Novice track days?

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Why is Pukekohe so dangerous as opposed to Taupo? Just wondering as the Son is booked in to do a day there........

There is very limited 'run off' from the left hander after the hairpin through to the front straight (Taupo has a similar issue coming onto the front straight) They put straw filled bags infront of the armco to 'cushion' the impact if anybody falls of.

The ART track days are more of a training day rather than a full blown track day. The emphasis being on improving indervidual skill in various aspects of riding a motorcycle.
Despite the shortcomings of Pukekohe it is still safer to ride around than the public roads.
Riding on any circuit has an element of risk but doing it in the more controlled environment of an organised track day reduces that risk. There are several instructors circulating whilst bikes are on the track and feed back is given to those that request it or in the opinion of the instructors need it.

[Biggles08]

A 600cc can beat a litre bike around that track.

Puke is just dangerous.

Not if you have two riders of equal skill...a 600 has no chance against a 1000 around manfield! I agree about puke being dangerous though.

[discotex]

On a more cheery but provocative topic I would keep off Taupo until they fix the slippery parts of the track and IMO Manfeild is the best track in NZ.

It's not that hard to stay off the the patches and novice speed isn't going to be an issue. Fingers crossed they fix them soon tho!

Only reason I haven't done Manfield is it's so far from Auckland. I'm going to have to make the trip at some point though

[h20boy]

I've just splashed out on bike to bike comms and a helmet cam and I'm happy to share these around with other riders who plan on doing the ART on the 30th. I'm thinking an instructor with one set of comms and then a video review of laps would be pretty useful for training purposes.

[kudos@xtra.co.nz]

the concrete is much closer at puke. This is more of an issue with cars as leaving the track on a bike usually means falling off. I have not seen as much damage for mistakes at Taupo or Manfeild compared to Puke. One small mistake at Puke damaged my car to the tune of $50,000. never had a problem at Taupo or Manfeild besides being embarrassed at being towed out of the kitty litter.

[kudos@xtra.co.nz]

that's fair comment but there were a large number of 600cc entrants in the superbike race last week at Manfeild for the winter series meeting, and many finished ahead of 1000cc bikes. Also look at the supersport times around the Misano circuit last week.