Motorcyclist killed at Hampton Downs

[miloking]

What happened? Who was there today?....i cant remember any dangerous walls at start/finish apart from the bit where you get into pits but even that isnt very dangerous.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4286136/Motorcyclist-killed-at-racing-open-day

RIP but probably another unneccesary death....

[cave weta]

here is same info from waikato times
It was a superbike school track day.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/4286131/

[White trash]

What happened? Who was there today?....i cant remember any dangerous walls at start/finish apart from the bit where you get into pits but even that isnt very dangerous.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4286136/Motorcyclist-killed-at-racing-open-day

RIP but probably another unneccesary death....

Oh fuck I feel sick.

[James Deuce]

Oh fuck I feel sick.
You and me both.

[Gone Burger]

Oh fuck I feel sick.

+ 1 to that. RIP rider, what an aweful accident

[Deano]

You and me both.

They will likely be well known either in the racing community or KB. Fuck.

[cheesemethod]

RIP to the fallen rider, and condolences to his family and friends. I was there, but I don't know anything more than the newspaper does. Everybody there was pretty shocked, and the day was canceled shortly after the accident. Ride safe everyone.

[chanceyy]

Oh fuck I feel sick.


+ 3

RIP .. fuck !!!!!

[Bounce001]

They will likely be well known either in the racing community or KB. Fuck.

Yep. RIP rider

[Bald Eagle]

RIP rider and condolences to friends and family.

[Kiwi Graham]

Very tragic news;
Thought with the rider and family, also Darren and his team.

[MSTRS]

Very sad news.

[Banditbandit]

Something very very bad has happened to hit the wall on the start/finish straight ...

A bad day at the track ... condolensces to the family ... and the SuperBike School ..

[Quasievil]

I was heading up and I was past by the serious crash unit traffic unit, I had a bad feeling which was realised once I arrived, not good.
Very sorry to hear about this tragic event.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Horrible news. RIP, and condolences to all family and friends.

[2wheeldrifter]

Condolences to his family and friends. Tragic indeed.

[riffer]

Totally gutted.

[Punchy]

Also feels sick.

[Foxzee]

Oh Crap!

Thoughts to family and friends....RIP

[DEATH_INC.]

Our workshop manager was out there, he says the guy got into a tankslapper over the 'hump' and lost control.
I'm sure it'll all come out when the facts are known.
RIP fella.

[rustyrobot]

This is sad and sobering. RIP young racer.
Condolences to family, and also to organisers.

[Little Miss Trouble]

My condolences to the family and friends

[Genestho]

Just read of the tragic news, so sorry to hear this, thoughts are with those at the Track, condolences to friends and family.
RIP young man..

[onearmedbandit]

This is tragic news. Please keep names off the forum until such time that has been publicly announced in the media or by the family of the rider.

Thanks guys and girls.

[Number One]

Very sad. RIP

[Ronin]

You and me both.

With you on that.

[Quasi]

tragic news - huge condolences and hugs to family and friends.
Losing ones life doing the safe and sensible thing is not good but I applaud this young man for getting out on the track to better his riding skills. I weep that it all went so tragically wrong. R.I.P

[Rych]

R.I.P. racer, just heard about this when I got into work, very sad.. As a rider you feel your gut just sink when you hear this kind of news. :(

[klyong82]

RIP young rider...

[Dogboy900]

RIP :(
Condolences to family and friends

[ckai]

bugger :(

From the photo I was thinking if it had something to do with the 'hump'. But there's no point in speculating.

Very bugger

[steveyb]

Oh no......

[steve_t]

Oh fuck I feel sick.

+7 RIP young fulla. Condolences to everyone who knew the guy

[Shorty_925]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4286136/Motorcyclist-killed-at-Hampton-Downs-racing-open-day

[neil_cb125t]

Heaps of 'hugs' to all that were up there for a great day out - Darren and his team are the most proffessional track day providers I have come across. They WILL remain this way even through todays event.

There are always wider families involved when a motorcyclist passes. Not only those guys and girls who put a lid on everyweekend, but work mates, family and extended friends.

In honour of NOK, I will not devoldge any particulars, thoughts will be with all those extended families - support each other, I am so sorry.

chappy

[c4.]

very very sad to be standing next to someone in riders briefing, then 35 mins later watching the Ambo's heads go down for them.
condolences to friends and family. :no:

[madbikeboy]

A shit of a day, horrible for everyone who was there, for Darren and his team, for Jamie K and Chris W who own the track; and of course, for the guy's family.

It was just a track day, not superbike school.

Condolances,
Mike

[SWERVE]

That is not good.......... especially for the person/family involved.
It looks like the wall section that was the topic of much discussion earlier in the year.

[Bald Eagle]

Duplicate (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/130380-Motorcyclist-killed-at-Hampton-Downs/page3) thread

[Spazman727]

Jesus fuck. I feel like I want to cry. It seems worse somehow than if it was a road accident.
My sincere condolences to the family and anyone who knew him.
Goes to show that we aren't invincible.

[Stromble]

Yep, was a very sad morning.. its one thing to hear about it, but another to be there when it happens.. my sincere condolences to his family and friends..

[R6_kid]

What happened? Who was there today?....i cant remember any dangerous walls at start/finish apart from the bit where you get into pits but even that isnt very dangerous.

Start of the outside wall is unguarded. Had me worried when I ran wide close to it.

Condolences to family and friends, and anyone who was there.

[R-Soul]

It would be interesting to know what happened- tracks being supposed to be safe with runoff areas and all?

RIP poor guy.

And it says he was an experienced rider! :shit:

[The Pastor]

RIP dude, dont know what to say :(

[cowboyz]

1. RIP very very sad news!

2. I would really like to see some kind of report to what happened. The track is surposed to be a safe envirnoment. Sure its a dangerous sport but I would want to see if it was a freak of an accident or if there really is a potential danger with wall placements.

[Reckless]

RIP Dude!!
At the least you'd have been having a shit load a fun before it went wrong!
In his 20's that's sad. Regards to family and friends!




2. I would really like to see some kind of report to what happened. The track is surposed to be a safe envirnoment. Sure its a dangerous sport but I would want to see if it was a freak of an accident or if there really is a potential danger with wall placements.

I'd imagine cowboyz there is going to be a long list of people wanting to see that!
Pity this had to happen with the track being so young whatever the reason!

[NZsarge]

Rip rider, condolences to family and friends.

[MsKABC]

Deepest condolences to family and friends of the fallen rider.

It is not something you expect to happen at a track day - these are normally thought of as the safest place to ride. It's extremely tragic.

[dogsnbikes]

:facepalm:

Rip dude thoughts with All

dogs'n'frog

[Hanne]

:( :( :( </10char>

[-df-]

RIP rider...RIP...

[R-Soul]

dunno if its true, but I heard stopries about how the track was designed with its runoff areas to ride one way (say clockwise), but then they realised that it would mean the track was too close to the motorway at the end of the straight or summat, and so they reversed the track direction, meaning that the runoff areas are ok, but not as good as they could be. Can anyone confirm that?

definitely looking for a report on this...

Its going to cause enormous hassles with teh missus next time I want to goto a track day...

[Duke girl]

Concolences to the Riders Family, Friends, Work collegues, Organisers of Hampton Downs and all of you who were there today.
RIP Rider and may you Ride free in the clouds.

[fishb8nz]

Condolences to family and friends.
We are all losers, here!

[SuperSonic]

RIP rider and concolences to family and friends.

[Biggles08]

It was a fast and ugly crash. The very small blessing was he went just as fast.

RIP.

[A_Mans_Ruin]

Ditto! RIP rider.... thoughts to family and friends.

[kiwifruit]

Stink .

[rachprice]

I have no idea what to say but it hits me hard

[OnCam]

My thoughts go out to everyone and condolences to the family and friends, truley tragic.. i turned up at 2 ish to have a look, been away from the pc all day and had not heard it anything.

i was planning to ride today aswell, but couldnt get it off work

[tigertim20]

fuck. what more to say? very tragic. he was doing it right, keeping it off the roads and playing at the track. truly awful.
my thoughts are with the family and friends, those present, and the emergncy staff who did all they could.

a sobering reminder that we can take all the precautions possible, but one small thing can still really fuck your day up.
keep the rubber side down guys.

[Marknz]

RIP to the rider, whomever you are. Condolensces to the family and friends, and the organisers of the meeting.

Have a safe weekend boys n girls!

[c4.]

Still in shock. very very hard to deal with.
I can only imagine it's x 1000000 for peeps who knew him better.

[Smokin]

Sad news indeed, concolences to family and friends.

[FLIPTOP]

My thoughts go out to the family and friends , riders and everyone at Hampton Downs

[beyond]

.................................................. .......................

:weep::weep::weep::weep::weep::weep::weep::weep::w eep::weep:

I thought this track was the ultimate for bikes?

Real sorry to hear this. RIP

Condolences to family and friends :( :(

[Hans]

Bad, bad news.
No Highway Patrol up there. Ride free, Biker.

[Marknz]

Update on Stuff (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4286136/Motorcyclist-killed-at-Hampton-Downs-racing-open-day)...

[Cleve]

Deepest sympathies to friends and family and all who were there at the time.
I have done track days at Hampton Downs and think it is a great track but I also have concerns with that main straight - the kink, the bump and the wall very close to the side. Was talking to Robbie Bugden at one of them and he reckoned that it would be pretty "knarly in the wet"...

[bikerboy011]

:weep: RIP Very shocking to hear, and me going to be at the track tomorrow :no:

[crazyhorse]

After having done the track day at Manfield last weekend - it could very well have happened to any one of us.

RIP, and my thoughts and condolences to his family. Least he was doing something he loved............

My thoughts too to all riders today

[poplar_pete]

Very sad news for all involved. R.I.P and condolences to all family and friends.

[oscarnz]

1. RIP very very sad news!

2. I would really like to see some kind of report to what happened. The track is surposed to be a safe envirnoment. Sure its a dangerous sport but I would want to see if it was a freak of an accident or if there really is a potential danger with wall placements.

When they are racing it was the area that they normally put the Air fence. But they dont use it for track days

[Okey Dokey]

So very sorry to hear of this tragic event. Condolences to the family and friends of the rider, and my thoughts also go out to the riders who were present.

Words really aren't adequate at times like this :(

[zealchick]

Thats just awfull ....RIP rider, condolances to friends and family

[10bikekid]

I,ve crashed there myself at the long sweeper coming onto that straight (mechanical failure)

Prayers for the family and friends and deepest condolences

[madbikeboy]

When they are racing it was the area that they normally put the Air fence. But they dont use it for track days

I don't recall seeing any air fence a couple of weeks ago on race day... There certainly wasn't one in use today.

[Peter Smith]

Very sad news. I was just getting over Dobsy's death.
I raced there last weekend and the hump on the start finish straight is bloody scary at times.
R.I.P. dude condolences to friends and family. I'm totally gutted.

[elle-f]

Just very sad news. Condolences to the family and friends. I feel for those who saw it happen as well.

[simikiel]

Toally gutted to hear about this. Condolences to all the riders' friends and family. RIP mate.

[Lias]

RIP Rider.

[baptist]

My prayers are with both the rider, his family and those present... sad indeed.

[trailblazer]

RIP dude. My condolences to family and friends and to all competitors and track staff that were present at the time of this horrific accident.

[hellokitty]

Truly horrible and so so sad....

Hard to know what to say really, except how tragic :crybaby:

[Lissa]

RIP Rider, and condolences to family and friends. So Sad.

[jaffamont]

R.I.P rider. My sympathy goes out to all those that have been impacted by this sad event.

[onearmedbandit]

The rider has been named in today's paper. However it is not my place to post it up as it is still possible some friends have not been informed yet.

[roy.nz]

RIP Mate you'l be miseed....

[Motardman]

It was only a matter of time before that 'hump' caused a serious tankslapper at 200+ speeds. My thoughts go out to his friends and family, I hope this will trigger Hampton to rectify the situation with either airfencing on that wall or track modification to prevent anyone else from losing their life over such a ridiculous design fault.

To be honest that was my first thought after holy shit poor bugger, that it could only have been that hump and a subsequent tankslapper, barring any massive mechanical failure of course, surely the track owners have been aware of the issue and how it effects motorcycles, why does it always take a pointless loss of life to incite change?

[Smiff-ta]

This made me feel sick when I read about it.

I was nearly sick when I saw his name this morning.

Nicest guy you would EVER meet. I had the pleasure of meeting him earlier this month when he purchased the bike.

R.I.P mate.

[Latte]

Fark Fark Fark.

Met him at a previous track day, chatted to him between every session pretty much, very nice guy - a lot of similarities between us in regards to motorcycle experience, progression, and attitude. Very sobering.

RIP

[BoristheBiter]

First RIP mate, condolence to all family and friends



It was only a matter of time before that 'hump' caused a serious tankslapper at 200+ speeds. My thoughts go out to his friends and family, I hope this will trigger Hampton to rectify the situation with either airbags on that wall or track modification to prevent anyone else from losing their life over such a ridiculous design fault.

To be honest that was my first thought after holy shit poor bugger, that it could only have been that hump and a subsequent tankslapper, barring any massive mechanical failure of course, surely the track owners have been aware of the issue and how it effects motorcycles, why does it always take a pointless loss of life to incite change?

I had been thinking the same thing and have no where the experance he had.
the track ceo said it can't be faulted for safety, well i guess it can now.

Again condolence to all family and friends

[Motardman]

It seems the impact was in fact the outside wall of the start/finish straight rather than the pit lane wall. That 'hump' in the track at the beginning of the pit lane markings is still questionable as to the cause of tankslappers at that point on the track.

Hopefully the guys at the Honda day today will be taking extra care over that section. Even the the four wheelers have issues over that hump causing wheel spin and 'light rear end syndrome'.

[Conquiztador]

Ride free forever. My sincere condolences to family and friends.

[Mort]

very sad to read this and my thoughts are with family and friends.

I hope there is a thorough inquiry. The track is definitely dodgy at that point.

[Smifffy]

RIP dude :(

[fatzx10r]

very sad. RIP

[cowboyz]

what an absoulte fuck!.. He was a super guy.. Used to hang out down this way a while back. bugger.

[Auntie Podes]

Tim was one of the nicest blokes you could ever want to meet. He had a wicked sense of humour and it is that which I will remember him for the most. This is truly a tragic and sad loss. Both my wife and I are stunned that he has gone and our thoughts have been with his family since we heard. My $0.02.

[sl8er4lyf]

Rode with him at our first race meet just the other week, a truly down to earth guy, light hearted and easy going, looked as though he felt at home on a bike. So very sorry to hear about this; he was at home on a bike all smiles from the moment he got on the bike til the moment he left the track. Rest In Peace

[Tink]

A real friend to many from the great many words written, a real man.. yup Dobsy comes to mind... RIP ... :(

[roadracingoldfart]

Wastefull . Sympathy to family and friends in the force and motorcycling circles.

Paul & Dianne.

[k1w160]

I heard about this at Taupo yesterday.
R.I.P. rider and condolances to family and those who knew him.

[SMOKEU]

Have there been any fatalities at Ruapuna?

[Kickaha]

Have there been any fatalities at Ruapuna?

Yes, but a fatality at any track is reasonably rare event

[rocketman1]

So sorry to hear this, a young rider killed in doing what he loved.
My thoughts go out to his family and friends. RIP

I have ridden this track a couple of track days, and must confess that the track is awesome, and feels very safe, except for the slight hump that runs across the track at the beginning of the start/ finish straight. I didn't have any real issues, but I estimate would have been travelling at 160-170kmhr. I guess that many riders could hit this bump at way more than 200km/hr, which would be a different story
If this has contributed to the alleged tank slapper then the owners need to take some remedial action to ensure it doesn't happen again.

I am aware though that tank slappers can occur at anytime for a number of reasons so it may be unfair to blame the track.

Im thinking that its up to racing fraternity (riders) and track owners and officials to make correct judgement call here.


RIP