Old Pukekohe

[Motu]

I got this photo from a thread running in the nostalga section of Atlas F1 http://forums.atlasf1.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83354&perpage=40&display=&pagenumber=1
Why can't we link with a title anymore??

This shows the old track as it came from the pit straight and into a really tight hairpin,then down to the elbow,a section of track completely gone now.The track was much bigger then than it is now.Check out that crowd! It's the 1966 Grand Prix,and I was probably there that year,as we usualy went.

The cars - that's Paul Fahey (ex motorcycle racer) in the lead fastback Anglia,Rod Coppin's MKII Zephyr Corvette is there,minus the 8 stacks coming out the bonnet,behind Jack Nazer's Anglia is the Morrari,a Ferrari clothed in a Morris Minor body,behind that an Anglia Corvette with stacks in the bonnet,and behind that Frank Radishic's Jaguar powered Humber 80.That was Kiwi racing,and the bike racers were just as good.

I miss the old track,it was much more interesting.

[SPman]

1965-66 - those were the days.......is that Dave Simpsons Lotus Anglia behind Fahey?
Always good for a first lap photo that corner......

[SPman]

Same corner other side - Frank Radisich and Dave Simpson...The jaguar motor in that Humber meant the gear lever was right by the rear of the front seat - must have been a barstard to get to.....

[FROSTY]

the actual track hasn't changed a heck of a lot has it ??
That is jennian isnt it?

[SPman]

Thats the dogleg by the stable at the beginning of Jennian - headed off down toward the road to a hairpin, then a straight up to the railway corner...

[sAsLEX]

Thats the dogleg by the stable at the beginning of Jennian - headed off down toward the road to a hairpin, then a straight up to the railway corner...
a paint diagram by chance? over this http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/images/Pukekohe.gif for all us night owls?

[Motu]

Excelent photo SPman,where did you find that!? I have an old photo my father took of that corner back at a club meeting in the early 60s,mid 50s Hillmans and 100Es.The end of the front straight had a slight bend right,then that tight left in the photo,it was really tight,the tightest corner on the track,then it was a short straight down to the elbow,a 180 deg corner,then a longer straight up to railway,there was always a prang at railway as everyone tried for the best exit to the back straight.

In the 70s they cut it up into 2 tracks,what we have now and the other part was the short circuit,used as the club circuit,and I remember some of the big classic meetings were held on the short circuit - then it just sorta disapeared.Shame that a lot of people who race there don't know it's history and that it was much bigger and much,much more exciting.

[Lou Girardin]

Check out the crowds - promoters would give their right arms for that turn out now.
Sitting on the bank above the first Anglebox was a great spot to watch the racing too.

[dveus]

a paint diagram by chance? over this http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/images/Pukekohe.gif for all us night owls?

http://www.etracksonline.co.uk/Australasia/pukekohe_map.gif

[SPman]

Excelent photo SPman,where did you find that!?
Um - I took it myself. Didnt miss a race meet at Puke from 1963 to 1969 (cars - but what cars!) and have also got some 8mm movie, which I must get converted. Anyone know where to get this done?
\It was the 1963 GP that turned me on to bikes - Jim Redman was out here with a works Honda 250 for demonstration runs - what a noise - compared with the bloody awful single bangers!

[Ixion]

When did they chop the elbow off? Pity, that was the best bit. Always used to watch from the inside of the hairpin, you got a real good look at the bikes as the went through the 180. Guess y'can tell I haven't been there for years - since they started hiding everything in fairings and it got all boring .

Gotta say, there was something magic about hearing a Manx on the mega blatting down past the pits, braking himself silly for the hairpin, and then winding up toward the railway. Evocative, most beautiful sound in the world a Manx Norton

[SPman]

Evocative, most beautiful sound in the world a Manx Norton
After a honda 305/6 and a 125/5 - the yamaha 125 V4 sounded pretty .........manic, as well......

[vifferman]

When did they chop the elbow off? Pity, that was the best bit. Always used to watch from the inside of the hairpin, you got a real good look at the bikes as the went through the 180. Guess y'can tell I haven't been there for years - since they started hiding everything in fairings and it got all boring .

Gotta say, there was something magic about hearing a Manx on the mega blatting down past the pits, braking himself silly for the hairpin, and then winding up toward the railway. Evocative, most beautiful sound in the world a Manx Norton
You could always turn up to one of the Classic meetings then, Ixion.

[Ixion]

But they've taken the hairpin away. Thatw a sthe good bit. 'Tis harder nowdays, Mrs Ixion does not like noisy smnelly motorcycle race meetings.

[Pixie]

When did they chop the elbow off? Pity, that was the best bit. Always used to watch from the inside of the hairpin, you got a real good look at the bikes as the went through the 180. Guess y'can tell I haven't been there for years - since they started hiding everything in fairings and it got all boring .

Gotta say, there was something magic about hearing a Manx on the mega blatting down past the pits, braking himself silly for the hairpin, and then winding up toward the railway. Evocative, most beautiful sound in the world a Manx Norton
Early 80's. The track is still there

[SPman]

Early 80's. The track is still there
Only just - last time I saw it it was overgrown and disappearing into the weeds. Some bits have been pulled.
It was good with that piece on - certainly focussed you coming past the start finish with a 220 deg hairpin there!