Pukekohe track days? [Archive]

racefactory

2nd February 2011, 15:40

Good on you for asking mate...

There is little information out there to get riders on the track without being involved in clubs and boards which not definitely not everyone's thing. I think this is to blame for the exaggerated racing attitude we have on the roads.

Look up AMCC and you will find the info you need. Unfortunately you may not be able to do your hardest laps there due to the amount of riders and classes. I doubt you will be able to get a hard lap in on your monster of a bike. AMCC have Advanced Rider Training days at Pukekohe about 4 times over summer or there are test days on usually once a week but they won't have the crash bales out for those days.

Get yourself out there anyway and get some onboard laps for us!

Ntoxcated

2nd February 2011, 17:16

While you can possibly find slower riders in any group, you can definitely find some space to get some good laps in. Usually the groups are well separated - slow, medium, medium-fast, fast. As far as restrictive rules go, it is pretty much just no undertaking in a corner or in the last 50m to the hairpin.

http://www.amcc.co.nz/advanced

Gremlin

2nd February 2011, 17:50

Unfortunately you will not be able to do your hardest laps there though as there are many slow riders therefore some restrictive rules. I doubt you will be able to get a hard lap in on your monster of a bike. AMCC have Advanced Rider Training days at Pukekohe about 4 times over summer or there are test days on usually once a week but they won't have the crash bales out for those days.
Eh? Have you done one of these days? The three slower groups have varying restrictions, it is after all, about developing skills, not just seeing how fast you can write your bike off. The fastest group does have much less restrictions (if you're fast enough) however, it is still not a race, and cutting people off etc will not be tolerated.

Test days are not run by AMCC, hence why there are no bales (the bales belong to AMCC). The AMCC marshals (the ones in pretty orange head to toe) tie and un-tie them every day. Locals are contracted to bring them out and put them away.

Kiwi Graham

2nd February 2011, 18:50

Next organised track day run by ART and AMCC is 17th April http://www.amcc.org.nz/uploads/richassets/ART%20April%202011%20Entry%20Form.pdf for entry form.

As said there are 4 groups dependant on ability.

To contradict racefactory a little, if your ability puts you in group 4 you can go as hard as you like provided you don't hinder other riders and recognise the appropriate track etiquette at all times you'll be sweet. Group 4 has instructors too, one of which will be high profile racer for you to pick is brains.

As explained above if it is just a no hods barred fang you want without instruction available or the increased safety then attend one of the Pukekohe controlled testing days http://www.countiesracing.co.nz/motor-racing/13/

Drew

2nd February 2011, 19:03

Autech

2nd February 2011, 19:48

Funny rule about not going up the inside under brakes coming up to the hairpin. It's the absolute safest place to pass at Pukie. Shit loads of run off, track is wide as fuck, and you can plan it half an hour in advance given the length of the straight.

I quite approve of this rule as there are a lot of riders out there that think they're Rossi on the straight but suck around the corners. Having this rule means that riders will be best prepared to slow down at the hairpin without taking someone out. Just think of the damage someone on a thou could do if they came into that bend too hot, probably in excess of 240ks... You get my drift.

To the thread author, the AMCC days are really well run, and depending on your skill level there will be a spot for in one of the groups you.

Drew

2nd February 2011, 20:27

I quite approve of this rule as there are a lot of riders out there that think they're Rossi on the straight but suck around the corners. Having this rule means that riders will be best prepared to slow down at the hairpin without taking someone out. Just think of the damage someone on a thou could do if they came into that bend too hot, probably in excess of 240ks... You get my drift.

I'm not a moron, I know what the intention of the rule is, but from 50 meters back seems a bit excessive for the fast group. The speed differential for the group shouldn't be more than ten or fifteen seconds a lap, which is pretty much the same as any club race day.

Gremlin

2nd February 2011, 20:47

I'm not a moron, I know what the intention of the rule is, but from 50 meters back seems a bit excessive for the fast group. The speed differential for the group shouldn't be more than ten or fifteen seconds a lap, which is pretty much the same as any club race day.
The speeds can vary a bit more on an ART day, but then it also depends who makes the grid on race day (and we've had some slow ones).

As a marshal being the eyes and ears on the circuit, we basically leave the fast group to it, unless someone is repeatedly causing potential incidents. Rules are more closely watched in the other groups. Essentially, fast is racers, if there are road bikes its either racers on road bikes, or they've been to a few track days, so their reactions are fine when being passed etc.

We've seen a few hairy ones where people have completely over-estimated their stopping distance, and when you have a queue of bikes entering the hairpin at below typical speeds, it makes it more dangerous. (Seriously, I laugh at the difference. Racers come into the hairpin fighting for every inch, ART day, they queue up, seeming to say, noooo, youuuu first, I insist!)

BoristheBiter

2nd February 2011, 20:59

Anyone no how often puke track days are held and how much they cost.

ART days are great, so are Hampton downs, and Motott either at Taupo or manfeild.
All of these are vary well run but the thing is to get yourself into the right group in the first place.

If you have the money you could do over 1 track day a month.

racefactory

2nd February 2011, 21:24

Funny rule about not going up the inside under brakes coming up to the hairpin. It's the absolute safest place to pass at Pukie. Shit loads of run off, track is wide as fuck, and you can plan it half an hour in advance given the length of the straight.

For some people a lot of the fun is with braking hard and feeling the rear wheel yawing about off the ground. To have to slow down on the straight to get a good hard run into the braking zone is very frustrating. There are a lot of riders who just cane it on the straights and just shift down with a dab of rear brake to slow down, barely even using the front brake.

Marmoot

2nd February 2011, 22:03

For the barbaric no-holds-barred total freedom they so call Controlled Testing days, refer to the schedule http://www.countiesracing.co.nz/motor-racing/13/

It's $90 for the day.

No groupings; i.e., all motorbikes go out in one single group. Depending on how many turns up, it can get quite crowded. But for most of the time it is still in manageable number.

Camshaft

3rd February 2011, 10:59

Kiwi Graham

3rd February 2011, 14:58

Cheers guys. can you move up groups on the day (if find pace of group to slow)?
Im quite a confident rider but would want to start in a lower down group as itl b my first but dnt want to be restricted by the group i pick.

Yes you can.

Visit the AMCC web site and click rider training http://www.amcc.org.nz/advanced
there is plenty of information there.

Autech

3rd February 2011, 16:04

This is what pisses me off too. For some people a lot of the fun is with braking hard and feeling the rear wheel yawing about off the ground. To have to slow down on the straight to get a good hard run into the braking zone is very frustrating. There are a lot of riders who just cane it on the straights and just shift down with a dab of rear brake to slow down, barely even using the front brake.

Yeah I agree, tapped out on the hyo (at a blistering 150ish kmph) I was amazed at how early some riders slowed down, especially the ones who thought that cause they're on a bigger bike than me, it gives them the right to pass me down the back straight, and then proceed to hold me up for the rest of the track, but on a thousand you shouldn't have that issue :woohoo:. But yeah going into that hairpin I would push and push in further just to test my daring, good fun!

Being your first track day I'd suggest starting in the slowest group, the tutors are excellent and can give you a lot more one to one time if you're showing that you can go faster. And if you're feeling keen you can step into a higher group, they asked a few characters to do that while I was there.

Apparently the most dangerous antics happen in the second fastest group.

racefactory

3rd February 2011, 16:52

It's (pretty much) the only problem I have about anything though and all credit due to the organizers. It would be good if it were more focussed on ranking according to braking ability, then it would be far safer with small closing speeds at the braking areas.

1000cc squids can fly by freely and safely past 250 bikes on the straights without concern but when you have that 250 rider rear wheel in air, flying past the gixxer squid on brakes, it's downright dangerous. I have seen my fair share of hyo riders who can haul up their machines hard as, not afraid to stand them on their nose.

Gremlin

3rd February 2011, 17:33

Don't forget that the big bikes can top 300 down the back straight... you don't have to slow from quite the same speed...

Drew

3rd February 2011, 20:38

The speeds can vary a bit more on an ART day, but then it also depends who makes the grid on race day (and we've had some slow ones).

As a marshal being the eyes and ears on the circuit, we basically leave the fast group to it, unless someone is repeatedly causing potential incidents. Rules are more closely watched in the other groups. Essentially, fast is racers, if there are road bikes its either racers on road bikes, or they've been to a few track days, so their reactions are fine when being passed etc.

We've seen a few hairy ones where people have completely over-estimated their stopping distance, and when you have a queue of bikes entering the hairpin at below typical speeds, it makes it more dangerous. (Seriously, I laugh at the difference. Racers come into the hairpin fighting for every inch, ART day, they queue up, seeming to say, noooo, youuuu first, I insist!)

Sweet, makes sense

ttmadness

7th February 2011, 13:30

Ntoxcated

7th February 2011, 15:34

If you follow the links provided earlier in the thread you should be able to find exactly what you are looking for. But no, jeans will not be sufficient. Cordura is fine for group 1 but must still zip together. A back protector is also compulsory.

malcy25

8th February 2011, 11:26

does anyone know what they let you on the track with in regards to gear?

Just wearing 2 pairs of jeans and cordura and really hoping they won't be too picky and will let me in... I've heard in the past it's no problem but wanted to verify?

I'm going to kill myself on the road soon and really need to get to track soon.

any1 know?

Gear will be dependent upon who is running their event and their min requirements. HD ride days have gear you can hire.

If you are going to kill yourself on the road can I suggest some more self control then, until you can get to a ride day.

Autech

9th February 2011, 19:32

Gear will be dependent upon who is running their event and their min requirements. HD ride days have gear you can hire.

If you are going to kill yourself on the road can I suggest some more self control then, until you can get to a ride day.

+1

HD days are good for the gear hire.