Grand Prix sweet relief for Woodville
Organisers are hoping for four times the population of Woodville to pass through the gates of the Motocross Grand Prix this weekend.
Manawatu¯ Orion Motorcycle Club’s Brett Wistrand is hoping for at least 6000 people over the two-day event.
Those numbers would be music to the ears of many businesses in the town, especially moteliers, food outlets and gas stations.
Accommodation is once again at a premium.
Joy Barnes of Ormond Street Motel said they had turned away 75 families, with the weekend booked almost a year in advance.
‘‘We are pretty much booked out year after year, but we confirm the bookings with clients in about August. We had two pull out ... and they got filled up in a matter of five minutes.’’
She said it was not the only weekend they were full for.
‘‘The following weekend is the Manawatu¯ Teams Champs and we get the overflow. We are chocka for that as well.’’
The grand prix is a big drawcard for Woodville, which has been affected by the closure of the road through the Manawatu¯ Gorge.
But Woodville Mart owner Kevin Ashwell was tempering expectations for retailers like himself.
‘‘All the hotels will be booked out, most of the takeaways will be busy. But for most of the actual shops, all these people come to town, but you don’t see them,’’ he said.
‘‘A lot will go to the event in the morning and you are closed by the time they get back,’’ he said. ‘‘They come to the event, they have got two days and they are interested in the motocross – that is why they come out there. You don’t want to spend all your money going to an event and not be out there.’’
Tararua i-site manager Carole Wilton said popular activities for visitors away from the track included the Manawatu¯ Gorge walk, the Gottfried Lindauer Replica Studio and the Woodville Pioneer Museum.
Wistrand said the grand prix was the biggest motocross event in the country.
‘‘We have got the New Zealand Grand Prix status and combined with that we have the FIM Oceania Challenge.
‘‘That is where we put 12 of our best riders against 12 of Australia’s best riders to race for the Oceania Cup.’’
That means 628 riders will take to the track over the weekend. ‘‘The track is looking amazing. The bulldozers and diggers have been in and pretty much done their job.’’