Over 1500 drag racers and supporters gathered at Bowman Hall, at Blacktown, in Sydney's western suburbs, on Wednesday July 12 to declare their frustration with the lack of action by the New South Wales Government and lack of support from the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation in their battle to secure a future for themselves and their sport, and voted strongly to support protest action in coming weeks.

The packed meeting place first listened to addresses by a number of invited guests, including radio broadcaster Alan Jones, Federal Minister for Sport and Tourism, Jackie Kelly, members of the NSW opposition Charlie Lynn and Wayne Merton, racer and businessman Graeme Cowin and ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton.

Jones, especially, attacked the government for its "dishonesty and insolence" over its treatment of the NSW drag racing community, in an amazing 45 minute speech. He warned that the "ghost of Jeff Kennett" hung over a government which could so ignore its electorate that it failed to provide a single representative to attend the meeting and could act with such "duplicitous behaviour."

The meeting organisers had invited the Premier, eight NSW Government ministers and two back benchers to attend, and after their secretaries originally in every case indicated that the minister would be very willing to attend, each suddenly discovered prior engagements.

"This is a public meeting," said Jones, "and I'm saying publicly that the Government has been dishonest in this matter." Jones especially attacked the Government over the suddenly announced plans to possibly shift a garbage tip onto the proposed Western Sydney Motorplex block.

Jones received a rapturous welcome for his support of the drag racing community, and continuous applause throughout his speech. At the end he received a standing ovation before returning to the attack, as well as reminding the racers that their future should be taken into their own hands.

The meeting's opening speech was made by Jim Read, one of the Western Sydney Motorplex proponents. "There are lots of good movies around, and it seems we're in the middle of one now, except we don't know whether it should star Jim Carey or James Bond," he said.

"We, the drag racing community, have been without a venue in New South Wales for nearly three years, and nobody but us, and a handful of supporters, seems to care, so it's up to us to do something about it. That's why we're here, to discuss that potential course of action.

"When we were directed to the original parcel of land 2-1/2 years ago we were told there was no legal impediment to its use for a drag strip. This land now appears to have become the most important piece of land in Western Sydney, every Government department, it now appears, has come up with a reason for us not using it. One minute it's for regeneration of native bushland. Then it's to be a golf course, then an open space corridor, but the latest idea is a total and utter insult. It's to be a garbage tip. Can you believe that? We are to come below last week's old newspapers and rotting food.

"There appears to be a hidden agenda behind this. Some Government departments and others are working very hard to get rid of us, to force us to race inside Eastern Creek Raceway on a bandaid compromise track over which we will never have control, and which will be milked to prop up other motorsports that can't pay their own way. The Government ignores the Widnell Report of 1999, which confirmed our belief that a parallel straight drag strip at ECR was not an option. We recently supplied a 14-page list of reasons why such a proposal would not be viable at Eastern Creek Raceway.

"Do you think we're being discriminated against? Let's look at other sports in Sydney: 115 golf courses, 35 in western Sydney, over 900 cricket fields, 70 football fields and hundreds more used for training, 15 skating rinks, 128 swimming pools, four equestrian centres, and 50 tennis complexes, not to mention a new $24 million Olympic court complex to replace White City, so that Pete Sampras and others have somewhere else to come to earn another million dollars. Oh, and not to forget an existing 800 parks in the Blacktown area. But you note, not one drag strip in sight."

Ms. Kelly, a confessed "petrol head", said she was largely there to listen, but added that she was "appalled that there is not someone here representing the Carr Government." This was a theme taken up by every single speaker on the night.

"I believe in the line from the movie Field of Dreams," she continued, "build it and they will come. I don't think profitability is that important when it comes to sporting venues. It's about providing for people's interests, and for people's lifestyles."

Merton, the opposition's spokesman on Western Sydney, declared that the region had been abandoned by the Carr Government, and that their negative attitude to Eastern Creek Raceway had been carried over to the proposed Western Sydney Motorplex (WSM) dragway.

Thornton said that distant regional centres such as Mackay and Townsville could provide better drag racing venues than Sydney ("And I say that with respect to the clubs involved in North Queensland."), that the NSW Government had an obligation to drag racing, having been responsible for creating such a mess, and that the only viable solution was the WSM proposal.

"I believe the current operators at Eastern Creek Raceway do not have one atom of passion for drag racing," he continued. He stated that the NSW Government had an obligation to drag racing as they were responsible for the current lack of opportunities.

Also addressing the meeting was Top Fuel racer and businessman Graeme Cowin, who spoke on the theme of opportunities, following the development of his career and the opportunities it had presented him, and now, how he had to travel to the USA to ensure that he could provide similar opportunities for his children.

He quoted Willowbank marketing manager, Rob Oberg, who informed him that drag racing at Willowbank and environs generated close to $100 million annually for the Queensland economy, and said that the Sydney drag racing situation was "an economic and social tragedy". Cowin reminded everyone that aside from the small amounts of spending generated by street meets, the Sydney drag racing scene created "zero, zilch, zip."

In addition to the invited guests, the meeting was observed by Opposition Shadow Treasurer and Minister for Small Business, Peter Debnam, and a representative of the One Nation Party.

The meeting was also attended by speedway identity Gary Rush, who has been seeking to establish a second speedway in Sydney and who had been turned away from Eastern Creek Raceway and is now seeking to be involved in the WSM proposal. There were also a number of speedway people in the hall.

Before the meeting Ray Flaherty, and ex-drag racer and now National Co-Ordinator for the Australian Street Rod Federation, delivered a letter pledging the full support of the ASRF and its 4200 memebers to the drag racing cause in Sydney.

Following the speeches the meeting was turned over to the floor, to the racing community, which has watched its $46 million investment in racing vehicles and equipment decay, jobs disappear, businesses close and their sport decline across the nation, all through the lack of a venue in Sydney.

A unanimous resolution was passed, at the instigation of Jones, to demand that the Premier do what was originally promised to the people of Western Sydney, release the land identified for the construction of the Western Sydney Motorplex.

Then by unanimous resolution from the floor it was agreed that the drag racing community should undertake a "peaceful traffic protest" on Friday, July 28, involving a convoy of all race vehicles and supporters' vehicles converging on Sydney. A further meeting has been called for July 23 to organise that action.

However, Read later said that following investigation of the requirements for legal protests it appeared that it would be better to attempt to stage any protest a little later, taking advantage of parliament's next sitting period, starting on August 8. Initial contact with the police indicated they would be prepared to close off Macquarie Street, in front of Parliament House, for such a demonstration, and provide a "green light corridor" for protestors' vehicles to get there from an assigned marshalling point.

In a closing speech, DRAGSTER publisher David Cook, one of the WSM proponents, said, "No man is smaller than his dreams or his ambitions and no community is less than its aspirations or achievements. And if we sit idly by and allow these dealers in literal and verbal garbage to walk all over us without putting up a fight, if we just lie down and die -- because that is the inevitable alternative -- if we lie down and die then we are less than we have a habit of telling each other we are.

"Jim and I have both been around drag racing for 35 years. We've watched this sport grow from just two drag strips in Australia and less than a hundred people who could legitimately call themselves drag racers. We've watched it grow to become the largest crowd drawing motorsport and the fourth largest crowd drawing sport of any kind in this nation. And we've watched it crushed and destroyed by the mismanagement of a bunch of uncaring, disinterested bureaucrats whose sole reponse to our cries for help was simply to say, 'Go away, all we're interested in is the half million dollars a year in rent.'"

"I wouldn't have thought it was that hard to fix," Cook continued. "The answer's simple, give us access to the block of land that we were first directed to by the Government's own bureaucrats as the only possible site in Sydney where drag racing could happen, allow us to build our own -- fully independent -- drag strip and give us back our future.

"That's really all we want here -- a future. A future for our sport that does not involve compromise and a decline into extinction. A future for our children that does not involve drugs. A future for our families in an activity that we can all undertake together. A future for our businesses that does not involve bankruptcy. A future that will allow us to grow to meet our true potential, not be shackled to someone else's failure."

"And none of this, Mr. Carr, is to be found inside Eastern Creek Raceway, on a compromise -- there's that horrible word -- compromise, bandaid track that won't answer to our needs, and will be guaranteed to return us, and the Government, to this same predicament somewhere in the near future. The death sentence will be the same, only the duration of the illness and suffering will be altered."

The night drew excellent television coverage on both Channels 10 and 9, as well as newspaper and radio coverage. Both the Sydney Morning Herald and Channel 9 attempted to obtain comments from the Department of Sport and Recreation, but both received only an official "no comment."

Every person who attended the meeting was given a protest letter, expressing a desire to amend the proposed draft State Regional Environmental Plan for the area, which nominates uses for each parcel of land in the area. It permits motor racing and related industries on Eastern Creek Raceway, but limits the proposed WSM block to passive recreational activities. A total of 911 letters were completed on the night and delivered to the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning by the deadline of July 14.

There were also two postcards supplied to each person in attendance. These were pre-addressed to the NSW Premier, Bob Carr, and expressed drag racing's frustration and desire to control its own destiny and called upon him to resolve the matter by agreeing to the WSM proposal. Over 7000 cards were handed out on the night, and another 10,000 are being printed now. All subscribers to this issue of DRAGSTER Australia should have found one in his subscription copy, and any other reader desiring one can send a stamped addressed envelope and they will have one sent to them. Every ANDRA member will receive one with their copy of the ANDRA Fastlane newsletter. Graeme Cowin's Rocket Industries will also be sending one out to all their account customers, and others are being distributed around shops in Sydney.

Recipients are urged to complete the details of their name and address on the back and to affix a stamp and post it. We want to get all 17,000 cards into the Premier's office.

One unexpected reaction were approaches from people in regional New South Wales centres Bathurst and Forbes, both offering to build drag strips, and the sudden press release from the new owners of the Wakefield Park circuit at Goulborn, claiming they had the answer to the sport's needs. They failed to mention the track has run with a 95 dbA noise limit and is 100 km out of Sydney. This has been rejected by the WSM proponents as yet another attempt by a circuit racing group to get their hands on drag racing.

At the time of going to press, the Western Sydney Motorplex proponents had received no communication from the New South Wales Government, but it is expected that a response, if any, will await the return of the Premier from overseas.

The Grapevine:

In the days before and after the July 12 meeting, the drag racing grapevine ran hot with messages of goodwill from around the country. The following is a sampling of messages on email and fax to DRAGSTER's offices, and on the Cackling Pipes website discussion board.

I attended the meeting last night, though had to leave early. It attracted a full house and more (upwards of 1500). After a rousing video introduction, Dave Cook and Jim Read expressed their opinions and revealed some facts on the WSM proposal. This was followed by a scathing attack on the NSW Government (who could not find one representative to attend -- officially anyway!) by radio commentator Alan Jones.

The meeting, despite being full of emotion, went ahead in a professional manner and was a credit to its organisers. We all must remember the lack of interest from the NSW Government at the next election! More importantly, keep lobbying the local members and key politicians. Let's push ahead with the ground-swell of support that this meeting must have surely produced and demonstrated.... it's beyond good luck now.
Rob Sparkes

Let's keep the pressure on the politicians with letters, emails and faxes. The problem of emails at the moment is that they all go to their offices in the city. Let's get 'em in their electoral offices. Parliament doesn't sit until August 8 so they won't be in town. All their names and addresses are available in the White Pages L-Z page 2182. If we do as Wayne Merton said last night, many letters make them take more notice. You can get the listing as to who is what from the NSW Parliament website. Keep the paper flood going for us as long as it takes.
Loretta Vesperman

In response to Matt's post (Hi, Matt) if you are going to tow up from Melbourne we need to see how many people can join up with you from Melbourne and along the way. Let's get a drag racer convoy going. If you are going, I will meet you out on the Hume Highway with my tow car, race car and trailer. How does that sound? Let's go people!
Leigh Rainbird

I have been eagerly following the events of the WSM from Melbourne and if I could have made it to the meeting on the 12th, I would have. I may still be able to tow up for the proposed protest on the 28th and feel this is our last shot and again we need to behave in an organised fashion no matter how frustrating things get. We need as many cars, bikes, transporters, whatever, at this protest and if I'm looking at towing 12 hours if I can get time off work, surely people can get the morning or day off to attend and would expect a minimum of 300 cars, as we need to make a dramatic impact.
Matt

The report on the Channel 9 news was very anti-government and put across the idea that the government is at fault (which they are). Finally we are getting the exposure we need. Let's see more of it. It was not as comprehensive as the (Channel) 10 report though, especially with the Andrews Race Cars interview. Although I thought it was quite funny on (Channel) 9 when they said "if they can't race in Sydney, the cars would have to go on exhibition.... long pause.... in Macquarie Street" Hopefully all this attention will give us the desired action.
Matthew

I have just returned from a business trip to the USA. I was fortunate enough to see two separate drag racing events in a space of six days. I was at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Chicago and a Friday night bracket event at Rocky Mountain Raceway in Salt Lake City. I dream of being able to do the same in Sydney some day. Let's make sure we do all we can to make it happen and attend the meeting. See ya all there.
George Bukureshliev

This is it people! D-Day, the invasion of drag racers at Blacktown and all the supporters of WSM. Blacktown after the 12th of July 2000 will go down in the history books. I will be in attendance along with friends and associates. And the most important thing is, whilst all the frustration and anger has been building up in me over the last few years, I take it upon myself to listen and not explode and make a fool of myself. I strongly urge everyone to be on best behaviour, regardless of whether something is said that we don't like or accept. I don't want to be shown on TV and portrayed as one of a bunch of idiots. We must act professionally. All I know is that as far as I'm concerned, this meeting is it. The final chapter in the future of drag racing in Sydney. Two things will evolve from the meeting:

If WSM fails, then my next sport will be golf, at least there are plenty of golf courses around New South Wales.
Con

I hope everyone connected with drag racing in NSW makes the effort to get along to the meeting on July 12. As everyone stressed, it is now time to stand up and be counted. Politics is a numbers game and the best way to get the politicians to take notice is by turning up in droves. Show them that you are 100 percent behind WSM. As I live on the other side of the country I won't be able to make it to the meeting, but rest assured my computer has been running hot, firing off emails to people such as Bob Carr, Charlie Lynn, Jackie Kelly and Alan Jones. Now is the time that David Cook and Jim Read need your support. They have done all the groundwork -- all they need now is help from you to finish the job off. So, Blacktown Community Centre July 12 -- be there!
Frank

Dream -- Believe -- Create -- Succeed
"United we stand, divided we fall." See ya all there tonight.
Matt Clarke

Hope everything goes well tonight for the big meeting. Good luck!
Sergei Ostashkaveich

Congratulations and thanks to yourself, Jim Read, invited guests and all who turned up for the racers' meeting last night. But not one invited minister or representative from the Labor Party (maybe a stooge or two were hiding though!); shows their true colours. Alan Jones' speech was inspirational and to the point about this garbage that has been endured for far too long. Any action to be taken to end this must be supported by all who have any interest in drag racing. Let's kick arse. Count me in.
Dave Wright

Thank you for your tireless efforts so far and to bring the meeting together. The crowd last night wasn't apathetic, even if there wasn't a riot to quell. My impression afterwards was more that people were a bit stunned at the total, unrelenting bloody politics of it all. Not the meeting, but the powerlessness of the political process. Most of the blokes (and a couple of gals) I overheard or spoke to afterwards could handle themselves in a stoush or a race car, but this politics thing is just too many fancy words stuffin' up our lives. If we continue to get good (media) coverage we'll win in the end. Time has come.
Mark Allen

Best of luck for the meeting, you can be assured that the whole sport is behind the attempts that you and Jim have made. I truly hope that something can be achieved on Wednesday night, for the future of the sport in your state and indeed for the rest of Australia.
Steve Bettes

To David Cook, Jim Read and everyone else involved in the WSM proposal: Good luck.
Peter

Just a short note wishing you every success at tonight's meeting. As a huge fan of drag racing it's extremely frustrating that the best city in Australia, let alone the world, has not got a first class facility to watch the sport I love.
Ian Haxby