Pukekohe race track

[Shaun]

Don't ask me how I know or who I have spoken to but, I can gaurantee that our mate Paul has done all of us a massive favour!

It is sad and injust for it to be at Paul's exspence, but some times it takes a Horse to bolt before the gate is shut, as the death of my father prooved to me many moons ago.

The AMCC are acting very seriously about the safety of the race track and so is our own road race commisioner and MNZ.

So to all of Paul's freinds and supporters out there, rest assured, things are being done to help prevent this kind of a catastrophie from happening again.

[R6_kid:Me]

i guess that's good to hear, still say bring on Hampton Downs though.

[bugjuice]

This is what's pissed me right off about Paul's accident. Paul's isn't the first on that hill/corner. It's always been one of the many black spots of that track, and for one with only 6 corners, that can't be a good thing at all. There's been a couple of deaths and serious crashes on that hill, and that's just since I've been here and known about the track. Bikes, cars, open wheelers, trucks... WHY WASN'T ANYTHING DONE YEARS AGO?!

It's a good technical corner, for sure. It's one of those that gives you a buzz when you start getting it right, but to have a fukin stupid amco barrier just a couple of meters from the track?! that's just retarded whoever thought of that..

CHANGE IT NOW!!!!!!!! FFS

[FROSTY:Me]

Im 100% in agreement that pukie is dangerous
This complaint has been going on for a lot of years.
The self same corner ended my racing about 14 years ago
Heres the problem though as I see it
THE TRACK OWNERS DONT CARE
It really is that simple

Maybee Im talking out of turn but the only real world solution I can see is to slow the bikes down on that series of corners.
No it wont solve the problem but it will at least reduce it
A chicane of some sort to pull the speed down to a reasonable level

[Masterchop]

Its good to hear that they are going to fix that corner, it is dangerous.

I had a bit of an off on it in the national champs a few years ago,and hit the wall.
Broke my ankle into lots of bits and and broke 4 ribs,spent a week in Middlemore hospital and ended up with plates and screws holding my foot on.

But there will allways be bad corners that need fixing and we will still race on those tracks,because we love riding fast and we know it is a dangerous sport before we go out there each time.

[Rossi Gal]

Good to hear Shaun & Speedie, thanks for the news.

[Leong]

A chicane of some sort to pull the speed down to a reasonable level

There used to be a chicane there in the late 70's. I remember it was a good spot for photos from a public area.

[k14]

This is great. I too am very worried about the track and it sucks to no end that Motobob's accident had to occur before anything serious was done about it.

Very interested to see what happens about it. Would not be at all sorry to see bike racing suspended indefinately there.

[Cleve]

Thanks for the news Shaun. I am willing to do anything I can to help.

[Kickaha]

It is sad and injust for it to be at Paul's exspence, but some times it takes a Horse to bolt before the gate is shut

It's been at a lot more peoples expense than Paul, he's the latest in a long list of people that have been seriously injured (or worse) on that corner

good to see they're finally doing something, but it is way to late for a lot of people

[Lou Girardin]

Pukekohe should be closed. Too many people have been injured or killed right in that spot. I don't believe that racing should be completely risk-free, but that place is a joke. The Counties Racing club needs a sharp lesson.
Besides, those bloody drifters are ruining that track for bikes.

[Torque]

Good news, really hope this time something will be done to improve safety.

[Quasievil]

Close the track down, its about to be redundant anyway, hampton downs is a go so who would choose puke corners over that, or even Taupo.
Its a disgrace nothing has been done, especially since so many have gone down on that corner and suffered serious injuries as a result.

[Dai]

When I first started biking in the early 70's , I was a frequent visitor to this race track. I stopped going there after one particular accident.

An American bike rider by the name of Cal Rayborn came to this country on a holiday. At the time he held the world motorcycle speed record. He also was one of the top US riders in their events. If I remember rightly he was a contracted rider to Yamaha.

Cal was persuaded to ride at Pukekohe by the NZ bike fraternity.

He crashed, I dont know why, on the straight in front of the stands and died there and then.

To this day I still have the memory with me and every now and then it sort of pops into my mind.

Before this I had been on the track for a few race days, afterwards I never went back.

Pukekohe has always as far as I remember been a dangerous track. One friend of mine, Alan Old, came off on the corner before the same straight and finished up wearing away the cheeks of his arse. A very painful accident but not fatal.

Hampton Downs, a purpose built track up to modern safety standards seems to be exactly what we need. I for one would not be upset if Puke was closed and the land developed.

My 2 cents worth.

[Drunken Monkey]

Calls for closing the track sounds like the pinnacle of narrow mindedness to me. Sure, if it's too dangerous for bikes, stop racing bikes on it. Sliding a few meters into the armco inside a roll cage and wearing a hans device is not quite in the same league as rag-dolling it in leathers. I doubt dropping bikes from the circuit will be a make or break issue, if they can turn a profit and still keep, let's be honest here, the vast majority of track users (i.e. cagers) without the likes of some of you fellas, all the better.