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Brakes on Easternats

29 Jun, 2009 11:36 AM
EASTERNATS' 13-year tenure at Sandown is over but the popular event's defiant organiser won't be going down quietly.

The Journal understands fines for breach of permit conditions at the motoring event earlier this year were the last straw for the Melbourne Racing Club, which last week "ended its relationship" with Jon Davison and his company Rapid Australia.

Mr Davison said the event had been "hanged for a parking ticket".

"We're not going to sit back and criticise the turf club (MRC), but we're not going to wear the responsibility of the issues to do with the breaches of the permit until the full information becomes available.

"As far as we're concerned [there's] three years left on the contract. The matter will now have to be resolved amicably or judicially."

In a statement the MRC wrote that it had not made its decision "lightly", but would not elaborate on why Easternats and Mr Davison had been blacklisted.

"Sandown Motor Raceway will continue to host a range of motoring based activities including driver education training, motorsport and car club events. However, the Easternats will no longer be held at the venue."

Acting Senior Sergeant Phil Atkins of Springvale Police said police supported the MRC's decision.

"We solely look at the safety point of view for drivers, their passengers, spectators and all other people that go there," he said. While Mr Davison refused to elaborate on the event's future, it was clear to The Journal that he would be fighting for it to continue. At the three-day motoring extravaganza in April, Mr Davison and the MRC were slugged with six infringement notices for permit breaches including excessive noise levels and burnouts in places they were not permitted.

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
That's rubbish - it's places and people like Easternats that keep hoons off the street. If u don't want the drags and burn-outs on the local streets keep Easternats going - what's better, on a track in a controlled zone or on residental streets where people get hurt!?
Posted by snota8, 30/06/2009 7:29:07 PM
As a first timer I attended the 2009 and was impressed by the overall good behavior of the patrons.So much so that on leaving the event I spoke to some police who told me that there had been no arrests . The organisers were efficient and I believe that CAMS had officials in attendance as observers. The acting Senior Police Seargent stated that he agreed with the MRC to cancel future Easternats . I thing that it is a dreadful mistake to cancel this programme. Like it or not there are plenty of benefits for the community with functions like these.They need the community support not critisims from negative people.
Posted by Peter East Melbourne, 7/07/2009 1:19:54 PM
you will probably notice that there will be more illegal action happening on the streets because there is no where else to go to do the fun things legally. it is upsetting to think that all the people out there have a passion for cars will no longer be able to take their families to these events and to pass along the knowledge to there children. lets hope this is not the way of the future as the next generation will miss out on a way of life thats been around for decades.
Posted by FOXY, 7/07/2009 10:19:16 PM
I have entered the easternats for the last six years. When will you realise that horsepower and musclecars are part of Australian culture. The media has completely destroyed our Aussie v8 culture by making us out to be a bunch of Hoons with no respect for anyone. Me and my hoon mates will still be up all night working on our engines and chromework. You might hate us and think we are all scum, but don't worry, it won't stop us loving our cars and horsepower. You have taken away easternats?! Why don't you close down pubs for all the alchos. How about close down the pokiez for all the gambling addicts? Oh that's right. Those two places are socially accepted because the majority of the population enjoys havn a drink or a gamble. Doing burnouts and havn fun with your mates for 3days of the year at the nats is banned tho. What a joke. What do you think is going to happen when u have no easternats ? Calder park is off, dragtag got closed down aswell. What does that leave? It leaves cruising the streetS with no rego plates and causing a whole lot of unwanted hooning. Do the math
Posted by Bigrevkev, 21/07/2009 11:28:17 PM
this is incredible. wat noise problem? its during the bloody day on a weekend, no one is sleeping then. anyways dont b surprised that weekend the amount or dragging and burnouts will b evrywhere, which then puts the general public in danger and unsafe pretty stupid deciision it will bakfire on them, easternats is a massive event i and many others look forward to evryyear, lookn like we will b dragging down backstreets putting people in danger bcos we cant do it legally anymore. we cant win
Posted by fukdapolice, 24/07/2009 3:18:30 PM

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Above: Easternats at Sandown, as pictured in 2006, is no more. Picture: Joe Amao/The Age
Above: Easternats at Sandown, as pictured in 2006, is no more. Picture: Joe Amao/The Age

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