Final countdown to save motocross home

Andrew Mathieson
THE clock is ticking for Save McAdam Park campaigners to raise at least $2 million in the next six months to save their motorcycle track.
The campaign has raised about $150,000 for Geelong Sporting Motorcycle Club since 2007 in a $3 million bid to buy the Barrabool site.
Club operations manager Peter Ovens said raising almost $1 million from the sale of tiles at $100 each for a “big picture wall” was paramount to the track’s survival.
“We’ve got until Sept-ember,” he said.
Mr Ovens feared public apathy was hurting the campaign.
“Some people don’t realise how close we are to losing it,” he said.
“Others just think the government is going to step in, so why should they bother.”
The Barrabool track has been the home for Geelong dirt bike riders for more than 45 years.
Mr Ovens said the club had begun desperate talks with the region’s federal and state MPs to obtain government grants to make up the shortfall.
The club was preparing a business plan to show why McAdam Park should remain a community facility, he said.
Part of the proposal was to share the land with other users.
Mr Ovens said the site had already attracted interest from mountain bike and model aeroplane clubs.
Several gun clubs, including Geelong clay target shooters who were evicted from Eastern Park last year, had approached the motocross club, he said.
However, additional noise from guns would only “add fuel to the fire” from owners of nearby homes.
The track was about 700 metres from the closest residents.
Mr Ovens said the track attracted about 20,000 visitors a year, with studies at McAdam Park indicating national and international racing, was worth $5 million to the region.
A Back to Barrabool fundraiser in May would include a boot sale, memorabilia displays and possibly the last ride at McAdam Park for patrons who brought bikes, he said.
Mr Ovens urged potential donors to visit www.bigpicturewall.com.