Townsville has officially racked up 100,000 tickets which is a remarkable achievement for this city! I went to the "WELCOME TO TOWNSVILLE" parade at Riverway tonight and what a atmosphere! This city sure can turn it on! Proud day for Townsville.
Crowd may top 150,000 JESSICA JOHNSTON l July 10th, 2009 TOWNSVILLE'S first V8 Supercars event has already been dubbed a raging success, with 100,000 tickets pre-sold.
Crowds line a Stockland Shopping Centre car park during the V8 transporter parade
The 100,000th ticket was purchased yesterday morning, leading Deputy Mayor David Crisafulli to declare Townsville the 'events capital of the country.'
V8 Supercars events general manager Shane Howard predicted between 120,000 to 150,000 people would attend the three-day event.
Access to the paddock area, where the multi-million transporter trucks are stored, has sold out for the first time in V8 Supercars history.
''It's a milestone - it is an unbelievable result to have 100,000 advance tickets purchased for the inaugural event,'' Mr Howard said.
''We're just overwhelmed with the response here in Townsville, we got off to a great start when we had the ticket launch and we had those massive queues and it's just progressed from there.
''The whole buzz around this city is unbelievable and it just has a great feel about it and to be able to have 100,000 people purchase advance tickets to come to this event is simply amazing.
''We have put the 'house full' sign up in paddock purchases and that never happens, to be honest, I've never seen it happen.
''So that's an indication of the response.
''We believe we will see in excess of 120,000 over the three days and it could be as high as 150,000.
''Normally there's a really strong walk-up once the transporters hit town and they see the drivers arriving.''
Cr Crisafulli said the response would lure other major events.
''This is more than a flag in the ground for motorsport in North Queensland - this is the beginning of Townsville becoming the events capital of the country,'' he said.
''Townsville loves a party and this is going to be the biggest event ever.
''We have been humbled by the amount of people who have stopped to give positive feedback, to how great the city is looking and how great the vibe is around the place.
''If over 100,000 people turn up for three days of motorsport anything is possible in this city and we will make sure the red carpet is rolled out to any promoters who are looking to hold an event.
''We will consider anything that benefits our community.''
Apparently Pink will be performing, well thats the word.
Pink rolls in to Townsville LENDL RYAN l July 10th, 2009
SHE is just as comfortable on her motorbike as she is rocking stage - but, whatever you do, don't call her Pink.
The pop-rock superstar rode into the city yesterday, heightening speculation she would be attending this weekend's Dunlop Townsville 400 V8 Supercars race.
The 29-year-old was on a black Triumph motorcycle while her motocross racer husband Carey Hart led the way on a yellow Harley-Davidson.
The singer, whose real name is Alecia Moore, is taking a break from her record-breaking Australian Funhouse tour on which she has performed 27 shows since mid-May.
The pair rode in from the north where they were spotted earlier in the week taking in the sights around Cairns and Port Douglas.
They pulled into the car park at the Bohle Barn about 3pm to stretch their legs while patrons unsuspectingly parked next to them and walked by, only two men stopping for a second look to check if it was the star.
When the Townsville Bulletin approached them for a few words they weren't interested in talking.
''I'm not Pink today,'' she said.
''I just want to be left alone.''
Hart, an avid motorsport fan, denied they were in the city for the V8 Supercars event.
''We are on a riding holiday,'' he said. ''We are heading back to Brisbane.''
PINK IN NORTH ON EVE OF TOWNSVILLE 400
The duo then took the Ring Rd where their riding skills came to the fore as they used hand signals to warn each other of sheets of plastic strewn across the road and snaked past B-double trucks.
They pulled into the BP petrol station and truck stop at Cluden about 3.30pm for another short break and mixed with more unsuspecting locals.
The singer removed her green, red and white-coloured helmet, goggles and a headband to show her makeup-free face.
The So What singer and her husband then received an escort of two police squad cars for the remainder of their journey.
There were reports last night of them dining at The Brewery and that they would be at the Herbert Hotel on Sturt St to watch the son of a friend perform.
It is believed they are staying at the Holiday Inn where yesterday afternoon staff insisted that any waiting media move along.
Pink and Hart had been spotted earlier in the day riding through sleepy Cardwell and Ingham.
The pair stopped in Ingham to buy a famous Australian pie, giving the shop assistants a pleasant surprise which left them star-struck.
While in Port Douglas, Pink and Hart weren't afraid to show their affection for each other.
The duo split in February last year after two years of marriage but appeared the best of friends, hugging and kissing on their romantic motorcycle getaway through North Queensland.
They kicked back with a mojito cocktail outside the Iron Bar in the main street of Port Douglas and took in the Daintree rainforest and hit the Great Barrier Reef.