FROSTY
8th January 2006, 11:57
Just thought Id get you guys n gals up to date on the progress of Taupo track
I was lucky enough to get a flyover the track in a helecopter on Jan2nd so got a good view of progress.
The drag strip itself is finished but the new pits area is still unsealed
The old track has had resealing work done on the main sweeper and the first corner off of the start line.-this corner has had the nice smooth track edging replaced by the corrogated stuff the cars like and hurts like heck if we get our knee into it. All of the marshal points on the old track have been moved back to MANZ and international standards.
The second track is about 75% sealed with the most noticeable areas it isnt sealed being near the hairpin on the existing track and where the track exits/enters the dragstrip.
My understanding is that The international car/bike people arent happy with the way MIT have set those corners out with limited runoff before hitting a substantial concrete wall -MIT will need to redesighn these corners for international events.
They are hopefull to have the new track finished by march in tme for the march car club nationals.
The joining section from the old and new track at the existing hairpin is also unsealed.
To clafify things a bit -The way the track has been/is being built there are 4
tracks 1) the dragstrip - when its being used no other track can be used.
2) the existing track reasealed
3) the new track
( 2 and 3 can be used by 2 organisations at the same time)
4) the full track using most of track 2 and 3
Those that have seen the track will see the two joins -one on the dragstrip one on the current hairpin.
I was lucky enough to get a flyover the track in a helecopter on Jan2nd so got a good view of progress.
The drag strip itself is finished but the new pits area is still unsealed
The old track has had resealing work done on the main sweeper and the first corner off of the start line.-this corner has had the nice smooth track edging replaced by the corrogated stuff the cars like and hurts like heck if we get our knee into it. All of the marshal points on the old track have been moved back to MANZ and international standards.
The second track is about 75% sealed with the most noticeable areas it isnt sealed being near the hairpin on the existing track and where the track exits/enters the dragstrip.
My understanding is that The international car/bike people arent happy with the way MIT have set those corners out with limited runoff before hitting a substantial concrete wall -MIT will need to redesighn these corners for international events.
They are hopefull to have the new track finished by march in tme for the march car club nationals.
The joining section from the old and new track at the existing hairpin is also unsealed.
To clafify things a bit -The way the track has been/is being built there are 4
tracks 1) the dragstrip - when its being used no other track can be used.
2) the existing track reasealed
3) the new track
( 2 and 3 can be used by 2 organisations at the same time)
4) the full track using most of track 2 and 3
Those that have seen the track will see the two joins -one on the dragstrip one on the current hairpin.