Racing thrillseekers bring millions to area

The Wanganui region is poised for its annual injection of cash from the motor racing fraternity.

Last year's race week, which included Boxing Day motorcycle racing on the Cemetery Circuit, the jetsprints at Shelter View Raceway at Upokongaro and the FMX motocross extravaganza at Cooks Gardens, pumped an estimated $3.5 million into the region's coffers.

This year the FMX spectacle will not be held, but the inclusion of the third round of the Cycom Classic Hits National 4x4 trial on December 31 at Shelter View should easily compensate.

Race week last year was run by a team headed by jetsprinter Leighton Minnell, but this year he is focused on maintaining his lead in the national jetsprint series at the Wanganui round on Tuesday.

"Race week is getting stronger each year and last season produced massive figures," Minnell said.

"There is always a huge influx of out-of-towners and the feedback we're getting is that more and more of them are staying over for all the action and spending money in town."

The Wanganui District Council estimated the inaugural race week in 2009 brought more than $1million into the region. This was based on Ministry of Economic Development (MED) tourism statistics guidelines.

The MED guidelines are based around the average overnight and average day spend by out-of-town visitors. The average day trip spend that year was $104, while the average overnight spend was $352. Using that guide in 2009 the Cemetery Circuit brought in $407,400, the jetsprints $506,170 and the FMX $53,000.

Using the same guidelines, council estimated the Cemetery Circuit last year dragged in a massive $3,144,000, the jetsprints $376,046 and the FMX $88,000.

Both Minnell and 2011 Cemetery Circuit team leader Allan "Flea" Willacy said they thought visitor numbers in council-based estimates on last year were conservative and on the lower end of the scale.

"Nevertheless the events drag a lot of money into the region. Wanganui is fast becoming the motor racing mecca at this time of the year," Willacy said.

"The Suzuki Tri Series superbike national championship, which ends at the Cemetery Circuit, is the largest motorcycle racing series in the country and Wanganui is the most popular street circuit in New Zealand. And we estimate anywhere between 7000 and 8000 people come to the circuit- it's huge. It has always been one of Wanganui's major events."