2010 NZ Superbike Road Race Championship dates confirmed

**Peter Smith** · 6th August 2009, 08:14

Originally Posted by Matt Bleck

There could be 6 rounds, and that extra could be Taupo?

Does anyone know why it isn't already part of the Nationals? No club to run it? To dangerous?

Your right, No club to run it.

**Biggles08** · 6th August 2009, 08:16

Originally Posted by Peter Smith

Your right, No club to run it.

Who's running the Hampton Downs round then???? AMCC?

**Peter Smith** · 6th August 2009, 08:19

Originally Posted by Biggles08

Who's running the Hampton Downs round then???? AMCC?

I would presume so.

**Biggles08** · 6th August 2009, 08:26

Originally Posted by Peter Smith

I would presume so.

Surely that would be just as expensive to run a Nat meeting at Hampton Downs as in Taupo...they run the Paeroa BOTS so why couldn't they run a Nat meeting in Taupo? Don't get me wrong I love the fact that the final round is going to be at Hampton Downs BUT I am more interested in the reasoning behind this now AND why they have in the past refused to run meetings anywhere apart from the big shitty hole commonly known as pukekohe.

**Peter Smith** · 6th August 2009, 08:42

Originally Posted by Biggles08

Surely that would be just as expensive to run a Nat meeting at Hampton Downs as in Taupo...they run the Paeroa BOTS so why couldn't they run a Nat meeting in Taupo? Don't get me wrong I love the fact that the final round is going to be at Hampton Downs BUT I am more interested in the reasoning behind this now AND why they have in the past refused to run meetings anywhere apart from the big shitty hole commonly known as pukekohe.

The Taupo track is nice but it has more patches than than a gang meeting.

**sharky** · 6th August 2009, 08:57

Originally Posted by Biggles08

Surely that would be just as expensive to run a Nat meeting at Hampton Downs as in Taupo...they run the Paeroa BOTS so why couldn't they run a Nat meeting in Taupo? Don't get me wrong I love the fact that the final round is going to be at Hampton Downs BUT I am more interested in the reasoning behind this now AND why they have in the past refused to run meetings anywhere apart from the big shitty hole commonly known as pukekohe.

Financial reasons I guess. Suppose they figure that with all the hype about Hampton Downs, that will attract more entries and spectators and make it worthwhile in monetary sense/cents.

**Shaun** · 6th August 2009, 11:26

Originally Posted by sharky

That Isle of Man place is well safe in comparison eh?

Use your brains if you can please_ ( ONly taking the Piss)

The ROAD is the ROad and IS dangerous

A race track should be safe

Why has Mat Maladin QUIT in the USA ??? Safety!

**malcy25** · 6th August 2009, 12:47

Originally Posted by Toot Toot

Or dead. Personally attended and witnessed three fatalities in two AMCC meetings there. And 2x wheelchairs from Ford mountain.

Ahhh, the same old half truths, inuendo and rumours about Pukekohe. I reckon this one must come around every 3-4 months.

Questions:
1) So, how many of those fatalities at the 07 and 08 national championship meetings were a result specifically of the track...?

Answer: None.
The 07 Sidecar accident on the front straight. How many Circuits DON"T have walls separating the main straight and pit lane? The reason was a technical failure in the steering of the sidecar - and if the same had happened at Manfeild, Ruapuna, Phillip Island, taupo, the same result would have happened. Can't see how that is a fault of Pukekohe?

The 08 double fatality - so if the same had happened at another circuit, are you saying that majically, neither rider would have died when one at terminal velocity ran into the back of another rider travelling at a much lower velocity because they were NOT at Pukekohe? Even at the slowest circuits we have in NZ the speed difference could easily be 100+ km/h (shit you only need to be going 160 and someone doing 60) and that'll kill you.

2) People in Wheelchairs:
yes, the area around the hill is not the greatest and I know I take my time through there, much to my detriment. But I also understand one of the riders who was okay subsequently hurt his back in a work incident....

Taupo and Manfeild if you pay attention also have shitty spots.
Taupo Mid length circuit where you re-enter the mainstraight (the one they use for drag racing) is through a gap in a concrete wall, get punted by someone entering theer and where do you end up?
How's the corner of the Pit wall on the start/finish straight.....hm, not keen on hitting that....
Manfeild: Not so much a regular there so not intrinsically aware of issues. But I have been showered with concrete chips standing at Pit wall when a rider coming through the last kink onto the main straight where the startline line is, hit the wall right in front of me.....
Been a few fatal accidents there over the years too, IIRC.

I'm not defending Puke, but lets get the facts straight and also recognise many other circuits have some pretty interesting issues as well, which seem never to get raised here, but in my opinion are just as dangerous.

**Shaun** · 6th August 2009, 13:08

malcy25
Fair weather rider
♂
Bike: Enough that the car lives outside now.
Location: Auckland
Posts: 104

Quote:
Originally Posted by Toot Toot
Or dead. Personally attended and witnessed three fatalities in two AMCC meetings there. And 2x wheelchairs from Ford mountain.

Ahhh, the same old half truths, inuendo and rumours about Pukekohe. I reckon this one must come around every 3-4 months.

YES IT DOES, why? because it is all fact, and the shit hole has a negative history

**malcy25** · 6th August 2009, 13:26

Shaun

Why does it come around? Kiwibiker Urban myth and herd mentality....

**jellywrestler** · 6th August 2009, 13:28

Originally Posted by Kickaha

we've been shafted on the NI rounds not being consecutive weekends for years

this is odd, at least with modern airfares being so cheap southerners can travel home with relative ease between meetings and organise storage etc for their vehicle while its up north whereas northerners are virtually stuck down south for a three week period.
nothing you do will suit everyone...

**Billy** · 6th August 2009, 13:46

Manfeild,Has had 4 motorcycling deaths since its inception in 1973 during competition.
An un named sidecar swinger in the early 80s,
Huggy Bear (John Marsh)International meeting 1985,
Chris Dawes Vic club meeting 1995
Owen Brunton Vic club winter series meeting 2005.

However Motor racing is dangerous no matter where its held and as the Manfeild caretaker told myself and Jim Tuckerman when we tried to implement some safety changes at the track after Chris Dawes death"If you guys are happy to race at Wanganui where there are Lamp posts and gutters etc,Then dont come here and ask us to make the place safer"Yes Puke is dangerous and personally I hate the place (havent ridden there since the national points round in 89 and have no intention of ever going back)

My first meeting there in 1979 I had the displeasure of being directly behind and witnessing the death of a rider(Peter Lovelock) and I dont think I ever got my head around that,But thats my problem,Not the tracks.If the track was that dangerous then Im sure MNZ would have done something about it as they did temporarily a few years back.When does it stop being the tracks fault and become the riders???