Paeroa Battle of the Streets 2014

[Mental Trousers]

Paeroa's street races are a blast. It's such a fun event because of the great atmosphere, the weather is always good, the local businesses and residents get right behind it and we get to do stupid speeds down the main street without losing our licences. It's the only event that I want to do every year if possible and the only event where I don't care where I finish as long as I finish. My first time was in 2011 on the old Triumph. In my first ever street race I had some technical problems and got off the start line 10 seconds after everyone else because the bike wouldn't go into first gear so I finished dead last. In 2012 the Triumph threw a rod in the second practice when it missed fifth gear and over-revved into oblivion. 2013 I had 3 weddings on the same day as Paeroa, so 2014 is the first year I've had a proper go at Paeroa.

The weekend before I'd done the BRM Pacific club round at Taupo with the bike set up for Paeroa. The days between the two were very busy so there wouldn't be any time for me to alter the geometry to suit the streets as I don't have a steering damper, so at Taupo I ....

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[p.dath]

Will this be with your 4 cylinder modified to 3 cylinder bike?

[Mental Trousers]

Will this be with your 4 cylinder modified to 3 cylinder bike?

Yep that's the one

[Akzle]

fuken missed it. Yeah its a fkn good day out.

[Yamahardman]

i really enjoyed it! was great!
I got pretty jolly seeing the h2 kawasaki screaming along, sadly it wasn't as fast as the rest of the field, but it sure sounded nice!
Also those super motorrad races, just wow, so cool. I wonder if you can race a 2t motorrad in that class?
Anyway, twas awesome.

[sharky]

Fuckin sidecars up to their usual tricks - haha. At least it wasn't a post classic...

[leathel]

It was a great day and some mad racing! Those classic side cars are as nuts as the motards :P

[swarfie]

Fuckin sidecars up to their usual tricks - haha. At least it wasn't a post classic...

The problem was caused by an ACCIDENT (sidecar got punted in the side of the fairing in front of the side wheel which caused the oil cooler to get damaged) and MUST be stressed that this could have happened to any class of machine...comments like yours DON'T help thanks The crew concerned feel bad enough as it is!

[sharky]

The problem was caused by an ACCIDENT (sidecar got punted in the side of the fairing in front of the side wheel which caused the oil cooler to get damaged) and MUST be stressed that this could have happened to any class of machine...comments like yours DON'T help thanks The crew concerned feel bad enough as it is!

Just fishing..........

[jellywrestler]

Just fisting..........

fixed it for ya...

Paeroa re going to struggle to get competitors next year after their decision to pocket the prizemoney for round two rather than pay out double for round one....
a few people not happy about that i hear.

[Shaun Harris]

fixed it for ya...

Paeroa re going to struggle to get competitors next year after their decision to pocket the prizemoney for round two rather than pay out double for round one....
a few people not happy about that i hear.

who ever made that decision needs there arse kicked big time. It is the riders that are the show that bring the income to the community. Paeroa racing will be finished for ever very soon. Club racing does not belong on the streets

[Mental Trousers]

I guess there are people who turn up and ride for the prize money. But I'm pretty sure the majority of people are there cause it's a great day. Hell of a buzz racing in front of crowds that are so close, pit lane always has a great atmosphere with the crowds mixing amongst the riders and bikes etc. Best show I go to all year.

[JayRacer37]

Paeroa re going to struggle to get competitors next year after their decision to pocket the prizemoney for round two rather than pay out double for round one....
a few people not happy about that i hear.

Many people not happy.

I guess there are people who turn up and ride for the prize money. But I'm pretty sure the majority of people are there cause it's a great day. Hell of a buzz racing in front of crowds that are so close, pit lane always has a great atmosphere with the crowds mixing amongst the riders and bikes etc. Best show I go to all year.

*UPDATE*

I have just been advised by one of the organisers from the day that a further decision is pending on either prize money or a partial entry refund. This has to go though a committee process so is not instantaneous, but they are certainly considering the outcome being different from what it is now.
Yes, there are - I am one of them.

I entered Paeroa with a reasonable expectation of some good prize money, which was going to cover bills incurred to be there and race. I paid my entry fee(s) to be eligible for this potential earning, and having that potential firstly taken away, and secondly pocketed by the organising body feels pretty raw right at the moment.

As Shaun said, the riders are the show. To shaft them, when there were no additional costs to the organisers so it is purely more profit for them, doesn't bode well for people deciding to come back. Also, no issues to pay double for the first race, everyone had one...It was and is a great meeting, but this put a really sour turn on it for me (and many others).

Maybe following though on those thoughts, they could pay half the entry back to everyone, as only half the earning potential was available...Bet they would love to do that!

[Banditbandit]

Yeah - great day ... unfortunately it was cut short .. but hey, I'll be back next year ..

[swarfie]

Many people not happy.



Yes, there are - I am one of them.

I entered Paeroa with a reasonable expectation of some good prize money, which was going to cover bills incurred to be there and race. I paid my entry fee(s) to be eligible for this potential earning, and having that potential firstly taken away, and secondly pocketed by the organising body feels pretty raw right at the moment.

As Shaun said, the riders are the show. To shaft them, when there were no additional costs to the organisers so it is purely more profit for them, doesn't bode well for people deciding to come back. Also, no issues to pay double for the first race, everyone had one...It was and is a great meeting, but this put a really sour turn on it for me (and many others).

Maybe following though on those thoughts, they could pay half the entry back to everyone, as only half the earning potential was available...Bet they would love to do that!

A few years ago when Alan Satherley got killed in a sidecar race at Paeroa the sidecar fraternity all agreed to pay the prize money to his family...Paeroa Promotions Trust wouldn't even pass on the money. They said maybe the next year we could have reduced entry fees instead and that never happened either. They've done it again and as far as us sidecar competitors are concerned that SUCKS.