[COM] The Bend Motorsport Park

[wilkiebarkid]

They had better get a move on, as this thread is only SWP!!

[rev]

0A036458-D294-4BA5-A09D-A87CB1F67C31.jpeg (603.94 KiB) Viewed 10335 times

[how good is he]

Saw some of it on TV with the TDU. The dust/sand (as it was & will be windy) looked liked it could be an issue. Anyone know if there is plans to plant lawn (seed) outside the track and would it survive (unless irrigated) ? I think artificial lawn could be ideal esp with the heat but it’s such a massive area it would be prohibitive/cost a fortune.

[Allkai]

Saw some of it on TV with the TDU. The dust/sand (as it was & will be windy) looked liked it could be an issue. Anyone know if there is plans to plant lawn (seed) outside the track and would it survive (unless irrigated) ? I think artificial lawn could be ideal esp with the heat but it’s such a massive area it would be prohibitive/cost a fortune.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd4KHMpFvMi/?hl=en

[claybro]

I really hope this complex does not give weight to the parklands whingers to move motorsport permanently away from the city track. I couldn't think of anything worse, than a 40deg day in March, watching any motorsport in this dusty, desolate, flyblown and windswept place. Even with significant landscaping, this will not be a comfortable place to be in hot weather.

[how good is he]

I can’t see the Adelaide500 being taken from it’s current location and date in March. Also the good thing is The Bend’s fixture is in August (winter) and I think it would stay that way to make them 2 very different races.

[rev]

You guys do realize it's not complete.
Just because there's bitumen and you see the exterior complete on the pit building, doesn't mean it's finished and ready for motor racing.
Remember guys, there's going to be a caravan park/camp site.

Personally I hope they not only green it up with lawn, but plant plenty of trees to create a forest like feel to the place.

[SBD]

You guys do realize it's not complete.
Just because there's bitumen and you see the exterior complete on the pit building, doesn't mean it's finished and ready for motor racing.
Remember guys, there's going to be a caravan park/camp site.

Personally I hope they not only green it up with lawn, but plant plenty of trees to create a forest like feel to the place.

The original vegetation would have been quite dense mallee scrub. Nowhere near as tall as "real trees", but a bit taller than cars, so there wouldn't be much wind at road level except maybe on top of the artificial hills. Once established, natural scrub shouldn't need any additional water.

[Norman]

They won't have any trees next to the track, the will be tyre barriers, fences and so on. A tree would be a danger for the car drivers and motorcycle riders as they don't provide soft protection when the car or cycle leaves the track.

[rev]

They won't have any trees next to the track, the will be tyre barriers, fences and so on. A tree would be a danger for the car drivers and motorcycle riders as they don't provide soft protection when the car or cycle leaves the track.

I never said next to the track.
Look at the aerial photo. There is heaps of areas they could put trees in.

The other problem at the moment, why there was so much dust/sand blowing across the track, is that it's just dirt.
The so called "sand traps" for when race cars go off track to slow them down so they don't crash into barriers at really high speeds, obviously haven't been put in place yet.

[how good is he]

There is host of new photos/videos on their website/social media if anyone wants to see it how has progressed. There was an article in The Advertiser a few weeks back where the Bend Motorsport owner is trying to get a train station built adjacent the Adelaide-Melbourne rail track that passes it. Would be good for the Supercar weekend in August [but don't think its likely for this year].

[SBD]

There is host of new photos/videos on their website/social media if anyone wants to see it how has progressed. There was an article in The Advertiser a few weeks back where the Bend Motorsport owner is trying to get a train station built adjacent the Adelaide-Melbourne rail track that passes it. Would be good for the Supercar weekend in August [but don't think its likely for this year].

THAT would be an entertaining barrow to push - to find an operator who could source rolling stock for occasional large passenger flows on a standard gauge railway line, build or reinstate a siding in the right place, provision for a trainload of pedestrians to cross a highway (either Dukes Highway or Mallee Highway, depending which line was easier to develop the siding and access rights, I'd guess).

It could become the catalyst to bring a standard gauge track into Adelaide station rather than have the passengers transfer at the Parklands terminal - or add standard gauge platforms at Salisbury, North Adelaide/Goodwood and Mitcham (that one may exist).

[how good is he]

The Article

Adelaide to Melbourne via Tailem Bend: Sam Shahin outlines bold vision to link Bend Motorsport Park to rail services

TAILEM Bend would become a stop on the Adelaide to Melbourne rail line as part of an ambitious new goal by the owner of the $110 million Bend Motorsport Park.

The plan, along with millions of dollars worth of development already on the cards, could make Tailem Bend a regional boom town.

Dr Sam Shahin, owner and managing director of the world-class motorsport park, revealed his new vision for the Bend, ahead of the park’s first major race on Saturday.

“One of the most significant attributes of the site at Tailem Bend is its location – you could not design a location that is better than where this land is,” Dr Shahin said.

“The railway goes daily to Melbourne straight past our doorstep and one of my ambitions is to establish a railway station and platform on the Dukes Highway to further develop the motorsports park into a major transportation hub.”

He said he was “ambitious and impatient” about the plan and “we should not assume the opportunity will still be there in two to three years’ time”.

“The opportunity to establish a significant logistics and transport hub, on such a significant route to both Melbourne and Sydney, and only an hour from Adelaide, does not come along every day,” Dr Shahin said.

Dr Sam Shahin aspires to turn The Bend Motorsport Park into a major transportation hub.

The Melbourne to Adelaide railway has twice-weekly passenger services, operated by Great Southern Rail, and regular freight services.

Dr Shahin’s decade-old dream to establish a premier motorsport park in SA will on Saturday become a reality when 180 drivers compete in the Shannons Nationals, attracting more than 5000 people to Tailem Bend.

The Bend, considered in its infancy by some critics as a pipedream, now features the 100-bedroom Rydges Pit Lane Hotel, an On the Run service centre, 4WD adventure track, other racing circuits and soon-to-be built villas.

An independent economic study has shown once fully developed, the Bend would inject $236 million a year into the state’s economy, create 1630 full-time jobs and attract an extra 339,000 visitors to the region.

Business owners have welcomed the development and what it may mean for the town which has relied heavily on summer tourism and agriculture.

Tailem Bend Bakery co-owner Deb Gower said they were adapting their business to cater for an influx of visitors.

[mattwinter]

Interesting to see how the rail idea turns out...

Would love to see some nice hills built up around the track / trees on the hills - nice spectator friendly areas to sit and watch racing with some natural shade.

[flaneur]

rail stop proposal on the cards, GSR may be interested or at the least hire out rollingstock for charter, Adelaide City Council preparing a plan to bring The Overland into Adelaide Rail Station but no word of interest from Adelaide Metro