The South Canterbury Car Club recently approached the district council in a bid for funding in order to help create a Blues, Brews and BBQ event on the Saturday of the New Zealand V8 Championships.
South Canterbury Car Club president Kevin Pateman explained that the more people that can be attracted to the event the more proceeds can be donated to charity. "It is a good event and we want to enhance it" he commented. "It is the biggest-earning event of the year but it is also the smallest market (of potential racegoers).
We have difficulty selling naming rights and this event is in
jeopardy of not coming here, especially with the tight financial
situation."
It appears that the main problem with the event is that the Motorsport Park between Auckland and Hamilton was also looking to run the meeting, and since many competitors already come from the North Island they could not afford to travel to the Timaru and Invercargill portions of the championship. "We really want this community, and
particularly the council, to show support for the event that has been
coming here for years, and we want to continue coming here. As a club, we have gone to council for a grant as we would like the
ounil and community to show some support for bringing this event
here. More so than ever, this year is so important." | 
