Fate of Hood drag racing up in the air | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

There's a significant economic opportunity and it will also bring recreational pleasure to a big segment of this community. We have got to give them a go.Cr Chris Petersen The future of Masterton's drag races is on a knife edge as Masterton District councillors juggle the cash-strapped promoter and irate airport users.

The district council is concerned drag races, held four times a year at Hood Aerodrome, will damage the runway and put planes at risk.

Drag club Masterton Motorplex made a deal five years ago to use the runway while it constructed its own drag strip but the deal has expired and the club is struggling to find cash for the project.

The council is giving Motorplex until Wednesday to prove it can raise the $3 million to build the strip or it will end the event, which is estimated to generate $1.6 million for Masterton annually.

Cr David Holmes said the longer the councillors waited for the group, the longer they put planes and people in danger.

"We are talking about an aerodrome. Safety at an aerodrome is paramount," he said.

Motorplex co-ordinator Bob Wilton said they done the design and resource consent work but were still working to obtain funds.

He was unsure what he would tell the council next week as he waited to hear back from sponsors and grant groups he was relying on to raise $2.5 million.

"We are just going to say to them they haven't got back to us, it's not enough time for the [sponsors and grant groups] and we are going to have to wait until the next council meeting, and all they are doing is prolonging a decision on our drag racing season."

The group typically held four events between November to April but council delays had pushed their season to December and more delays would push it further.

He said if they were unable to race it would slow momentum on the entire drag strip project.

Cr Chris Petersen said that while the drag strip might not appeal to councillors it served Masterton's young and had to be encouraged.

"There's a significant economic opportunity and it will also bring recreational pleasure to a big segment of this community. We have got to give them a go."

Deputy Mayor Jane Terpstra said the council needed to give the club more time. "We can't just wipe it because we can't give them another three months," she said.