A new $8.3 million international dragway at the TECT All-Terrain Park would see Tauranga become the home of drag racing in New Zealand.
The thrilling spectacle of cars accelerating to speeds of up to 433 km/h in a little over 400 metres could become a reality within three years, according to a report commissioned by the New Zealand Drag Racing Association and the park's motorsport group, Te Matai Motorsport.
The sport's governing body has so much faith in the venue at the top of Pyes Pa Rd that it has already named Tauranga Dragway as the home of drag racing, saying it would boost the Bay's economy by nearly $67 million during the next 10 years.
Ground conditions at New Zealand's only dedicated dragway at Meremere meant it would be costly and unwise to bring it up international standards.
Chris Tynan, the general manager of the New Zealand Speedway Association, unveiled the feasibility study to yesterday's meeting of the joint Tauranga and Western Bay councils' TECT All-Terrain Park committee.
The study by Opus International Consultants described the project as economically sound, with financial returns to the region in the first year of racing expected to exceed the $8.3 million construction costs.
It would raise the profile of the sport nationally and regionally by bringing international drag racing events back to New Zealand. The inability to attract international competitors had held back the development of a drag racing industry and limited the opportunities to create a strong visitor attraction.
The report would form the basis of a fundraising and sponsorship drive to raise enough money to start construction of the $2 million track in 2013, followed a year later by the $5.8 million cost of the buildings, pits and parking.
Part of the attraction of the All-Terrain Park was that it was within three hours drive of 2.5 million people, with events during January and February targeting the thousands of holidaymakers drawn to Tauranga.
While crowds of up to 5000 people were expected at international events and other elite dragster competitions, 70 per cent of the programme would be events aimed at local street legal cars, attracting crowds of about 1500.
The dragway would give boy racers a venue to exercise their skills in a controlled environment.
It would be built on a natural plateau near the main entrance to the park, with viewing embankments for fans although the budgets did not extend to spectator seating or grandstands. The control and administration building would be a bridge over the staging area where vehicles passed through two tunnels to reach the start line.
The $67 million benefit included an allowance for wet days. Rainfall exceeded 1mm for an average 134 days a year on the site in the northern Mamaku Plateau. The economic benefits to the region were derived from patronage at the Meremere and Masterton dragways.
A standard multiplier was then used to calculate return to the local economy.