Kiwirider November 2009 Edition

[p.dath]

Here you go Kiwirider, what every publication wants, free publicity.

I bought the latest edition about a week ago, but today was the first time I've had enough free time to actually sit down to read it.

I get to page 6 where the editorial is located by the executive editor, Ross MacKay, and it starts in on the Ministry of Transport's Safer Journey's discussion paper.

Oh dear. It just went down hill from there. First of all he goes on a rant how the major contributing factors to road accidents are not in fact the widely accepted factors of speed and alcohol, and then gives his opinion that the two major factors are road surface and the ability of the driver to control their vehicle.

The surface of the road has little to do with someone's decision to drink and/or drive at high speed. Of course alcohol impairs their ability to maintain control of their vehicle - but it is the alcohol causing this, and not their actual driving ability. You can't train someone to drink and drive safely.

And then he goes on to talk about all his driving/riding experience, and makes a comparison with Australia, and says that he has to re-calibrate his brain when coming back to NZ because Australia doesn't have decreasing radius corners like we do here, and then goes on to talk about having to scrub off speed and stand the bike up mid-corner.
It's not the roads fault that you entered the corner too hot. The road didn't suddenly change its layout. Surely a rider with the said claimed years of experience wouldn't be entering corners so hot that he has difficulty controlling his bike.


After reading such rubbish from the "Executive Editor" I found myself putting down the magazine. If the editors management can't even get the major contributing causes of road accidents right, has lots of experience riding yet can't manage cornering, then what is the quality of the remaining articles going to be like - that they oversee? Are those articles also full of lots of made up mis-guided information?


So save your money for a publication that might be able to get some of its information right. I regret my purchase. Don't make the same mistake.

[AD345]

Weenie is as weenie does

[Ixion]

Dude, you do know who Ross Mackay is, don't you? :o

[sil3nt]

Weenie is as weenie doesHaha indeed but he does have a point this time. I purchased one kiwirider and one biker rider magazine and that was enough to realise they are just full of dribble.

[325rocket]

Haha indeed but he does have a point this time. I purchased one kiwirider and one biker rider magazine and that was enough to realise they are just full or dribble.

hate to say it but i agree. superbike is the only magazine i will pay for. id love to be able to get into a new zealand bike mag but they just dont gel with me. im not saying they are bad, they just dont appeal to me.

[p.dath]

Dude, you do know who Ross Mackay is, don't you? :o

No. I did a Google Search first to ascertain who the person was, and nothing relevant turned up. Seems to be an almost invisible person.

Hell, even if I search for myself a couple of pages of relevant links come up.

[BMWST?]

Here you go Kiwirider, what every publication wants, free publicity.

I bought the latest edition about a week ago, but today was the first time I've had enough free time to actually sit down to read it.

I get to page 6 where the editorial is located by the executive editor, Ross MacKay, and it starts in on the Ministry of Transport's Safer Journey's discussion paper.

Oh dear. It just went down hill from there. First of all he goes on a rant how the major contributing factors to road accidents are not in fact the widely accepted factors of speed and alcohol, and then gives his opinion that the two major factors are road surface and the ability of the driver to control their vehicle.

The surface of the road has little to do with someone's decision to drink and/or drive at high speed. Of course alcohol impairs their ability to maintain control of their vehicle - but it is the alcohol causing this, and not their actual driving ability. You can't train someone to drink and drive safely.

And then he goes on to talk about all his driving/riding experience, and makes a comparison with Australia, and says that he has to re-calibrate his brain when coming back to NZ because Australia doesn't have decreasing radius corners like we do here, and then goes on to talk about having to scrub off speed and stand the bike up mid-corner.
It's not the roads fault that you entered the corner too hot. The road didn't suddenly change its layout. Surely a rider with the said claimed years of experience wouldn't be entering corners so hot that he has difficulty controlling his bike.


After reading such rubbish from the "Executive Editor" I found myself putting down the magazine. If the editors management can't even get the major contributing causes of road accidents right, has lots of experience riding yet can't manage cornering, then what is the quality of the remaining articles going to be like - that they oversee? Are those articles also full of lots of made up mis-guided information?


So save your money for a publication that might be able to get some of its information right. I regret my purchase. Don't make the same mistake.

you do realise that an editorial can be the editors own opinion on things dont you?

[p.dath]

you do realise that an editorial can be the editors own opinion on things dont you?

And every review reflects the opinion of the writer, or at least you'd like to think so, but of course management direct everything.

The editor effectively gives the publication its direction, controls what goes in it, and a reflection of the editors opinion reflects the direction and content.

[Ooky]

.

You can't train someone to drink and drive safely.



hmm I'd like to give it a shot under controled conditions free booze and track time!:jerry:

[Ixion]

No. I did a Google Search first to ascertain who the person was, and nothing relevant turned up. Seems to be an almost invisible person.

Hell, even if I search for myself a couple of pages of relevant links come up.

Guess he's not as well known as you :rofl:

[Headbanger]

hmm I'd like to give it a shot under controled conditions free booze and track time!:jerry:

Hell yeah, I'll ride shotgun.

[Ixion]

hmm I'd like to give it a shot under controled conditions free booze and track time!:jerry:

Might have to do quite a few practice sessions. Quite a few.

[Big Dave]

Ross welcomes any objective feedback on KIWIRIDER.

He has a clear Editorial policy that it is 'Our' magazine.
Meaning all NZ motorcyclists and disciplines of riding.

You can email your comments to him directly on
editor@kiwirider.co.nz

[Big Dave]

hate to say it but i agree.


It pays well. :-P

[FJRider]

First of all he goes on a rant how the major contributing factors to road accidents are not in fact the widely accepted factors of speed and alcohol, and then gives his opinion that the two major factors are road surface and the ability of the driver to control their vehicle.

The surface of the road has little to do with someone's decision to drink and/or drive at high speed. Of course alcohol impairs their ability to maintain control of their vehicle - but it is the alcohol causing this, and not their actual driving ability. You can't train someone to drink and drive safely.It's not the roads fault that you entered the corner too hot. The road didn't suddenly change its layout. Surely a rider with the said claimed years of experience wouldn't be entering corners so hot that he has difficulty controlling his bike.


Speed an Alcohol are the factors that are pushed by L.T.S.A. as being the major contributor to most accidents .... NOT widely accepted factors.... by motorcyclists. If YOU believe that though ... that is your issue.

Speed (and/or) alcohol are merely factors in an accident. Most accidents are the result of a number of factors contributing to the outcome. Road surface conditions are often "the straw that breaks the Camels back" ... so to speak.

No matter how well you know the road layout, a shoddy patched seal job with loose stone chips on the surface, could be/will be an issue at speed. Under the influence of alcohol or not. Favourite roads are only as good as you remember the last time you rode them. Be it a day ... a week ... or a year ... or more. DONT assume ... it will not/has not ... changed in any way since the LAST time you rode it. Those that DO ... may expect problems.

19% (thats one in five) of motorcycle "accidents" are caused by unlicenced riders, or riders without the correct licence for the motorcycle they were riding, inexperience usually equates to inability... Inability to control their vehicle.

[Muppet]

Here you go Kiwirider, what every publication wants, free publicity.

I bought the latest edition about a week ago, but today was the first time I've had enough free time to actually sit down to read it.

I get to page 6 where the editorial is located by the executive editor, Ross MacKay, and it starts in on the Ministry of Transport's Safer Journey's discussion paper.

Oh dear. It just went down hill from there. First of all he goes on a rant how the major contributing factors to road accidents are not in fact the widely accepted factors of speed and alcohol, and then gives his opinion that the two major factors are road surface and the ability of the driver to control their vehicle.

The surface of the road has little to do with someone's decision to drink and/or drive at high speed. Of course alcohol impairs their ability to maintain control of their vehicle - but it is the alcohol causing this, and not their actual driving ability. You can't train someone to drink and drive safely.

And then he goes on to talk about all his driving/riding experience, and makes a comparison with Australia, and says that he has to re-calibrate his brain when coming back to NZ because Australia doesn't have decreasing radius corners like we do here, and then goes on to talk about having to scrub off speed and stand the bike up mid-corner.
It's not the roads fault that you entered the corner too hot. The road didn't suddenly change its layout. Surely a rider with the said claimed years of experience wouldn't be entering corners so hot that he has difficulty controlling his bike.


After reading such rubbish from the "Executive Editor" I found myself putting down the magazine. If the editors management can't even get the major contributing causes of road accidents right, has lots of experience riding yet can't manage cornering, then what is the quality of the remaining articles going to be like - that they oversee? Are those articles also full of lots of made up mis-guided information?


So save your money for a publication that might be able to get some of its information right. I regret my purchase. Don't make the same mistake.

Typical 'blame anyone but myself' attitude, I can just see him explaining himself after he rides off the road and crashes, "the road made me do it officer, honest!":laugh: Obviously he's never heard of vanishing points, apexes, looking where you want to go, counter steering etc And who cares if he's been riding for years, doesn't mean he's any good.

[tigertim20]

19% (thats one in five) of motorcycle "accidents" are caused by unlicenced riders, or riders without the correct licence for the motorcycle they were riding, inexperience usually equates to inability... Inability to control their vehicle.

im gunna be a picky wanker here, and just point out that not having a licence does not automatically equate to inexperience. I personally know of several people who have ridden for 15 or more years who just never quite got around to getting the licence thing done even though most of them have partaken in safe riding courses etc. (I am neither condoning or looking down on this, just stating it)

Now your personal experience may well differ from mine, but I am just saying that many people riding without a licence have been riding for years and years and are quite experienced. numbers and stats do not tell the whole story.

sorry, just wanted to be a picky bastard!

[FJRider]

Numbers and stats do not tell the whole story.



This point alone is the one more people should understand, and consider carefully its implications ...

Feel free to be as picky as you like.... And not ALL unlicenced riders will/have crashed. Thus... are not part of those stats.

[Crasherfromwayback]

a comparison with Australia, and says that he has to re-calibrate his brain when coming back to NZ because Australia doesn't have decreasing radius corners like we do here, and then goes on to talk about having to scrub off speed and stand the bike up mid-corner.
It's not the roads fault that you entered the corner too hot. The road didn't suddenly change its layout. Surely a rider with the said claimed years of experience wouldn't be entering corners so hot that he has difficulty controlling his bike.



That's where you're wrong. You can enter a corner at the correct speed only to have it tighten up so that you're now in too hot. Decreasing radius corners are a killer and nothing but shit engineering. In the 5000km's in did in the States in 07 I never came across a single one. Our roads are shit. Tar bleed is another killer. Not to say the roads are the only problem though.

[2wheeldrifter]

That's where you're wrong. You can enter a corner at the correct speed only to have it tighten up so that you're now in too hot. Decreasing radius corners are a killer and nothing but shit engineering. In the 5000km's in did in the States in 07 I never came across a single one. Our roads are shit. Tar bleed is another killer. Not to say the roads are the only problem though.

Have to agree.. there are many corners around NZ that tighen up AND GIVE YOU A SURPRISE! our roads are bad with poor cambers, dips in patchs etc etc etc the roads don't help!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Have to agree.. there are many corners around NZ that tighen up AND GIVE YOU A SURPRISE! our roads are bad with poor cambers, dips in patchs etc etc etc the roads don't help!

Fuck yeah. If you're on a Harley etc and have hard parts on the deck when the corner tightens up...you have yourself a problem.

[Devil]

Uhhh, he's actually right according to the crash stats. It's not speed and alcohol. Loss of control is right up there at the top, driver incompetence basically.

I'm too busy to go find the info, but consider yourself sucked in by the LTNZ and the police with the speed kills bollocks.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Uhhh, he's actually right according to the crash stats. It's not speed and alcohol. Loss of control is right up there at the top, driver incompetence basically.

I'm too busy to go find the info, but consider yourself sucked in by the LTNZ and the police with the speed kills bollocks.

Well loss of control is mostly attributed to excessive speed for the conditions/your ability anyway mate...so in a way...speed does kill. Those who are going too fast for their own good.

[Devil]

Well loss of control is mostly attributed to excessive speed for the conditions/your ability anyway mate...so in a way...speed does kill. Those who are going too fast for their own good.

Thats right, but "speed" is pretty general. Too fast for the conditions is a little more specific. As we all well know you're not going to die doing 150km/h down the highway on a good day.
The highest things on the list are Loss of control, too fast for the conditions and poor decisions by the driver.

[p.dath]

Uhhh, he's actually right according to the crash stats. It's not speed and alcohol. Loss of control is right up there at the top, driver incompetence basically.


That's like saying the earth revolving causes the accidents. Sure it is revolving, but that isn't the actual issue.

Sure loss of control occurs - but what do you think causes that loss of control? Alcohol and speed feature prominently.

[Crasherfromwayback]

That's like saying the earth revolving causes the accidents. Sure it is revolving, but that isn't the actual issue.


Without gavity we'd crash into all sorts of objects mate...like...like...maybe even the moon.

[Devil]

.... but what do you think causes that loss of control?

Poor decision making, innappropriate speed, driver error, poor vehicle control.

Alcohol and blanket speed are not at the top of the list.

[FJRider]

Well loss of control is mostly attributed to excessive speed for the conditions/your ability anyway mate...so in a way...speed does kill. Those who are going too fast for their own good.

Excessive speed for the conditions, can mean a speed well under the posted speed limit for that area.... Ability to tell what is or isn't excessive, is learnt through experience. And you can still get it wrong.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Excessive speed for the conditions, can mean a speed well under the posted speed limit for that area.... Ability to tell what is or isn't excessive, is learnt through experience. And you can still get it wrong.

100% agree. I still do every now and then...and I've done a few laps.

[White trash]

100% agree. I still do every now and then...and I've done a few laps.

Fuck yeah. Especially getting out of under-building car parks on a Monday morning. Walking pace can be a bit quick.......

[Crasherfromwayback]

Fuck yeah. Especially getting out of under-building car parks on a Monday morning. Walking pace can be a bit quick.......

Walking round in circles anyway...

[Zuki lover]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[McJim]

p.dath doesn't like Kiwirider magazine....must go out and buy a copy today..it must be good.:Pokey: :rofl:

Considering P.Dath couldn't even understand one of my posts I think he has propbably got the wrong end of the stick....again. I'm so glad he doesn't have a profession where accuracy and ability to comprehend facts are an issue.

[Usarka]

I'm so glad he doesn't have a profession where accuracy and ability to comprehend facts are an issue.

Lucky he's a cop then :rofl:

[Swoop]

No. I did a Google Search first to ascertain who the person was, and nothing relevant turned up.

Hell, even if I search for myself a couple of pages of relevant links come up.
May I enquire what you entered into Mr Google?

[p.dath]

May I enquire what you entered into Mr Google?

I did a whole series of searches like this:
Ross MacKay
site:nz Ross MacKay
site:nz Ross MacKay motorbike
Ross MacKay motorbike

Nothing relevant seemed to come up on a world wide search, a search of just NZ sites, or with his name related to motorbike's either in NZ or world wide.

I also read the kiwirider web site hoping to find some kind of biography or background info, and came up with nothing.


Care to inform me what he is famous for so I can go read about him?

[2wheeldrifter]

I got this from google.... http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=Ross+MacKay+motorbike&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=null&oq=

Never opened any links, but think by what I can see you should get an idea of who he is?????? nothing to with motorbikes... damn glasses where fuk art thou lol

oh I did it world wide.... sorry :(

[p.dath]

I got this from google.... http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=Ross+MacKay+motorbike&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=null&oq=

Never opened any links, but think by what I can see you should get an idea of who he is??????

That's the same kind of results I got. Shows he is involved with Kiwirider (which is obvious), and a report of him crashing in an AMCC race.

I get the impression from other posts he has done something special? Someone care to give me a hint what that might be?

Ixion, you made a comment in post 3 (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1129477963&postcount=3) suggesting he is special. Please enlighten me.

[2wheeldrifter]

Well I got Journalist of the Year from that link from google..... but I have no idea what I am looking for... in fact I don't care what I am looking for lol :shifty:

[Big Dave]

That's a good point about putting bios on the web site though.
Just been busy trying to sort the content and if feels a bit wankey writing it.

We also want to put an up to date products and services directory, subscribers areas where they can download the press stuff that we get from the factories, even read the magazine online.

This ACC thing has sucked the air out of a few projects I had going on and monetising a web site takes time.

Traffic to the site is good - particularly following the ACC shizzle - If any of you have a business that could do with more traffic I can cut you a deal on banner ads.

Many of the banner ads on KB are from me.

[Big Dave]

Ross is the Editor of KIWIRIDER.

He has won numerous (I think) Qantas awards.
Including Motoring Journalist of the year.
His Degree is from Otago.
He is also widely know in Motor Racing and Karting endeavours.

I work for the publication part time and make various contributions as well.

:laugh:

[p.dath]

Ross is the Editor of KIWIRIDER.

He has won numerous (I think) Qantas awards.
Including Motoring Journalist of the year.
His Degree is from Otago.
He is also widely know in Motor Racing and Karting endeavours.

I work for the publication part time and make various contributions as well.

:laugh:

I think it's rather amusing that there is no record of publication of the Quantas Media Awards, even though there is a specialist web section, on the Internet. Even their own web site only lists 2009 winners. Perhaps they need a publicist.

So there is no easy way to find out what he has an award for, or in what section.

[2wheeldrifter]

I think it's rather amusing that there is no record of publication of the Quantas Media Awards, even though there is a specialist web section, on the Internet. Even their own web site only lists 2009 winners. Perhaps they need a publicist.

So there is no easy way to find out what he has an award for, or in what section.

Be hard to find the Quantas media awards... maybe try Qantas Media Awards :laugh:

[p.dath]

Be hard to find the Quantas media awards... maybe try Qantas Media Awards :laugh:

I did:
http://www.qantasmediaawards.co.nz/

But they don't have any info on anything other than the prior year. And a general search only really finds publications talking about their own awards.

[2wheeldrifter]

I did:
http://www.qantasmediaawards.co.nz/

But they don't have any info on anything other than the prior year. And a general search only really finds publications talking about their own awards.

K I'm taking the piss...your very hard to be funny with.... Spelling - QUANTES vs QANTAS

your above my wavelength for I am just a mere mortal ! :Punk:

[rok-the-boat]

Modern magazines - I can't read them anymore. They are just ads. I know it was probably the same in the past but I used to enjoy reading reports that slagged crap bikes for what they were - crap. These days, everything has to have positive spin or the manufacturers probably would complain.

[p.dath]

Modern magazines - I can't read them anymore. They are just ads. I know it was probably the same in the past but I used to enjoy reading reports that slagged crap bikes for what they were - crap. These days, everything has to have positive spin or the manufacturers probably would complain.

Or rather, the cynical amongst us, would say they would not pay for more advertising, and that magazines are more of a business than a passion these days. :)

[Headbanger]

Lucky he's a cop then :rofl:


My guess would have been Taxi driver.