Check out Dalefield (Sprint) Road, Carterton

[Deano]

I want to go and check out this road over the weekend - who is keen to come for a ride Saturday 2/9/06 - leave the Hutt (bottom Maungaraki Hill) about 11.30am ?

[skelstar]

Yeah, Ill come along if its not too windy on the hill. Might meet you a bit further up the line though...(coming from St Valley).

Ill bring a camera as well and we can take a couple of shots for reference.

[James Deuce]

Remember to look at it from the perspective of a safety conscious rider, rather than a racer.

Remember how high speed amplifies hazards that are minor at 100km/hr, maybe barely within notice.

Blind driveway exits, road surface changes, blind side roads, the "tunnel vision" factor on an already narrow road, road camber.

There are dips that I used to get my RG250 airborne on, back when I was a hoon.

[Hotchefnz]

If you are interested - I'm in the catering industry and have contacts at the TinHut - and if your interested could organise a good deal here for you.
They have the facilities and with enough notice would look after yous shit hot with a great Buffet meal?? plenty of parking, good service, and could do it for a good price.
I'm coming for the ride - but can assist you with this side of things if you want.
Would be my first ride with the Wellington group so ain't gonna miss it.

[skelstar]

Hotchefnz...do you mind reposting your kind offer in this (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=34740) thread? Would just be easier to track later. :)

[Deano]

Remember to look at it from the perspective of a safety conscious rider, rather than a racer.

Remember how high speed amplifies hazards that are minor at 100km/hr, maybe barely within notice.

Blind driveway exits, road surface changes, blind side roads, the "tunnel vision" factor on an already narrow road, road camber.

There are dips that I used to get my RG250 airborne on, back when I was a hoon.


Noted.

However, things just don't add up IMO, if Tony Sampson has seen it and is happy to do 300+ kph down it.

[wayne708]

While your in that area you should check out the gravel hillclimb at the end of Dalefield Rd, it goes to the top of the Tararua foothills and from memory is sign posted as Mt Dick lookout from state hwy 2. Great veiws of the Wiararapa from the top.

[Deano]

While your in that area you should check out the gravel hillclimb at the end of Dalefield Rd, it goes to the top of the Tararua foothills and from memory is sign posted as Mt Dick lookout from state hwy 2. Great veiws of the Wiararapa from the top.

But I'm cleaning my bike this afternoon !!!!

And personally I don't wish to Mt Dick thank you.:shutup:

[skelstar]

...there was a guy named 'Dick Headly' on TV last night. A couple of seconds of immature giggling ensued.

[James Deuce]

Noted.

However, things just don't add up IMO, if Tony Sampson has seen it and is happy to do 300+ kph down it.

IMO Tony is a headcase. No worries then.

I won't participate as I think it is too dangerous.

[Deano]

IMO Tony is a headcase. No worries then.

I won't participate as I think it is too dangerous.

There are worries, hence the visit tomorrow. Do you want to come along Jim ?

What qualifies to be a head case ? (Not that i'm concerned personally ...... erm....you know......just curious......you know......:mellow: )

[Wasp]

Buckbuck phoenixgtr myself and mabye a few others will be heading up the hill around 11 ish, I (mabye we) will come and check out the road too as i am keen.

[Deano]

Buckbuck phoenixgtr myself and mabye a few others will be heading up the hill around 11 ish, I (mabye we) will come and check out the road too as i am keen.

Cool - probably see you guys somewhere along the way.

[mikey]

Remember to look at it from the perspective of a safety conscious rider, rather than a racer.

look at it? i think the plan is to test it.
safety concious riders will not be in attendance,
it is not safe to go very fast on motorbikes.
your a bit of a speed/adrenaline junkie so you should go.
an tell the wife that your going out with mr/mrs hitcher

[skelstar]

Theres not going to be any beer at this one eh mikey?

[James Deuce]

There are worries, hence the visit tomorrow. Do you want to come along Jim ?

What qualifies to be a head case ? (Not that i'm concerned personally ...... erm....you know......just curious......you know......:mellow: )

I'd love to, but can't.

Dang it.

Meeting still on Monday?

[Deano]

I'd love to, but can't.

Dang it.

Meeting still on Monday?

Yeah mate - 7.30pm at Greytown Hotel.

I think my car is full but there might be a few keen to go if you want to catch a ride/car pool.

[James Deuce]

I'm probably going to be over there Sunday night and get the train there and back on Monday.

[et al]

I am also very keen to have a look at the new venue and will probably check it out sometime tommorrow as well. Gunner, Foz and myself had intended entering again this year however we now have some apprehension given what has been said about it safetywise. On the other hand I note that earlier Postings have mentioned MNZ being involved, so if this means that they have sanctioned the new venue, or at least support it then surely it should be OK?

[MD]

Popped over about 10.30am. Coming home into Feathers and passed Deano and co. heading the other way. Enjoy the turbulence Boys that would have hit you about 15 seconds after waving to me! The hill was it's usual windy self.
Anyway. Dalefied Rd. here is a picture looking from the old Diary co-op factory North. I guess the runs would start at the top and head towards the camera.
There's a nice elevated starting point that gives you a 100m steep decline to launch on then it's level and straight all the way. Measured 2.5km from top of rise to the Co-op. Now I doubt we will have that much to play on so the trap lights will be further away from where this pic. was taken. Still leaves about 1.5km before a clump of driveways. Or is that in farmland speak a herd of driveways, or cluster?
It was damn windy up there just trying to sit still on the bike and not get blown over was hard, so any speed was out of the question.
That reminds me. People going up for a squizz. lets not play boyracers and piss off the locals. I rode up and down at 100kph. The locals were giving me the evil eye at that.

1. No cow shit on road. Not that I reckon a bit of fertiliser would make much difference to a straightline run.
2. Reasonably level road. No humps or bumps
3. Seal is good
4. Bit narrow for my liking and most of the drive ways are blind to an approaching rider so you have no idea what is about to come out at you. Yea, marshalls.
5. LAMPOSTS- my only concern. Those concrete posts are only 1m off the edge of the seal. I doubt they are made out of any special super soft, real bendy, shock absorbing cement? Wooden poles on the other side not much better.
Lose it at speed and hitting one of these will be a high probability and ...need I say more.
Still, it's right on the edge of town and may draw a crowd. keeping them OFF the road will be important.
There are not that many house entrances at the northern end either.
Lets give it a go I say.

[skelstar]

Yeah it was a bit gusty...:shit:...not the Rapa at its best.

Ill let Deano sumarise (sp?) what we thought and maybe comment after that.

Dalefield Rd was hideously windy so didnt take any pictures of the road but did snap a couple of a nice bike at the old Dairy factory. Apologies if this is slightly off topic...Ill remove them later.

Unfortunately theres obviously a slight aberation in my camera lense. See if you can spot it and give it a well known four letter acronym.

Oh, I burnt my hands on my grips again. Might have to disconnect the furnaces in time for summer.

[Fatjim]

snot

10 letters

[Deano]

Yeah it was a bit gusty...:shit:...not the Rapa at its best.

Ill let Deano sumarise (sp?) what we thought and maybe comment after that.

Dalefield Rd was hideously windy so didnt take any pictures of the road but did snap a couple of a nice bike at the old Dairy factory. Apologies if this is slightly off topic...Ill remove them later.

Unfortunately theres obviously a slight aberation in my camera lense. See if you can spot it and give it a well known four letter acronym.

Oh, I burnt my hands on my grips again. Might have to disconnect the furnaces in time for summer.

I think MD summed it up pretty well really.

As long as there is a marshall at each driveway, the biggest hazard is the power poles - but only if you run off the road. How far off the road are they on the East West access road ? Or are they up on the bank ?

Bugger all camber if any.

The road surface was smooth with only a couple of very small 'bumps' that I could feel. I doubt very much they will set a bike up into a tank slapper.

Anyone else concerned about the road should have a look for themselves - but again....take it easy - we don't want to fu*k the locals off.

Was that an aberration or 'abhoration' Skels ? (P/T)

[Deano]

snot

10 letters

Snot what ?

[Deano]

snot

10 letters

Simon's New Ornery Toy ?

Such Nonsense Or Titilation ?

Shouldn't Nock Others' Toys ?

[James Deuce]

Where would the "crowd" stand? The little bit of canvassing I've done says that the locals would not be happy with people standing in their fields as the ground is really wet.

It's too narrow and the roadside hazards are unforgiving.

You'll need marshalls on farmgates at road's edge too.

Has anyone rung Fonterra about milk pickup times?

[skelstar]

Got confused with 'abhor'.
Yeah spectators was an issue for me too.

We/I thought a lot of the yellow warning tape could address a couple of issues.

[Deano]

Where would the "crowd" stand? The little bit of canvassing I've done says that the locals would not be happy with people standing in their fields as the ground is really wet.

It's too narrow and the roadside hazards are unforgiving.

You'll need marshalls on farmgates at road's edge too.

Has anyone rung Fonterra about milk pickup times?

Perhaps people will stand at the school and the side roads.

The road may be narrower than East-West but I don't ever recall anyone getting close to the edge of the E-W access road in the past - there is a nice white painted line down the centre for guidance too.

Who have you canvassed ? The locals themselves ?

Sure a power pole is unforgiving, but I wouldn't want to hit a wire farm fence or Macrocarpa tree at 275kph either. (like on E-W access)

The fact that two Harleys got past the road block on the East West access road during a flying run shows that no venue is full (fool?) proof.

The Rimutakas, Paekakariki Hill and Gladstone Hillclimb are all unforgiving as hell, yet an awful lot of guys (and gals) are still prepared to push it up those roads, and while there is traffic.

No venue is likely to be perfect and I'm not saying Dalefield Road is better than East West, but I really think getting the committee to address your concerns on Monday night and hearing their side of the story would be better than airing in this forum, at this stage anyway.

[cowpoos]

Has anyone rung Fonterra about milk pickup times?
that is a good point!!

[et al]

Went and had a look today. Is a nice long straight piece of road that seems to go on for ever as per MD's pic in post #20 - I have no issues with it but agree the old venue is better. Agree also with Deano that any further concerns should be aired on Monday night, and not here - too many negative vibes is not good (I am going to be too scared to even ride the old road if I hear too much more).

[Deano]

Has anyone rung Fonterra about milk pickup times?


that is a good point!!

No different to any resident wanting to get in or out.

[James Deuce]

No different to any resident wanting to get in or out.

Er yeah it is. It's a business with SLAs and repercussions for the farmers if there is a delay. It would be polite to ring and find out if they have an issue and let them know there may be delays.

[Deano]

Er yeah it is. It's a business with SLAs and repercussions for the farmers if there is a delay. It would be polite to ring and find out if they have an issue and let them know there may be delays.

As far as I am aware the Council have approved the road closure - I would have thought that this would have been one of the issues raised prior to giving approval, but maybe not - I don't know for sure.

I don't even know if Fonterra trucks have any pick ups along there but my dad knows the owner of several bits of land on Dalefieild Road and he is into growing beef only.

In terms of timing though - you see the truck approaching or when it arrives at the road block - marshall advises chief marshall truck wants to come through, sprint runs stop while truck goes through. Same for when truck wants to leave, although you would be on the lookout and better prepared on the return trip. Surely no more than 3 minutes delay each way ?

Will raise at the meeting tonight anyway. I have several other issues to raise also.