Race fans get great views of cars - organisers see too much of girls

The beauty contest had the cameras working overtime, but scantily-clad promo girls were told to cover up. Photo / Alan Gibson

The cars were fast, the view was better, the rain held off ... the only gripes at the Hamilton 400 were from the promo girls, who were told to cover up.

More than 121,800 people attended the three-day event - 43,198 of them at the premier V8 races yesterday - pleasing promoters who had expected about 120,000 people over the whole weekend.

This was down from the 172,000 fans who came to last year's inaugural event - including 60,000 on the final day. However, this was partly because the viewing areas were 82 per cent of the area available last year.

Police spokesman Andrew McAlley said fans were well behaved, and only four arrests had been made by late yesterday afternoon.

"It's a positive result," he said. "A very little number of arrests for such a huge crowd."

This morning Inspector Paul Carpenter said that 57 arrests had been made over the three day event.

"On a normal Friday and Saturday we would average 25-35 arrests between the hours of 10pm-4am and to see a total of 57 arrests over the three day event, with thousands of visitors coming into Hamilton is a credit to all involved," Mr Carpenter said.

Ambulance workers said they did not have to treat anyone for serious injuries.

Changes were made this year to grandstands which were the cause of widespread complaints last year, when ticketholders said that all they could see from their $140 seats was the roofs of speeding cars.

Two Mill St grandstands were moved back and given fewer seats than last year, and the grandstand on Hinemoa St was tripled in size.

Disgruntled fans from last year were offered discounted tickets to this year's event.

Promoter Dean Calvert said he had not received complaints about any other issues over the weekend.

But a view of a different sort had people talking this year.

Organisers appeared to be cracking down on the scantily-clad girls hired to mingle with fans and promote various products.

Hydraulic hose manufacturer Hydraulink promo girls Michelle Watkins, 22, and Anna Meikle, 19, said yesterday they were told they would have to leave if they didn't get changed, even though they were wearing jackets over their yellow tank-tops and black shorts.

"We're here to do a job, we're not offending anyone. There's nothing on the ticket that says you can't wear short shorts.

"We even have parents coming up with their little boys asking if they can have a photo with us."

Tauranga funeral director and Holden fan Brent MacPherson, who was posing for photos with the girls, couldn't see any reason for the fuss.

"There's nothing wrong with what they're wearing. We're not at a daycare centre."

Dave Calvert said security at the gates were asked to keep an eye on the attire.

"Cover up or get out," he said. "This is a family event, we want to keep it that way.

"The grid girls are an important part but we have a brand to protect."

But Helen Geddes, 21, and Vannessa Savage, 18, who were handing out flyers for the "fight of the century" boxing match between Shane Cameron and David Tua, got away with wearing gold crop-tops and robes.

"I heard a girl got kicked out yesterday," said Miss Geddes.

Spectators Peter Mannington and Sam Barnett said there were fewer promo girls this year than last year.

Police spokesman Andrew McAlley said fans were well behaved, and only four arrests had been made by late yesterday afternoon.

"It's a positive result," he said. "A very little number of arrests for such a huge crowd."

St John co-ordinator Mike Pudney said paramedics treated 118 people yesterday, down on last year's 171.

Triple Eight Ford driver Jamie Whincup won both the event's feature races - on Saturday and yesterday - ending rival carmaker Holden's domination of the event.