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[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:32 pm
by JamesXander
Cruise wrote:
Omicron wrote:
Cruise wrote:or we could try and get the F1 GP back, not all cities have one of those!!!
On a side note, I watched the Durban A1 GP last night, and it made me realise the merits of the Adelaide street circuit - theirs was nothing more than tiny little concrete driveways going through carparks, although the nonsensical first-corner hairpin was the source of much amusement as everyone forgot that steering wheels are for turning and ploughed straight into each other.

I saw that too!!! I had never heard of Durban before until i saw that race and it looks like a nice city. how many people do you think would have about Adelaide when we had the F! GP?

Durban is in South Africa right?

I am sure alot of Europeans have heard of Adelaide because of the F1's. But wouldn't know where exactly it is, just know the name

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:47 pm
by Omicron
Cruise wrote:
Omicron wrote:
Cruise wrote:or we could try and get the F1 GP back, not all cities have one of those!!!
On a side note, I watched the Durban A1 GP last night, and it made me realise the merits of the Adelaide street circuit - theirs was nothing more than tiny little concrete driveways going through carparks, although the nonsensical first-corner hairpin was the source of much amusement as everyone forgot that steering wheels are for turning and ploughed straight into each other.

I saw that too!!! I had never heard of Durban before until i saw that race and it looks like a nice city. how many people do you think would have about Adelaide when we had the F! GP?
It reminded me a bit of the Indy track on the Gold Coast - not because of the track design, but all the palm trees, apartment buildings and nearby beach.

I suspect that the increasing demands being placed upon circuits that host current F1 events are so great that the re-introduction of a street circuit may not be feasible - night-time racing, more permanent pit and media facilities, larger grandstand capacities and so on. Had Adelaide remained on the F1 calendar since its inception, I believe that we would have been given some kind of lee-way regarding these requirements in a similar fashion to Monaco - the atmosphere around both circuits is so unique when compared to Hockenheim, Monza et. al. that FOH would want to maintain them despite their reduced spectator capacities and more limited facilities.

I don't know if we'd be able to make that argument again, though - there are other cities around the world with purpose-built circuits that will not require the compromises that would have to be made for the race to be staged in Adelaide. In other words, while a street circuit is desirable for the audience, a larger stadium-esque track is more desirable for FOH. Don't get me wrong, of course; I'd love to see F1 back in Adelaide if it were to be fully patronised by South Australians, but I doubt if a successful case could be made over the alternatives.

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:09 pm
by Cruise
I find the new purpose built tracks to "sterile" for my liking.

And i would break down and cry if the Monaco street circuit was ever deemed unsuitable due to its lack of facilities, remember though it doesn't use any permanent structures either (like Adelaide). Even one-eyed south Australians have to admit it is the greatest street circuit in the world.

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:11 pm
by Cruise
oh yeah and foot bridge looks good :wink:

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:20 pm
by Cruise
JamesXander wrote:
Cruise wrote:
Omicron wrote: On a side note, I watched the Durban A1 GP last night, and it made me realise the merits of the Adelaide street circuit - theirs was nothing more than tiny little concrete driveways going through carparks, although the nonsensical first-corner hairpin was the source of much amusement as everyone forgot that steering wheels are for turning and ploughed straight into each other.

I saw that too!!! I had never heard of Durban before until i saw that race and it looks like a nice city. how many people do you think would have about Adelaide when we had the F! GP?

Durban is in South Africa right?

I am sure alot of Europeans have heard of Adelaide because of the F1's. But wouldn't know where exactly it is, just know the name
Yes James Durban is in South Africa (which is on my to-do list now :wink: )

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:28 pm
by Omicron
Cruise wrote:I find the new purpose built tracks to "sterile" for my liking.

And i would break down and cry if the Monaco street circuit was ever deemed unsuitable due to its lack of facilities, remember though it doesn't use any permanent structures either (like Adelaide). Even one-eyed south Australians have to admit it is the greatest street circuit in the world.
Oh, I agree with you about purpose-built tracks. Monaco gets away with its non-permanent structures and the like because it's so unique, and so loved. Adelaide may well have built up the same cachet had F1 remained on our street circuit, which would have prevented the increased (financial, spectator, timeframe, corporate) demands like those to be required of Melbourne or any replacement track.

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:03 pm
by Cruise
Omicron wrote:
Cruise wrote:I find the new purpose built tracks to "sterile" for my liking.

And i would break down and cry if the Monaco street circuit was ever deemed unsuitable due to its lack of facilities, remember though it doesn't use any permanent structures either (like Adelaide). Even one-eyed south Australians have to admit it is the greatest street circuit in the world.
Oh, I agree with you about purpose-built tracks. Monaco gets away with its non-permanent structures and the like because it's so unique, and so loved. Adelaide may well have built up the same cachet had F1 remained on our street circuit, which would have prevented the increased (financial, spectator, timeframe, corporate) demands like those to be required of Melbourne or any replacement track.

i guess we will never know what it could have become. When does the contract on the A1 GP (in sydney) run out? maybe SA could try and snare that? It gets good international attention.

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:14 pm
by monotonehell
JamesXander wrote:Downer should quit Federal Government now and become the new leader of the state liberals. He would do a hell of a lot more then being the opposition whatever he is now.


He would become legend if he took over.
Nah, he's no good in politics. He's too nice. ;)

Downer's the only member of Howard's former govt that I had any respect for. I just think he fell in with the wrong crowd. :lol:

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:15 pm
by Omicron
Cruise wrote:
Omicron wrote:
Cruise wrote:I find the new purpose built tracks to "sterile" for my liking.

And i would break down and cry if the Monaco street circuit was ever deemed unsuitable due to its lack of facilities, remember though it doesn't use any permanent structures either (like Adelaide). Even one-eyed south Australians have to admit it is the greatest street circuit in the world.
Oh, I agree with you about purpose-built tracks. Monaco gets away with its non-permanent structures and the like because it's so unique, and so loved. Adelaide may well have built up the same cachet had F1 remained on our street circuit, which would have prevented the increased (financial, spectator, timeframe, corporate) demands like those to be required of Melbourne or any replacement track.

i guess we will never know what it could have become. When does the contract on the A1 GP (in sydney) run out? maybe SA could try and snare that? It gets good international attention.
I honestly don't know. I don't think the 2008 crowd figures were particularly encouraging, and before the Champ Car/Indy reunification of the other week there was talk of A1 taking over from the Surfers Paradise Indy 300.

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:40 pm
by Wayno
monotonehell wrote:
JamesXander wrote:Downer should quit Federal Government now and become the new leader of the state liberals. He would do a hell of a lot more then being the opposition whatever he is now.


He would become legend if he took over.
Nah, he's no good in politics. He's too nice. ;)

Downer's the only member of Howard's former govt that I had any respect for. I just think he fell in with the wrong crowd. :lol:
yep, i tend to agree - he'll be more effective in ht elong-term by independently influencing from a distance...

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:53 pm
by AtD
Would a mod be so kind to spin off the Alexander Downer/Arts Centre stuff into another thread? Cheers.

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:54 pm
by Omicron
AtD wrote:Would a mod be so kind to spin off the Alexander Downer/Arts Centre stuff into another thread? Cheers.
And stop that Omi fellow from ranting on about Formula One in a Memorial Drive thread!

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:25 pm
by Cruise
Omicron wrote:
AtD wrote:Would a mod be so kind to spin off the Alexander Downer/Arts Centre stuff into another thread? Cheers.
And stop that Omi fellow from ranting on about Formula One in a Memorial Drive thread!
yeah im as guilty as you, you and I should start a thread about car racing, im sure that would keep us very entertained lol

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:35 am
by Omicron
Cruise wrote:
Omicron wrote:
AtD wrote:Would a mod be so kind to spin off the Alexander Downer/Arts Centre stuff into another thread? Cheers.
And stop that Omi fellow from ranting on about Formula One in a Memorial Drive thread!
yeah im as guilty as you, you and I should start a thread about car racing, im sure that would keep us very entertained lol
We should not apologise for the appreciation of fine events. 8)

[COM] Re: Memorial Drive Upgrade + Torrens Footbridge

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:51 am
by SRW
JamesXander wrote:If I were Premier of South Australia one of the things I would investigae would be the establishment of an Aquarium at Glenelg.

PPP agreement could be struck. A top Knotch aquarium specializing in Southern marine life such as Dolphins and seals. Also alot of information on Sharks and Whales. It would be a massive exercise but alot of tourists go to Glenelg and I can see it being a smash hit if they actually spend some capital on it.
I've suggested a couple times on this website before that I think a aquarium would be best suited to Port Adelaide. Build it in conjunction with the redevelopment, and give the city a much-needed scientific institution.

An investigator science centre in the city, or at Science Park next to Flinders Uni (perhaps built in conjunction with a Tonsley interchange) would be nice too.

One can dream...