be a businessman looking for return on investment.

There's many worse than TQ around. He at least lives in NZ (many buyers won't), is actively involved in motorpsort (many buyers won't be) and will have a truer understanding of what needs to be done for success to follow.

As for HD - negotiations have progressed far further than ever before. No deal as yet (as far as I know).