As this issue of DRAGSTER (Australia) goes to press, the drag racing community continues to await action by the New South Wales Premier, Bob Carr, on the proposal for a stand-alone drag strip for Western Sydney.

While indications have been forthcoming from several areas that the proposal is being viewed favourably and is moving towards a positive conclusion, nothing definite has been said by anyone. Usual sources of information simply offer the excuse that this now involves the Premier, and that's a no-go zone.

Developments in the past two weeks, however, continue to take place. The Liberal Party member for the seat of Baulkham Hills, Wayne Merton, stood in parliament on September 15, and made a strong speech supporting the proposal and calling on the government to revisit the issue.

"In fact, the home track for people in New South Wales who have dragsters - and I hate to say this," stated Merton, "is at Calder Park in Melbourne. We have delivered our drag racers to Jeff Kennett (Premier of Victoria), and we should do something to overcome that...."

"I urge the Carr Government to revisit the proposal put forward for the establishment of an international standard drag racing complex at Eastern Creek. This is an opportunity for New South Wales to regain some of its lost sporting events. We have lost too many sporting events to other states. I ask the Carr Government to look seriously at allowing dragsters to have their own drag strip at Eastern Creek so that they can enjoy the sport. It could be a tourism benefit, and the people of Western Sydney would have an additional amenity. Hopefully, it would stop young people from racing their cars on the streets."

Merton's speech was followed up by the publishing of his office's press releases in several Western Sydney newspapers.

On September 17th, ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton wrote to the New South Wales Minister for Sport and Recreation, whose office has continued to oppose the proposal for the race track, rejecting any further compromise over the issue of drag racing in NSW.

In his letter Thornton stated, "I accept that all avenues for compromise should be exhausted before final decisions are made. As far as ANDRA is concerned that point has been reached. When we met last month you stated that you would support the Premier's decision. I urge you to endorse the proposal for a dedicated drag strip facility currently before the Premier."

The letter was followed shortly after by a phone call from the Minister's senior adviser who stated that he and the Minister were certain that they had heard Thornton state in a meeting that ANDRA was willing to compromise. Thornton rejected that suggestion, and again forwarded an assurance in writing to various NSW Government members that no such suggestion had been made.

Thornton was also contacted by phone by Eastern Creek Raceway manager Chris Hones over the ARDC's (Australian Racing Drivers Club) recent letter sent to most New South Wales racers, seeking a vote of support for the club's plans for a December drag race. Thornton explained that ANDRA set standards for drag racing in Australia, but was also a democratic body and if "well in excess of one hundred" racers voted to support such a meeting that ANDRA would have to look again at the proposal. He gave the ARDC until Wednesday, September 22nd, to get the votes of support, but as of Tuesday the 28th, nothing had been heard, implying a low level of endorsement for the event.

"I'd suggest that if the response at the ARDC's office was similar to that at ANDRA, where we had just one racer contacting us to support the event proposal, then they failed to get much enthusiasm for the race," said Thornton.

A response, which it is indicated would come in writing, is expected daily from the New South Wales Government.