Street races cut: BMC not expected to lose its appeal
“I don’t think it will undermine [the Burt Munro Challenge] looking forward. It was often at the tail-end of the programme on the last day on Sunday anyway.”
Invercargill’s mayor has little concern what impact the scrapping of the street races may have on the city’s most important economic event.
It was confirmed this week the street racing, as part of the Burt Munro Challenge, will be cut from the scehule at the four-day event which brings millions of dollars into the region.
When the Burt Munro Challenge was first launched in 2006 street races were held in Wyndham.
However, in 2015 the Wyndham Race Committee decided against holding the street races because it had been running at a loss.
The street racing was instead moved to Invercargill at a circuit which saw competitors ride through Bill Richardson Dr.
However, Burt Munro Challenge organisors have now decided it is no longer sustainable to hold the street races with the cost of around $50,000 to $60,000 and the risk of cancelation.
The good news is Invercargill’s Teretonga Park will now host a round of the New Zealand Superbikes Championships part of the Burt Munro Challenge.
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark did not believe the axing of the street racing would have an impact on the amount of people the Burt Munro Challenge would draw to Invercargill.
“[The Superbikes] will be a huge drawcard,” Clark said.
“Most of the people I talk to are not hugely interested in the street race, I might be talking a bit out of turn with that.
“I think they are more interested in the iconic things like the Bluff Hill Climb the racing at Oreti Beach, the [speedway].
“I don’t think it will undermine [the Burt Munro Challenge] looking forward. It was often at the tail-end of the programme on the last day on Sunday anyway.”
Not sure the mayor is correct in his statement, the street race was iconic and the thousands that crowded the streets on the Sunday proved it was a highlight for both the riders and the spectators