Akaroa GP

[Hads]

Is this a crazy idea?

It would be cool if we could have a motorcycle road race from Sign of the Kiwi to Akaroa, using the summit roads, ending on long bay road.

It would be over quick I'm assuming and would have to legislate against liability for all the injuries that are likely to occur but could be quite a challenging event.

Downside might be the people racing while the road isn't closed, but it seems people do this anyway.

[neels]

Would be fun (for me to watch, and others to ride), however I suspect the traffic management costs would be astronomical even if you somehow managed to get the road closed.

Sadly I think the days of such things done on a low budget are looong gone.

[WNJ]

:corn: ( waiting for Cassina )

[russd7]

a better one might be a Tarras to Dacre, but probably done more along the cannonball lines :devil2:

[FJRider]

It would be possible ... you just need to close one half of the road in the direction you travel. That way ... you can do two races ... one over and one back.

Job done ... :cool:

[nzspokes]

Cassina will kick your arse.

[russd7]

Cassina will kick your arse.

yeah, cause every one would be trying to catch up to the first one.

bloody hilarious being the first one out and losing everyone and pulling in to a nice wee hiding spot to arrive last at the next stop, people get pissy about it sometimes an go on about going like a nutter to catch up to someone who wasn't even in front

[Zedder]

Cassina will kick your arse.


Foot up or foot down?

[EJK]

Rolleston to Ashburton would be a better challenge /s.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Is this a crazy idea?

It would be cool if we could have a motorcycle road race from Sign of the Kiwi to Akaroa, using the summit roads, ending on long bay road.

It would be over quick I'm assuming and would have to legislate against liability for all the injuries that are likely to occur but could be quite a challenging event.

Downside might be the people racing while the road isn't closed, but it seems people do this anyway.

LOLOLOL

sure, you'd be fine. I think organise it on social media. Get some hot bitches in bikinis to do some flag marshalling, and bobs yer uncle.

What could possibly go wrong?

[WNJ]

Foot up or foot down?

Foot down on those 20 k corners :facepalm:

[T.W.R]

Rolleston to Ashburton would be a better challenge /s.

25yrs ago did from railway station/hoyts on moorehouse ave to sitting in the chertsey pub in 30mins :msn-wink: and that can be verified
Wouldn't even contemplate doing it these days

Though a cannonball run for bikes would be interesting :rolleyes:

[WNJ]

LOLOLOL

sure, you'd be fine. I think organise it on social media. Get some hot bitches in bikinis to do some flag marshalling, and bobs yer uncle.

What could possibly go wrong?
Like those hotties on Tard me :wacko: http://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/549599651.jpg

[AllanB]

LOLOLOL

sure, you'd be fine. I think organise it on social media. Get some hot bitches in bikinis to do some flag marshalling, and bobs yer uncle.

What could possibly go wrong?

Shit yeah. Bikini bike wash in Little River:niceone:


I've thought over the years a run from Taitapu to Little River with some type of public show at the domain after would be cool. The hill would be asking for trouble - be there would be deaths.

So my plan in my next post as I have thought about this.

[AllanB]

A one way only run. Tautapu to Little River.

You'd need to close the road.

Three classes of bikes - open, moderate, casual.

Open = fast shit, suitable bikes.

Moderate = most weekend riders who just want a bit of a burn above the speed limits.

Casual = slower stuff, passengers and Harleys :motu:


Every bike must have a WOF and be up to WOF standard - turn up with a bald tyre - no run. Sutiable gear must be worn in the open and moderate class. Distinguished Gentlemen may wear suits in the Casual run.

You'd need to do mail drops etc way before and have marshals all along the route at each intersection and keeping a eye on drives. Last thing you want is a cocky pulling out of his drive ....

Ambo etc ......

I want the police on site - particularly at the end of the long straight before Little River so they can take camera images which you can buy showing your speed for say $25. All funds go to a charity of the Polices choice or similar.

Bike shops and suppliers displays, food vendors, bands, bouncy castle and your loved ones waiting at the domain for a family time. You get the idea.

I've even though if organizing this I'd try to get a major tyre supplier on board and on site offering super discounted rubber for the day - shit like that.


The organisation would be friggen huge.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Like those hotties on Tard me :wacko: http://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/549599651.jpg

Risky click of the day: result!

[AllanB]

There was a public group ride last year from South City to Taitapu that some riders considered a race despite it not being intended to be by the organisers. To make it an official race I would imagine the cost of holding it would be similar to what it costs to hold the cycle race Le Race and entry fees would be similar.

Forgot about Le Race.

That shit gets run every year. Do they close the road or hills? Don't know I stay the F away that day!

[EJK]

I think some roads are closed and some are not. One year there was confusion over what roads were closed and a rider died during an overtake. I think the organiser was prosecuted for not being clear about what roads were closed. Maybe they were trying to cut costs by not having all the roads fully closed or maybe it was a condition of their resource consent that some remain open. A motorcycle road race would definitly require full road closure which would possibly cost more to get approved.

Or not approved at all.

I want the Tram Road Speed Trials back :-(

[FJRider]

I think the organiser was prosecuted for not being clear about what roads were closed.

The organizer was charged with criminal nuisance, found guilty, then later the Court of Appeal overturned the jury's decision, citing misdirection by the trial judge, that he gave inappropriate answers and directions in response to questions from the jury during deliberation.

Surely the responsibility to know which roads were open or closed ... would be the competitors ...

[jasonu]

It would be possible ... you just need to close one half of the road in the direction you travel. That way ... you can do two races ... one over and one back.

Job done ... :cool:

Racing both directions at the same time would really be interesting...

[rastuscat]

Happens unofficially most weekends.

[AllanB]

Happens unofficially most weekends.

Bawahahahah it sure does.

Be nice to run one officially.

Tram Road - hmmmm that's a oldie. I'd sign up for a open throttle fat along there.

[Grumph]

The longest open road race in NZ was the first running of the Haast Pass trial. Two well known ChCh roadrace riders took the set averages as a minimum target and simply went as hard as they could. No tickets issued but the organisers were shitting bricks for the three days, LOL.
I went on the second running and the warnings were dire...But the untimed run down the coast to Whataroa turned into another race anyway...FUN.

The Summit road from Hilltop to Akaroa has been closed occasionally for a car rally stage - but at night. Probably still possible now.
Both the Tram road and the South Eyre Road are way more built up these days and I'd doubt if either will ever be available for events again. The last flying quarters run by bike clubs were at Charing Cross. The surrounding farms have changed hands since (one of the owners was on the MCI committee of the time) and gone to dairy as well. Doubtful if it's possible now.

Someone in Queensland was proposing a one way timed event on a long stretch of public road recently. Fell down on public liability insurance issues I believe.

Oh, TWR, how does center of Timaru to the saleyards overbridge in 1 hour 5 minutes sound ?.....done on empty roads one evening in 1970.

[T.W.R]

Oh, TWR, how does center of Timaru to the saleyards overbridge in 1 hour 5 minutes sound ?.....done on empty roads one evening in 1970.

Yeah that's pretty impressive :lol:
Though I was 2up on the standard version of the bike I'm doing up at present and it was mid arvo on a Sunday :rolleyes:

What about that wee hush hush event that used to take place up around your neck of the woods :rolleyes:

[Narya]

Is this a crazy idea?

It would be cool if we could have a motorcycle road race from Sign of the Kiwi to Akaroa, using the summit roads, ending on long bay road.

It would be over quick I'm assuming and would have to legislate against liability for all the injuries that are likely to occur but could be quite a challenging event.

Downside might be the people racing while the road isn't closed, but it seems people do this anyway.



Yes it is a crazy idea.

No it would not be cool.

A challenging event in the way that you could be considered challenged for suggesting it.

[Grumph]

Yeah that's pretty impressive :lol:
Though I was 2up on the standard version of the bike I'm doing up at present and it was mid arvo on a Sunday :rolleyes:

What about that wee hush hush event that used to take place up around your neck of the woods :rolleyes:

Hey, I was on a Triumph....getting it to stay together at that pace, for that long. was an achievement...

No one ever told me about the hush hush event up here. I do know about the weed smoking evenings in what is now my barn though....
I was pretty close to Eddie Ridgen and if he knew he'd probably have told me.

[T.W.R]

Hey, I was on a Triumph....getting it to stay together at that pace, for that long. was an achievement...

No one ever told me about the hush hush event up here. I do know about the weed smoking evenings in what is now my barn though....
I was pretty close to Eddie Ridgen and if he knew he'd probably have told me.

Bet the Chertsey & Dunsandel S bends were exciting :blink:
lol a good trumpy shouldn't have had any issues...they weren't all thrashed by then. The oldman squeezed 112mph out of a T100 at Tram Rd in the 50s :msn-wink:

Ridgens the lords of Greendale...the tribe are regulars at work.
Ha I could tell you a few stories about the ones that ran the Hori pub yrs back :msn-wink:

Wasn't it an unofficial gathering of ride what you brought type event that beat the roads up just a bit further up country from Hororata

[trufflebutter]

When anyone puts the letters GP after a place name, is that because some choose to ride a tad quicker than those who don't? rather than at actual GP speeds cos' that just doesn't happen? what a fuck load of nonsense.

[Cosmik de Bris]

The longest open road race in NZ was the first running of the Haast Pass trial. Two well known ChCh roadrace riders took the set averages as a minimum target and simply went as hard as they could. No tickets issued but the organisers were shitting bricks for the three days, LOL.
I went on the second running and the warnings were dire...But the untimed run down the coast to Whataroa turned into another race anyway...FUN.


When was the first one? I went on two of these, and two to the North (French Pass).

[Grumph]

When was the first one? I went on two of these, and two to the North (French Pass).

First haast pass trial would have been '68, '69...All a bit vague now. Second one was I think '72. I had the T350 by then anyway which i rode on that one.
Organised by the Pioneer Club in ChCh. Never did another AFAIK. Did other road trials though over the years. I organised one for them over Banks Peninsular in the late '70s.


When anyone puts the letters GP after a place name, is that because some choose to ride a tad quicker than those who don't? rather than at actual GP speeds cos' that just doesn't happen? what a fuck load of nonsense.

No, it's because in NZ we have a history of running small race meetings in country towns and villages and naming them after the site..Taumaranui GP comes to mind but there were many others. Not unique to us either there were plenty on the Continent.
Akaroa GP is one that has been in use since the road went in, even though there never has been an "official" GP. Many top riders have competed too, LOL...

[HenryDorsetCase]

When anyone puts the letters GP after a place name, is that because some choose to ride a tad quicker than those who don't? rather than at actual GP speeds cos' that just doesn't happen? what a fuck load of nonsense.

you are clearly 12 years old.

I've been riding road bikes since the early 1980's and going to Akaroa for a coffee or beerz has always been the Akaroa Grand Prix.

I am a law obiding middle aged white guy so I obey all posted signs and limits and it takes two hours to get there. When I get there I have lovely cup of tea and some cream scones then come back.

[FJRider]

When anyone puts the letters GP after a place name, is that because some choose to ride a tad quicker than those who don't? rather than at actual GP speeds cos' that just doesn't happen? what a fuck load of nonsense.

Short answer is yes ... and YES it CAN happen, and has done for many years.

In the "Old" days ... nobody worked weekends ... so weekends were race days. In those days ... taking the gravel home to avoid the traffic cop you knew was waiting for you ... wasn't that big an issue.

[HenryDorsetCase]

If you say you obey all the signs and limits all those on here who race, ride under pressure to keep up or have an ego will say that you ride as slow as me.

Danger's my middle name baby. Austin "Danger" Powers.

[Katoom950]

I've even though if organizing this I'd try to get a major tyre supplier on board and on site offering super discounted rubber for the day - shit like that.

Hey give Don at Pitlane a call, I reckon he would love to help out with 'super discounted rubber' on the day! :bash:

[Katoom950]

Here's a bit of Akaroa GP action (at 3:52) by some mad Gixxer rider. Breaking all the rules, but staying on his side of the road.:lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1HS3lQd6H8

[Berries]

If you say you obey all the signs and limits all those on here who race, ride under pressure to keep up or have an ego will say that you ride as slow as me.
Don't forget the multi vehicle overtakes.

[AllanB]

Hey give Don at Pitlane a call, I reckon he would love to help out with 'super discounted rubber' on the day! :bash:

Nah mate - Bridgstone, Continental, Pirelli - go to the supplier/importer. Or why not a supplier like Don who could get on board with a brand and set up a mobile tyre fitting station for the day.

There are shops buying bulk and offering excellent deals occasionally so it is easily achievable *Avon Suzuki & Casbolts spring to mind) - even imaginable for a negative individual :niceone:

[jellywrestler]

Is this a crazy idea?

It would be cool if we could have a motorcycle road race from Sign of the Kiwi to Akaroa, using the summit roads, ending on long bay road.

It would be over quick I'm assuming and would have to legislate against liability for all the injuries that are likely to occur but could be quite a challenging event.

Downside might be the people racing while the road isn't closed, but it seems people do this anyway.

you shouldn't post on here when you're off your trolley, wait till you're sober.

[AllanB]

So why would anyone want to pay to do it legally? Its a bit like the boy racers not being keen to pay to use a legal burn out pad.

Seriously?


It's a licence to play without the risk of losing your license. On a public Road. Which is presumably the draw as well for the few remaining official street races in NZ.

There was a proposal a few years back to run a series of the Aussie V8's through central Christchurch with Moorhouse Ave being front and back main straights (hairpin at Hagley Park). Fun!

[jellywrestler]

Is this a crazy idea?

It would be cool if we could have a motorcycle road race from Sign of the Kiwi to Akaroa, using the summit roads, ending on long bay road.

It would be over quick I'm assuming and would have to legislate against liability for all the injuries that are likely to occur but could be quite a challenging event.

Downside might be the people racing while the road isn't closed, but it seems people do this anyway.

you shouldn't post on here when you're off your trolley, wait till you're sober.

[jellywrestler]

Here's a bit of Akaroa GP action (at 3:52) by some mad Gixxer rider. Breaking all the rules, but staying on his side of the road.:lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1HS3lQd6H8

what, doens't ever use more than half the revs...

[nzspokes]

Here's a bit of Akaroa GP action (at 3:52) by some mad Gixxer rider. Breaking all the rules, but staying on his side of the road.:lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1HS3lQd6H8

Thats embarrassing. Is his gearbox stuck in 5th?

That little needle is allowed to go much higher.

And 70+ kph through 30k roadworks seems smart.

[trufflebutter]

you are clearly 12 years old.

I've been riding road bikes since the early 1980's and going to Akaroa for a coffee or beerz has always been the Akaroa Grand Prix.

I am a law obiding middle aged white guy so I obey all posted signs and limits and it takes two hours to get there. When I get there I have lovely cup of tea and some cream scones then come back.

You sound very exciting.

[jasonu]

you shouldn't post on here when you're off your trolley, wait till you're sober.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le6qeMe7-vM

[nzspokes]

If you say you obey all the signs and limits all those on here who race, ride under pressure to keep up or have an ego will say that you ride as slow as me.

Still cant keep up Huh?

[Katoom950]

Thats embarrassing. Is his gearbox stuck in 5th?

That little needle is allowed to go much higher..

Clearly you have never ridden a GSXR1000, if you are above 7000rpm in 2nd on this piece of road, you have a deathwish (160 in 1st, 200 in 2nd etc etc) :no::Police::bleh:

[nzspokes]

Clearly you have never ridden a GSXR1000, if you are above 7000rpm in 2nd on this piece of road, you have a deathwish (160 in 1st, 200 in 2nd etc etc) :no::Police::bleh:

Yup, I have.

[trufflebutter]

When is the best time to drive a camper van over the Akaroa hill for a club sandwich and a cup of tea?

[ellipsis]

When is the best time to drive a camper van over the Akaroa hill for a club sandwich and a cup of tea?

...between 1am and 5am...but you will have to take your own club sandwich and a thermos...

[HenryDorsetCase]

Thats embarrassing. Is his gearbox stuck in 5th?

That little needle is allowed to go much higher.

And 70+ kph through 30k roadworks seems smart.

Fuckwit doing 100kph in a 50kph area with limited visibility and cyclists on the road? Fuck him

[HenryDorsetCase]

When is the best time to drive a camper van over the Akaroa hill for a club sandwich and a cup of tea?

any time between 9am and 4pm on a fine weekend.

[pritch]

Akaroa is a lovely place to have fish and chips by the sea but all seaside locations look better near high tide. I struck it lucky at Akaroa but some planning wouldn't hurt. :innocent: