place to go.

Time is running out for go-karters and motorcycle racers who face losing their Southside Raceway as early as next month.

Negotiations aimed at finding them a new home near the Airport have been going on for more than a year without reaching fruition.

The Bermuda Motorcycle Roadracing Club and the Bermuda Karting Club stage race meetings on the St. David's circuit on alternate Sundays.

Both clubs were always aware that the site, owned by the Bermuda Land Development Company, was a temporary home, as the property is due to be developed.

But the growing popularity of both sports means that around 500 enthusiasts will be left without a place to race, unless an alternative track is found soon.

The potential of go-karting as a spectator sport was graphically illustrated last month when estimated crowds of more than 3,000 turned out to see the first meet on Front Street in the karting club's 25-year history.

The motorcycle club has also asked the Corporation of Hamilton if it can hold a race on Front Street, with June mooted as a likely date, but it is still awaiting an answer.

John Carreiro, president of the 450-member Bermuda Karting Club, feels so strongly about the future of his sport that he has offered to put his own money into building a new track.

Carreiro has been negotiating for around 18 months for a new motor sport site, near No.1 Gate, which also comes under the BLDC umbrella.

"What I was prepared to do was to build the track if we got the site, with planning approval,'' said Carreiro, who works in the construction business.

"We would be looking at a track of one fifth to a quarter of a mile. We would need only one and a half to two acres of land.'' Correiro felt revenue from go-karting alone would pay for an asphalt track.

But he envisaged the site as a community facility, being used for other motor sports and possibly roller-blading and cycling too.

"If we don't get something sorted soon we will certainly end up with nowhere to race, but I have faith it will not come to that,'' added Correiro.

"I feel we have the support of the Government in this, but in my opinion the Bermuda Land Development Company seems to have the responsibility of making money for the country and it may be trying to get a bigger development on the site.'' David Jones, technical director of the Bermuda Motorcycle Roadracing Club, which has recruited 50 members since starting its racing programme at Southside this season, said his club's future was also in doubt.

They have a meeting this Sunday, starting at 11.00 a.m., but they have been told the one after that, on April 18, will be their last at Southside.

"I've had talks with the Sports Minister, and he told us the site at No.1 Gate should be available for us, but the land has not yet been handed over from the BLDC to the Ministry of Youth and Sport,'' said Jones.

"Half the Island rides bikes and there are a lot of talented racers here who we could help. But we need a new site by September for next season, or all our hard work will go to waste.'' Sports Minister Dennis Lister confirmed he had been involved in negotiations with the BLDC to secure the site near No.1 Gate for the use of the motor sport clubs.

"With regard to go-karting and motorcycle racing, we have identified an area in which we would like to see these activities taking place,'' said Lister.

"Negotiations are taking place on how best this can be done. Unfortunately we cannot give a time when these negotiations will be completed but we are working as quickly as possible.''