Which is the best track... Levels or Teretonga?

MD · 29th July 2006, 19:20

I have not been to Teretonga so I looked it up on google earth and , boy it looks like a bit of fun - see pic 1 below and Ruapuna pic 2. Bugger but I couldn't even locate Levels on Google earth because it was a low resolution area. So I got the circuit map.
It's been too many years since I rode either Ruapuna or Levels and from the pic Ruapuna has had a major re-build since I was on it. All I can say is I enjoyed Levels much more than the original Ruapuna. Probably a personal thing from my riding style, but for me Levels just seemed to have corners you could lean forever and they went on and on. Whereas Ruapuna was more accelerate-brake -accelerate -brake = boring to me. The new Ruapuna sure seems to have some twists added now with several track combos to use and the tight hairpin at the end of the long straight has been taken out. From the air there is no trace of the old layout.
It would be great to do a SI tour of the tracks.
Oh yeah for technical comparisons Teretonga is listed as 2.57km, Manfeild (short track) 3 point something km (I forgot OK, 3rd beer) and Levels 2.4km

MD · 29th July 2006, 19:25

Whats up. can't get the Levels map to upload in above post?
Lets try again...

**Kickaha** · 29th July 2006, 19:39

AT levels we run the chicane before the pit entrance, so it isn't quite as marked on that track map

MD · 29th July 2006, 19:48

Originally Posted by Kickaha

AT levels we run the chicane before the pit entrance, so it isn't quite as marked on that track map

That might explain why I can't remember that erect penis shape jutting out before the pits/short straight! There was a series of left-rights but nothing as pronouced as that map shows.

**Kickaha** · 29th July 2006, 20:28

Originally Posted by MD

That might explain why I can't remember that erect penis shape jutting out before the pits/short straight! There was a series of left-rights but nothing as pronouced as that map shows.

The old track used to turn off about 2/3 of the way down the straight, John Jones, McKissock and Waldron are additions to the old track

**k14** · 29th July 2006, 21:25

Yeah as far as a 125 goes levels is the best track in NZ. Teretonga is still pretty cool though, although I've only ridden it once and that was in the wet. Both are pretty short tracks though. Ruapuna has that extra bit of length meaning there is just that extra bit of variation and more track to learn.