Possibility of Circuit Racing at Wallerfield by Sept 2013!!!

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

So what’s happening in MotorSport today? Two stories making the rounds relate to a resolution of the Governing -Body status that has been a bugbear for so long. This has seen a fragmentation with the various bodies all seemingly doing their own thing.

This past week saw the major stakeholders coming together at a meeting at the MInistry of Transport under the chairmanship of the Hon. Minister Chandresh Sharma to first resolve the conflicts that may be real or perceived, and finally keep a promise of all parties coming together and working in harmony. This was made to the President of the FIA, Mr. Jean Todt during his whistle-stop tour of the Caribbean in August 2012 where he met with the Minister of Transport at the Ministry's offices at Tower D, POS Waterfront.

Many varied points were addressed and in the end there was common concensus of the way forward, being the formation of a General Council which would be comprised of two representatives of each existing discipline of Motor Sport that currently run Championship Events. This Council shall then elect a chairman from among its representatives and this body will manage the entire local motor sport scene. The International affiliate for Sport TTASA shall continue to be the conduit between the International body and the Governing Council, and shall oversee all matters relating to International sporting matters.

This then led to another parallel development with the distinct possibility of staging a leg of the Caribbean Circuit Racing Championship in Trinidad in the last quarter of 2013. The drawback here being a venue that can safely be used for this International circuit Racing Event that will see competitors coming from Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana to compete against the local drivers who have been starved of competition because of the lack of a suitable circuit racing track. There was first the suggestion of upgrading Camden where Drag Racing was staged until the end of 2012. Minister Sharma indicated that Camden may not be possible since the Government is about to embark on its proposal to develop this location as a Civil Aviation Training Institute.

So the next choice was to get temporary access to the old circuit Track at Waller Field. A site visit was carded for and done on the morning of Saturday 4th May, with the assistance of a senior manager at eTeck. This site visit took place as planned. The suggested area does have much infrastructural work already completed for the original industrial park. And to make this proposed Circuit Race event possible a lot of restorative work must be done to ensure safety for both the spectators and drivers. A major concern from eTeck’s perspective will be the security of surrounding infrastructure but an assurance was given that everyone accessing the facility for this Event can be contained in the designated areas granted for use for the Event with agreed security personnel strategically deployed.

The organizers of the Event must now develop in the shortest possible timeframe, a proposal that would encompass every aspect of development required to remedy the current state of the suggested site. This would include repaving certain areas on the front straight, a lot of clearing of the Eastern perimeter and repaving portions the eastern corner of the track. And the cleaning up of the entire track, infield and surrounding land. The installation of security fencing and safety barriers where required. This is by no means an easy assignment to fulfill in the space of four months. However there seems to be a great commitment by several Government Ministers to drive this to reality. They were part of the discussions, as all appreciated the long term benefits that can be achieved with proper motor racing events being staged in T&T at a centralized venue.

[Garrett Inside]

Fingers crossed, hope this happens

[sliderz1]

great!

[southside crew]

anything about Drags? word is that the North Track may just need cleaning and track preparation...

I'm sure Autosport already HAVE ALL the infrastructure in place to do a drag event , which in turn can be the * kick-start* of the autodrome once more..

[kurpal_v2]

Elections coming up or something?

[worksux101]

say it aint so

[worksux101]

say it aint so

[Rory Phoulorie]

anything about Drags? word is that the North Track may just need cleaning and track preparation...

I'm sure Autosport already HAVE ALL the infrastructure in place to do a drag event , which in turn can be the * kick-start* of the autodrome once more..

The north track needs a lot more work than what you mentioned. The concrete surface is cracked up bad enough to prevent a safe running of a drag racing event with high horsepower cars. I don't feel comfortable driving on that surface at more than 60km/h and that is in an econobox sedan.

[FugiTECH]

Oh yeah !! Lets see what happens

[Mudboy]

Elections coming up or something?

ah feel so .....

[Rooki3]

lol @ men eating this teef head.

[VexXx Dogg]

Frick drags, BRING ON LE CIRCUIT!!!1ONEELEVEN

but I'm not holding my breath, gnome sane?

[Ignorant Ignis]

sounds like elections coming

[shottah_crew]

Elections coming up or something?

Politrix

Sent from my MB886 using TriniTuner mobile app

[MustangV8sec]

Hope this happens....... this will be a major stepping stone for motor sport

[sliderz1]

politics or not i'd love to see this take place.

[zoom rader]

Well this is good news, but please dont tell me that TTASA is going to run this.

[MadCrix]

Bring on circuit... Screw drags we, power from all power bands in yuh engine.

[Aaron 2NR]

Agreed

[FugiTECH]

I like all but Drags is my favourite when there is action and cars like this

[Dragist]

Good News I likey

[sMASH]

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

Elections coming up or something?

ah feel so .....

Don't think that nothing is being done when you don't hear anything new happening. Work is always being done by the various motorsport bodies in T&T and enthusiasts to secure a place for motorsport. There has always been a continuous flow of meetings, proposals, research and more meetings with those in charge to secure a proper facility.

Brian Lara Stadium as a racing venue is one of the more recent ones that worked out. Hopefully this one will too.

[cacasplat3]

so lets say the racing takes place....what happens after? we get to keep the track or eTeck rips it up again?
cuz if it remains, i would build a circuit bike without hesitation...

[Rory Phoulorie]

so lets say the racing takes place....what happens after? we get to keep the track or eTeck rips it up again?. . .

The only reason Wallerfield is under consideration is because eTecK has not gotten the number of tenants for the technology park that they were hoping for. However, if they do get the subscription of tenants, then it is bye bye race track.

[link]

so lets say the racing takes place....what happens after? we get to keep the track or eTeck rips it up again?. . .

The only reason Wallerfield is under consideration is because eTecK has not gotten the number of tenants for the technology park that they were hoping for. However, if they do get the subscription of tenants, then it is bye bye race track.

absolutely correct........
don't forget that in the very first instance, Ken Julien & PNM did not hesitate to kick motor racing out of Wallerfield to bring in smelter downstream....
.
whilst eTeck is quick to point out that 'infrastructure' is put down...IT'S THE DEFUNCT ALUTRINT BUILDING (partially comptete)...that's all. The conduits, etc can be walled off & government should solve this injustice done to motor racing by donating the southern area & partially complete building to the motor racing fraternity & let development become a reality with proper security of tenure.
.
rgds

[zoom rader]

Kicking motorsport out of wallerfield was a blessing.

It showed the real TTASA

[rjaggs]

A proper assessment of the condition of the former track has to be done asap...with the construction traffic the old concrete surface failed in many areas along the track leaving a very uneven surface...most, if not all of the track may have to be resurfaced/reconstructed. It will definiftely not be a cheap undertaking, but it is not impossible

[zoom rader]

Getting wallers back is fine, but who or what going to run it?

[Kongorealm]

anything about Drags? word is that the North Track may just need cleaning and track preparation...

I'm sure Autosport already HAVE ALL the infrastructure in place to do a drag event , which in turn can be the * kick-start* of the autodrome once more..

The north track needs a lot more work than what you mentioned. The concrete surface is cracked up bad enough to prevent a safe running of a drag racing event with high horsepower cars. I don't feel comfortable driving on that surface at more than 60km/h and that is in an econobox sedan.

this is true...the north track is dilapidated and very unsafe for drag racing.