Traders in pole position Restaurants and bottle shops gear up with 200,000 tipped to lap the Glitter Strip
GOLD Coast traders are bracing for a massive windfall as V8 revheads take over the city.
The economic stimulus will also be felt in Broadbeach with some restaurants booked out for the weekend.
Booze suppliers have been pushed to the brink as thirsty fans eye off cans of Jack Daniels and Woodstock to get around the strict “no-glass” policy in hotels.
The event is set to attract 200,000 people from all over the world and organisers expect the light rail system will increase local patronage.
Koi restaurant manager Mia Holmgren said families were using light rail to dine in Broadbeach each night.
“Lots of our customers are actually Gold Coasters who are getting away from Surfers Paradise,” Ms Holmgren said.
“But we will have heaps of fans and the racers themselves here because it is a bit quieter.
“Events like this are important for local businesses and we are lucky with the Blues Festival and the convention centre is always hosting events.”
Main Beach Liquorland manager “Greg”, said he had to order 30 per cent more booze to cater for the rowdy crowd.
He said the drink of choice for V8 fans was Jack Daniels, Woodstock and pre-mix vodka.
“We always need to stock up on the cans because hotels will not let anyone bring glass up to their rooms from Friday.”
But restaurants in Tedder Ave complained they were “too close to the action” to enjoy extra business.
Chill on Tedder manager Pam Atkinson said the big race was traditionally “one of our worst weekends of trade”.
“I’m not trying to talk down these big events but ... our restaurant doesn’t really appeal to the type of people going to the event and in the past drunks have smashed our windows and stolen bottles of wine.”