I love that Kaitoke track

[F5 Dave]

Well we had a trial day with a good handful of bucketeers at a kart club meet, all fitted with appropriate nylon bungs on the bikes etc (rather than an half hearted attempt at it).

Was a silly time start of 7:30-8:30. They are somewhat more disciplined as they have ½ doz classes of karts to get through so they get lined up & arrange marshals etc to be out so they can get through the day with about 5 races each & practise.

It was a little diff to what we have been used to, but just an adjustment.

The day started out with some liquid sky so we wobbled around feeling a bit loose, but after that the track dried & became fairly hot to the end of the day.

It is a proper track. It flows, there is room to pass, run off, tight slow corners & devastatingly fast corners (ok 1 if you take it right), elevation & bumps (even bumps are quite fun if not too bad.

This is a track that can take a little while to get fast on, but then consume you with other ways that you might go faster, (or slower).

It was a great day & we ran a few impromptu handicap races toward the end which gave everyone the chance to win. Bring on the next one. And if it goes well who knows? Maybe we could rent the track to ourselves & run a 2 hr or something.

[Trudes]

Good god man, you were fast out there!!
I was leaning on the fence taking some pics when you guys first went out there and heard some little kids saying "god, they are slow!!" So I said "it takes a bit of balance kids" as well as the fact that for a lot of the bucketeers yesterday was their first time on that track...and it was a little damp, oh well, kids eh, I think they saw later in the day that the bikes are actually quite cool creatures.
Anyway.... I too hope we get the use of the track for our own meets, (and I'm well enough to ride myself next time!), can't wait to see the battles between you Dave with Fishie, Bayden, Sully and a few others, should be interesting, especially if we can have B grade too so we can watch in safety!!
Got some pretty good photos, but here's one of my favs of you and Tex.

[Skunk]

Yep, bloody good track and a great day. Good to see proper track and pit behaviour and well prepped bikes.

I need to get out of the corners faster on that track - never really adjusted all day. Still a great time!

Can't wait for the next time we get to use it. I've put Leigh's pics on our website.

[F5 Dave]

That is a good pic, nice & close, just trying to place where it is, never noticed the backdrop with those trees & ply (guess I'm looking elsewhere).

If you do have some decent ones I'd love to get some copies, I have surprisingly few of myself over the last 20 years I've been doing this.

There were a couple of kids that would wait by the pit entry & give us the thumbs up as we came back in. Motorcyclists in the making I hope.

[Trudes]

It was the corner coming off the fast bit up the back, I guess you could call the 'back straight' before going down into the tighter corners. Yep have quite a few good ones of you, will get Nige to put them on a disc for you if you like, he has some good ones from the slipway too, so will put those on as well.

Funny isn't it how the kids changed their tune a little as the day went on, and from the conversations I had with several adults I think they expected to see carnage yesterday, typical association of bikes = falling off (well for some maybe!)

[F5 Dave]

Cool, I'll bring a swappa disc.

If it had have kept raining I think there would have been some carnage. Quite gripy in the dry.

That transition up the hill into the left was awesome, still thinking about it now, when you got it right it fired you out, but it took some guts to transition at that speed & open the throttle while still aiming at the dirt.

[nudemetalz]

I had an absolute ball yesterday !!

Thanks to those who turned up for our trial run to the Kart track.
The Karters seemed to take us in and accept us happily which was cool.
I think marshalling for them helped too

What Dave was saying about the uphill straight going into the right hander and then left hander, I was on full revs in top on the straight and not backing off while pitching it in, was a real adrenaline rush alright.
I got some serious gumballing on my slicks which was a hardcase.

You know though, my favourite moment was at the prize giving for the Karters when a very young boy gets up there in front of the crowd, received a prize and then proceeded to thank his Dad, his sponsors and the bucket riders for turning up !!!
That was so cool !!!

So thanks again everyone !!

[Pumba]

Anyone got a picture of the track? Just curious as to the layout, I presme it is all political why you guys dont race on it that often.

[Skunk]

Via Google Earth...

Second pic is end of front straight heading uphill to turn 2 and 3

Third is an attempt at elevation.

[henry]

Got some pretty good photos, but here's one of my favs of you and Tex.

Great photo.

[Slingshot]

That's a neat track alright!

I'd love to get the FXRGP out there (once it's built).

[SHELRACING]

Awesome looking track. Looks quite wide. A bit technical maybe ?? Plenty of passing room.

Love to give the Delta a run out there sometime.

Great pics of the riders too !!!

[nudemetalz]

Our next trial day is 16th November there.
If anyone else would like to attend please send me a PM so I can organise it.
Please note that this is subject to your bucket being of an acceptable standard and nyloned properly.

ALSO NOTE - Next meeting is anti-clockwise, so that long fast straight is downhill now !!!

[F5 Dave]

There you go Chris, now you have photographic proof you can almost scrape your knee.

As tracks go I have ridden;

Mt Wgtn (Auck),
Carrs road (Chch)
Sherrifs rd (Palmy Nth)
Kaitoke (Wgtn)
Waipawa
Taumarunui
Blenheim

And would rate them in this order, first being the best;

Blenheim
Kaitoke (Wgtn)
Taumarunui
Sherrifs rd (Palmy Nth)
Carrs road (Chch)
Mt Wgtn (Auck)
Waipawa

Not trying to piss on Auck, I’ve won some races I’ve been proud of there, done 4x 2hrs & ½ doz GPs so I know it wellish now, but an illustration that youse guys should travel if you want to experience some good tracks.

The Kart guys have had big club numbers & not needed us + some clashes of personalities in the past so I understand.

Please don’t go bagging the past, we want to make sure they invite us back & for the future. They al seemed quite friendly to us so here’s to the future.

[nudemetalz]

ha ha,..yeah yeah, Dave
My kneescrapers had a hammering yesterday, that's fer sure !!

Yes, I've raced at Carrs Road and Blenheim too and agree that Blenheim is an awesome track.
I notice the Slipway isn't in your list there, Dave......

The Kart guys are great, we had a lot of them come over and strike up conversations which is cool. The organisers are keen on us, Gary, the Vice Pres said everything went well according to reports he got.

A one or two hour GP there would be go !!!