A box seat for moving and shaking
DROUGHT OVER: STEPHEN Crowden hasn’t watched motor racing on the Gold Coast since moving to Melbourne 13 years ago. It was the first time he had watched the GC600. He said he preferred it to the Indy 500. “I prefer this, there’s more focus on the racing,” the 55-year-old said. “With Indy everyone was away from the track.” IF you’ve ever wondered what happens behind closed doors in the VIP lounges that make up the Pit Garage Suite building along the main straight at the Gold Coast 600, the answer is simple. Everything.
Business deals are brokered and broken, hands shake by the hundred, backs are turned and laughs ricochet around the air-conditioned room with a view as business leaders and middle men, politicians, sports stars and event stakeholders relax and in many cases, drop their guard.
There’s a lot of fun to be had on a day at the races in the comfort of the Supercars VIP Lounge. The conga line of guests eager to talk Titans with the Gold Coast team’s new coach Garth Brennan on Saturday and Sunday was a reminder of how important the NRL team is to the city.
From Gold Coast Tourism honchos to former NSW star Benny Elias, Brennan has plenty of advice to digest after his 16th consecutive trackside appearance at our race event.
Lively banter was never too far from wherever NRL player manager Sam Ayoub roamed.
Ayoub was all cheek after chat with Brennan, predicting he’d have five Titans on his books by next week. LET’S DANCE: BROOKE Thomson and Amy Doyle say they had one job at the Vodafone Club 600 over the weekend rain, hail or shine. “They crowds have been getting rowdy, and it’s good, that’s what you want at the GC600,” said Ms Thomson a 23-year-old full time dancer. “Even with the rain yesterday they’ve been loving it.”
Brennan, ever the good sport, chuckled and smiled.
Former Brisbane Bronco captain Corey Parker was back in the box again this year, ditto Bernard Tomic’s dad and one time coach John.
The suites can also give VIPs the chance to lobby or pitch to pollies. Commonwealth Games and Tourism Minister Kate Jones had a full dance card while local MPs Michael Hart and Rob Molhoek have all but flicked the switch on campaign mode.
Anyone with an idea to put to council could have practised on what felt like a majority — Paul Taylor, Cameron Caldwell, Pauline Young, William Owen Jones, Hermann Vorster and Acting Mayor Donna Gates were on hand. Townsville City Council CEO Adele Young, Gold Coast City Council CEO Dale Dickson and Chief of Staff Wayne Moran also made the cut.
Delta Goodrem bypassed box life to hit the road to Byron after her Friday night show at Broadwater Parklands. Kelly Rowland provided the megawatt charm in her place.
Cameron Caldwell was positively beaming as he introduced his date — “This is my girlfriend, Lauren Turner”. Is that Instagram official? “Funny you should say that,” Lauren said, smiling.
“Something went up Facebook today.” THE POINTY END:
THE Gold Coast Bulletin has turned the camera lense on Scott McInnes’ unique hairstyle for seven years straight. In that time the traffic controller has broken up with two long-term girlfriends and added three piercings to his eyebrow. “I’ve got a new girlfriend and I’m back living with my parents at the moment trying to save up for a house,” the Holden fan said. on