Speedway star and nine-time individual world champion Ivan Mauger is the latest legend of world motorsport to come out in support of the Place To Race campaign designed to save the decimation of Gold Coast motorsport facilities.

Mauger, who won nine individual world titles from 1968 to 1979 and six teams world titles, has been a long-time resident of the Gold Coast and a big supporter of the local speedway scene.

Gold Coast businessmen and motorsport identities Terry Morris and Brett “Crusher” Murray have set-up the Place To Race campaign and have launched a new website www.placetorace.com.au, where all Gold Coast motorsport clubs, stakeholders and fans can register to receive regular information.

Mauger, MBE and OBE, joins fellow former world champions Mick Doohan, Sir Jack Brabham, Alan Jones, Wayne Gardner and James Courtney in supporting the Place To Race program.

“The biggest issue of concern in this entire situation is the future safety of our young riders,” said Mauger.

“We need to see the development of riders up through the ranks with instructors which will make them better track and road riders.

“Places like Mike Hatcher Speedway are where young riders learn riding skills, but also the value of things like protective gear.

“The problem with so many of the people being killed in motorcycle accidents on the road is that they don’t have this valuable education. Closing tracks like these takes away the only avenue of education.

“The Gold Coast City Council will be doing a huge disservice to the community if the existing tracks are closed and no alternative location is found. The statistics in a few years time will be devastating.

“I cannot believe there is not a piece of land in the boundaries of the Gold Coast City Council that could house a motorsport precinct for all forms of motorsport.

“There are absolutely no minuses in giving our kids a safe and controlled place to enjoy their motorsport

“The Place To Race campaign is valuable initiative and everyone in the industry needs to get behind it 100 per cent.”

Mauger has played an active role in the fight to save the Mike Hatcher Raceway at Labrador, which is currently surviving on a month-by-month lease with the Gold Coast City Council.

Closure of that track would leave hundreds of junior riders without a venue.

The Gold Coast Kart Club was closed down in similar circumstances 18 months ago after being resumed and has not found a new home.

If you are a kart owner on the Gold Coast you now have to travel to Ipswich or the Sunshine Coast just to practice, let alone compete.

The website also lists the contact details of all Gold Coast councillors and encourages stakeholders to contact them on a regular basis.

There are also regular twitter updates and a Facebook page – both can be found by searching for “placetorace”.

Mauger was awarded an MBE in 1976, an OBE in 1989, and was voted the prestigious Millennium Man of Speedway by the readers of Speedway Star and Vintage Speedway Magazine in December 1999 after a worldwide poll.

He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. To complete these illustrious awards Ivan Mauger was selected by the Olympic Committee to carry the Olympic Torch at the Sydney Games, an honour, which he performed on June 12, 2000.

He was also President of the World Speedway Riders Association in 2007 and 2008.

Morris said that the support of superstars of the sport, like Mauger, was an enormous boost to the Place To Race campaign.

“When you talk about speedway there is no bigger name than Ivan Mauger,” said Morris.

“Not only did he win nine individual world titles he has lived and breathed the sport his entire life and is still prepared to join a fight like this when asked. He is a fantastic ambassador for his sport.

“Ivan and members of the Gold Coast speedway community have been battling their own fight for years when it comes to venues. The idea of Place To Race is to give all those groups a very loud single voice.

“The amount of emotion and conversation this project has stirred already has been fantastic. We need to get a result for everyone involved. There is no alternative.”

In the meantime, everyone is asked to head to www.placetorace.com.au and register for the campaign.