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| | | | | | The Future of the Historic East London Circuit | | | | | | | | Please show your support by adding your name to the online petition | | | | | | | | | | | | | "We are not sure how many of you are aware of the new developments regarding the future of the East London Circuit. | | | | We need to get responses from all interested competitors/spectators and in general all those who would not want to see the demise of our wonderful race track. Please give us your support." ~ Penny | more>> | | | | EL racetrack plans shot down | | 2 October 2008, 08:00 CAT | | Daily Dispatch | more>> |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zodwa Sibelekwana | | | | Development Planning Manager
Buffalo City Development Agency
Tel: 043-7220452/62
Fax: 043-7220450
Cell: 079 8822 822 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----- Original Message -----
From: Penny Penny
To: Undisclosed
Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2008 9:35 AM
Subject: FUTURE OF THE EAST LONDON RACE TRACK
Good Morning All
Please take time to read the emails below � We are not sure how many of you are aware of the new developments regarding the future of the East London Circuit. We need to get responses from all interested competitors/spectators and in general all those who would not want to see the demise of our wonderful race track. Please give us your support. We need to collate all replies before 13 October 2008 so if you could send your mails to me, per fax or email, by the 10th so we can get all information together in time?
If you have contact details for any other interested person/s please forward this mail to them as well.
Many thanks
Kind regards
Penny | | | | | | -----Original Message-----
From: Rodney Hiles
Sent: 02 October 2008 05:10 PM
To: Undisclosed
Subject: RE: Racetrack Public Meeting_30/09
Excellent suggestion, Neville. What has worried me about the 14-day �report-back� period is the fact that it has been so meagrely publicised. How many �interested and affected parties� even know about this 14-day period?
Is anyone aware that Colleen Durant, Peter King, Helga Fraser and I think someone else, are leaving on 14 October to �promote the Border Tourism Region� at a big expo in Germany? I wonder how much ELGP Circuit info they have? Probably not much seeing that it is not finalised yet and I think their presentation has been pre-prepared. It just seems like an opportunity that may be lost to the circuit unless we can offer them something.
I will certainly forward your suggestion to as many �interested parties� as I can think of.
Rodney Hiles | | | | | | -----Original Message-----
From: Neville Fisher
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 11:43
To: Undisclosed
Subject: FW: Racetrack Public Meeting_30/09
Importance: High
Hi Ray / Rodney,
I suggest we send this to everyone we know in SA motor sport circles.
-------------
Some copy regarding the ELGP circuit for your information (below).
We need to lobby as much support from anyone interested enough to add their support or proposals. A two week period was mentioned to receive further written proposals or comments. The proposal submitted by the motor sport fraternity is very well done and professional but the public meeting presentation seemed biased towards a second option to turn it into a WSU campus for 6,000 students. Passions ran high against it from everyone present but there�s a lot of work to do to prevent it, if possible.
This is a link to a front page report this morning;
http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/dispatchnow/2008/10/02/el-racetrack-plans-shot-down/
Letters can be sent to; 'Zodwa Sibelekwana' ZodwaS@buffalocity.gov.za
Please copy this to everyone you know that can add some weight to our cause to save this great asset, namely the historic East London Grand Prix Circuit. What we need is a big national outcry.
Thanks and regards,
Nev | | | | | | -----Original Message-----
From: Neville Fisher
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 10:52 AM
To: Undisclosed
Subject: RE: Racetrack Public Meeting_30/09
Importance: High
Dear Zodwa,
Thank you for your kind response. I would appreciate the following further comments placed on record and taken into consideration.
There were a number of subtle inaccuracies in the presentation that could be perceived to attempt to sway public opinion in favour of �Option 2� by weakening the Motor Sport Race Track Proposal as follows:
A) �Option 1� was not a �Border Motor Sport Club� (BMSC) proposal as presented. A lot of time and effort went into getting all facets of motor sport together in the region to bring everyone �under one umbrella� to make the future race track development more commercially viable and feasible. BMSC is only one of many clubs representing a great number of members that have agreed to come under this umbrella. This important fact should be properly understood, represented and advertised.
1) A name that was suggested (yet to be decided) is �The Motor Sport Foundation� (a section 21 company).
2) My personal preference or suggestion would be something like �The East London Grand Prix Circuit� (t/a: ELGP Circuit). That is purely my own personal preference as it would better market our greatest asset (the historic grand prix circuit) and our city.
B) �Option 1� was presented as an �Exclusive� motor sport proposal. This is not accurate for the following reasons:
1) �Option 1� Is not apposed to a university campus outside the circuit footprint area (although it is not viewed as compatible along with residential development and should be moved elsewhere). The secure buffer zone is required by FIM and MSA regulations for sound and safety reasons and no form of motor racing will be allowed to take place if these are not met.
2) A closed off secure area has to be maintained for safety and commercial reasons to make the circuit viable and to attract investors and developers to a properly managed complex.
3) There are numerous other sporting codes within the proposal that were not mentioned. These include Archery, Model Aircraft Club, Model Control Car and Model Boat Club area, Cycling events and others have been mentioned.
4) �Option 1� includes �multiple land use� such as a Hotel, Conference Facilities, Tourist Accommodations, Staff Accommodation, Restaurants, Nature Reserve, Coastal Thicket Area, Waterfront Development / Water World, Skid Pan / Advanced Driver Training Centre, SETA Technical Training and Development Centre, Small Business / Light Industrial complex, Road Freight depot.
5) Facets of motor sport included are extremely varied designed to incorporate a large spectrum of interest groups. They range from long circuit road racing, 4X4 Challenge, Karting / Super Motard, Moto-X, Enduro-X, Oval Circuit / Stock Cars and V8�s, to Drag Racing making it unique and possibly the best if it�s kind in the country within a single complex.
C) �Option 2� was presented as the �Multiple Land Use� option based on the false notion that �low impact motor racing� can exist virtually within a WSU campus. This, simply put, will not constitute �multiple land use� because the circuit will cease to exist. No form of motor racing will be allowed to take place under these conditions and it will die because no income can be generated from a circuit that will not become dedicated race track through ownership or a 99 year long lease agreement for the �Option 1� proposed foot print area.
1) �Option 2� is therefore in essence not really �Multiple Land Use� as Motor Sport and the race track will cease to exist and the area will effectively become an �Exclusive� WSU Campus.
2) A �techno park� can easily be incorporated into the �Option 1� proposal but the reverse is not possible with the WSU proposal.
3) As illustrated above the �Option 1� proposal seems to be far more �Multiple Land Use� than �Option 2�.
D) Very few members of the public will understand why one has to make way for the other as it makes no sense at all. A win / win situation would be to go ahead with a feasible race track development and the WSU development at different locations. One person I spoke to said there�s a new high school standing empty in Gonubie. Build a hostel across the road and move it in there if it�s not going to be used as a high school. Another person said much of the IDZ land seems to be vacant, why not build it there, or anywhere else for that matter. There is plenty of space so why on the race track? Good question.
Best regards,
Neville
Neville A Fisher | | | | | | -----Original Message-----
From: Zodwa Sibelekwana
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 11:37 AM
To: Undisclosed
Subject: RE: Racetrack Public Meeting_30/09
Importance: High
Dear Mr Fisher,
Thank you very much, I would like to assure you once more that we will note and consider all the contents of your e-mail.
This is highly appreciated.
Kind regards
Zodwa | | | | | | -----Original Message-----
From: Neville Fisher
Sent: 30 September 2008 10:04 PM
To: Undisclosed
Subject: RE: Racetrack Public Meeting_30/09
Importance: High
Dear members of BCDA / Ray Brookes and others,
Firstly congratulations on the tremendous effort and work presented thus far.
I have a few comments regarding the figures mentioned at the public hearing regarding the income generated by MotorSport at present and future income potential that could result from the proposal submitted by the MotorSport fraternity.
1) At the public meeting held this evening a gentleman from BCDA stood up and mentioned that the proposed circuit development would only generate an additional R10m per annum. I believe it is imperative to correct this error in order to gain a more accurate understanding of the true financial implications. This figure only represents the tourism average per person based on the number of people expected to visit two additional international Historic Race Meetings as suggested by Ray Brookes with very little additional input and development.
2) The money visitors bring to the region (present estimate � R60.9m pa) only represents a part of the income structure that benefits BCM. One race meeting alone that I and a small handful of others personally organized (free of charge) brought in sponsorship from a national freight carrier Triton Express - R90,000 + Wesbank - R50,000 (including catering) + Hemmingway�s Casino - R8,000 + Local Sponsors and Programme Advertisers � R10,000 + Competitor Entries � R50,000 + Gate Spectators � R45,000 = Total: Approx. R253,000. This is a single motorcycle racing event. My point is that all of this income has been paid out in East London to provide jobs and generate wealth for services such as BCM track closure, Ambulance services, grass cutting, labour / circuit maintenance and preparation, cleaning services, office equipment, stationery, admin staff, security guards, marshals, catering, tyres, fuel, umbrella girls / modeling, printing, Newspaper advertising, poster campaign, radio, national television coverage, etc. (Talk about job creation).
3) For weeks on end East London featured on national television on Supersport and Wesbank Lifestyle programmes.
4) Someone needs to sit down and calculate the actual revenue that is expected as a result of the proposed development. It must include the following examples: A) Income from event and circuit sponsors.
B) Income from anchor tenants and light industry within the complex.
C) Income from accommodation / tourism / catering and other related industry within the development.
D) Income from race team and competitor entries for race events.
E) Gate takings from spectators.
F) Income from the use of the circuit and facilities for other non MotorSport events or functions.
5) Benefits that could be derived from development driver and technical training should be assessed and valued.
6) Number of jobs and related spin offs resulting from the proposed developments in all their respective aspects.
7) Finally but not least; If we could get the government and / or BCM to see the potential we have sitting in front of us they would upgrade this feasibility study with an enquiry to the organizers of WSBK (World Superbikes) to find out what the cost and circuit upgrade requirements would be to get them to race here. Our government should then offer to finance it because the spin offs and international coverage would be right up there with the 2010 soccer world cup and if done properly will happen every year. Billions of viewers from all over the world watch this on TV and every large sponsor involved wants their brand in view around the circuit and on TV. The money that comes to town is staggering (even for the government it�s big). I suggest you make the enquiries and do the homework properly before anyone thinks about downgrading this race track!!!
Best regards,
Neville Fisher
Local Entrepreneur Businessman
Member of BMSC Motorcycle Rider�s Forum / All Motorcycle Raceday Organizing Committee | | | | | |
| | | | | | ----- Original Message -----
From: Zodwa Sibelekwana
To:Undiclosed
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:34 AM
Subject: Racetrack Public Meeting_30/09
Good morning to you,
This is to remind you that the Racetrack Public Meeting as advertised on the Daily Dispatch, Wednesday, September 17, 2008
will be held at the Greenfields Christian Church, Jan Smuts Avenue. This will start at 18h00, a Presentation will be done by the
Consultant followed by Comments from the members of Public.
I look forward to see you there. Thank you very much.
Zodwa Sibelekwana | | | | | | _____________________________________________________________ | | | | | EL racetrack plans shot down | | Last year, WSU Vice Chancellor Professor Marcus Balintulo announced a plan that he envisioned a multi-million-rand technology park in East London which would see a campus specialising in science, engineering and technology with restaurants on site. The plan presented to the residents at Greenfields Christian Church which included the race track, strongly resembled Balintulo�s vision last year. However, finer details were not given.
BCDA chief executive officer Simphiwo Mdila said the possibilities for the race track were �mere proposals� and that interested parties needed to give imput on the issue.
BCDA has given the public fourteen days in which they can submit other proposals on how they envisioned the racetrack.
The local motorsport fraternity however, voiced their disapproval with an idea to change the race track into a university campus.
The group said they were in no ways against a new campus - as long as it wasn�t were the racetrack was situated.
Border Motorsport chairman Boet Marais said the country had lost many racetracks due to development and the city needed to take into account that the historic value of the track in the country and the world.
�If they go ahead and build the campus, it�s good-bye to motor sport,� he said.
At the meeting, it was heard that the race track brought an annual income of R60, 9 million to Buffalo City and the municipality did not use the money for maintenance.
WSU spokesperson Tania Smith was not available for comment. | | | 2 October 2008, 08:00 CAT | | | | Daily Dispatch | | | | | | | | A proposal to transform the land which houses East London�s historic Grand Prix track into a 6000-student campus has been shot down by the motorsport fraternity, saying it would mean �good-bye to racing� in the city.
The proposal is one of two options presented at a public meeting on Tuesday evening at the Greenfields Christian Church.
One the campus option is called a Mixed Land Use Development. The other option will see the track having the benefit of becoming what has been termed an �exclusive motorsport development.�
The Buffalo City Development Agency released two proposals on Tuesday that could see the track - only one of three remaining original racetracks in the world - transform into a fully-fledged campus, with residences, lecture halls and a a techno park.
Although details were still sketchy, Buffalo City Municipality spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya refuted suggestions that Walter Sisulu University had bought land �near the race track�, saying �city records did not reflect a formal application� from WSU. | |
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