Drag racers looking for new strip | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Drag racing is looking for a new home in Christchurch.

The sport uses a strip at Ruapuna Park. However, the many users fighting for the available days at the motor racing venue meant it was a squeeze for dates, said Steve Batey, a spokesperson for the new Canterbury Drag Racing Association.

Many man-hours had to be spent installing and then removing facilities at every meeting, and only 12 days a year were available for drag racing ? if they were lucky with weather, he said.

The association has been formed to establish a new purpose-built track for the sport, which gets crowds of up to 7000 for its biggest meetings.

The association had some possible sites in mind, he said.

It needed an area at least 1.2km long for the quarter-mile race track and separate braking area and burnout pad, and 300 to 400m wide for stands and car parking.

A venue like Auckland's Meremere would give younger car enthusiasts cruising around town a place to go, he pointed out.

Drag fans wanting to support the project can contact Batey at 338-6690.