Went to Hampton Downs today...

[madbikeboy]

I must say, I feel a bit pissed at the marketing chick who keeps emailing to see if I still want to pay my bucks for the 'first' day. The way she's going on suggests they're just sweeping the last bits of shit of the sealed surface.

It all smells like an outfit either going broke or gone broke and hiding the fact like some sleazy finance company advertising for investors so they can use the new money to pay the existing investor's interest.

I'm dealing with the Hampton Downs guys regulary - they're a fucking great bunch of guys and they're incredibly supportive of the motorcycling community - they've ensured a really safe racetrack for us riders.

They're delayed by weather - it's been shitty and raining - there are tonnes of machines sitting an waiting. Our business is also delayed by weather - it's unsafe for people to be operating machinery in adverse weather conditions, and good management means you put the safety of your people ahead of deadlines...

So, show a little support for a team of people who are working really hard to build a track of international standards for racing bikes.

[Rcktfsh]

They say they wont be running any events until at least September........ Seems to be stretching out.

to be fair i think the stretching out bit was saying they'd be running in june, personally i've allways been of the impression that stretching of that part of the anatomy in public was illegal

[Rcktfsh]

Unfortunately if the weather doesn't play ball, nothing happens.

Weather playing ball???? We have had an extremely mild autum/start of winter with well below average raimfull so far this year in the Waikato, can't see how it could be any more accomodating. I think of more relevance is that before workers can take advantage of the weather you need the workers.

[Quasievil]

I Saw some base metals that have been layed yesterday so some progress underway, certainly forget June I think but anyway.

I thought that the track that is visible from the road (sth bound) which cuts through the hill appeared a bit hazardous ie loose it youre into the bank ??? surely not but thats what it looks like to me

[Big Dave]

I reckon it has rained quite a lot in the last month.
It's been muddy when I have gone by anyways.
This is from Darren at HDRD:

The rain has delayed progress at Hampton Downs. They were 11 days away from laying the seal when the rain hit so they are now waiting for the weather again. They have a project meeting late next week so I will give you an update then.
No matter what happens we will have the first event at the track. So we are
still taking bookings and giving people booked on the 8th June first option
on the new dates.

[Rcktfsh]

I reckon it has rained quite a lot in the last month.
It's been muddy when I have gone by anyways.
This is from Darren at HDRD:

The rain has delayed progress at Hampton Downs. They were 11 days away from laying the seal when the rain hit so they are now waiting for the weather again. They have a project meeting late next week so I will give you an update then.
No matter what happens we will have the first event at the track. So we are
still taking bookings and giving people booked on the 8th June first option
on the new dates.

Must be hugely frustrating for you guys who obviously just want to get on track and running. Whilst the last week has been wet this is entirely normal for may in the waikato, what is a shame is the wastage of the drier than normal weather we've had all year.

[Peter Smith]

The rain has delayed progress at Hampton Downs. They were 11 days away from laying the seal when the rain hit so they are now waiting for the weather again. They have a project meeting late next week so I will give you an update then.

Thanks Darren,
I would rather them wait and have a brilliant track than have them rush it and end up with another Taupo, oopp's, I mean a track that has all the hype but ends out being patchy and ragged.

[FROSTY:Me]

I think Peter has it on the knocker.
When it happens it happens. Personally I diddn't expect it before 2010
Id like to be proven wrong but time has a way of rolling and finding these things out I guess

[Big Dave]

Id like to be proven wrong but time has a way of rolling and finding these things out I guess

We all have 20/20 hindsight Frosty :-P

[paturoa]

Prompt email repsonse from HDRD mob saying that June dates are now not happening due to rain, but also not commiting to any specific dates. Makes sense reading the above posts about different companies, and not being in their control.

The email did go on to say the scheduled dates are:
June 8th & 20th
July 17th
Aug 14th
Sept 12th & 13th

So, I'm thinking a quick weekend away to the cold kiwi, with a few monthly visits for track days through to Christmas wil be the shiz. (Puke is dangerous and Taupo too far).

[caseye]

I've ben past the Downs many times in recent weeks and to be fair it's been raining or wet at least half of those times, not forgetting that to lay seal the base Must be right, I'd be happier to see the opening dates slide and end up with a cracker track than rush it and end up with a lemon!

[Motu]

Whilst the last week has been wet this is entirely normal for may in the waikato, what is a shame is the wastage of the drier than normal weather we've had all year.

As a Waikato resident,I'll back up the good weather.Maybe Hampton Downs is in some sort of weather black hole.But...um...don't they have guys on the team who think of such things as the weather.They have had years to plan this thing - didn't they have some guy standing in a paddock holding a rain gauge for 5 years to get a data base? I rains late autumn - now who woulda thought of that?

[caseye]

Hampton Downs was originally planned for the left hand side of the highway heading south.The land was to be rented and all was well until the landlords decided that they wanted more for it.So the two blokes who were/are Hampton Downs went over the road and bought the land, they also got deeper and bigger swamps and much more expense, I still think it'll happen and when is the only question.

[skidMark]

I rekon we should all just use our bikes more. That way there'll be more global warming, and next thing ya know the weather will be sweet all through winter.

Thats not how global warming works but ok.

[Rcktfsh]

As a Waikato resident,I'll back up the good weather.Maybe Hampton Downs is in some sort of weather black hole.But...um...don't they have guys on the team who think of such things as the weather.They have had years to plan this thing - didn't they have some guy standing in a paddock holding a rain gauge for 5 years to get a data base? I rains late autumn - now who woulda thought of that?

bit like those freak bumpy things called waves our brave and underpaid yaught team unaccountably encountered in the hauraki gulf when they were racing for that guatamalen saucer, or whatever it is, a few years back.
waves at sea, rain in a waikato autum, no doubt global warming is to blame for these freaks of nature.