NSW Road minister "auctions burnout"

[mrniceguy]

Check it out..

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...006009,00.html

ROADS Minister Eric Roozendaal is under fire from road safety groups for auctioning off a joyride in a 500km/h drag car for a NSW Labor Party fundraiser.

The winner will be able to perform "neck-snapping doughnuts and eye-popping burnouts," Mr Roozendaal claimed in his promotional material.

Less than a week ago six people were killed in a drag racing charity event in the US after an Australian pro-driver skidded out of control during a burnout.

It also comes in the same week as the RTA launched its cheeky advertising campaign suggesting men who drove fast had small penises.

The Daily Telegraph has learned an unidentified guest at last week's Labor fundraiser paid $4500 for the prize which includes dinner and "drinks" with the Minister in the drag circuit's VIP room after their joyride in the 3000 horsepower drag car.

It was just one of the prizes offered for auction at the Iemma Government's Cabinet Budget dinner last Thursday at Darling Harbour.

Pedestrian Council president Harold Scuby said the Minister's actions were "appalling".

"This sends all the wrong messages . . . he has done some very good things with P-plates and school zones," Mr Scruby said. "It's hoon behaviour and sends every wrong message to all the P-plate drivers."

Mr Roozendaal's item in the the auction program said: "Western Sydney International Dragway is delighted to offer one lucky bidder the chance to sit in a 3000 horsepower, supercharged burnout-car beast that will perform eye-popping burnouts and neck-snapping circles as the engine screams to life just in front of you.

"Once you have recovered from your ride – take three friends and join Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal in the VIP suite for a meal and drinks."

Mr Roozendaal has been slammed by road safety organisations for promoting the sport a week after Australian pro drag racer Troy Warren Critchley slammed into by-standers while doing a burnout in the US, killing five teenagers and a five-year-old boy.

Mr Roozendaal's spokesman said the Minister was a drag racing fan.

"Like many Australians, the Minister is a fan of motor sport," the Minister's spokesman said.

"The proper place for motor sport is in controlled environments, like the world class Western Sydney International Dragway, at off-street events like the NRMA Motoring + Services sponsored Summernationals and Wednesday evening meets."

The State Opposition's Road Safety spokesman Andrew Fraser said Mr Roozendaal was acting irresponsibly.

"Eric Roozendaal is charged with responsibility to cut the road toll, reduce P-plate speeding and encouraging young drivers to obey the road rules," he said. "He should be focusing on ensuring our young drivers don't do this on the streets of NSW, not being part of a promotion for it."

"May I suggest he re-think the prize and take them on a tour of hospitals and see the results of drag racing and burnouts."

Other prizes auctioned on the night included a four-course dinner with Premier Morris Iemma and Treasurer Michael Costa at Doltonte Loft overlooking the Harbour.

[Billy351]

I wouldn't expect any better from Maurice and his mafia

[Airmon]

Lucky bastard!
I don't see any problem with it. Sure the timing might be bad, but if they seriously think P-Platers are going to read the SMH and go "Wow! if that govt guy is selling burnouts it must be cool!".
They're reading into it too much, its a fundrasier, I would have bid for the same thing.

[nommic]

There's nothing wrong with drag-racing and burnouts in the right place... i.e. not on public roads, but in safe, controlled conditions.

Unless they're going to take that away from us as well...

[Force6]

I can't believe he'd even consider promoting such activities to be done where they belong (the dragstrip). How irresponsible. Only last week someone else completely irrelevant died in another country in an incredibly dangerous environment (no barriers anyone?) that is not at all similar to WSID!

[Rodp]

It sends the wrong message? That in order to do burnouts and do a blast from the lights, you should be doing it under properly organised and controlled conditions? Gotta side with Roozendaal on this one. Timing might be a little wrong but the situation is completely different.

[Unco]

what a lame article. just another bash at motorsport. the article itself really makes no sense at all. i mean, wtf does it have to do with the U.S. incident? and how does it promote hoon behaviour on public roads?

the whole fundraiser and prizes involved seem like a good cause to me.

[Piotr]

There is no problem with it at all. The accident that killed people was caused because the event was gone on a road not a dedicated drag strip. WSID is safe for this kind of activity and it promotes WSID as the place to come and do your drag racing and doghnuts.

[RG]

I see the problem and it is a huge one. Some idiot asked Mr. Scruby for his opinion and then went to press with it.

[Van D]

That article makes me angry.. How dare they compare WSID with the American drag tragedy, and go as far as suggesting the price winner goes to visit injured people in hospital.

If that were written on paper, it'd be a sure fire waste of a tree.

[woodsy109]

Originally Posted by RedXR347

I see the problem and it is a huge one. Some idiot asked Mr. Scruby for his opinion and then went to press with it.

I agree. That bloke seems to come up with some crazy sh't. Not many times has he produced a comment that reflects motorists actual opinions. I think the media just go to him now because they know they can get him to say something stupid just for the sake of a news artical.

I think the minister is leading by example by promoting legal drag races. Maybe Scrubby should be the one that visits the hostipals, then he can ask them how they were injured. I don't think he would find any that tell him it was a legal drag race.

[Laminge]

Originally Posted by RedXR347

I see the problem and it is a huge one. Some idiot asked Mr. Scruby for his opinion and then went to press with it.

Agree, would live to hire a private investigator and have him followed watching how many of events he commits that he so vocally complains about.. Andrew Glover is a saint compared to this one.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by RedXR347

I see the problem and it is a huge one. Some idiot asked Mr. Scruby for his opinion and then went to press with it.

110% spot on.

[Fairlane]

Oh hell not scruby again seriously we need to shoot this guy. He is the biggest threat to Australian motorsport ever, bigger than the Supercar scare, bigger than Group A, bigger than the insurance crisis.

This guy is truly a nutter, what is wrong with a dragster racing in a controlled international grade drag strip. The way car enthuasists and the motor sports community is beaten around it makes you feel like getting a boat.

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

Bulls#@t. Timming has nothing to do with it !

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with the Critchley incedent last week ! Its in a controled environment on a fully sanctioned race track , with all saftey measures in place and with emergency personnel at the ready !

All it is, is a couple of pollies and of course a couple of low life journalists that dont want people to differentiate street racing to a serious drag event ! they dont give a flying f#@k about damaging the image of a professtional motor sport in the name of news!

[merlin]

Can'r believe the media storm surrounding this. Eric is doing the right thing promoting these activities OFF THE STREET, which is what we need.

[mcflux]

Originally Posted by popinfresh

That article makes me angry.. How dare they compare WSID with the American drag tragedy, and go as far as suggesting the price winner goes to visit injured people in hospital.

If that were written on paper, it'd be a sure fire waste of a tree.

I see it as a Circle of Life factor. Printing that article meant chopping down a tree, which some VN driver would've gone sideways into otherwise, and instead mows down Scruby. Everybody wins!

[kyro_02]

at least it would be organized , the one in the US wasn't organized properly (well, to them it might of beens.. but not like it is here)... so i don't see a problem with it... except the fact I personally don't own the 3000hp car :P

[MotherNatureVer2]

So they want to take it all now ........even legal drag racing ..........

Good on you Mr Roozendaal ... this is exactly the stuff we need to show the youngins that it IS ok to Drag race at the appropriate places ie: legal, safe drag strips....

Its about time we have a polly who is thinking ;)

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by mrniceguy

The State Opposition's Road Safety spokesman Andrew Fraser said Mr Roozendaal was acting irresponsibly.

"Eric Roozendaal is charged with responsibility to cut the road toll, reduce P-plate speeding and encouraging young drivers to obey the road rules," he said. "He should be focusing on ensuring our young drivers don't do this on the streets of NSW, not being part of a promotion for it."

"May I suggest he re-think the prize and take them on a tour of hospitals and see the results of drag racing and burnouts."

Let this one go Andew, if NSW Libs wish to gain power in this state, you need to stop parenting us. Enough of this nanny state rubbish.

Rozzendaals event is under proper safety management and has bugger all to do with idiots already on public roads who will drive like dicks regardless of authorised events such as this or not.

Harold = ignore.

[jarridtheruler]

I thought the government was pushing for people to race at the tracks and keep off the streets. I personally think this competition is a good idea.

[mrniceguy]

Well i guess this Scruby charachter partly explains how the libs lost an election to a government widely regarded as one of the most incompetant ever.

[XR06T]

what a stupid stupid article.. real good idea, comparing the road to the race track. imagine what would happen if a p plater wrote into the paper suggesting that!!

[Green X]

All these people jumping up and down about this need a can of Harden the **** up and Scruby just needs to take a long walk thou a mine field.

[MRJUCY]

Originally Posted by Laminge

Agree, would live to hire a private investigator and have him followed watching how many of events he commits that he so vocally complains about.. Andrew Glover is a saint compared to this one.

Well he has run over a pedestrian that's a start.