LATEST ON AUSSIE CONTROVERSY
Thu, 2007-08-16 17:08
Thursday, August 9, 2007 could go down as a landmark day in Australian drag racing history.
That is the day that three months after news broke of businessman Shane Gore's proposal to lift the marketing and promotion of professional drag racing in Australia he finally met with ANDRA (Australian National Drag Racing Association) officials.
Just a week prior, Gore was offered an olive branch by ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton and invited to present his vision for the future to the National Control Council during its Annual General Meeting.
That is the day that three months after news broke of businessman Shane Gore's proposal to lift the marketing and promotion of professional drag racing in Australia he finally met with ANDRA (Australian National Drag Racing Association) officials.
Just a week prior, Gore was offered an olive branch by ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton and invited to present his vision for the future to the National Control Council during its Annual General Meeting.
Backed by eight team owners representing every Group 1 bracket - amongst them the sport's biggest names, Victor Bray, Brett Stevens, Gary Phillips, Steven Reed, Phil Lamattina and John Zappia - over a two hour period Gore unveiled his plan for professional drag racing's future in Australia.
While ANDRA finally issued a press release yesterday (five days after the AGM's conclusion) with absolutely no mention of Gore's attendance, news has been slowly leaking out regarding the fact that it was apparently well received and a number of key issues were clarified.
But it is understood that there was still strong resistance coming from those involved with DRAG Ltd. Now the decision to accept or not rests solely with ANDRA's NCC.
Under constitutional and Australian governance laws its decision must be made on national considerations rather than individual interests.
Western Sydney International Dragway head Jim Read and Willowbank boss Steve Bettes are members of the NCC, while Kwinana promoter Gary Miocevich is not, although he was invited to also attend the presentation as an observer by Thornton.
Therefore, it could then be expected that Read and Bettes, due to their interests in DRAG Ltd. as stated in our original story (and especially considering the split in opinion even within DRAG Ltd and Willowbank's refusal to sign its TV deal) would not take part in any vote on the matter, leaving just the six ANDRA Divisional Directors and the sole remaining Promoter representative, Steve Gay, with the responsibility of setting course for the drag racing's future in Australia.
It is a decision that needs to be 100 per cent correct, but whatever way it goes there will be many bruised egos and a lot of hurt within the sport.
NB: The team owners to attend supporting Gore were 'first in the fives' Top Doorslammer racer John Zappia, multi-car/bike team owners Brett Stevens, Victor Bray, Steven Reed, Gary Phillips and Aaron Lynch, returning Pro Stock team owner John O'Kearney and Top Fuel team owner/driver Phil Lamattina.
Amongst them they own 10 Top Doorslammers, five Top Alcohol cars, two Top Fuel dragsters and Top Bikes, one Pro Stock car and one Pro Bike, with Stevens' annual budget to run his seven-vehicle team rumoured to be around $2m alone.
That is the day that three months after news broke of businessman Shane Gore's proposal to lift the marketing and promotion of professional drag racing in Australia he finally met with ANDRA (Australian National Drag Racing Association) officials.
Just a week prior, Gore was offered an olive branch by ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton and invited to present his vision for the future to the National Control Council during its Annual General Meeting.
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Thursday, August 9, 2007 could go down as a landmark day in Australian drag racing history.That is the day that three months after news broke of businessman Shane Gore's proposal to lift the marketing and promotion of professional drag racing in Australia he finally met with ANDRA (Australian National Drag Racing Association) officials.
Just a week prior, Gore was offered an olive branch by ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton and invited to present his vision for the future to the National Control Council during its Annual General Meeting.
Backed by eight team owners representing every Group 1 bracket - amongst them the sport's biggest names, Victor Bray, Brett Stevens, Gary Phillips, Steven Reed, Phil Lamattina and John Zappia - over a two hour period Gore unveiled his plan for professional drag racing's future in Australia.
While ANDRA finally issued a press release yesterday (five days after the AGM's conclusion) with absolutely no mention of Gore's attendance, news has been slowly leaking out regarding the fact that it was apparently well received and a number of key issues were clarified.
But it is understood that there was still strong resistance coming from those involved with DRAG Ltd. Now the decision to accept or not rests solely with ANDRA's NCC.
Under constitutional and Australian governance laws its decision must be made on national considerations rather than individual interests.
Western Sydney International Dragway head Jim Read and Willowbank boss Steve Bettes are members of the NCC, while Kwinana promoter Gary Miocevich is not, although he was invited to also attend the presentation as an observer by Thornton.
Therefore, it could then be expected that Read and Bettes, due to their interests in DRAG Ltd. as stated in our original story (and especially considering the split in opinion even within DRAG Ltd and Willowbank's refusal to sign its TV deal) would not take part in any vote on the matter, leaving just the six ANDRA Divisional Directors and the sole remaining Promoter representative, Steve Gay, with the responsibility of setting course for the drag racing's future in Australia.
It is a decision that needs to be 100 per cent correct, but whatever way it goes there will be many bruised egos and a lot of hurt within the sport.
NB: The team owners to attend supporting Gore were 'first in the fives' Top Doorslammer racer John Zappia, multi-car/bike team owners Brett Stevens, Victor Bray, Steven Reed, Gary Phillips and Aaron Lynch, returning Pro Stock team owner John O'Kearney and Top Fuel team owner/driver Phil Lamattina.
Amongst them they own 10 Top Doorslammers, five Top Alcohol cars, two Top Fuel dragsters and Top Bikes, one Pro Stock car and one Pro Bike, with Stevens' annual budget to run his seven-vehicle team rumoured to be around $2m alone.
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