What's the best/most fun track for you & why ?

[MD]

I have fond memories of racing around Levels in the 410 production class because it was just so much fun on a bike. Way better than Ruapuna was back then.
The new Taupo reminds me of Levels, corners that seem to flow from one to the next. Whereas Manfield feels like they built the straights first then realised that they would have to add corners reluctantly, in order to get to the next straight.

People go on golfing holidays around the country to sample as many courses as possible. Imagine taking a holiday to ride every track in the country in quick sucession to compare them all. What a blast that would be.

[scracha]

(Why can't it get FIM permission to hold the Nat's there??!! Just embarrassing when we have these Aussies etc come over and "sorry mates you have to ride around just half of this track...")

Umm, could be the lack of run off and big barrier on the old half that I couldn't keep my eyes off. Don't think there's much they can do about that aside from purchasing the bit of land next to the track.

[Cleve]

Umm, could be the lack of run off and big barrier on the old half that I couldn't keep my eyes off. Don't think there's much they can do about that aside from purchasing the bit of land next to the track.

so what's Puke's excuse then??!!

[codgyoleracer]

My pick is Teretonga, personally i dont go that well there normally - however the combination of corners is unique & its clear to me that someone has thought long & hard about the layout. The only negatives is that the sand is a bit of a bike wrecker though if you run off the track & the final turn should be returned to the original designers drawing - which had a chicane leading onto the front straight - as the current 90deg left is not in keeping with the rest of the fantastic layout.

[Maarty]

Teratonga!
Fast, flowing and fun, wet or dry! and I have had a few lap records there!!!!
Very closely followed by levels. Best 'riders' circuit, most technical and the most rewarding when you get it right!
Worst, Pukekohe, what a boring track! although getting from the hairpin to the esses before castrol without backing off is kinda rewarding!
Ruapuna, infield is too slow, be more fun if it was faster there.
Manfeild, neat but too rough these days, the long circuit hairpin is the worst corner in the country, complete waste of time!
Baypark, rough and ready and great fun if you liked sand, broke my neck there though!
Lyall bay, Gracefield, Hamilton and Sydnham street circuits and Paeroa, no thanks
Wanganui was a blast on the chooky, using the bales as berms onto the start finish straight was entertaining.

[twinshock750]

Original Taupo was "okay"....better than not riding at all!

My own view is Taupo 2 is a good place to get hurt - either highside out of, tuck front into or or get T boned with all the poxy little turns (they don't rate as being called real "corners") because they have tried to fit so much in THe only worthwhile one is out the back after the left hand hairpin. Can't see why people like the place really. Yeah, the facilities are good, but I come to ride not try to pose in the pits... Plus the esses/chicanes are pox and the surface is breaking up already.

After far too many years I'm finally getting my head around Puke and it is fun, yeah, the armco slows me down a little in places as I err on caution, but going fast on fast corners is what it is about (as compared to dicking around on slow corners like Taupo)

Maarty, I was there when you broke your neck at Baypark - NC30 from memory, off the back straight (about 91 or 92?)...I didn't mind Baypark on my 125, though there was only one real corner and that was the sweeper. THe bit around the back from the exit of Honda to ONto the front straight is just SEX. PLus souther loop. Oh hell, all of it!

Paeroa/Wanganui/Whangarei street circuits, probably not again. Too much to hit, though 3rd gear wheelstands were fun!

Mallory Park: Gerards, what a Mind f..K! Worth it for that alone. Esses were okay, hairpins and bus stop poxy.

Phillip Island. I recommend that everyone saves their money and sometime ibn their life at least book a ride day there. BUt be warned, it is addictive and will make you realise that NZ tracks are mostly pretty slow and average to say the least. SOuthern loop is great too. Oh hell, it's all good

[scracha]

Yeah, the facilities are good, but I come to ride not try to pose in the pits...

What facilities? I don't remember being able to chill out on a couch and watch TV in their lounge nor did I spot a canteen or hot showers.

NZ tracks are mostly pretty slow and average to say the least. SOuthern loop is great too. Oh hell, it's all good

Oh and I forgot Le Mans. Looooverly. Fuggin nice ride from the St Malo ferry port too. At least the track's here are cheap. What's the Southern loop?

I've got high hopes for this new track at Hampton Downs though although phrases like "huge sealed run-off area" and the lack of run off at the end of the back straight (looks about 50m) are a bit worrying.

http://www.hamptondowns.com/Track.wse

[Kickaha]

Can't see why people like the place really.

I'd say because it takes a bit more thought to get a good lap in,it's harder to pass on and as such you can get away with less Hp than you need for Manfield and Puke

What's the Southern loop?

Turn 1 at Teretonga, one of the most awesome corners of any track in NZ and provides prime passing opportunities if you've got the balls

http://www.teretonga.org.nz/circuit.htm

[scrivy]

Turn 1 at Teretonga, one of the most awesome corners of any track in NZ and provides prime passing opportunities if you've got the balls

Is that the corner me and Chris Meads gave you'se fellas a shunt for going too slow??
We two-point around the whole freakin corner.

[gixerracer]

...or having fellow competitors wanna punch you in the mouth after a race. Yeah those street circuits rock.....

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[gixerracer]

Teratonga!
Fast, flowing and fun, wet or dry! and I have had a few lap records there!!!!
Very closely followed by levels. Best 'riders' circuit, most technical and the most rewarding when you get it right!
Worst, Pukekohe, what a boring track! although getting from the hairpin to the esses before castrol without backing off is kinda rewarding!
Ruapuna, infield is too slow, be more fun if it was faster there.
Manfeild, neat but too rough these days, the long circuit hairpin is the worst corner in the country, complete waste of time!
Baypark, rough and ready and great fun if you liked sand, broke my neck there though!
Lyall bay, Gracefield, Hamilton and Sydnham street circuits and Paeroa, no thanks
Wanganui was a blast on the chooky, using the bales as berms onto the start finish straight was entertaining.

Pukekohe is many things but boring it is not it may be on those little bucket racers maarty but u mant to try 310kph down the back straight and then wrestle a beast over the hill and try holding on to 200hp coming off the hill bracking the rear loose and weaving like a mad thing thats what a call a good time but its bloddy dangerous I reckon invercargill is the best they just need to move it 1200ks north and it rocks in the wet has more grip than manfeild in the dry, manfeild long track is cool but the old track is shit boring kucky im a check book racer with a fast bike this year so might go ok there this year

[Kickaha]

Is that the corner me and Chris Meads gave you'se fellas a shunt for going too slow??

Not us, I haven't ever raced against you there, you'll have to wait until the 2009 season for that

Pukekohe is many things but boring it is not

Nah he's right, it's boring, apart from the sheer speed of the place it has nothing going for it

[clmintie]

Just found this thread....

Ahhh, the memories.... The old Porirua for street and Levin for circuit, both on a Suzuki TM 125L with a GT380 front wheel/brakes. Man those were fun times. Kapiti M/C club days at Levin.... Gracefield was a bit long for the poor little 125.

[Toast]

What facilities? I don't remember being able to chill out on a couch and watch TV in their lounge nor did I spot a canteen or hot showers.


Oh and I forgot Le Mans. Looooverly. Fuggin nice ride from the St Malo ferry port too. At least the track's here are cheap. What's the Southern loop?

I've got high hopes for this new track at Hampton Downs though although phrases like "huge sealed run-off area" and the lack of run off at the end of the back straight (looks about 50m) are a bit worrying.

http://www.hamptondowns.com/Track.wse

My old man was talking to the owner/developer or something the other day during some car club thing...

he asked the guy about bike safety, and the fella seemed to reckon that they're gonna have air fences or some similar thing in dodgy places with little run off. Sounds good to me I just wanna get out there and have a go!