View Full Version : Any car parks/asphalt in Auckland for racing gymkhana and safety skills?
racefactory
4th February 2011, 20:25
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<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5iZqP6Hsdrk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Are there any remote car parks or asphalt expanses that can be used for Gymkhana racing and bike control safety skills in Auckland?
This is simple, practical motor sport that is highly applicable to road riding and can be enjoyed on absolutely any bike... I would very much like to see such a scene developed in NZ and would like to gauge the amount of interest to see if it's worth trying to get something officially organised :).
EJK
4th February 2011, 20:29
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/77111-North-Auckland-Street-Skills-NASS
Katman
5th February 2011, 05:28
This is simple, practical motor sport that is highly applicable to road riding and can be enjoyed on absolutely any bike... I would very much like to see such a scene developed in NZ and would like to gauge the amount of interest to see if it's worth trying to get something officially organised :).
I think it's a fantastic idea.
(Unfortunately I doubt the interest in it would last long once New Zealand motorcyclists discovered that their skill level wasn't up to the standard shown in those vids.)
:facepalm:
hellokitty
5th February 2011, 05:54
Wow, what awesome skills.... at last years Pink Ribbon ride, some Ulysses guys did a demo on their big bikes and they were great. Lots of slow turns and manoeuvres (sp?).
Maybe approach the go kart track people at Rosebank speedway - it is next to the speedway track there are some nice tight corners on it. I always have a little go on it when my husband races at the speedway track - I ride out there to watch him and have a go on the track.
I have seen that someone does basic handling skills on the go kart track as well - not sure who though.
Bass
5th February 2011, 07:36
There's an area of tarmac at Ardmore airport that is regularly used for skid training, land yachting etc. You might be able to get in on that.
No point in me coming along though - after the first section, there's no way any more that I could remember where the course goes!
hellokitty
5th February 2011, 08:49
what about the airbase/airstrip at Whenuapi or is it Hobsonville? Bronz do training out there. You could set up cones to mark a course.
zeocen
5th February 2011, 09:00
I am constantly impressed by those videos! I've seen some huge bikes do it before but never seen a ZX14 have a go - that is great! I think I would lose confidence after the first failed turn, haha.
I would love to have a go at it but I know it would result in a lot of low speed drops - I couldn't do that to my poor viffy, I'd need another bike purely to learn on! :(
racefactory
5th February 2011, 11:01
There's an area of tarmac at Ardmore airport that is regularly used for skid training, land yachting etc. You might be able to get in on that.
No point in me coming along though - after the first section, there's no way any more that I could remember where the course goes!
what about the airbase/airstrip at Whenuapi or is it Hobsonville? Bronz do training out there. You could set up cones to mark a course.
Thanks very much!!! Ardmore sounds great, just a little far from North Shore for me.
Literally all we need is lots of cones and riders :), plus at some stage an electronic timer. I'm going to go check out that tarmac and see how it can be legally accessed for these purposes.
Swoop
5th February 2011, 11:15
Literally all we need is cones and riders :), plus at some stage an electronic timer. I'm going to go check out that tarmac and see how it can be legally accessed for these purposes.
Might I suggest the Universities, Polytech or High Schools?
They might be OK with people using their carparks out of hours for some form of donation?
racefactory
5th February 2011, 11:33
Might I suggest the Universities, Polytech or High Schools?
They might be OK with people using their carparks out of hours for some form of donation?
Good idea. Who would you contact to gain permission I wonder.
racefactory
5th February 2011, 11:41
The only other place I can think of that I know right now are the 2 adjacent car parks along Oteha Valley road in Albany.
I think the surface is too gritty for this purpose though. It would need some serious sweeping.
avgas
5th February 2011, 11:45
I would love a faster, driftier version. Not that my bucket of bolts has the HP to drift these days (:crybaby:I miss my fz1!!!)
I learn't how to ride on the road by doing stuff like this in a car park (zoomin around the islands). And would recommend it to anyone whom is new to biking. Likewise I taught the misses to drive with basic gymkhana.
The best learnt skills are at the limits of experience.
Smifffy
5th February 2011, 14:31
I think it's a fantastic idea.
(Unfortunately I doubt the interest in it would last long once New Zealand motorcyclists discovered that their skill level wasn't up to the standard shown in those vids.)
:facepalm:
Which is why it would need to be run by someone capable of teaching newbs to attain that level of skill.
Swoop
5th February 2011, 14:33
Who would you contact to gain permission I wonder.
If you can make contact with the person in charge of "facilities" that would be a start and they could pass you along to the real person who can make a decision.
It would be best to start writing a letter whaich explains what you want to do on their property.
Set up some cones (no damage to property).
Do some "skills enhancement" training.
Remove all items and return property to "as found" condition (perhaps even cleaner than found!).
Something like that?
hellokitty
5th February 2011, 19:21
The only other place I can think of that I know right now are the 2 adjacent car parks along Oteha Valley road in Albany.
I think the surface is too gritty for this purpose though. It would need some serious sweeping.
You mean the Houten Park carparks which get really busy on the weekend - families with the kids playing in the park, and people learning to drive in the car park too.
racefactory
5th February 2011, 19:25
Never seen that. Just always see them empty. The one with the playground sometimes has few cars in it.
hellokitty
6th February 2011, 07:03
Never seen that. Just always see them empty. The one with the playground sometimes has few cars in it.
Yes, I have only seen it full when we have wanted to teach the kids to drive, and then it appears that everyone else is there doing it too. Other times it is empty. :blink:
Would be a good area though. Nice and big, but yes the small amount of gravel would have to be swept.
Pogo2
6th February 2011, 08:17
shows real skill. Most numpties can ride at high speed and really does not require any additional skill (despite what they think), but riding show really shows the measure of the rider.
Would be great to watch!
R6_kid
6th February 2011, 16:43
The Skidpan at Hampton Downs. Designed specifically for this sort of thing.
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