Pukekohe alterations... COMPLETED!!!!???

**racer6** · 27th October 2006, 20:56

At long last the issue over the Armco Barrier that has stopped bikes racing at Pukekohe for some time and made it a less safe place for all of us to ride has been resolved...

The story as I heard it today is that Gary (who essentially runs Pukekohe Raceway) was driving a forklift which had an unfortunate accident that effectively lifted and removed the 100 metres of Armco that caused the long running issues. Gary is okay, as is the forklift, but the Armco was damaged beyond repair and has been completely removed from the Raceway.

Subsequent to this a new Armco has been erected very similar to the previous one that allows considerably more run-off area in the event of an unfortunate incident. In addition a tyre barrier will be placed in front of the Armco to reduce the force of any impact.

So the bottom line is... Pukekohe is back to where it was at a year ago and, from what I'm told, has been given the okay for bikes again as it is at least as safe as it used to be... Thanks Gary!

**Sketchy_Racer** · 27th October 2006, 21:01

wow. 100 metres of armco with a fork lift!!

I guess when you work at a track, you'll be fast around there on anything!!!!

**sAsLEX** · 27th October 2006, 21:03

I heard those forklifts can be a bugger to steer when you're drunk!

**Sketchy_Racer** · 27th October 2006, 21:05

Mate. They should have instaled Ohlins suspension.

That would surely fix the huge understeer issue!!

**thealmightytaco** · 27th October 2006, 21:21

But is it safer to scrape along a wall that's closer or to go head on into a wall that's a bit further away? Mind you someone'd find a way to head on a closer angled wall I'm sure.

**sAsLEX** · 27th October 2006, 21:23

Originally Posted by thealmightytaco

But is it safer to scrape along a wall that's closer or to go head on into a wall that's a bit further away? Mind you someone'd find a way to head on a closer angled wall I'm sure.

The old one is straight on from a left hand bend so any crash would send the rider straight into rather than along the removed armco.

**BornToLean** · 27th October 2006, 21:24

The Classic Motorcycle Racing club paid to have that bit of Armco removed for their race meeting last weekend. As of last Sunday, it was suppose to be going back in..........

**bugjuice** · 28th October 2006, 00:03

the run off area was/is fine.. it's the brief stop that's the problem. They should be fixing that. The slanted amco was better imho, not this again

**trumpy** · 28th October 2006, 06:17

I have never ridden a bike at Pukekohe so I can't make any comment from that point of view. However having driven single seaters here, with this arrangement, a good nudge from the side in this area would almost certainly result in a Radisich type stop (grass on its own does diddly squat to slow down 420+kg of car plus driver). For us, the side on attack was a better deal.
"Outcroppings" like this are dangerous. Ever seen anyone hit the one down the front straight? Always results in major carnage and then to rub salt in the wound the bastards send you a bill for the damage!

**Damon** · 28th October 2006, 08:11

from what i heard, i think from the amcc news letter the corner was going to be re-aligned to make it tighter into more of a corner rather than a sweeper to slow people down which would resolve need for such a big run off

**justsomeguy** · 28th October 2006, 08:36

What's the fuss about??

I thought the next corner was the one people had trouble with.

By the time you reach there you are either rolling off or braking anyway as you can enter the two left handers there faster than you can enter the sweeping right hander over the hill. (Correct me if I'm wrong).

I don't know if the slanted Armco was better as you may slide along it or you or your bike may get bounced back onto the track.

**boomer** · 28th October 2006, 08:52

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

What's the fuss about??

I thought the next corner was the one people had trouble with.

By the time you reach there you are either rolling off or braking anyway as you can enter the two left handers there faster than you can enter the sweeping right hander over the hill. (Correct me if I'm wrong).

I don't know if the slanted Armco was better as you may slide along it or you or your bike may get bounced back onto the track.

your shittin me arent ya?? as soon as you come out of the hairpin your throttle on and never let off until you come into jennings!

**justsomeguy** · 28th October 2006, 09:05

Originally Posted by boomer

your shittin me arent ya?? as soon as you come out of the hairpin your throttle on and never let off until you come into jennings!

No you don't let off - but don't you hold it steady and stop accelerating when you swap from left to right after the 2nd left from the hairpin until you enter the right hander over the hill???

Or do you keep accelerating right through the left to right transition??

**enigma51** · 28th October 2006, 09:33

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

No you don't let off - but don't you hold it steady and stop accelerating when you swap from left to right after the 2nd left from the hairpin until you enter the right hander over the hill???

Or do you keep accelerating right through the left to right transition??

By the time I hold it steady is when I am going up the hill even then its a slowly openeing the throttle till the top