Lance Lowe fined $100 for Paeroa wheelie

[Big Dave]

Had a call from Lance asking for some feedback on the $100 fine that has been imposed for doing a wheelie across the finish line at Paeroa.

Not being a race or rules officianado I'm not qualified to give him any - but my first reaction was that sounds a bit rough? I go to the races partly to see a bit of that shite.

What's the score?

[Biggles08]

Wheelies scare me :baby:

[cowboyz]

its bullshit. completely and totally.

they should get a bonus $100 for each wheel off the ground over the finish line. Extra $500 if its the rear and they still win.

Its a spectator sport!

[Fatjim]

I guess until you have a tax bill the size of Rossi's wheelies are out.

[woodyracer]

fuck.....wheelies are awsome!! i like those ones the KTL mc fella's+ do!!! those dukes sound good.

[imdying]

Last time I was caught, the cop let me off with a 'Take that shit to the track'... Shows what he knows :confused:

[Matt Bleck]

I guess IF it goes wrong they'd be worried about him and his bike bouncing into the crowd?

[Ixion]

He should think himself lucky he didn't get a speeding ticket as well. ;)

[Tony.OK]

I remember hearing about that.............shit just try keeping the front down at Paeroa on a big bike.

There was a bit of a thread about wheelies after Paeroa

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=94636

[Danger Dave]

It does say in the rules that overly long or sustained wheelies on the front straight are not allowed but its ok on the back straight, in saying that i think its a load of horse shit, People like to see wheelies and some of us like to do them :2thumbsup

[AllanB]

What's the fine for a stoppie?


What an utter load of crap - FFS it is a race track where people like me who only do wheelies by mistake can go and watch professionals do them in safety.

Are those races being sponsored by ACC or something?

Utter arse-wipes. I hope he does NOT pay the fine, and each and every racer from buckets to full-bore bikes pop a wheelie over the finish line the next race meeting regardless of their finishing position.

THE WHOLE WORLD IS TURNING GAY

[R6_kid]

What about 70-80% of the racers doing wheelies off the bump on the back straight.

Or a Mr So and So doing a sick burnout from the hairpin back to the pits after being a muppet and trying to take a shortcut across a drain cover?

MotoGP and WSBK riders do massive mingas to celebrate when they take the checkered flag - I think the crowds sort of expect it to happen, especially on the more powerful bikes.

It's not like Lance Lowe doesn't know how to pull a decent wheelie and keep it under control...

[Taz]

Just another reason NOT to go and watch road racing. They are obviously trying to dull it down. You wont see me in the crowd if that's the case. Good one MNZ and paeroa officials.

[paturoa]

Did he say it was during the races, or just over the weekend?

[sidecar bob]

Its only a fine if he pays it.

[Ronin]

You have got to be fucking joking.... PC police strike again, there is minimising risks and then there is just dumb!

[scrivy]

He should have been fined for not smoking up the rear at the same time!!! :lol:

Or following it up with a huge stoppie, leaning forward to give his skank a kiss......!!!!!

Or even sitting on the tank wheelie.......

Now there are some things in life I'd pay to see/watch......... :whistle: and that would be one of them...........

[merv]

If wheelies across the line are allowed in MotoGP then surely they are allowed in NZ races :oi-grr:

[Nonbeliever]

this country is rapidly dissapearing down the shitter.

[Brian d marge]

where can I pay his fine?
and is there a bank account for the next one?

Stephen

[awayatc]

rumour has it he didn't indicate either.....

but did he wave..?

[Big Dave]

So to summarise. The Posted rules have been broken, but they are unpopular.

I should seek a response from officials before petitioning them.

[Rob Taylor]

I remember being at the riders briefing and the no sustained wheelie issue was mentioned.Mainly to protect the spectators because of the carnage if it all went wrong,& it can.The front coming up out of a corner was exceptable but not big ups further down the track.I understand where they are coming from.Thems the rules and Lance got caught..Do the crime do the time....Shit happens....On a race circuit,no problems,wheelie away.Hell i better remind Paul to keep the front down at W(H)anganui,just in case its the same rules.....:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Maha]

I remember being at the riders briefing and the no sustained wheelie issue was mentioned.Mainly to protect the spectators because of the carnage if it all went wrong,& it can.The front coming up out of a corner was exceptable but not big ups further down the track.I understand where they are coming from.Thems the rules and Lance got caught..Do the crime do the time....Shit happens....On a race circuit,no problems,wheelie away.Hell i better remind Paul to keep the front down at W(H)anganui,just in case its the same rules.....:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

I have to agree with this, and to whoever else said something about the MotoGP bla bla, yeah way different senario than Fricken Paeroa where all you have between you and the bikes is some fencing wire. I have seen someone dump the clutch of the line and loose it, at Paeroa, imagine what ''could'' happen at speed. I guess the rules are set in place for a reason, Mr Lowe should pay up.

[scrivy]

this country is rapidly dissapearing down the shitter.

Going gay you mean?? :buggerd:

[Taz]

There are plans to stop jumps at MX and FMX events now too. :lol: And rally drivers are not allowed to get their cars sideways in the 2010 season. Rather than ban wheelies why not ban spectators?

[R6_kid]

I have to agree with this, and to whoever else said something about the MotoGP bla bla, yeah way different senario than Fricken Paeroa where all you have between you and the bikes is some fencing wire.

So a wheelie at around 100kmh or so is more dangerous than doing 270kmh along the front straight?

[Billy]

I remember being at the riders briefing and the no sustained wheelie issue was mentioned.Mainly to protect the spectators because of the carnage if it all went wrong,& it can.The front coming up out of a corner was exceptable but not big ups further down the track.I understand where they are coming from.Thems the rules and Lance got caught..Do the crime do the time....Shit happens....On a race circuit,no problems,wheelie away.Hell i better remind Paul to keep the front down at W(H)anganui,just in case its the same rules.....:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Absolutely right and anybody that sees it differently hasnt seen the aftermath of a motorcycle ploughing into the crowd at a street circuit.Good on whoever it was that enforced the ruling

[Maha]

So a wheelie at around 100kmh or so is more dangerous than doing 270kmh along the front straight?

Not saying that all, we are very lucky (loosely termed) to be so close to the bikes at any one time at Paeroa. Wheelies/stoppies/burnouts/bins are all part of a massive day out and I lookd forward to the third sunday in Feb every year. But if the rules of the Paeroa circut state 'no wheelies over the start/finish' then so be it. By all means, go ahead and do it, if you can afford the $100 fine. Is it unjust? possibly. Im sure Mr Lowe is up to speed with the do's and donts on any race track.

[wbks]

I'm not a racer so I'm probably going to be told to STFU, which is fair enough, but I guess the organizers are probably already walking a tight rope just running the event even with a good safety record with the public, so they're probably just trying to minimize any unnecessary risk where possible? That said, racing is technically an un unnecessary risk in life, and fans go there to be entertained, so whether its racing or finishing a race with a mono it makes no difference. Some racing is better than no racing, and if they have to bring in some relatively un intrusive rules is it really so bad compared to not being able to watch/race there at all?

[Rob Taylor]

So a wheelie at around 100kmh or so is more dangerous than doing 270kmh along the front straight? Nobody likes rules.You put a stunt rider on the track and its all good.You cant say "Ok, riders who know how to wheelie go for it,the rest No":oi-grr:.Your more likely to crash on one wheel than two,Harder to take evasive action,brake,whatever, and the bike could get over the barrier if the front is already a metre up...I like wheelies to :banana:.All im saying is ,you need to look at it from the organiser point of view.We would be the first to moan :weep:if the event was shut down due to spectators dying.....Thats all

[SPman]

Jeez - I've seen Lance on one wheel down the North Western for 5 or 6 KM - through the traffic. It's not as though he doesn't know how to get it up!
Guess he just can't help himself.......

[malcy25]

Jeez - I've seen Lance on one wheel down the North Western for 5 or 6 KM - through the traffic. It's not as though he doesn't know how to get it up!
Guess he just can't help himself.......

yep
1) Was specifically mentioned at rider briefing
2) Lance is good (very good) on the backwheel, but what about the guys who aren't.....and get seriously out of shape. As it was IIRC someone had to take evasive action when Lance did his.
3) Punters come to get close and see the action, but there is a line that the organsiers have put a line in the sand for a reason, if you can't play what is a well considered rule for public safety (and it's their arses in a sling for the riders actions), best you don't ride.

Buggered if I'd want the stress of running that meeting without adding to it from someone tossing one over a fence squashing some punters.

[slowpoke]

I'm not a racer so I'm probably going to be told to STFU, which is fair enough, but I guess the organizers are probably already walking a tight rope just running the event even with a good safety record with the public, so they're probably just trying to minimize any unnecessary risk where possible?

Pretty much on the money I reckon. If something unsavoury was to happen then this gives the organisers "plausable deniability" and proof they've tried to keep things as safe as possible.

With this sort of event you have got to imagine the organisers standing in front of a coroner and the sort of ugly picture somebody could paint if they were that way inclined. You can guarantee there is a fair portion of Paeroa that would like to see this thing canned despite the dosh it brings to the community.

[wharfy]

I'm not a racer so I'm probably going to be told to STFU, which is fair enough, but I guess the organizers are probably already walking a tight rope just running the event even with a good safety record with the public, so they're probably just trying to minimize any unnecessary risk where possible? That said, racing is technically an un unnecessary risk in life, and fans go there to be entertained, so whether its racing or finishing a race with a mono it makes no difference. Some racing is better than no racing, and if they have to bring in some relatively un intrusive rules is it really so bad compared to not being able to watch/race there at all?

Racer or not you are right on the money --
The barriers have been designed (from bitter experience) to offer most protection on places bikes are most likely to crash (on the OUTSIDE of turns).
If someone pulling a 100kph wheelie over the line falls off the back the bike could easily hit the low barrier in that area and go over into the crowd at speed.

I have seen a bike come over hay bales stacked high enough for an adult to just see over. Unfortunately It hit a kid sitting on his fathers shoulders full in the chest - he died on the way to hospital . It wasn't the result of a wheelie (people didn't do them in those days) and they were standing in a restricted area (the sign and rope had been knocked over and trampled into the ground) I don't know if that is why they stopped doing street races in Hamilton but it sure would have made it more difficult.

Greymouth street race also have a "no wheelie's" rule.

Street races also require a tether kill switch to reduce the chance of a runaway bike going into the crowd.

If someone was fined for racing without a tether kill switch would we be having this debate ?

The organizers don't make these rules up just to piss people off...

To quote MNZ, motorcycle racing should be "Fun Fair and Safe"

[Kickaha]

If wheelies across the line are allowed in MotoGP then surely they are allowed in NZ races :oi-grr:

How many fences, haybales, powerpoles and gutters do they have around MotoGp tracks


I remember being at the riders briefing and the no sustained wheelie issue was mentioned.Mainly to protect the spectators because of the carnage if it all went wrong,& it can.

What like Jared Love at Wyndham ? (I think) ok the only thing he fucked up was himself and the bike but sometimes the margin between a hit and a miss is pretty small

[TonyB]

I remember being at the riders briefing and the no sustained wheelie issue was mentioned.Mainly to protect the spectators because of the carnage if it all went wrong,& it can.The front coming up out of a corner was exceptable but not big ups further down the track.I understand where they are coming from.Thems the rules and Lance got caught..Do the crime do the time....Shit happens....On a race circuit,no problems,wheelie away.

Racer or not you are right on the money --
The barriers have been designed (from bitter experience) to offer most protection on places bikes are most likely to crash (on the OUTSIDE of turns).
If someone pulling a 100kph wheelie over the line falls off the back the bike could easily hit the low barrier in that area and go over into the crowd at speed.


Yep agree with these completely. In todays political climate a serious injury to spectators at a street meeting could see it all banned/ become too hard to run, just like it did with the small scale street races they used to have for cars.

[R6_kid]

Perhaps we should start a contribution fund like was done for Carver? :whistle:

[steve74]

I remember being at the riders briefing and the no sustained wheelie issue was mentioned.Mainly to protect the spectators because of the carnage if it all went wrong,& it can.The front coming up out of a corner was exceptable but not big ups further down the track.I understand where they are coming from.Thems the rules and Lance got caught..Do the crime do the time....Shit happens....On a race circuit,no problems,wheelie away.Hell i better remind Paul to keep the front down at W(H)anganui,just in case its the same rules.....:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

This is spot on!, as a rider i was always pissed off with the no wheelie or show-boating policy of some stewards at street races. However now im on the organization side of things its a different story. there is just too many peoples necks on the chopping block when it does go wrong. Prime example in greymouth about 10-12 years ago, a guy did a big wheelie down the main straight after the race, flipped it over backwards, he broke his ankle and the bike ended up over the fence narrowly missing spectators. Its great fun to do them and agreed the crowd loves it, but one major accident from show-boating will put and end to street racing full stop for both riders and spectators!!

A certain superbike rider we all know down here in the south island is continually getting fines like this. He knows the score and is familiar with the process:clap:

[Maha]

This is spot on!, as a rider i was always pissed off with the no wheelie or show-boating policy of some stewards at street races. However now im on the organization side of things its a different story. there is just too many peoples necks on the chopping block when it does go wrong. Prime example in greymouth about 10-12 years ago, a guy did a big wheelie down the main straight after the race, flipped it over backwards, he broke his ankle and the bike ended up over the fence narrowly missing spectators. Its great fun to do them and agreed the crowd loves it, but one major accident from show-boating will put and end to street racing full stop for both riders and spectators!!

A certain superbike rider we all know down here in the south island is continually getting fines like this. He knows the score and is familiar with the process:clap:

Yeah pay the fine, whats the drama.

If the Monday Morning Herald headlines reads...

'Three Dead and Twelve injured at Street Race'
That would be the end of Paeroa.
I know this may sound over the top but,
The rules are there for a reason.
Mr Lowe should the $100, shut the fuck up, get on with it and try not to stuff it up for the 15,000 or so that enjoy the 3rd Sunday of every Feb'.

[dipshit]

What about 70-80% of the racers doing wheelies off the bump on the back straight.

Do you understand the difference from a bit of a power-stand while hard on the gas... to someone deliberately popping a wheelie just to show off..???

Of course it will be an unpopular rule to enforce... considering how many wankers ride motorbikes.

[FROSTY]

It's not like Lance Lowe doesn't know how to pull a decent wheelie and keep it under control...
er um-yasee there was this time in band camp--and someone missed 90% of a race meeting due to a wheelie gone wrong.
yep lance did make a booboo that day

putting a different slant on this folks.
Say i own a sandpit.
In wrighting I note -NO SANDCASTLES. then as you come into my sandpit I say --Hey have fun -enjoy yourself but just a reminder -dont build any sandcastles or you will pay a fine of some sort.
if you then decide--"Nahh Im gonna build a bloody great big sandcastle anyway" Dontcha think theres gonna be/should be a concequence.
The comparision to something so silly is deliberate as I feel its not the danger or lack of thats the issue --its the deliberate breaking of the rules.
And I must say im in two minds re the relative safety of doing so on the main straight.
Yasee if it does go wrong the only thing protecting the crowd is a chain link fence.(they are literally milimeters from the track) Unlike say at a "real" racetrack.
Someone also well known for doing great wheelies trashed a bike a couple of years back at whanga's doing basicly what Lance did It was a pretty messy crash. I hate to imagine the damage done if it happened back "straight" of paeroa and the bike went into the crowd.

[ellipsis]

We are lucky enough to be one of the couple of countries on the planet to be able to participate in or spectate at a motorcycle street race event, if everyone obeys the rules and the risk of death or carnage is kept to a complete minimum, we will continue to be able to do so....hopefully.....:niceone:

[Crasherfromwayback]

They should get fucked. I was warned years ago at the Port of Auckland street races for doing wheelies down the main straight on my KX500. When I mentioned Robert Holden was doing them all day the told me "Well that's Robert Holden" Organisers need entrants...and while an entrant doing something REALLY stupid is unacceptable...wheelies are a-ok anytime in my book.

Spectators are there at their own risk. If they get hurt by a bike that's been thrown down the road...as sad as it is...it's racing. They all go there for the thrills and spills. Can't have it both ways.

[wbks]

They should get fucked. I was warned years ago at the Port of Auckland street races for doing wheelies down the main straight on my KX500. When I mentioned Robert Holden was doing them all day the told me "Well that's Robert Holden" Organisers need entrants...and while an entrant doing something REALLY stupid is unacceptable...wheelies are a-ok anytime in my book.

Spectators are there at their own risk. If they get hurt by a bike that's been thrown down the road...as sad as it is...it's racing. They all go there for the thrills and spills. Can't have it both ways.Lol do you think New Zealand is going to look at it that way if some spectators get messed up? No, it'll be the end of street racing for this lifetime

[Crasherfromwayback]

Lol do you think New Zealand is going to look at it that way if some spectators get messed up? No, it'll be the end of street racing for this lifetime

Not really. Spectators have been injured many times unfortunately. Be it at a speedway...drag meet...a moto-x or whatever. Get them all to sign an indemnity form if need be. But since I last checked...speedway hasn't been banned. Nor should it. Or wheelies for that matter.

[wbks]

Not really. Spectators have been injured many times unfortunately. Be it at a speedway...drag meet...a moto-x or whatever. Get them all to sign an indemnity form if need be. But since I last checked...speedway hasn't been banned. Nor should it. Or wheelies for that matter.Yea, but you have to admit that the whangas and pierower are on another level in terms of protection between bikes and the crowd along the straights, not to mention the media attention and whole numbers of people attending. Last time I saw anyone come into danger at a speedway it was one or two people scattering once they saw the steel jump the fence... Last time I was at paeroa you couldn't walk 50cm without getting a nice sample of someones sweaty body, let alone to a runner if you saw a bike tumbling towards you

[Crasherfromwayback]

getting a nice sample of someones sweaty body, let alone to a runner if you saw a bike tumbling towards you

Hide behind the biggest sweaty one

[wbks]

Hide behind the biggest sweaty oneHahahaha They don't call it pierower for nothing, huh:cool:

[Gremlin]

I think part of Lance getting into trouble was the large stoppie into the left hander opposite the main straight (my photo was featured on the KR website to boot)...

Problem I believe is that he didn't get his race license back until he paid the fines etc?

I love watching him... but we all remember his little "episode" a couple of nationals ago? Silly boy :whistle: Many a time I have seen him exit the hairpin at Pukie, look to the infield, see the cameras, and pull a wheelie just for them :2thumbsup

[DEATH_INC.]

Tricky, but Lance is f*cken awesome at wheelies and stoppies and stuff, if they let the stunt guys do it, then he's well qualified. There would prolly be only 1 or 2 guys I know of (in nz) that are better. Prolly more chance of eddie running into the crowd looking at himself in the shop windows :Pokey:

[davebullet]

I was disappointed I didn't see any at Wanganui like I'm sure I recall in 2006.

OSH overdrive by the sounds of it. If something went wrong (slapper etc..) and the bike went into a fence and hurt someone in the crowd.... I'd be saying why aren't the fences up to scratch? or you can't expect absolute safety in motorsport (and any spectator who expects that should stay at home).

If they want to be bureaucratic and safe at the same time, why not have a wheelie endorsement on the racing license for those proven to have the skills to do them properly?

[huff3r]

I was disappointed I didn't see any at Wanganui like I'm sure I recall in 2006.

OSH overdrive by the sounds of it. If something went wrong (slapper etc..) and the bike went into a fence and hurt someone in the crowd.... I'd be saying why aren't the fences up to scratch? or you can't expect absolute safety in motorsport (and any spectator who expects that should stay at home).

If they want to be bureaucratic and safe at the same time, why not have a wheelie endorsement on the racing license for those proven to have the skills to do them properly?

I saw stroud standing it up under power most laps right in front of suzuki... and one guy in Formula 3 forcefully hoisted his into the air on the warmup lap for the 1st race :lol:

[Pussy]

Prolly more chance of eddie running into the crowd looking at himself in the shop windows :Pokey:

Yeah... but his hairdos look AWESOME! :)

[That Guy]

If you get fined for that, how do the organisers rationalise 3 600s going down the main straight at Paeora, three abreast, through the kink (where if a specatator leant out far enough you could touch the riders going past) at over 200ks? Get that wrong and the carnage would be way worse than a wheelie going wrong....yet that is ok......
FFS THIS IS (sparta) MOTORBIKE RACING!

I think the fine is bollocks.

[White trash]

The imposed fine is bullshit, as is the rule. However, it is a rule, we were told and you've gotta take your medicine unfortunately if you get pinged breaking it.

Thing is, motorsport of any description is risky by nature. That's why we do it, that's why we watch it. I've been to race meetings run by two seperate clubs where in the breifing we were told "No wheelies, or you're out". This on a circuit mind, not a street meeting. Quite frankly, I used to travel to Wanganui purely to witness the nutter on the black S-RAD performing the meanest stunts. He was a legend to me in the day, now he's a mate and more impressive to ride with than watch.

Ironically, PAeroa is governed and run by the AMCC. Last time I was in the clubrooms (a while back, granted) the desk-top on their computer was one Mr L. Lowe, totaly vertical on the front wheel with the road markings reflected perfectly on the top of his chrome KBC helmet. Hmmmmmmm.......

[FROSTY]

They should get fucked. I was warned years ago at the Port of Auckland street races for doing wheelies down the main straight on my KX500. When I mentioned Robert Holden was doing them all day the told me "Well that's Robert Holden" Organisers need entrants...and while an entrant doing something REALLY stupid is unacceptable...wheelies are a-ok anytime in my book.

Spectators are there at their own risk. If they get hurt by a bike that's been thrown down the road...as sad as it is...it's racing. They all go there for the thrills and spills. Can't have it both ways.
Mate the way I see it street racing is pretty darned awesome stuff. But no matter how ya skew the picture it is dangerous for specatators.
You can say "hey its their problem" hey they knew what they were getting themselves into"
But if it turns to custard and a spectator(worse a child) gets seriously hurt the media are gonna have an apsolute feilday.
The rollon will be OSH involved and eventually street racing will cease to exist because of the amount of safety precautions and red tape needed.
So for organisers to do what they can to minimise the risk whilst still haviing a spectacular meeting I think the no deliberate wheelies thing is fair call
Again I feel we do need to look at the bigger picture rather than our personal views.

Mate to be clear here--I love watching good wheelies please don't think I don't

[Motu]

My brother has lived in Canada for 35 years - I've taken him to Paeroa a couple of times when he's been over.He loves it - ''Fuck,you'd never be able to do this in North America!'' There is a very real risk we could lose this privilege.