Gracefield battle of the streets

[VasalineWarrior]

Logged on to the MotoGP petition site today and got wondering about bike racing in NZ and how we could get more of it, which trigered a grey old memory.
Most of you have heard of the battle of the streets in Wanganui and at Paeroa, and like me you proabably go along as these are bloody fantastic to watch. What you may not know is that there used to be something very similar to this much closer to Welington. The Gracefield street circuit.
It got stoped in the mid eighties I think, but Gracefeild, an industrial area (over in the Hutt valley at the base of the wainui hill) used to get closed off for street racing. And it was popular. Real popular.
So why did they stop it? Noise isnt too much of an issue as there are f@#k all houses there, and people at wanganui and paeroa dont seen to have a problem with the races for one day of the year, and il bet a fair # of punters would show up today. So who could I bitch to (maybe the battle of the streets organisers) to get it back?

[sAsLEX]

Paeroa and wanganui get soo much money from there races it makes it easy for their small councils to get get the required permits etc

[sugilite]

I raced Gracefield twice, It was easily the most dangerous track I've ever raced at, you crossed the railway tracks topped out on one side and then again cranked over on the other side, years of diesel being spilt on the corners made it real slippery and a fair few lost their lives there. The speeds with the new bikes there now would be insane. It was a VERY fast track even back then. I had no fear on a motorcycle at 18 whatsoever, but I sure respected that place.

[mikey]

if you want to race it, go down there thursday night, theres plenty of obliging wrx/evo types who want an ass whooping, an its free to, you dont have to pay an entry fee like wangnui an paeroa.

or any other night for that matter.

[sugilite]

Is that port road you are talking about there Mikey?
Or do they race Gracefield these days?

[VasalineWarrior]

I raced Gracefield twice, It was easily the most dangerous track I've ever raced at, you crossed the railway tracks topped out on one side and then again cranked over on the other side, years of diesel being spilt on the corners made it real slippery and a fair few lost their lives there. The speeds with the new bikes there now would be insane. It was a VERY fast track even back then. I had no fear on a motorcycle at 18 whatsoever, but I sure respected that place.

But it was fun and you'd do it again right? I cant see that Wangavegas is a lot safer in terms of objects/buildings you could bounce off. A good waterblast the night before might clean up the diesel spills. Cant do much about the train tracks, but I dont think they are even in use these days (pull em out?). I ride that road every morning and havent seen a train on it for a good ten years

[Madness]

The section of train track crossing Seaview Road outside Firestone Commercial has just recently been pulled up, like in the past fortnight. i wonder if there's more to follow?

I've often sat here on a Thursday night and listened to the little wankers that are the Hutt Boyracers and thought of going out to Learn 'em a thing or two. I'm getting to old though and Mrs MAX frowns at me every time I mention it. :innocent:

[roogazza]

I raced Gracefield twice, It was easily the most dangerous track I've ever raced at, you crossed the railway tracks topped out on one side and then again cranked over on the other side, years of diesel being spilt on the corners made it real slippery and a fair few lost their lives there. The speeds with the new bikes there now would be insane. It was a VERY fast track even back then. I had no fear on a motorcycle at 18 whatsoever, but I sure respected that place.

I did every year there and loved it ! what about Onekawa (Napier) I jumped off every year except one ! still loved it though. Gaz.

[Deano]

The section of train track crossing Seaview Road outside Firestone Commercial has just recently been pulled up, like in the past fortnight. i wonder if there's more to follow?

I've often sat here on a Thursday night and listened to the little wankers that are the Hutt Boyracers and thought of going out to Learn 'em a thing or two. I'm getting to old though and Mrs MAX frowns at me every time I mention it. :innocent:

I'm not sure the track went down that far ? I can remember watching the racing on tv - Roger Freeth and Dave Hitchcock are a couple of names I recall and there were two brothers who always did really well.

I think the track went around Gracefield Road, Hutt Park Road and Parkside Road, but I was only about 10 or 12 when they stopped it so the memory ain't too flash.

I think a racer crashed and died the year they pulled the plug on it, but from what Suglite says there may have been more deaths leading up to it's demise.

Even if you could sort out the safety issues and red tape, there are a few people living in Point Howard that would object on the basis of noise. We really need to support and protect the motorsport events and facilities we already have, cause once they are gone, its hard to get em back. The politically correct/greenie/bureacrat/safety/fun police are much stauncher nowadays.

[VasalineWarrior]

We really need to support and protect the motorsport events and facilities we already have, cause once they are gone, its hard to get em back. The politically correct/greenie/bureacrat/safety/fun police are much stauncher nowadays.[/QUOTE]

There will always be whingers who need to be involuntarily euthanased but the organisor(s) could cross that bridge when they get to it-like I said the other towns with street races dont seem to mind for one day of the year.
As for supporting current motosport events on a different thread-why all the fuss with bringing motoGP to Taupo. Manfield is a beter track and wouldnt take so much to get it up to international standard with new grandstands etc. Even Puke might be a beter layout?

[Dafe]

Sounds bloody good. VW, You'd have to talk to the Hutt City Council and I'd say you'd need backing from some large motorcycle organisations behind you.
The council will listen with bigger ears if they are talking to the likes of the Vic Motorcycle Club or similar organisations.

As for those dangerous crossings etc that Sugilite is talking of, I think the circuit would need chicanes etc put in play to force the speed to low on dangerous points. If it's not possible to avoid them entirely.

However, The HCC is very proactive and talking to them, I'm sure you'll get some informative feedback.

[Deano]

As for supporting current motosport events on a different thread-why all the fuss with bringing motoGP to Taupo. Manfield is a beter track and wouldnt take so much to get it up to international standard with new grandstands etc. Even Puke might be a beter layout?

Manfeild long circuit would be ok, providing they resurfaced it.

Manfeild's surface is quite disgusting really - there's a pothole on the front straight, one in the hairpin and two smaller ones with ripples exiting Higgins. The hump on the back straight where it enters the long track......all good challenging stuff I guess.

After riding Puke or Ruapuna, Manfeild is a goat track.

[sAsLEX]

After riding Puke or Ruapuna, Manfeild is a goat track.
And pukes a glorified oval

Maybe find some $$ values for the Wanganui and Paeroa races, such as income the district gets over there races to help any talkings with the HCC

[sugilite]

But it was fun and you'd do it again right? I cant see that Wangavegas is a lot safer in terms of objects/buildings you could bounce off.
Hmmmm, lets see now, hitting somthing at wangas at around 180 kph top speed there, ouch. Hitting something at gracefield at over 300 kph top speed there RIP
I did Gracefield on a GSXR750, top speed about 230 kph in those days. it was just a couple of drag strips connected by a few lame corners in my books. I did not think much of it. There would be better areas to run a race around Wellies than there.


I did every year there and loved it ! what about Onekawa (Napier) I jumped off every year except one ! still loved it though. Gaz.
I did this track only once and in the rain, it was my second race ever and I was on a standard GSXR750 with original fairings, I remember lots of slippery off camber corners and passing a GSXR1100R then one corner later him ramming me as in the side as he out braked himself. Fortunately I had been on my motocross bike the day before and just stuck out my foot and rode it out as he went down in a heap, naughty Anthony McCarthy!



I think a racer crashed and died the year they pulled the plug on it, but from what Suglite says there may have been more deaths leading up to it's demise.


Yeah, a guy crashed in frony of Eddie Kattenberg and he ran his head over, not pretty.:sick:


Even Puke might be a beter layout?

Please tell me this is a sick joke. :nya: Puke is the most boring track in NZ hands down. Puke is a brainless one line wonder, Taupo is miles ahead.
To me Manfield is a OK track, but yes, the surface is shamefull.

It may appear from my posts I do not like street circuits, I assure you I do. I've finished on the podium a few times at Wangas (and was the only one NOT cheating on there too) and a few other now defunct ones.
I did do a deal with the wife when I got back into racing, not to do street races, but now she is my "ex" wife, maybe all bets are off. I've had a few people that know my ride style tell me I'd go well at Paeroa, I've never seen it myself, but maybe I'll change that next year. :yes:

[Dafe]

Could just organise it around Martinborough since it's already a racetrack.

Or how about around Sugilites house......Yeahhhhhah! I just love that targa rally hillclimb section..... So Sweet!

[merv]

Check out this thread http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=1428&highlight=gracefield I posted some pics of Gracefield on that a while ago.

[MOTOXXX]

the old man used to race here. He said it was a pretty cool track. Bring it back!!!

[VasalineWarrior]

Check out this thread http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=1428&highlight=gracefield I posted some pics of Gracefield on that a while ago.

Hmm I notice Linda knows a bit about it, il ask her who to talk to about it.

Sugilite-I would have thought 300 around there would be pushing it but point taken. Having it in the urban mecca of wainui would be perfect, I could watch it from my house!
As for the Puke and manfield suggestions-I was just making the point that it seems silly to sink all this new dosh into Taupo when Manfeild, sub-standard as it is now, would require a whole lot less to get it up to spec. The only reason I can see for the big push on Taupo is since its touristy already, the local buisnesses could take full advantage of a big foriegn tourist influx.
Sadly, Feilding doesnt offer the same attractions as taupo as a district, unless your name is cowpoos. Then again, they host a round of the GP at Quatar which is a sand blown hole in the middle of 'jihad-lets kill the infedel'' land, so anything is possible

[merv]

Jim Tuckerman was one of the main men organising Gracefield in the 80's, not sure if he's still around. I was with Railways then and used to help organise the road closure from our end, mainly making sure our lads turned off the crossing alarm systems - didn't want barrier arms coming down during the races eh!

[roogazza]

Jim Tuckerman was one of the main men organising Gracefield in the 80's, not sure if he's still around. I was with Railways then and used to help organise the road closure from our end, mainly making sure our lads turned off the crossing alarm systems - didn't want barrier arms coming down during the races eh!

MERV !!! You must be really old !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! G.

[speedpro]

Kerry Larkin was the guy that was killed over the railway line. I was about 50yards behind. What a mess that was, haybales everywhere with bikes spinning and cartwheeling. Quite a bit of discussion about whether his triple clamps broke before or after the accident. I liked Gracefield, wheelying over the intersection where you turn off the the DSIR and Wainui and dropping it down in time to brake for the corner, all round the outside of some German guy on a RGB500. Then gassing it up for another crossed up wheelie over the railway line. Driving round it now though it looks way dangerous. Must be getting old!

[merv]

MERV !!! You must be really old !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! G.

Yeah damn I must almost be as old as you.

[Cleve]

Please tell me this is a sick joke. :nya: Puke is the most boring track in NZ hands down. Puke is a brainless one line wonder, :

Hmmm while no great fan of Puke I wouldn't call it boring. 180-200kph corners with nothing but armco 2 metres away!! Dumb = yes. Boring = no

I remember watching a young Aaron Slight on a TZ250 proddie bike around Gracefield. He was awesome. I also remember a few high speed crashes there too...

[cowpoos]

Could just organise it around Martinborough since it's already a racetrack.
!

ah...yes...princess street GP would be a hoot!!

organise it dafe....and the people will come!

[Crasherfromwayback]

I raced Gracefield twice, It was easily the most dangerous track I've ever raced at, you crossed the railway tracks topped out on one side and then again cranked over on the other side, years of diesel being spilt on the corners made it real slippery and a fair few lost their lives there. The speeds with the new bikes there now would be insane. It was a VERY fast track even back then. I had no fear on a motorcycle at 18 whatsoever, but I sure respected that place.
I'm with you there mate.
Raced my GPZ1100 there at the 'tender' age of 18......way too fast....NO run off at the end of the straights. Went through 8 pairs of gruts.
In the first practice session.

[jellywrestler]

I raced Gracefield twice, It was easily the most dangerous track I've ever raced at, you crossed the railway tracks topped out on one side and then again cranked over on the other side, years of diesel being spilt on the corners made it real slippery and a fair few lost their lives there. . too my knowledge Carey Larkin was the only fatality there.mid 80's

[sugilite]

too my knowledge Carey Larkin was the only fatality there.mid 80's
Was he the one Katenberg ran into?

[jellywrestler]

Was he the one Katenberg ran into?

he was part of the same incident

[roogazza]

345174345175345176
first two are Gracefield 77' I think .
Richard Scoular #42 , sent the second pic to me about two weeks ago( me #212.)

Then # 112 me (73 ' maybe ? ) it all came good, after 6 wks previous pissing blood for a week after Onekawa Napier .
(rebuilt the bike and at it again ).:wacko::crazy::crazy:

[jellywrestler]

too my knowledge Carey Larkin was the only fatality there.mid 80's

it seems that there was another rider met his maker at the circuit too.