Street Race Needs $150,000 to Start
About $150,000 has to be raised before the Waimate 50 street race can go ahead.
Motorsport New Zealand has allocated a date in early December for the event, but the chances of the race taking place then are looking remote.
Waimate 50 spokesperson David Owen said the committee was looking out of the region for sponsorship to fund the event, which was the main reason hindering it getting the greenlight.
"We need that money to allow us to get our safety system built and approved. We have been working on that quietly for some time" said David.
Organisers want to make sure every detail is accounted for before they restart the event. "Holding it early next year would be ideal, but in reality there is a determination that whenever we do have it, we have to do it right".
The Waimate 50 has not been held since 1999 when four officials at a Queenstown street race were charged over the deaths of spectators.
During previous years the event attracted between 8,000 and 10,000 people to the town and was estimated to be worth more than $250,000 to local businesses.
The committee is seeking $35,000 for the Waimate District Council because it feels the event has the ability to promote the region nationally.
"We want to build this up to be an annual event again. It would be great if it became similiar to Bathhurst" Each year the small Australian town of Bathurst is invaded with more than 60,000 people for the motor race.
The Waimate 50 event was first held in 1959, with the legendary Kiwi Bruce McLaren winning the first title. It went into recess after the 1966 event and didn't resurface until 1990 when it ran successfully until 1999.
For futher information on the Waimate 50 please contact:
David Owen Phone 03 689 8090 or 03 689 2620
Mobile 027 435 3666