The glitter of New Zealand’s racing jewel, this week’s V8 Supercar race through the streets of the City of Hamilton has tarnished with ticket sales well down and local opposition to the event growing.

With only a few days remaining till the thunder of the big five litre V8s hits the streets, race organisers have admitted that this years race is still a long way from being a sellout.

With a raceday capacity of 50′000 event promoter Dean Calvert told the Waikato Times newspaper that an average of 35,000 daily tickets, or 70 per cent, of the total had been sold. They were a mix of general admission, grandstand and corporate hospitality tickets. Capacity for each day is 50,000.

Mr Calvert told the paper that despite this he was happy with the way the event was going.

“Selling out the event, as was the case last year, was not a priority” Mr Calvert said.

“Ticket sales are only a part of the bigger picture. Our priority this year is the quality of experience that the fans get.”

Local businesses are also bitterly divided on the perceived benefit of the race to the region.

Several local business operators have complained of being trapped by the construction of the temporary track with many saying they were paying too high a price for the race.

Duncan’s Canvas co-director Georgina Bailey told the Waikato Times that although the track build and access had improved, custom at her King St business had dropped substantially.

“This week, it’s really hit us,” she said. “It’s a really big concern, but there is not a lot we can do about it.”

Ms. Bailey said that last year’s event which was meant to attract more business to the area had cost her around $20′000 in lost income.

Some business are looking at relocating in order to escape the chaos of the event. Lance Taylor, owner of the gift store “The Swordsman” said that the event was “over-hyped and under-delivering”.

He said he was committed to leaving Frankton after suffering huge losses last year.

“Three-day general admission tickets were “pitiful compensation” for being “locked in, and locked out of the action” he said.

One problem for the event is accommodation with local hotels all but booked out by teams, officials and media, many locals have taken advantage asking huge amounts of money for even the most basic accommodation.

Some houses near the race precinct were being offered for as much as $8000 a week in the lead up to the event.

Despite the problems, whatever happens on the weekend you can expect more “rave reviews” from the Australian Motorsport media keen to see their regular international junkets continue.