Ride days at Hampton Downs?

[vinducati]

Sorry but do you really expect them to charge $100.00?
That's just not realistic.
Moto TT run Taupo for $135.00week day and $155.00weekend pay on the day, and you expect a company that has to pay a higher track fee to run for $100.00.
I thought New Zealand riders were tight but that takes the cake.

I agree $200.00 is high for most people.
I expect they will bring it down from there to make it work.
But if you think anyone will run it for $100.00 you will be waiting a very long time.

[sugilite:Me]

I did a ride day there last month. I too felt $200 was steep, till I did it. Then I felt the $200 was very well spent indeed. Amazing track, unbelievable amount of track time was provided, and it was slickly run. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I was surprised there were not more riders there. $200 is less than a average speeding ticket, and no way could roads match that sort of adrenaline rush.

[Mort]

Regards layout Hampton Downs is too basic... they should finish the thing. The surface is great... which is the total opposite of Taupo.... good layout, shite surface.

[vinducati]

Have to disagree.

Turn 1 is an exciting corner.
Turn 2 and Turn 3 excellent.
Turn 4 and run to Turn 5 cool as.
Turn 5 difficult but a challenge
Turn 6 fuckin great sweeper.

I guess it not challenging if you are a really really great rider.
I am not.

And the surface seems really good to me.
The only problems I have had are on really really hot days when some patching melted, which sucks.
Just my opinion.
Like I say we are all pretty different in what we like.

[Mort]

Sorry - I agree with you there... the corners are good but its still not what it was promised to be.... Its still the Hampton Downs short circuit when it should have been the full circuit by now..... 6 corners makes for a pretty basic layout though....

I wonder if they will ever run the circuit anti clockwise like it was designed to do ?

[BoristheBiter]

Sorry - I agree... the corners are good but its still not what it was promised to be.... Its still the Hampton Downs short circuit when it should have been the full circuit by now.

Every time I have been there it's been slippy as hell. (mind you css level 2 was pissing down)
too right should have been finished. You know the saying "built it and they will come."

[BoristheBiter]

Have to disagree.

Turn 1 is an exciting corner.
Turn 2 and Turn 3 excellent.
Turn 4 and run to Turn 5 cool as.
Turn 5 difficult but a challenge
Turn 6 fuckin great sweeper.

I guess it not challenging if you are a really really great rider.
I am not.

And the surface seems really good to me.
The only problems I have had are on really really hot days when some patching melted, which sucks.
Just my opinion.
Like I say we are all pretty different in what we like.

You would think they would build a track better than our roads.

[Gwinch]

The full leathers things hurt them as well.

Full leathers is however a necessity. I was involved with HDRD and CSS from the word go and I've seen just how much sliding down the track will damage leathers because of how grippy the surface is. One particular incident involved a couple of fingers damn near being worn to the bone, a shoulder suffering massive abrasions and the arse coming a bee's dick to wearing through. I'd seriously fear for the epidermis of the person who did the same in cordura which would get ripped to absolute buggery!

[BoristheBiter]

Full leathers is however a necessity. I was involved with HDRD and CSS from the word go and I've seen just how much sliding down the track will damage leathers because of how grippy the surface is. One particular incident involved a couple of fingers damn near being worn to the bone, a shoulder suffering massive abrasions and the arse coming a bee's dick to wearing through. I'd seriously fear for the epidermis of the person who did the same in cordura!

Not knocking leathers, wouldn't be on the bike without them, just saying the other tracks let the lower groups use cadora so for new track riders it is a massive amount of money and a lot just can't afford it.

[Mort]

There is some hope on the completion front - They've bid to run the V8 supercars there after the Hamilton pullout.... so there's a chance of govt funding to complete the work (if the Govt were willing to consider funding converting Whenuapai airfield for the supercars) then they should be in with a good shout as HD is by far the better option...)

[Gwinch]

There is some hope on the completion front - They've bid to run the V8 supercars there after the Hamilton pullout.... so there's a chance of govt funding to complete the work (if the Govt were willing to consider funding converting Whenuapai airfield for the supercars) then they should be in with a good shout as HD is by far the better option...)

Funny you should say that. Hampton Downs was originally offered funding to complete the track provided that they got an international level event secured. WSBK agreed that they'd add the track in to their calender if the track was fully completed however when the directors came back to the government with the good news the promises of funding all of a sudden became quite hollow.

[Devil]

Hampton Downs - 2.8km 6 corners - $200
Phillip Island - 4.4km 12 corners - $330
Eastern Creek - 3.9km 12 corners - $320

The aussie tracks seem pretty good value.

Pardon me, but i'm struggling with your maths.
HD booked 7 days in advance online is $184 vs The Creeks $320.
Pay on the day: HD = $200 vs The Creek $360

For the island: $184 vs $334
Pay on day*: $200 vs $347. Now in this instance I dont even think they do pay on the day at the Island because it's usually sold out.

I dont see any issues with value. It is an expensive track to hire.

[Mort]

Pardon me, but i'm struggling with your maths.
HD booked 7 days in advance online is $184 vs The Creeks $320.
Pay on the day: HD = $200 vs The Creek $360

For the island: $184 vs $334
Pay on day*: $200 vs $347. Now in this instance I dont even think they do pay on the day at the Island because it's usually sold out.

I dont see any issues with value. It is an expensive track to hire.

I agree its not bad value at all...

The problem is the size of the market willing to pay.... I was talking about this with a mate the other day - I bet the number of individuals who do at least one track day at HD in a year is probably just a few hundreds. The market here is small and anything which deters that small group from riding (such as bad weather, RWC or economic gloom) will hit HDRD harder than its counterparts in Aussie...

[BoristheBiter]

I agree its not bad value at all...

The problem is the size of the market willing to pay.... I was talking about this with a mate the other day - I bet the number of individuals who do at least one track day at HD in a year is probably just a few hundreds. The market here is small and anything which deters that small group from riding (such as bad weather, RWC or economic gloom) will hit HDRD harder than its counterparts in Aussie...

Also where it is doesn't help, nothing around it.

About an hour for us to get there, compared to the likes of Taupo is about a hour from anywhere in the central north island.
And if you forget something there are shops down the road.

[Devil]

Also where it is doesn't help, nothing around it.

About an hour for us to get there, compared to the likes of Taupo is about a hour from anywhere in the central north island.

On the contrary. HD is situated up to an hour from a population base of almost 2 million people. It couldn't be in a better location.

The plan is actually to turn HD into its own little town, so facilities should get better over time.