Brisbane Blokart Club

The CQBC were intending to hold the '09 SoO at their beach in Mackay but response has been a little lack lustre. Probably a bit much to travel to FNQ twice in the same year for some.
Dave Moore has asked BBKC to put their thinking caps on and suss out a nearer venue, preferably in SEQ to host the only SoO to be held this year. It will be a one in, all in, take the trophy home event held over a weekend in the later half of '09.
I will check South Ballina beach over Easter and we already know Casuarina beach is a possiblity, but we need to try closer to home or a little north of Brisvegas.
The spot needs to be suitable for around 30 karts racing over two days, include nearby accomodation, if it's a beach then the tide times will have to considered and preferably out of peak/school holiday times.
Big ask, I know. If everyone puts in a little effort and thought we can get this project happening right on our doorstep.

Can I ask the BBKC committee to put this as a priority item on the agenda for the next club meeting.

p.s. Greg, we may need your expertese on the trophy lines.

Cheers
Brett

OK, this may sounds like a strange question BUT what was wrong with Coffs Harbour???

We know that the beach works in north, south or east wind. We know the accommodation is good and reasonably priced and Coffs is halfway between Brisbane and Sydney??

I can fully understand that the Mackay/Rocky people have a lot further to travel but having the Open in their backyard this year when everyone else travelled means that they would have saved a bit of petrol money for this trip

I thought Queensland club were offering to HELP run the State of Origin in conjunction with the NSW clubs as token of our appreciation for all the work and such a fantastic event last year. We shouldnt be trying to actually take over the event and have it run by just one club.

If we are looking for a site only a bit further north then Casuarina is only one hour south of Brisbane. There are no beaches between Brisbane and Casuarina that dont form part of the Gold Coast and are therefore crowded with people and/or dogs. Personally I dont think it should be north of Brisbane, much as we love Bribie, because it is too far for the Sydney people to travel and it wont be a State of Origin if no-one from NSW comes. I guess we could rename it the Qld Titles??

Why are we trying to reinvent the wheel when the State of Origin Round 2 was so good and so much fun last year??? Lets just make everyone life easy and stick to the tried and tested model that worked??

Well that's not the response I expected.

State of Origin (as with the football version) should be played in both states, not for home ground advantage but for sharing both the prestige and burden of the event, we can't just leave it to NSW to carry it all otherwise name it the NSW Titles.
Yes Coffs is a great location however the distance CQ have to travel can be reduced by half a day should it be closer to the border for this round. It has to be said that their numbers and ability will be needed seeing how much the oppostions ranks are growing.
NSW have said they are prepared to travel further and still gives their south of Sydney members a chance to attend. So a good location compromise and joint effort in making the event happen can only be good for the clubs, the sport and the competiton.

Seeing as we can't offer a venue here in Brisbane then somewhere on the NSW far north coast is a compromise that suits all. Now with avenues in the Byron to Ballina area opening up to us courtesy of some groundwork done by the NSW clubs we should feel honoured to followup on their work.

Dampening peoples enthusiasm at the outstart of this project should be avoided as we need positve feedback and encouragement from all involved and attending.

If we build it, they will come.

Brett

For me, Coffs worked really well, it has great beachs for sailing in all winds and there seems to be good room at low tide, as we found out last November we could change the venues at short notice and still acheive a great days racing. having the luxury to change beaches so easily i beleive is paramount when staging an event,
The accomodation was also great with a good community feel about it.
Travel for most parties seemed affordable and totally acheivable with Coffs being quite a central drive for most parties.
I beleive we should keep in mind where this event originated from and why it was staged in such a place.
The main reason we origornated it in central NSW was to accomodate the SEQ blokarters with the Sydney / Newcastle blokarters, i think shifting the event up north will change the concept of the event.
Many hands make light work and i'm sure if we all pitch in to help organise the event it will again be great weekend away blokarting.

My thoughts.........PhilC

I agree with Phil,centralisation of the event can do nothing but good for the sport and the ability to change venues with changable weather conditions is a huge advantage

Hi from C.Q.B.C. SOO III, It would have been nice to have seen a Qld held SOO trophy defended in Qld, not necessaryly in Mackay but In sth east, but appears it is now the NSW origin With C.Q.B.C. given no say in matter,we thought we where a part of the Qld team, Very dissapointing for our club, hope footballers don't go same way. regards Dave Moore