Paeroa safety?

[Maha]

While the death of a competitor at Paeroa on Sunday was a tragic ending to a great day, I dont beleive that the event should be shut down.
There has been a bit of talk about that being a possiblity.

I ask why?
I didnt see what happened on Sunday, I am not sure if the accident was because of the track?
I have only been to 6 out of the 19 events held in Paeroa and never once have I felt in danger as a spectator.

The riders that take part in street racing know the dangers that may occur. Jarred Love does, and he keeps coming back.

Those that have raced there and dont anymore (for whatever reason) then thats their choice.
Just like those that choose to keep coming back every year and giving the spectators value for money.

Barry Sheene wouldn't race at IOM because he felt it was to dangerous, there are those who dont hold this feeling about the IOM track. Again, it comes down to choice.
I am sure the rider who died as a result of the injuries on Sunday would be back at Paeroa next year if he was still with us.
I know I will be back next year as a Spectator.

[kimamigo]

I personally don't agree with shutting down the Paeroa circuit and I am absolutely certain that Alan wouldn't agree either.......He truly was one of the most careful riders anywhere, ( he was careful in EVERYTHING he did ), and the fact that he died only proves that no matter how careful any of us is, accidents DO happen, and can happen ANYWHERE........and that's purely what this was....an ACCIDENT......it's far better to learn from this and make some adjustments maybe.......
regards.........kim

[MSTRS:Me]

Caveat Emptor.
Racing of all types is dangerous, and no-one makes the competitors enter, do they?

[Squiggles]

There has been a bit of talk about that being a possiblity.

Rumours you mean?

[Maha]

Rumours you mean?

Nothing official, just jabbering on about it on here is all. So no, I mean talk.

[p.dath]

I recall in another post that the unfortunate event occurred when he went through the bales and into a forklift parked behind the bales. So it sounds like a very "solvable" safety issue. Don't park bit heavy metal objects behind hay bales.

[scrivy]

I recall in another post that the unfortunate event occurred when he went through the bales and into a forklift parked behind the bales. So it sounds like a very "solvable" safety issue. Don't park bit heavy metal objects behind hay bales.

That was a separate event from the fatality.

[Ixion]

That wasn't the sidecar crash.

I saw the sidecar crash from fairly close (opposite side of the track from where they ended up though)

Didn't seem to me to be anything at all to do with the track. All happened very fast, one moment a couple of chairs blasting down the straight, just getting on brakes, next moment "Whaaa huh what happened then ". And they were up against the hay. They appeared to lose it a bit before they'd have been going into the actual corner. Around the 50 mtr mark, maybe a bit after?. Weren't actually going that fast by then, though I'd noticed in an earlier race that they came very close into that corner. But, then, bikes do get close going into a corner, it's the laws of physics.

I guess (but it's absolutely a guess ) that they touched at speed and tangentially. And one of them flipped. Flipping would be anything to do with the track, I'd think (though I'm no expert). And if a sidecar flips on top of you, it's not going to be good.

One of those "shit happens" things. I don't see that the track had anythign at all to do with it.

[froggyfrenchman]

Last weekend was my first time at Paeroa as a rider. I have been going to both Paeroa and Wanganui as a spectator for years. (worth mentioning i had never watched a meet at a track until i started racing)
Like most others, i could see much room for improvment on the safety front. In particular, i would have liked to see much more bottle bales on the right hander before the hairpin and more hay bales on the left hander.
However I will not critisize the organisers. Year after year they put on a great event, enjoyed by hundreds of riders and thousands of spectators.
As a member of the commitee trying to get this Hastings Street Race off the ground (March 2011, no more details for you at the mo) I am starting to understand the HUGE challenge these guys undertake every year to make it happen.
Each rider has the choice of riding or not riding. Some 250 odd chose to ride this year. Anybody who turns up to watch has to walk past signs telling them how dangerous it is for them to stand on the side of the road. Yet we still flock to the street races every year.
Well done to the organisers of BOTS for everything that you did get right. Shame that it will be shadowed by the few things that went wrong.
Im looking foward to riding again at Paeroa next year, and im sure im not the only one.

[CookMySock]

Tracks aren't designed for racing - they're designed for crashing. This isn't a race track - it's a street circuit. Ya pays ya money and ya rolls ya dice.

Same goes for spectators. Sharpen up or get out - take it or leave it, and THATS the reason why people love it. A couple of times we (spectating) moved, coz it was, er, unwise.


Steve

[Maha]

Thanks for your input Ixion and Froggy.
As I suspected, it was not a track issue that caused the accident.
The organisers go to great lenghts to ensure that safety is paramount for all who attend on the day.
Its bike racing, there will be occassions of OMFG and evreryone who attends, knows this.
We have a bit of an engine case here that hit Mom on the legs a couple of years ago while we were waiting to cross the track.
Steve Briggs didn't get that bit back, we kept it as a momento of the day.

I love the fact that you can real close to the action, there is no need to get close for those who find that aspect frightening.

[SixPackBack]

Thankfully Paeroa competitors don't race over bridges.....The hordes would be hanging them high!

[crazyhorse]

He did what he loved doing - that's the way I'd like to go. My thoughts are with his family and friends, but I agree, had this not happened, chances are, he would've been back next year......

[javawocky]

I love the fact that you can real close to the action, there no need to for those who find that aspect frightening.

Yeah use your brain. We were waiting near the end of the main streight to cross when we arrived and the energy blast as they went by was amazing. However I was sure to stand behind one of those solid pillers on the side of the track.

Also we chose the slowest left hander to get a great view as they went past and minimize risk. While there I always kept an eye on what was coming in case I had to duck.

If I raced I wouldn't race there, but I respect them that do.

[retro asian]

I love the fact that you can real close to the action,

Same, its also so much easier to get around the track than say Pukekohe...

Where else can you stand topless a metre's distance away from Sports bikes on full lean?



EDIT: Did anyone racing bang their knee on that curb?