The decision on who'll manage Baypark speedway for the new stock car season will be made by early next week, says Bay Venues Ltd commercial manager Irvin McSweeney.
Photo: file.
The stockcar racing season opens at Baypark Speedway on October 25. Previous speedway manager Roger Bailey resigned following the end of the 2013/2014 season.
'The situation at the moment is the decision on who the manager or promoter will be is immanent,” says Irvin.
'We're in the midst of a process to determine that; and we hope to conclude that in the next few days.
Irvin says there's been a lot of interest from people – from both within and outside of the Bay of Plenty – to take on a role.
'So we have just worked our way through those and have just got down to a situation where we hope to get to a final decision, because things are looming large.
'I know the speedway rumour mill will be working absolutely overtime at the moment.”
The track was built in 2001 and was run for five-seven years by promoter Willie Kay. Tauranga City Venues Ltd bought him out using money borrowed from Tauranga City Council for the purpose, in June 2011.
Tauranga City Venues Ltd was then merged with the pools operation to create Bay Leisure and Events Ltd in 2013, and hired Roger Bailey as speedway manager.
The decision is a three-way agreement over the track management that also involves the drivers represented by the Bay of Plenty speedway Association, says president Bernie Gillon.
'No promoter can be chosen without the agreement of the association,” says Bernie.
'The fact is the Speedway Association will be and has to be by way of legal agreement a third party signatory to the agreement to speedway.”
Bernie says there are several contenders for the job. He knows the identity of three, but knows there are several others.
Bernie says he's stepped aside from his role in the association because he's involved with one of the contenders.
'My concern is the urgency,” says Bernie. 'They have dragged the chain far too long and we are only nine weeks out from having to kick this think off and nobody can get into creating a business about it.”
4 comments
speedway
Posted on 17-08-2014 16:32 | By sangrae
Just another B.....up by a city council owned business why on earth Mr Mcsweeney is having anything to do with the decision making leaves a lot to be desired hand it over to Gary.
Ron Dixon (Scott's dad) put his hand up
Posted on 17-08-2014 17:33 | By Murray.Guy
Ron Dixon, described as NZ's Talent Scout and Promoter Extraordinaire, father of Scott Dixon put his hand up, seeing Baypark as an opportunity to utilize his skills and the talent of Scott on his regular return home visits. They must have some absolutely incredible options as Ron didn't get past first base! Hopefully those who make the decision do so seeking to secure the best outcome for our sport and our community, putting to one side bias and conflicts.
Remove TCC
Posted on 18-08-2014 21:07 | By Capt_Kaveman
so we can dissolve Tauranga City Venues Ltd
Capt_Kaveman, TCVL already gone
Posted on 19-08-2014 14:34 | By Murray.Guy
TCVL has gone and we now have a bigger, better amalgamated CCO called BVL, that now got costs ratepayers a cool $1/4m for Governance, overheads through the roof and the minuet amount of transparency that was, now out the door, gone. In regards the BOPSA and an agreement that gives it a right to participate in any promoter appointment process. If such an agreement exists, the club committee would have to abstain, declare a conflict of interest, as the club president is an applicant.
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