Hello New Zealand! A big thank you to all the drivers who submitted their entries on time. We had a fantastic number of participants eager to join us on August 24/25th, showing incredible support and enthusiasm.
The reason we required entries by a specific date was to meet our invoice deadline and try avoid the known 10% late fee, which would have added an extra $6,000 to our costs.
Friday August 2nd, I sent an honest and transparent message to TQ Parks, requesting an extension on our invoice payment to 7 days before the event, to give entrants from Chrome and Choice Events Drift Wars extra time required to get their entries in.
We also requested to pay the standard $5,000 bond instead of the two their system was generating (our damages are usually around $1,500) and asked to pay for garages only if they were used in our washup invoice, rather than upfront for one last event. These changes were increasing our upfront costs by approximately $20,000.
Unfortunately, we have since received a letter from TQ Parks denying our request. As a result, instead of being met with the 10% late fee, our dates have since been canceled and replaced over the weekend.
This is a disappointing turn of events so close to the event, but sometimes that’s just how things go. The reason for being transparent here isn't to throw shade but an attempt for other organisers to take my L and use it as a lesson. Due to the economic challenges earlier this year, I’ll be the first to admit we had to stretch a bit further than usual to keep events going for you all, which led to some regretful booking changes for Spring '23 and Summer '24. This has understandably influenced the park's decision, and I fully respect their position.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to the various management teams at Taupo International Motorsport Park for their tremendous support over the past 13 years and for allowing me a place to contribute to grassroots drifting which has seen over 500 drivers and tens of thousands of spectators roll through the gates.
We'll see what the future holds, but for now, it feels like a good time to pivot and focus on some other things.
Drivers, please check your email inbox for options.
Sorry guys, I tried 
Chris
Organiser, Drift Matsuri
