Pukekohe Alterations... Coming Soon!

[twinshock750]

I'm impressed by the lack of logic behind Quasievil's suggested alterations at turn one and down the back straight....

1) There's a small problem with a horse stable and removing probably the fastest corner in the country...
2) So what's the change down the back going to achieve? All that will will do is remove the last place in NZ to let the big dogs off the leash...

The other sugesstion (By RIB) that puts a chicane at the top of the hill...hmmm. That exit points you at solid shit as well and does nothing to slow people down on the way in like where TS bit the dust.

What you all forget is that the places to get hurt are in to AND over the top of the hill, not so much on the very exit....eg

1) Where Twosmoker bailed off ie at the second left and
2) Up over the top where Pete Summers was fatally injured a few years ago. I was led to believe Pete's accident was not all the "track's" fault. As in his bike's gearbox was playing up and he was riding around a problem which meant he was having to do odd things mid corner . Or where Cary fired the ZX10R at the VK300.

So can anyone explain what or how these two suggestions would have stopped those two riders falling off?

Let's think about physics for a minute. The faster you go, the more energy you have. This means that the faster you go, the longer it takes to slow down. So the fast you are going when you fall off, the further you are likley to slide. Still with me here?

Behind the crash bags that get put there every meeting at considerable expense for every meeting, there's a big concrete wall and behind it you may have notice there's a big hill....hope you are hanging here....

Last year they moved a similar sized hill at laguna Seca before the GP and the costs was 7 figures US. Anyone got that to spend? Staying with me still here I hope as we working to a FACT based solution here using resources that may be achieveable and not in someones pipe dream.

So lets go back down the track a little and add a sequence which will slow the entry. That fixes the entry (problem 1) above) and It will most likely mean everyone is on a better line into the proper entry of the right hander for the hill and less oblique to the wall, going slower.

Now the going slower bit is quite critical here - it means you won't slide as far and the angle gives you more room as well. When you are steering with your feet and dragging your palms on the track trying to slow down, every inch counts as far as I'm concerned.

Kickaha - that answer your question about speed and run off? It may well be a shit hole, but it's our shit hole and some idiots did bad shit which meant we couldn't use it. The boys here are doing all they can to make it better than before. I can imagine you being pissy if some car driver groups did a similar thing at Ruapuna.

Another bit for RIB - why would Puke put money into Hampton Downs? be like Suzuki giving money to Honda to develop the next Fireplace that they may or may not build....

Seeya

[RiderInBlack]

The other sugesstion (By RIB) that puts a chicane at the top of the hill...hmmm. That exit points you at solid shit as well and does nothing to slow people down on the way in like where TS bit the dust.

Sweet as But I still don't think the alteration they are planing is going to fix the risks of that corner enough to be effective ether.

Another bit for RIB - why would Puke put money into Hampton Downs?

I was not suggesting that the Puke Owners put money into HDowns. They are Horsey Racing buggers that have on more than one occasion threatened to close the track to motor sports.
I am on the other hand suggesting that the local Track using motor sport groups get behind HDowns so that they will have a track more suitable for them and not waste their time with Puke (where they run the risk of getting kicked off).

[twinshock750]

duped post refer below guys.

[twinshock750]

Sweet as But I still don't think the alteration they are planing is going to fix the risks of that corner enough to be effective ether.

I was not suggesting that the Puke Owners put money into HDowns. They are Horsey Racing buggers that have on more than one occasion threatened to close the track to motor sports.
I am on the other hand suggesting that the local Track using motor sport groups get behind HDowns so that they will have a track more suitable for them and not waste their time with Puke (where they run the risk of getting kicked off).

1) Still don't think it will make a difference? Yeah, and based upon what known facts is that? I've attended almost every motorcycle race meeting or ride day at Pukekohe since 1979 in one shape or form, including spectator, mechanic, sponsor, competitor, official and steward. Many of the problems at the top started as a result of the few extra knots everyone was carrying as a result of the change to the section from the hairpin to the entry to the hill. Granted bikes are making shit loads more horsepower than 15 years ago when the ciruit was changed, but at the same time the tyre and suspension has come along way too. But the fact remains, the entry speed screws people at the top too because they get in too hot on the wrong line and run out of road.

2) You don't think that they aren't already? Why should it just be them - what are you and all the other riders, drivers and spectators doing to make HD a reality? Talk is cheap unfortunately and it's getting the talk into action that HD needs more than anything right now I think.

And HD is not certain so we need to make sure we have something which is Pukekohe. This process is called having a plan B.

I know I'm hanging for HD too, but I'm not sure any any of us could affort it....