The spectators perspective NZSBZ Hampton Downs

[Kiwi Graham]

Hi guys/gals

I'm looking for some feedback from the spectators point of view on the 4th round NZSBK at Hampton Downs 17th & 18th March.

The good the bad and the ugly please to help us plan for next year.

Cheers

Graham

[gonzo_akl]

Hi,

I put a comment in your earlier thread reminding that the event was on.

Overall thought it was great day out with some great racing.

How did it go for you and the organisers?

cheers

[Dutchee]

Hi,

I put a comment in your earlier thread reminding that the event was on.

Overall thought it was great day out with some great racing.

How did it go for you and the organisers?

cheers

We managed to not get a programme, and I had no idea where to grab one from.

Having a radio was a good idea, but it did cut in & out during the day (still way better than previous times down there relying on the PA system).

Need to ban all bikes that leak oil, oh, and ban the rain.

The coffee place down the end of the pits didn't do coffee (only icecream, even though they said on the side they did both), which was disappointing and they closed up the food tents too early on Saturday.

Would've stayed for prizegiving, except for the weather (missed the last race, which wasn't a reflection of the racing, it was just cold & had to get home).

Toilets by the pits could've been cleaned, not sure about the other ones.

Basically, it was a more enjoyable event than previous, and all the above is nit-picking (except the bit about the oil, these things happen in all classes occasionally, not just sidecars). Oh, I did miss the chairs, and had someone else ask about them. The rain really can be banned, and the cold wind, but that's part of our summer this year, it sucks. I was glad it wasn't on today, as I'm a huge fan of racing, but unless you've got Rossi there, I'm not putting up with super crap weather (yes, was at Phillip Island the year before last).

Viewing at HD isn't fantastic due to the elevation I guess, but that's nothing that can be done about by the AMCC. Oh, camping should be allowed by those that want to (race teams), as some of these guys are on a shoestring budget, and with the unexpected having to pay for riding on Friday heavily added to their costs. Could well have had more entries if they were allowed to camp.

Oh, there was one other thing. Did the flag marshalls have a full set of flags on each point? By Barrell 51 they had the oil on the track flag out, but not sure if there was or not - i.e. didn't see any. They had it out in the 600's after the 4 bikes had gone down, but then also held it out when the rain came in the Superlites/Hyosung race, and again didn't see any oil (not sure what class that was) - as no one had gone down in that race. And no, I'm not volunteering to help at the next event, I'm way too easily distracted to sit/stand flagging.

[GSXR Trace]

The racing and riding was fantastic, but from a spectator point of view, sitting in the grand stand of the main straight, it would have been good to hear the commentary during the day but the speakers were not connected and working. Also, the coffee line was very long, especially since there were two coffee trucks not allowed to sell coffee, which meant missing races while standing in the coffee queue.

But they are two very minor points, meant to be helpful, it was a really great racing!

[Phreak]

Check out my blog, I'll be updating with a full post tomorrow on Sunday's action when I'm not so tired tomorrow. From a marshal's perspective, with a really fun night thrown into the mix too!

Link in my signature!

[Mental Trousers]

Not bad at all mate.

The food was as expected, ie the usual horrible deep fried crap (the Stead and Onion Roll was about as good as it got) unless you went to the pavillion and paid heaps for a puny Panini. Coffee was very average too. Where was Bear??

A plus was the permanent loo's were pretty good, although I managed to get into them just after the cleaners had been through each time (they did them a couple of times through out the day) so they were relatively clean and well stocked.

Radio broadcast was bloody good, especially as you couldn't hear the PA everywhere.

I know the garages had nothing to do with you guys but the high price of them meant everyone was running generators and it made walking around the back of the pit sheds and skid pan very unpleasant. The horrible generator noise is something you never hear at car meetings (pointed out by a couple who have spent huge amounts of time at race tracks running a V8 Commodore and other cars for the last 30 years). It's the number #1 thing that pisses me off about going to Puke.

Another thing that is beyond your control but the noise regulations can only be a good thing. It'll be great to spend a day at the track without needing ear plugs.

Stupid little thing, but the tickets didn't fit into my wallet.

Overall, very little to complain about.

[one-speed]

Toilets by the pits could've been cleaned, not sure about the other ones.

Lol the toilets I was using just about every time I was up next for a race they were closed for cleaning!
Bad timing me thinks :shutup:
Was good to see a lot more people there, was a long day but a good one.:)

[Dutchee]

Lol the toilets I was using just about every time I was up next for a race they were closed for cleaning!
Bad timing me thinks :shutup:
Was good to see a lot more people there, was a long day but a good one.
Could well have been bad timing, but my bladder decided I had to go when we got there and the other two loos were in use. Not sure if it was water or what on the ground lol. I did cross my legs for the rest of the day unless I was up by control and the permanent toilets.
It wasn't a big deal, honestly, it was just what I found.
Then again, walking past the sucky-vaccy vans while they're doing their business isn't overly pleasant either, come to think of it lol

I did enjoy the weekend and ended up spending more time there than had planned on, mainly because the racing was really good in all the classes

[Edbear]

Thoroughly enjoyed Sunday there. Wasn't there Saturday. The whole event over all was good, only some not-picking as others have said. The sound system cut out at times but was generally good an well done by the commentators.

You're never going to get it perfect of course but with a bit of understanding and cooperation everyone should be able to enjoy the racing and the pits.

I can't compare with other countries but is NZ unique in how openly accessible the teams are for the public to get up close and personal? The team crews and the riders deserve appreciation for their friendly welcoming and willingness to talk to the public! It makes us average Joe's better understand the dynamics of how a racing team operates and gets us behind the teams.

The stalls were good and everyone seemed happy and relaxed so all I can say is keep up the efforts and things can only get better.

[Mental Trousers]

Oh, there was one other thing. Did the flag marshalls have a full set of flags on each point? By Barrell 51 they had the oil on the track flag out, but not sure if there was or not - i.e. didn't see any. They had it out in the 600's after the 4 bikes had gone down, but then also held it out when the rain came in the Superlites/Hyosung race, and again didn't see any oil (not sure what class that was) - as no one had gone down in that race. And no, I'm not volunteering to help at the next event, I'm way too easily distracted to sit/stand flagging.

It's a low adhesion flag, not necessarily oil.

Just because you can't see any oil (I'd be surprised if you could see any from the spectator areas) doesn't mean there isn't anything there. It's always better to warn people there might be something than watch bikes crash.

[Gremlin]

Oh, there was one other thing. Did the flag marshalls have a full set of flags on each point? By Barrell 51 they had the oil on the track flag out, but not sure if there was or not - i.e. didn't see any. They had it out in the 600's after the 4 bikes had gone down, but then also held it out when the rain came in the Superlites/Hyosung race, and again didn't see any oil (not sure what class that was) - as no one had gone down in that race. And no, I'm not volunteering to help at the next event, I'm way too easily distracted to sit/stand flagging.
It's actually a slippery surface flag (still called oil flag as a hangover), and held out for basically anything other than a normal circuit. Used for debris, rain (unless the race is declared wet etc) to warn the riders the track is likely not in the condition they would normally expect and to take a little more caution (except they're racers so they probably don't) :laugh:

As I told Chris, even from a marshall's perspective I think the organisation through the oil spill of stunts and displays was one of the smoothest events I've seen in half a decade with so many people and things coming together in excellent order.