EASTERNATS' 13-year tenure at Sandown is over but the popular event's defiant organiser won't be going quietly.
The Journal understands fines for breaching permit conditions at this year's motoring event were the last straw for the Melbourne Racing Club, which last week "ended its relationship" with Jon Davison and his company, Rapid Australia.
Davison said the event had been "hung for a parking ticket". "We're not going to sit back and criticise the turf club [MRC], but we're not going to wear the responsibility of the issues to do with the breaches of the permit until the full information becomes available.
"As far as we're concerned, there's three years left on the contract." He said the matter would now have to be resolved "amicably" or through legal channels.
In a statement released to the Journal last week, the club stated it had not made its decision lightly. It did not elaborate on why Easternats and Davison had been blacklisted.
Acting Senior Sergeant Phil Atkins, of the Springvale police, said police supported the club's decision.
"We solely look at the safety point of view for drivers, their passengers, spectators and all other people that go there.
"There are issues there and for that reason we support the Melbourne Racing Club's decision."
Davison said the event would continue one way or another.
"Easternats is alive and well, but Sandown is dead.
"That's the way we feel about it. The Easternats has outgrown the venue."
At the three-day motoring extravaganza in April, Davison and the MRC were slugged with six infringement notices for permit breaches including excessive noise levels and burnouts in places they were not permitted.
Greater Dandenong Council's development services director, Mal Baker, confirmed Davison had already paid some of the infringements fines.