Pit Lane Christchurch

[Muppet]

Don is up and running again in Atlas Lane off Dundas Street. He said they had been open there for 3 weeks. His place is basically behind his old shop in the alley way that backs onto Rolling Thunder, Casbolts and Steeet and Sport.

[SMOKEU]

It's about time he got up an running again. It must have really hurt having the shop shut for that long.

[shrub]

Don is an icon in Christchurch motorcycling, everyone needs to support the man.

[rastuscat]

The PL guys are great.

The earthquake has really nailed them, so if you're going to spend dosh on tyres, spend it with them. You'll get good service, AND be helping them get back to business.

[onearmedbandit]

The PL guys are great.

The earthquake has really nailed them, so if you're going to spend dosh on tyres, spend it with them. You'll get good service, AND be helping them get back to business.

Went in today and ordered some new tyres. Getting them fitted on Thursday.

[Muppet]

Went in today and ordered some new tyres. Getting them fitted on Thursday.

Good on yer mate!

[shrub]

back in his old building, back being grumpy, abrupt and offering bloody good prices and excellent service.

And Street and Sport are back next door, so suggest we stop them and Don from following Sportszone by supporting them. I'll be in to buy a new back tyre soon enough.

[HenryDorsetCase]

concur! and yes.

[neels]

back in his old building, back being grumpy, abrupt and offering bloody good prices and excellent service.
Normal transmission has resumed then :niceone:


And Street and Sport are back next door, so suggest we stop them and Don from following Sportszone by supporting them. I'll be in to buy a new back tyre soon enough.
I'll be doing my bit soon, the back tyre on my duc is looking decidedly secondhand, I have no idea how it got like that :innocent:

[gammaguy]

back in his old building, back being grumpy, abrupt and offering bloody good prices and excellent service.

And Street and Sport are back next door, so suggest we stop them and Don from following Sportszone by supporting them. I'll be in to buy a new back tyre soon enough.


i got the closing down email from sportzone this morning.Sad

I hope the locals support the shops that give good service so they are rewarded for doing the good job that sportzone often did.

Dons a good bloke too!

[imdying]

New set today, and yes it's definitely business as usual. Always so much interesting stuff to look at there.

[Gremlin]

Alright alright... I'll come down from Auckland to get a set fitted.

No seriously, I will... :yes:

Ok.. it was already booked in... 1-2 March ish... tyres should have arrived.

[Muppet]

I spoke to the owner of Street & Sport the other day and he told me that the southern end of Manchester Street has lost 80% of it's foot traffic, not helped by the CCC moving it's HQ to Hereford Street recently.

[Gremlin]

Okay... so does anyone have an update on Don and Pit Lane? I tried finding out where the cordon was, couldn't find any info... I presume it could be inside.

I have tyres scheduled to be fitted mid next week, and I'm doing thousands of km either side, so need them. Even if I can get the tyres I guess, and transport to another city like Dunedin, for fitting... that would be handy...

[Flip]

Get his number off his web page and give him a call.

[Gremlin]

Tried the 0800 number, no answer. Don't have a mobile number.

[AxN]

Tried the 0800 number, no answer. Don't have a mobile number.

Christchurch CBD within the Moorehouse/Fitzgerald/Bealey/Rolleston Avenue block is all cordoned off. The buildings close to Pit Lane took a huge hit during the 4th Sept and Boxing day earthquake, I wouldn't be surprise it's gone by now. The chance you get into Pit Lane next week is on the slim side... worth trying. All else fails, you could try Hampton Honda, they are not within the CBD boundary.

[gammaguy]

I would say the news is not good.

I was in the middle of a transaction with them,and now i get no replies to my emails.

My guess is this time its terminal,at least in that part of the City.:facepalm:

[AllanB]

Highly unlikely it will be operating - I'd just like confirmation that Don, his partner and staff are OK - plus the same for the Street & Sport, Casbolts and Rolling Thunder team.

If you are passing through and need tyres - try Hampton Honda or Avon City Suzuki at Sockburn. Also a bit south of shakey CHCH in Ashburton - there is a good Honda dealer there.

[Kickaha]

Highly unlikely it will be operating - I'd just like confirmation that Don, his partner and staff are OK - plus the same for the Street & Sport, Casbolts and Rolling Thunder team.

I know Glen from street and Sport is ok not sure about any of the others

[EssGee]

Everyone from Street & Sport is ok, same with Emoto from St Asaph Street.

[f4ctry]

Pitlane, Budget MC and Motoworks are all shut and from what I understand wont be opening anytime soon. Talked to Shane at Motoworks this morning, and he seems to think if he can get anything out of his shop other than rubble he will be suprised.

[onearmedbandit]

Heard that Joe from Triumph got out ok, apparently a massive crack opened up in the shop.

[AllanB]

Bike shops in CHCH are stuffed now - unlikely they will be getting much custom even if they are able to open in any form.

Unless ......

A load of riders think - F this I'm lucky to have survived and I'm going to bloody enjoy myself now and get that new bike I've been desiring for months. :yes:

[gammaguy]

Bike shops in CHCH are stuffed now - unlikely they will be getting much custom even if they are able to open in any form.

Unless ......

A load of riders think - F this I'm lucky to have survived and I'm going to bloody enjoy myself now and get that new bike I've been desiring for months. :yes:

I like your style dude,its good to see optimism.

My bikes are probably all crushed,I havent even heard yet......:bye:

[AllanB]

Yeah sounds shit reading it back, but the face of Christchurch is going to change forever.

I've been anal about my own bike since it got flipped over in September - I stick a brick front and rear of the back wheel, I bungie the side stand to the headers so it cannot flick up and I double strap the bars to the rafters. Only last weekend I was thinking bugger this it must be time to stop. I did it anyway.

Bike survived Tuesday but still moved back and sideways about 300 mm!

Maybe some of the bike shops can band together into a large multi brand one and share the costs of running a business in New Zealand.

[Dent]

Good to hear that at least the people from the bike shops in town are ok.

Has anyone had word on the staff from D.A.S in Saxxon street (Linton and Jeff) ?
The shop was fine last quake, but this was a bigger deal.

[Transalper]

Linton and wife are safe, DAS is still standing, some stuff inside ended up on the ground but they have started cleaning up from what I hear. That is info passed on from Phil Parish who is also safe n well.

[lakedaemonian]

Update:

I was BOT in Rolling Thunder when the EQ hit.

I had just returned from our Thunder Tour to the HOG Nationals.

Once I got my kids and wife sorted, Chucked on the uniform and went to town helping at the Latimer Sq triage centre for a few hours( BIG ups to St Johns, they had their shit together, fantastic effort), then "acquired" a big water truck, filled it and staged it with potable water, then did a Recce with my part time boss through town. While waiting for the next tasking, I went with a mate to insPect our dealerships.

Sportzone building looked whole, but all bikes on their side.

Street & Sport building looked OK, all bikes up.

Casbolts building looked OK, about 6 bikes knocked over.

Rolling Thunder building looked OK, all bikes standing, some ceiling tiles down, some loose merchandise down. Small crack in armor glass door.

Bicycle shop next to R/T looked like it exploded it to the street.

Street itself has some liquification, but easily driveable as is. Just needs a scrape up.

Some cracked and jagged footpaths.

Around back looked fine for all bike shops, bar two bikes at end of alley covered in brick. And a work van covered inbrick along with another 3-4 brick damaged cars.

Smith city car park pancaked. Thank god no one was in there.

Take it all with a grain of salt as I went through between 12-1am in superficial inspection between taskings.

Fortunately, all R/T staff are good to go.

Tried gaining access today, but Poluce would have none of it. I think my Army mates would look the other way for a minute ;)

We are well resourced and will be fine.

Our business is our awesome staff and the great product we sell. While we may have lucked out far more than most, we are grateful we suffered no human losses to our great team.

While waiting for big green and civil defense to gain momentum and surge resources into Christchurch; Rolling Thunder staff, 3 of our vehicles, and some great friends delivered 7500 litres of drinking water in the eastern suburbs and some bog roll and lollies.

Back to working with Army again tomorrow.

Will be getting back in the shop the second the bottom part if the CBD reopens, or sooner, when I catch the coppers looking the wrong way! ;)

R/T is well resourced and well insured. Nothing matters more than paying my staff.

We appreciate your patience during this "minor disturbance".

PS: anyone else notice how easy it is to get around on a motorbike in gridlock
traffic and car sized potholes?

Best wishes to all those affected.

The worst news for our team is that A great young lady who was in our 2011 R/T HD Calender and one of our Santas Elves for our annual Santa on a Harley free photos was seriously injured in the Press building collapse. She's an awesome young lady :(

[lakedaemonian]

Sorry forgot about Dons location:

Looked A OK.

Sorry for my poor spelling and grammar.

My sausage fingers dont work too hot on an iPhone keyboard.

[Dutchee]

Thank you for what you're doing (and all others helping out, yet again).
Best wishes to all from up north.