Conference oass::racers

346.0. "Australian Formula One Grand Prix for Melbourne, 1996" by MEOC02::CASEY (MEO78B::CASEY.. really..) Sun Mar 27 1994 12:08

    As you'd all be aware, the Australian Formula One Grand Prix is held in
    Adelaide, capitol city of the state of South Australia. Well, come
    1996, the Australian Grand Prix moves to Melbourne, state capitol of
    Victoria. This has occurred due to the Adelaide folks having some
    difficulty in confirming their willingness to host the race for 5 years
    commencing 1997, while a Melbourne-based consortium was cunningly waiting
    to pounce on just such an opportunity and move the race to Mebourne. 
    
    The Melbourne consortium claims that it won the race fair and square,
    and that if it hadn't acted as it did to secure the race for Melbourne,
    the Australian leg would have gone away to China or Malaysia, both of
    which were keen to secure a Formula One Grand Prix. The Adelaide folks,
    including EVERYBODY who lives there (they are so rightly proud of their
    fabulous past efforts to stage the Formula One GP) is VERY miffed by
    the whole "we wuz robbed" scenario.
    
    Anyway, the Melbourne consortium has also successfully negotiated
    staging the first race in Melbourne in 1996, one year earlier than had
    been expected. The Melbourne track that will be used is yet to be
    constructed, but we're all assured it will be MAGNIFICENT. The site
    that's been chosen is the old Australian Grand Prix site which stopped
    being used back in 1958 - the old Albert Park circuit where the racing
    cars race around Albert Park Lake. 
    
    Guess what building overlooks the entire Melbourne circuit that's been
    chosen? Digital's Melbourne Office has a commanding view of the entire
    circuit now, but who knows how little/much we'll be able to see for
    free come 1996!!
    
    Don