Street Races... and modern hay bales

[Grumph]

I did say "possibly "and theres 1 too many reallys there

No there aren't....if i could move fast enough I'd chase you down on my Zimmer frame....
Still working though incl CoC at a street race meeting this season mate....

If you haven't come south in recent years and seen what happens at the smaller street circuits what Tony is talking about is just theory...he has valid points re rider safety and yes MNZ is trying to improve things. But if we want these meetings to continue rider expectations must be tailored to what can be provided. Clubs and townships have limited budgets - as soon as these meetings run at a loss, that's it, it's over.
I'll repeat as some seem to be missing the obvious - Street circuits are temporary, can never be as safe as permanent circuits, and no one is forcing people to ride on them. The situation is not the same as the public road as our tax dollars pay for that and we must have a transport system.

[wharfy]

Can you honestly see MNZ organising this?

If riders got involved and lobbied for it - but seeing as how less than 10% even got of their arse to vote in the election of officers thats not likely - do some research come up with a plan, rally support for it from riders take it to MNZ - By my calculation you only need 600 supporters and MNZ have to do what you want or they will be voted out next election.

What's wrong with analysing and suggesting improvements? Especially if they cost fuck all and might result in someone not getting fucked up.

Nothing at all !!
If your serious you need to be a bit more "canny" about it. Lobby the clubs that organize events you are interested in to make the improvements you want to see.
I'm on the committee of the Vic Club and we will discuss any idea's put to us in the spirit of making motorcycling "Safe, Fun and Fair" (to quote MNZ).

Aye, fi a fly man lick ye sel 'twd be nay bither.*


* I'm not taking the piss - just trying to inject some humour

[T.W.R]

6x4 Round bales of either wheat or barley straw made with the bale pressure wound right off & baled in net-wrap have more cushioning effect than any of the conventional,medium,quadrant, or big square bales will ever have
Once laid on their sides have comparable surface area to a big square, a larger footprint and a far softer impact face. They're just more awkward handle once on their sides.
Most areas have local baling contractors who do rounds and they're usually cheaper also

[ellipsis]

.....No disrespect intended to anyone posting in this thread...its very easy to have a comment taken as flippant or disregarding of human life and safety issues...irrespective of how long one has been involved in the organisation of the sport or how concerned one may be of the horrible things that can happen...every meeting whether on a closed circuit or a street is as dangerous as any other sport that involves speed, and kinetic energy ...I cant comment on the Nth Island Street Circuits...they are big, attract huge crowds and riders that dont come near our Street Circuits down here and attract huge crowds of joe public...I know the scale of the events dont change the energies involved in a man versus immovable objects scenario...

...all street racing is dangerous to a point...riders are competitive by nature and competing for the same bit of tarmac in every corner is going to cause accidents...our meetings down Sth are supposed to be fun and a way to take our sport out to joe public...I dont think any prize money is up for grabs down here at street meetings so a lot of the safety issues regarding offs in corners could be minimised by riders realising this and not putting themselves or other competitors at risk...this does not take the risk out of the game but it would help...

...no disrespect intended to any class of m/c here, but the down time and clean ups of broken bits from huge fields of Motards all thinking that ten bikes fit in a two or three bike corner is a concern...likewise for F1 type machines that are putting huge horses on the ground and their relevant speeds. thundering around 1 to 1.5 km tracks...it wouldnt be a street race without them , but the extra danger to riders and public is heightened considerably...

...if the work involved in getting a street meeting going and a knowledge of how many hoops we have to jump through was known to all who have a comment to make and the fact that we as organisers dont sleep well knowing that something could go wrong , probably wouldnt make any difference...a suggestion I could make would be....dont moan at us...make suggestions, and then back them with turning up to an organising meeting with a list of volunteers who might turn their concerns into work on the days prior to the meetings , sorting out the softer options for the areas of perceived danger...

...no flippancy intended here but maybe the hard bits of mountains where climbers die regularly could have steps cut into them to minimise the risk of falling...all trees should be bubble wrapped in mountain bike courses ...all bluffs of over three meters in height should be fenced so hunters dont slip and break their necks...

[Buddha#81:Me]

.....but maybe the hard bits of mountains where climbers die regularly could have steps cut into them to minimise the risk of falling...all trees should be bubble wrapped in mountain bike courses ...all bluffs of over three meters in height should be fenced so hunters dont slip and break their necks...

Your just being silly now Neil!

[Grumph]

...if the work involved in getting a street meeting going and a knowledge of how many hoops we have to jump through was known to all who have a comment to make and the fact that we as organisers dont sleep well knowing that something could go wrong , probably wouldnt make any difference...a suggestion I could make would be....dont moan at us...make suggestions, and then back them with turning up to an organising meeting with a list of volunteers who might turn their concerns into work on the days prior to the meetings , sorting out the softer options for the areas of perceived danger...

...no flippancy intended here but maybe the hard bits of mountains where climbers die regularly could have steps cut into them to minimise the risk of falling...all trees should be bubble wrapped in mountain bike courses ...all bluffs of over three meters in height should be fenced so hunters dont slip and break their necks...

Don't forget mandatory lifejackets for Lemmings.....

Work on the days prior to the meeting is fine - but the planning and circuit approval incl what bales and where is done literally months before - and mainly by a very small core group working with a Steward. TWR has put forward a suggestion which has merit - and it's backed with expert knowledge. I hope any groups who are even now planning a meeting take note. The locals who put the circuit together usually have access to bale handling equipment so a different shape bale shouldn't cause problems.

[Billy]

.....No disrespect intended to anyone posting in this thread...its very easy to have a comment taken as flippant or disregarding of human life and safety issues...irrespective of how long one has been involved in the organisation of the sport or how concerned one may be of the horrible things that can happen...every meeting whether on a closed circuit or a street is as dangerous as any other sport that involves speed, and kinetic energy ...I cant comment on the Nth Island Street Circuits...they are big, attract huge crowds and riders that dont come near our Street Circuits down here and attract huge crowds of joe public...I know the scale of the events dont change the energies involved in a man versus immovable objects scenario...

...all street racing is dangerous to a point...riders are competitive by nature and competing for the same bit of tarmac in every corner is going to cause accidents...our meetings down Sth are supposed to be fun and a way to take our sport out to joe public...I dont think any prize money is up for grabs down here at street meetings so a lot of the safety issues regarding offs in corners could be minimised by riders realising this and not putting themselves or other competitors at risk...this does not take the risk out of the game but it would help...

...no disrespect intended to any class of m/c here, but the down time and clean ups of broken bits from huge fields of Motards all thinking that ten bikes fit in a two or three bike corner is a concern...likewise for F1 type machines that are putting huge horses on the ground and their relevant speeds. thundering around 1 to 1.5 km tracks...it wouldnt be a street race without them , but the extra danger to riders and public is heightened considerably...

...if the work involved in getting a street meeting going and a knowledge of how many hoops we have to jump through was known to all who have a comment to make and the fact that we as organisers dont sleep well knowing that something could go wrong , probably wouldnt make any difference...a suggestion I could make would be....dont moan at us...make suggestions, and then back them with turning up to an organising meeting with a list of volunteers who might turn their concerns into work on the days prior to the meetings , sorting out the softer options for the areas of perceived danger...

...no flippancy intended here but maybe the hard bits of mountains where climbers die regularly could have steps cut into them to minimise the risk of falling...all trees should be bubble wrapped in mountain bike courses ...all bluffs of over three meters in height should be fenced so hunters dont slip and break their necks...

Very well said,All very valid points and exactly the sort of feedback Tony B was looking for Im sure.As pointed out there are better options available and those involved in the running of these events will be made aware of them Im certain.

[ellipsis]

...yea dont worry... this is a good indicator to take along to our next meeting of how much better we have to be...if it means softer bales or milk bottle filled wool fadges on critical areas, we will push the local organisers for that...Ive never been under any illusion that what we do isnt bloody silly, either...yeeha..

[jellywrestler]

. milk bottle filled wool fadges

make sure if you use these that all the bottles are lashed together through the handles.
There's been many a bale ripped open and the bottles scatter everywhere. Simple to sort beforehand.

[SWERVE]

Yep........ hit one at Greymouth 3 yrs ago that someone hard dislodged onto start finish line.............. clear street - 1000 tiny cream bottles - clear street.
certainly a different experience...but no damage to me or bike and i stayed on.
As you were!

[TonyB]

Very well said,All very valid points and exactly the sort of feedback Tony B was looking for Im sure.As pointed out there are better options available and those involved in the running of these events will be made aware of them Im certain.

Sure is! TWR's comment is gold, as is Gumphs.
Nice to see people starting to consider the options.

Billy, no ones been in touch yet?

I definitely get the feeling that organisers are working separately and good ideas aren't being shared around- this would mean that the ideas that don't work aren't either. I could be wrong though.

One of the comments I've heard about bags of plastic milk bottles is that they are so light that riders sometimes shoot straight underneath them. Has anyone ever tried weighting them-either with something soft but heay on top, or simply by half filling a few of the bottles with water?

[TonyB]

...all trees should be bubble wrapped in mountain bike courses ...

erm...hate to tell you this, but on some of the Victoria Park MTB downhill courses, the trees ARE wrapped.
No I didn't have anything to do with that one

[speights_bud]

sorry havent had the time to read the entire thread, but an idea for barriers, seeing how the arsehole fell out of the wool industry years ago, and wool aint worth what it used to be.
Growing up on a farm we used to shear regularly. A fully (i mean FULLY) packed woolbake weighs in at around 220kg (using hydraulic press). Occasionally we would have a half bale or so which would be much more suited to using as a barrier being much softer. Also being a bit heavier than the milk bottle in bags method & an air fence they might be less prone to the rider & bike sliding under them

what about halving or splitting into thirds a fully packed bale, giving a "hand packed" much more comfortable to hit bale. Similar to a giant bean bag.no way would i want to hit a full one, they're hard as concrete. there's plenty of wool being cut off sheep right across the country and theres a good chunk of it thats just shit quality and isn't worth much either. My 2c

[speights_bud]

I also have a solution to kerb/gutter impacts that i know will work, i have most of the resources/knowhow/machines to make it a reality but its a case of supply and demand to make it viable. surely it has already been done though.

[budda]

I also have a solution to kerb/gutter impacts that i know will work, i have most of the resources/knowhow/machines to make it a reality but its a case of supply and demand to make it viable. surely it has already been done though.

please contact me through MNZ Office then ..........

Ta
Buddha