A long term lease will ensure stability at the Killarney International Raceway, maintain employment and enable future planning.
This is the sentiments of Dave Abrahams, public relations officer, who spoke to TygerBurger last week after the continued use of the facility was discussed at a Subcouncil 3 special meeting which was held on Wednesday 16 February.
The item on the agenda was to give authorisation to conduct a public participation process on the granting of a long term right to use, control or manage a capital asset with a value in excess of R10 million, and for a period longer than three years.
The proposal was supported by Ward 113 councillor Joy Solomon.
Abrahams says the hope is that Killarney may continue for 15 years and more, instead of three years. He says this will allow for more stability at the facility which will enable them to do the necessary improvements. He also says a 15 year lease will allow them to plan to make things better, for the racers, spectators and fans.
Abrahams says on a typical race day there are close to 700 people earning a living at Killarney. “In a week there are approximately 2 000 to 4 000 people working at the facility in workshops building performance cars. It is a thriving business. If Killarney were to have a short future, those guys will not have an income,” he says.
Des Easom, executive manager, said in his response the extension of the lease for Killarney would mean a great deal to Cape Town motorsport and the racing enthusiasts who come here.
He says Killarney is the home of motorsport in the Western Cape, being the only true multi-purpose motorsport facility featuring many different forms of motorsport from main circuit racing, drags, oval and track to karting, rallycross, drifting, spinning and short circuit events. In addition it is used by cyclists for training and events as well as for duathlons and marathons as it is a safe environment and does not require traffic support or road closures.
Easom says Killarney is the most used public facility in Cape Town. Pre-Covid-19 in 2019 it hosted 200 events of which 70 were charity events and the users represent the demographics of the Western Cape, he says.
Killarney also supports the City in its fight against illegal street racing by offering an alternative in a safe, controlled environment.
In addition, Killarney is a contributor to the tourism industry which is boosted when teams from outside of Cape Town come to events at Killarney several times in a year. The same applies when vehicle manufacturers and dealers use the venue.
“The Killarney facility was built up over seven decades by the Western Province Motor Club using members’ funds and through reinvestment. It was not built through public funding.
“The contribution to the local economy is R357 million per annum and some 7 000 jobs are created per annum. The significant motor racing industry around Cape Town also creates further extensive employment. Because of its positive contribution there was support for the application from all of Killarney’s neighbours as well as from the controlling bodies of motorsport in South Africa and internationally,” Easom explains.
Past experience has shown that when a race circuit closes, it simply does not reopen as the cost of relocating and the replacement costs are simply unaffordable, he adds.
“A new lease would allow all of the above to continue and would also justify investment in the maintenance and upgrading of the track and all its facilities as race tracks are expensive to maintain. This would ensure Killarney remains a top race track for South African and international events. It would also attract more and new events to Cape Town and Killarney and continue to be the most used sporting facility in the Western Cape. In short, continue to be an asset to Cape Town,” says Easom.
Solomon told fellow councillors during the meeting last week that she had worked as a marshal at the raceway years ago and that her family often visited the facility.
“This goes to show how much of a family venue the race track is. We were there as teenagers, took our kids there and they now also take their children there.
“It is a safe space for families, good clean fun and a fabulous source of entertainment. Staff are professional, caring and well informed. You can buy ready-made food, or even braai there, while enjoying top quality motorsport. There are two large hangars which can be hired for events, like markets.
“I attended a moonlight dog walk round the track as a fundraiser for an animal charity. It really is a community venue.
“Killarney has been opened for Robot Racing to enable the youngsters who have been using City streets in the early hours of the morning to drag race, enabling them now to do this in safety on a proper track.
“There are regular drag racing events organised now, as well as Rally Cross and I was fortunate to be taken round the track by one of the best drivers.
“I strongly support the proposal granting them a 15 year lease as opposed to the current three year term. This will grant them more security of tenure and enable them to invest and do more to the track and its amenities,” Solomon says.
Aside from the local racing events, Killarney International Raceway will also host the Extreme Festival on 5 March and 17 September, the Killarney Motor Show on 30 October, Cape Motor Sport Festival on 10 December and Street Fest on 27 December.
