Ardmore - need support!

[cheese]

Just got this email ----

WE GOT HAMMERED


We had the first day of the resource consent hearings for the track yesterday, and the residents gave us both barrels.

One of the residents started off quoting riders comments from the Kiwi biker website bragging about how loud the bikes are, we had another telling the court about the native trees we had either mutilated or cut down as well as the 27 Wednesday nights we had gone over time over the last year and ridden in the dark, despite the fact that the Council have had a compliance officer checking on every ride for the last year.

We had reports of bikes riding up the road, massive clouds of dust contaminating the residents water tanks and how there isn't enough water in the ponds to keep the track watered anyway. On Monday we will probably hear about the vast quantities of rubbish and mud we deposit into the stream, dust contaminating the grass on surrounding farms and that John Cobb is a Satan worshipper.

I was last out of the hearing on Friday, half expecting to find a lynch mob armed with pitch forks waiting outside.

Fortunately we had Maurice, who is a former Police Officer, refuting many of the claims, but the residents seemed skilled at presenting evidence at hearings and its fairly obvious that telling the truth isn't a requirement at RMA hearings because there is no cross examination. Apparently the noise from the bikes has impaired the hearing of at least one resident who lives over a kilometre from the track. Interesting because I have been at the track for just about every event we have ever held and when I did my St John medical this year I was told that I have perfect hearing.

Anyway, thanks to Mark and Neville for presenting evidence, Reinard, Jeremy and Paula for coming out to give us some support and to Maurice for making a strong submission in support. A former councilor with 18 years experience, Glenn Archibald also came to the hearings with a lawyer and made a submission before the hearing that the Council should have had the case heard only by an independent commissioner, due to conflicts of interest. The council is making the decision on our lease, is also determining our resource consent, has fought a legal battle with us over closing the track and has been exposed to a lot of media coverage over the last 2 years.

I am still hoping we get a fair hearing. Monday will tell, because the residents are not supposed to be able to all turn up and repeat the same arguments, so all that leaves for discussion is rubbish in the stream, our underground asbestos-fired nuclear power station and Satan worshipping.

If you can get out to the hearings at any time during Monday, a bit of moral support would be good for the submitters who are going to speak in support of the track. The hearings start at 9.30 and will run through to 5.00 at (the Papakura Council buildings) 35 Coles Cresent. You can park across the road in the Woolworths car park.

THANKS

BORIS

[CookMySock]

owch. commiserations, bud. I live too far away and know too little about it to be of any use.

DB

[Danger]

What a shame this has come up again. Not really sure what I can do to help but I hope that the truth prevails to overcome the anti bike zealouts.

[charles23]

fuckin mother fuckers!!!
fuck them!

couldn't have put it better myself.............ditto

[charles23]

how about a protest in support of the track like a blockage on the road or pick on one of the farkers and camp out on their front lawn?????????????????

[DEATH_INC.]

I can't be there either.
I feel sorry for you guys, fighting the handfull of selfish pricks that have nothing better to do than complain about a bit of noise and dust. If it makes you feel better they'll probably move on to the airfield next, with all the noise and fumes those damn planes make.......
Some people really are pathetic.

[M0T0MAN]

fuckin mother fuckers!!!
fuck them!

Damn right! they just got nothing better to do with their time. The planes make more noise.

[Dakara]

Goodlcuk with the Ardmore residents. As you rightly said, they have experience presenting 'evidence' in court.

They fought the Airfield a few years back bacuase of the noise. An Airfield dating back to WWII. If you don't like the noise then don't move there!

Working all day monday (at Ardmore funnily enough), but all the best!

[camchain]

Sadly mud sticks and these folks are grabbing big handfuls of it. A measured and level headed response is best way to deal with the nonsense - which, by and large reveals itself with dumb ideas like hearing damage at 1 km away. We can't allow ourselves to be too distracted by the other issues raised by the local Ardmore residents though (Suggest reading Sun Tzu's 'Art Of War'). These are mainly distractions. Dust on the daisies isn't the issue - noise is.

Unfortunately, people who complain about motorcycle noise don't give a second thought about the racket their neighbour's lawnmower makes. Helpful info might be gained by going around the neighbourhood with a Db meter collecting some comparison data to present at RMA hearings. Next summer might be too late though.

Our frustration about what is fair or not and hand wringing aside, the simple fact is either WE DO SOMETHING about the noise ASAP or Ardmore (and places like it) will close.

Mufflers such as the super quiet, mechanically baffled one on the KLX450 are the future for dirt bikes.
Been pondering this issue and thought of John Britten who famously added a tweaked baked bean can to the muffler at scrutineering. It was either sort the problem or no racing. It worked.


Attached is a drawing for an easy to make muffler insert that would definitely show the council that riders are serious about wanting to keep Ardmore open. The residents could hardly dismiss the idea without appearing unreasonable. Almost certainly it would at least buy some time. It's far from perfect but it is a workable solution to the immediate problem. It could easily be adapted for any muffler type. (I know about the DB Dawg insert but I don't know how many are being bought and fitted - apparently not enough yet)

I'm an ex fitter-turner and would be happy to volunteer some time (I just don't have access to a workshop) to make a bunch of them up for John Cobb to hand out at the track.

[scott411]

we can get the bikes down to about 96db fairly easy,

the drawing you made will make bikes run very hot, and they would need to be rejetted, but it would make a big difference to moise level, and performance,

[cs363]

[QUOTE=scott411;1636684]we can get the bikes down to about 96db fairly easy,

the drawing you made will make bikes run very hot, and they would need to be rejetted, but it would make a big difference to moise level, and performance,[/QUOTE


x2 - I can't see anyone that rides at Ardmore putting up with the severe drop in performance that system would bring. Not to mention the reliability issues that it could cause as per Scott's post.
In my experience and I'm sure Scott would agree, one of the biggest problems is that people don't repack their mufflers often enough, properly or use the correct materials.
Most of the aftermarket pipe companies are offering silencers that are 96db or less now but that doesn't stop people removing baffles, spark arrestors (they are good for 1db by themselves in most cases) or poorly maintaining them. Then you have the problem with people 'modifying' (I use the term loosely...) their stock silencers to make them louder.

The solutions are already available whether they be quality aftermarket silencers or the silencer inserts that Scott sells, the problem will remain the individuals who can't see that noisy bikes will impact on us all in the end, whether its off or on road.

What you should do is set a noise limit for riding there and enforce it, the same as MNZ are doing in competition and many trail rides are doing now. Everyone needs to be on the same page with this and not be scared to enforce the rules. Even older pipes some of which are rated at over 100db can be quietened down to an acceptable level.
Most dealers should be able to assist with making bikes quieter, especially if they know whats good for their business.
Like the old ad in Kiwi Rider used to say: 'Noisy bike? leave it on the trailer wanker!'

[B0000M]

yea, what those guys said. it also seems that usually the slowest bike on the track is the noisiest too, which probably comes down to poor maintenance. muffler packing isnt expensive, and its a quick easy task to do.

[telliman]

my view is that noise has nothing to do with it, its merely an excuse.
they just dont want a mx track in there neighbourhood point blank!!!
and eventually they will get there way.

[scott411]

my view is that noise has nothing to do with it, its merely an excuse.
they just dont want a mx track in there neighbourhood point blank!!!
and eventually they will get there way.

i disagree

since the four strokes became more popular, the tracks have got harder to keep open, noise is our biggest problem

[cs363]

Noise may be just an excuse in this case, however why give them the ammunition to shoot you with?
As Scott says the advent of 4-strokes has driven the noise issue and there is no point burying your head in the sand just because your pissed at a bunch of anti-bike types.
As with any issue, the first step to solving it is swallowing your pride and admitting there is a problem.