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'Nats flagged out of race

29 Jun, 2009 09:43 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 it's relationship" with Jon Davison and his company Rapid Australia.

Mr Davison said the event had been "hung 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 judiciously."

In a statement released to The Journal last week, the MRC stated it had not made its decision "lightly", but it 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 who go there. There are issues there and for that reason we support the Melbourne Racing Club's decision," he said.

While he refused to elaborate on the event's future, it was clear that Mr Davison would be fighting for it to continue.

"Easternats is alive and well, but Sandown is dead. That's the way we feel about it. The Easternats has outgrown the venue. We've got more people wanting to come to Easternats than Sandown can handle."

At the three-day motoring event 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.

Greater Dandenong Council's development services director, Mal Baker, confirmed Mr Davison had "already paid some of the infringements issued".

"Both the Easternats promoter and MRC have the normal procedural opportunity to seek a review of unpaid fines. It has been indicated to us, individually by each party, that each is likely to seek a review of unpaid fines."

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Burned out:  Easternats, pictured in 2006, will no longer be held at Sandown.  Picture: Joe Armao/The Age
Burned out: Easternats, pictured in 2006, will no longer be held at Sandown. Picture: Joe Armao/The Age

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