The demise of Sydney's first drag strip, Castlereagh International Dragway (C.I.D.), happened in 1984 and Sydney racers had to wait an insufferable seven years until 1991 to again see unmuffled drag racing in Australia's most populated city. The Eastern Creek site was developed by a consortium of businessmen under the name of Dovigo Pty. ltd. but within a year the New South Wales State Government was called in to take over the completion and running of the track after an extremely controversial period of the facility's construction.

Eastern Creek became a political football with the taxpayers of New South Wales stumping the huge budget overrun and providing millions of dollars worth of bank guarantees to the principal of Dovigo, Mr. Bob Barnard.

The Department of Sport, Recreation and Racing was called in to take over, Eastern Creek's Motor Sport manager Kevin Prendergast, recalls, "The land is actually owned by the Planning Department of New South Wales and we run something here, in some shape or form, for about 320 days a year," he said.

"Eastern Creek is a multi-purpose track which sees drag racing playing a very large part. Obviously it would have been better if the drag strip was purpose built but it isn't so we have some problems to work around. In the same breath it should be said that there are a lot of things now occuring at Eastern Creek which were just not possible when it first opened.

"Our entire program between October and April now revolves around the Saturday night format. Prior to this most of the events saw a full weekend being taken up for a national event with Saturday used for qualifying and Sunday for eliminations. The single day format is popular with both competitors and spectators and we are working constantly with the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) to try and get a little more in the area of noise tolerance," he added.

The biggest breakthrough will come early in 1996 when the visiting American jet cars will be able to run at the Creek for the first time. Jet cars have always had a noise problem even when normal drag racing is allowed. When Surfers Paradise was running there was a ban on jet cars near the end of that track's working life.

"It hasn't been easy but we have been working at it to try and get permission," Mr. Prendergast said. "If you look at what we have now it has come about through closely working with the EPA. This includes ten national opens and twenty street meets. In March 1995 we started mid-week street meets and they have been very well received."

As this issue hits the stands it will be just shy of the ususal Winfield Triple Challenge event. Obviously due to the ban on cigarette advertising there will never be another Winfield Triple Challenge, but Prendergast is hoping that another sponsor will step up to the plate to take over this unique concept.

"The Triple Challenge is a unique event in Australian motor sports and despite the loss of Winfield we do want to hold another one," he confirmed. In 1996 we will see a night touring car round in place of the Challenge -- something unique for motor racing which is traditionally run during winter. We haven't given up on the Triple Challenge concept and are negotiating to run it later in the year."

Looking at the bigger picture a number of skeptics have said that the demise of Winfield sponsorship will undoubtedly lead to a return to the days of match racing as the tracks won't be able to afford anything else. "We haven't built up drag racing over the past few years to let it all go away," Prendergast said. "We are working on an alternative through Drag Racing Australia."

Drag Racing Australia is made up of representatives from ANDRA and the Promoters Association. The idea is that they will be able to market the sport of drag racing for the benefit of everyone. They will see better shows, television coverage and both the racers and the tracks receiving extra support to ensure that everyone is a winner.

While there has been speculation about the role sponsorship will play in drag racing's future, the very existence of Eastern Creek now looks under threat.

This came after the New South Wales Labor government under the leadership of the non-driving Premier Bob Carr, announced that they were looking for a private operator to take over the running of the track and that original track manager John Stathers was removed from his position and placed on the government's "unattached excecutive list". Political speak for being in the wilderness.

It is no secret that the Labor government is no fan of the facility, which is unfortunate seeing that it is situated right in the heartland of Labor voters.

It should be mentioned that Stathers, with assistance from Prendergast, was a driving force in the ongoing improvements at Eastern Creek, a fact that may well have led to his transfer to the never-never land of the bureaucracy.

"A task force is being assembled to look at potential operators," Prendergast revealed. "This will see representatives from the Planning Department, Public Works and Services, Premier's and Finance joining Sport and Recreation officials in choosing a successful tenderer. In short, whichever entrepreneur can come up with enough dollars to satisfy the State Treasury and allow the Carr government the opportunity to be seen to be getting the Eastern Creek monkey off its back.

Rumour has it that two main contenders are the Perich family, owners and operators of Oran Park Raceway in Sydney's southwest and massive land holders in the region, or the straight shooting Bob Jane, of Calder Park and Adelaide International Raceway.

The fact that drag racing is such an integral part of the running of Eastern Creek should ensure that it survives. While it has been said that drag racing and rock concerts are the only events that make money at the Creek, Prendergast tends to differ. "This facility is used up to 90% on weekends and over 80% of weekdays and we still have to have days off to prepare the track as well," he said.

"The largest concours of vintage cars in the southern hemisphere is held at Eastern Creek and many private companies and organisations rely on the facility to undertake a number of different activities."

The mounds have made the race track more environmentally friendly and there is even more work to be done around the bottom end of the circuit. Fortunately, the height of the mounds has ensured that the fence which is criticised by so many people, now has little impact on the view.

"Drag racing has been good for Eastern Creek and it is an integral part of motor sport. Drag racing at Easstern Creek has been a success and this in turn has been good for the sport as a whole in Australia enabling a national championship to be re-established. There are a few things which could be done better but we have made a lot of big gains recently and this can only be good for the sport in Sydney," Prendergast concluded.

"Presumably Eastern Creek will be around for some time to come yet, but given the state Labor government's attitude to motor sport we wouldn't be putting our houses on it. This government is overrun with greenies who have no regard for the requirements of the automotive enthusiast."