Future of Ardmore etc.

[camchain]

I found this (see screenshot JPEG attached) on Google maps after I signed the 'Save Armore' petition a while ago. I could be wrong but I can easily imagine a set of houses around this 'road' superimposed on existing track. It seems that no matter what, this is the future for Ardmore.

We all really have to get serious about cutting the noise. As a group we just haven't been proactive enough with this. There is pressure on even at Thundercross park (Glen Murray sth of AK). City folk lifesylers moving out there just don't want to hear our racket, and the local council hears them.

I hope the recent unfortunate spectator incident doesn't add to the already growing burden on event organisers but it probably will. Getting up close to the action has always been a great aspect to spectating MX. Having a track fenced off for spectators would be possible (but undesirable) at fixed venues but what about the rest? I've always thought the variety of riding in New Zealand was a big part of the success of our riders overseas. (How rough/challenging does a freshly disced corn field get?!, Or big hills on some back country piece of dirt bike heaven)

Are the days of riding on great natural terrain MX on farms all around the country numbered?

*edit: I realise the 'road' could be an old quarry track but just doesn't look like it. Anyone shed any light on this?

[theblacksmith]

Hi there - I certainly hope the days of riding on farms and the like are not numbered. Regardless of the noise our machines make(which the manufacturers should sort out prior to selling them in my opinion) there is also the positive and constructive side of trail rides which are the fund raising aspects of them. Trail rides which I have been on personally have been organized for the purposes of raising funds for a huge variety of different causes - all of which I believe were good causes.Not only do I enjoy the riding(and falling off) but it makes me feel good to have just taken part in an event where a school or a local hall or the local Lions etc will benefit from it.
As for the safety aspect of it - we all know that motorcycle sports can be dangerous - whether youre on the bike or watching in close vicinity. Maybe MNZ and the likes should conduct surveys around MCC's meetings or on line - asking for opinions on what measures should be taken to safeguard spectators at events, - track construction,spectator areas etc. I think the best people to ask would be people like you and me who enjoy the sport and through experience know of the potential dangers involved. It will be interesting to see where this thread ends up.Best of luck to all - ride safe and ride hard.

[scott411]

We all really have to get serious about cutting the noise. As a group we just haven't been proactive enough with this.

you are right on this point, this is the biggest problem we have, noise will kill off riding in this country faster than everything else put together,

the noise is what is getting the Ardmore residents angry, and the Thunder Park resident, you can control the dust but no the noise at the moment,

i think a 94db noise limit for four strokes is acheiveable, but it has to be enforced everywhere, two stroke noise does not travel as far so a 96db would be ok there,

as for spectators, fences might not solve the problem, speedway has very high fences and there have been accidents there as well, it is going to be a interesting outcome to the scu investigation, we have pretty unrestricted access for spectators at the moment, maybe it does need to be looked at,

as for the google earth photo, the road is a little off, you can see ardmore quarry road in the top, i have never seen that loop in there but it may be a paper road from a long time ago??