Pukekohe track under threat !!!!

[DEATH_INC.]

Maybe they should put on in the fields by the airport that aren't doing anything as they're just there to be used for later expansion. Only a temporary solution but to have a decent track that's close to services for 10 years could surely only be a good thing.

Good idea,BUT this was proposed many (about 15 i think)years ago,had plans drawn up and everything,was gonna be a circuit,dragstrip,go-cart track,speedway track and run supercross too,but it was shot down by whingers as usual....

[Fart]

How much will it cost to buy out Pukekohe race track?

[Gazzar]

Yes as DEATH said it was going to be builtup and in about 1985 or round about then they had plans to extend it for F1 raceing but the horse club & the district council would not fix the stormwater through the land or put ANY money into the track. That track would have kept the horse track going as there is always someone useing the racetrack most days of the week. I think the horse raceing club have only about 3 or 4 race meetings a year.that is why the horse track is still there and why AVONDALE race couse has been closed and moved to pukekohe to save horse raceing in AUCKLAND

[Grumpy]

In this day and age money talks and Puke doesn't bring in enough of it.

I have to agree . Disregard the V8's and the big classic meeting, when has anyone seen big crowds at Puke. This news has upset alot of people but in the big scheme of things the numbers are pretty small to make a difference to those horse club c...s.

The bloke I have to feel for is Vince Sharpe and his lot. They have worked their arses off to get the endurance race off the ground with the hope of it becoming a regular event. This news would have to be a little bit of a worry for them.

[dveus]

I have to agree . Disregard the V8's and the big classic meeting, when has anyone seen big crowds at Puke. This news has upset alot of people but in the big scheme of things the numbers are pretty small to make a difference to those horse club c...s.

Thats exactly right, I was amazed/disappointed with the "crowd" for the last round of the NZ nationals. Must have only been a couple thousand people max.

[inlinefour]

The area should be made use to all those wanting to utilise the area. For one bunch, whether they are the "horsey" people , motorsport people or whatever background you come from, its merely selfishness and selfcenteredness that make people behave this way. Why these people think that they are better than everyone else remains a mystery to me, but the track must remain accessable for all those groups who want to use it. Is this another case of Western Spring Speedway??? Its merely bullshit that all those people living near the speedway think that they have the right to change something that has been there for how long? N.Z. is far too P.C. for my liking and if "Auckland racing club want Pukekohe park to be HORSE use only", what is next?

It just makes me and , but at the end of the day is just

[Bob]

Bob --I hear ya loud and clear. I know whinging will acheive nothing BUT its a start. To get people to want to sigh a petition or protest or actually do anything I feel they need motivation.
So thats the point of my rant . To get people aware of the problem and to light a spark of interest in them.

Exactly! I'm not knocking you!

You've achieved Aim No.1 - to get people aware and - obviously in this case - angry and hopefully motivated. So now... on to Aim No.2 - to do something about it and make use of that motivation. We (bikers) are very, very good at getting "all worked up", but when it comes to taking positive action, we're often as bad if not worse than any other group of people.

I would help in drawing up words - but I am too dislocated from the problem to be able to help properly (I find if you try to write up something "in the dark", you can only make things worse).

Surely some of the people on this forum are sufficient wordsmiths - and will know the history of the circuit, owners, why the current problems have happened etc - so will be able to come up with something to use as a header for the petition... and then also draw up a letter to send to people.

Do you guys have any kind of political lobbying group? In the UK we have two (BMF and MAG), who do this sort of thing all the time - and they're successful. If you do, then bring it to their attention. And as I said before, a letter writing campaign to your politicians. Get lots of polite, concerned letters from their voters and they'll pay attention.

So... you've got the interest in. Hopefully I've come up with some pointers on how to bring this to the attention of people who hopefully can do something about it. SO NOW SOMEONE TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE AND ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION!

I will be more than happy to help with wording of letters etc (I've done a lot of complaining/campaigning in my time), but it does need someone there who is properly aware of what is going on and the issues affecting the future use (or not) of the circuit to have a first go.

So? Anyone prepared to take the next step?

(Nothing like throwing down a challenge - and before anyone decides the next step is to have a go at me for some reason, I have said I'll help tidy up letters etc - so if someone is prepared to stand up and be counted, I'll see what I can do to assist)

[Bob]

OK, here is some suggested text for the petition and also to form the core of a letter to your politicians:

“Pukekohe Park track is under threat of having motorsport banned. It seems there is a verbal agreement between Auckland racing club and Counties club to have the track become the Auckland training track for horses.

Pukekohe Park is the only motorsport circuit in upper North Island. If the track is lost to motorsport, then where will the future Bert Munro’s, Aaron Slight’s and [COME UP WITH SOME NAMES OF NZ RACERS PLEASE!] learn and develop their skills. Young people need heroes like these to look up to – without tracks, they will not take the first steps towards stardom and NZ will be a poorer place.

Aside from this, if the track is lost to motorsport, then there will be significant loss of jobs, with support industries like mechanics, tyre and fuel suppliers who will be without employers as motorsport moves away from the area.

Surely it is in the best interests of upper North Island to ENCOURAGE improvements to Pukekohe Park, not look to limit its’ use even further?”

It’ll need tweaking and improving upon (as I say, I’m coming in here from an angle of not knowing all that much about the subject), but hopefully this will give you a kick-start.

Over to you!

Bob

[Torque]

I agree,stuff the horses. Just got back from the 300k endurance at pukekoe and what a blast but if we loose the track, events like this would be no more! Cheers Rob.

[What?]

I think you and Honda may be overlooking the small matter of who owns the place...

[enigma51]

If we get some decent circuits built close by I honestly wouldn't miss Pukekohe.

With you on that one. Have not been around puke myself but seem like a bit of stupid track when it comes to safety. Never seen a barier so close to a race track before. no wonder two people found themself in the hospital with endurance 300 but in saying that if another track is not build we need to stand together and try and keep pukekohe

[gman]

bloody whining tree hugging trouser sniffing horse riding snot nosed winging wankas!!!!!!!
these guys really get me
first the speedways too loud
then a proposed drag strip in foxton gets squashed cose 2 yes 2 people who dont even live there 90% of the time dont want to be disturbed.....aaaaAAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

and now this.
no wonder boy racers hoon round the square at night theres no where else to go.

someone give me a sniper rifle ill sort it out..........

some good news for petrol heads who like to race over a quarter mile.

shell is putting down a 25 metre wide concrete strip 3 ks long dead level to make there pipeline sections on and when there done with it they dont need it no more.
it being done in between foxton and himitangi ive seen the planning docs and beleive its all going ahead.
there will also be varios buildings and water power sewage etc.

be good if ya wanted to see how fast over the quarter you could go !!!!

ill have more info soon on that 1.

[avgas]

Speaking of airports, we could convert Whenuapai airbase into a Top-Gear style military-airfield-turn-racetrack (actually I think is is common all over the UK). What am I saying, that'll never happen.

Yeah that would be practical, we cant have that now can we - we'd piss off all those semi-farmers (or even Quasi-Farmers ) with there 4 acre lifestyle blocks thats forces them to get up at 6 in the morning to get one bloody egg.
calm stew, not all aucklanders are assholes.......
Its simple then isnt it, if we can race puke, well find all the owners adresses in Parnell and race there - thatll fix em

[Lou Girardin]

I think you and Honda may be overlooking the small matter of who owns the place...

Quite. If the track is wanted as a motorsport venue (and that's debatable) someone will have to buy it.

[roogazza]

I think you and Honda may be overlooking the small matter of who owns the place...

I know this shows my age but we lost the Levin circuit the same way (to the horses) in the early to mid seventies. We thought that was a bastard too, but then we got Manfeild and it was all good. Life goes on fellas !
Still remember "Cabbage Tree corner" though..... G.