Large grant secures more crash bags for circuit

This year's Cemetery Circuit will have more crash air bags on the boundaries than ever before thanks to a $50,000 grant from the New Zealand Community Trust.

Safety innovations and a sleaker professional look will be a hallmark of this year's Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day, as $50,000 has been given to create a further 22 high-tech crash air bags and plastic barriers.

The New Zealand Community Trust awarded the Wanganui Motorcycle Club with $50,000 to build the air bags, which are filled with a honey comb foam, for the club to then lease to Cemetery Circuit organisers for race day on December 26.

Club committee member Glenn Brown said air bags limit the seriousness of rider accidents, should they spin out or come off their bikes.

The grant to add more bags will allow them to continue their plans to eventually cover the entire circuit with modern crash bags, replacing the traditional hay bales.

It makes the event safer overall.

"They don't come cheap, but are worth every penny," said Brown.

"Bales of hay and straw are time consuming [to set up]."

As well as safety features, the barriers give the event a more streamlined racing look for riders and spectators watching livestreams from outside Whanganui, while creating a commercial element for the organisers, as banners can be added for advertising.

"You can actually promote people's logos as well. Their wares and themselves," said Brown.

"It's looking great when it's set up."

Suzuki Series organiser Allan 'Flea' Willacy said the designer who builds the air bags will come to New Zealand in November to do the work, which is cheaper than having them made overseas and imported.

For the $50,000, the club should get around 22 airbags, taking the number available on race day to around 100.

"We can eventually get rid of all the straw," Willacy said.

The bags stay in shape all year round, which does require some space to store them.

While the tradition of sitting with a can of beer beside the hay bales has its charm, Willacy said a big part of the success of New Zealand's oldest street circuit motorcycle event was the ability to change with the times.

"It's been 67 years. We want it to be around for another 67 years.

"It's fantastic there's trusts supplying them with that."

In its press release, the NZCT said the WMC received a "major surprise" to get $50,000.

"Thanks to this grant, the club can keep the safety standards as high as possible for the protection of their competitors and spectators at race meetings."

NZCT is the country's largest gaming trust and the largest funder of amateur sports participation in New Zealand.

In the 12 months to the end of September, they have distributed $40.9 million to sporting, local government and community groups.

The 2017 Suzuki Series starts in Taupo on December 10, then Feilding the following weekend before culminating at the Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day.

More international riders will be announced soon.