Paeroa safety?

[Maha]

Yeah use your brain. We were waiting near the end of the main streight to cross when we arrived and the energy blast as they went by was amazing. However I was sure to stand behind one of those solid pillers on the side of the track.

Also we chose the slowest left hander to get a great view as they went past and minimize risk. While there I always kept an eye on what was coming in case I had to duck.

If I raced I wouldn't race there, but I respect them that do.

Maybe a different story if a spectator was get taken out, possibly the event be would then be shut down pending a full enquirey?

Same, its also so much easier to get around the track than say Pukekohe...

Where else can you stand topless a metre's distance away from Sports bikes on full lean?

EDIT: Did anyone racing bang their knee on that curb?

[Waxxa]

Street circuits are street circuits and come with an inherited risk over and above a normal race track; point 1.

Point 2: (this comes from one of the racers themselves) scrutinise those who have entered the race more closely. Some of the accidents last sunday were caused by rider fault (inexperience) which didn't need to happen.

Point 3: (my personal opinion) if Paeroa want to keep this great event, perhaps they (council) take the circuit and re-lay the road (particularly the back straight)

[Tony.OK]

Same, its also so much easier to get around the track than say Pukekohe...

Where else can you stand topless a metre's distance away from Sports bikes on full lean?



EDIT: Did anyone racing bang their knee on that curb?

That corner was very different last year....................the fence was further back with bales on the curbing.

[Tony.OK]

Street circuits are street circuits and come with an inherited risk over and above a normal race track; point 1.

Point 2: (this comes from one of the racers themselves) scrutinise those who have entered the race more closely. Some of the accidents last sunday were caused by rider fault (inexperience) which didn't need to happen.

Point 3: (my personal opinion) if Paeroa want to keep this great event, perhaps they (council) take the circuit and re-lay the road (particularly the back straight)

Nah the back straight is a blast........................apart from gear failure everyone is on the track, how hard you decide to push with the extra risks is the riders choice.

Having said that..............this is 2010..................maybe someone should suggest hiring the airfence they use at Wanganui for the plastic bottle right hander............the technology is easily available in this day and age.

[Mom]

Point 3: (my personal opinion) if Paeroa want to keep this great event, perhaps they (council) take the circuit and re-lay the road (particularly the back straight)

No way Jose! Those bumps are part of the "fun" for both racers and spectators. Scare the shit out of your self and stand real close to where they land next year , fantastic stuff!

That corner was very different last year....................the fence was further back with bales on the curbing.

I noticed a few changes to the baling and fencing restrictions this year from last. In fact I dont remember a meet where the spectators could stand on the outside of the Suzuki S's or whatever they are called now. I saw a dont loiter sign this year, but still people standng there. We have deer fencing instead of sheep fencing, not that it wil stop anything from happening really. Common sense should dictate where it is safe to stand as a spectator. I got hurt standing at a "safe" crossing point. First time in I dont remember how many years I have ever been injured at a race meeting as a spectator.

No doubt there will be an indepth look at the whys and hows of this weekends incidents, with a view to making improvements if it is possible to. Racing is inherently dangerous, you can only mitigate a certain amount of risk.

[sunhuntin]

Maybe a different story if a spectator was get taken out, possibly the event be would then be shut down pending a full enquirey?

last time i went to wyndham, a spectator got taken out and was carted away in an ambulance. she was sitting on the bales, despite repeated calls over the loud speakers for spectators to get off them.

[froggyfrenchman]

Nah the back straight is a blast........................apart from gear failure everyone is on the track, how hard you decide to push with the extra risks is the riders choice.

Having said that..............this is 2010..................maybe someone should suggest hiring the airfence they use at Wanganui for the plastic bottle right hander............the technology is easily available in this day and age.

What he said....

[Peter Smith]

I raced there in the early days and the final crossing on the back straight was frightening. I watched Robert Holden crash several time that day. I said I would never go back to race at Paeroa, but I did race again this year and I felt the track conditions were very good, a big improvement over the first few meetings in the early 90's.
I might even be back next year.
I think alot of the riders need to ease up a bit, there were far too many crashes which cause major time delays and ruins what is suppose to be a fun day. It is not part of a championship and with so many delays it gives the event a bad name, just like some of the comment about Wanganui this year which also had many delays.
I would be a shame to loose such a great event.

[jellywrestler]

I saw the sidecar crash concerned and it was a racing incident that could've happened anywhere on a race track. The medics were there within seconds too, leapt out of the pace car real quick.

[gsxr&crf450]

I raced at Paeroa 4 years in a row back 12 odd years ago. I always thought after practise that we were crazy going there, however when the flag drops, you seem to forget about the obvious danger, untill you are driving home thinking, that place is super dangerous. The problem is that riders don't know how to back off a little bit, and they go as hard as they can. I think it definately need allot more proper crash fences. And the crowd needs to be kept at much safer distance from the track.
My very best wishes to the families and friends of the man they lost.

[george formby]

Personally, I felt privileged to spectate at such a visceral & exciting event. I'm still slack jawed at the faith the competitors have in each other & the mammoth effort of all those involved in the organisation. World wide, events like this are becoming very rare, I hope a positive & progressive attitude prevails, taking the Battle of The Streets far into the future.

[george formby]

[QUOTE=Mom;1129660447]No way Jose! Those bumps are part of the "fun" for both racers and spectators. Scare the shit out of your self and stand real close to where they land next year , fantastic stuff!

I have a vid taken at the first bump beside the dummy grid. A motard standing up & weaving close enough to pinch my camera. What if did go through my mind but bugger me it's the most exciting thing I've seen in years.

[Maha]

I have a vid taken at the first bump beside the dummy grid. A motard standing up & weaving close enough to pinch my camera. What if did go through my mind but bugger me it's the most exciting thing I've seen in years.[/QUOTE]

Hell yeah, I was taking a short vid at the 2nd intersection (about where there enter the pit are) once during the motards and had to pull back cos' one was really really close to the outside, so close in fact, when he'd gone past, there was a black mark in between the parallel parking line and me where his tyre had landed.

[Conquiztador]

Huge respect to all riders who provided the entertainment! And my sincerest condolences to the fallen sidecar riders family and friends.

To stand on the main straight at the slight bend and see the riders pass at full speed just a meter away got my heart beating. Until I did see that I was almost thinking "I could give this a go..."

[JayRacer37]

Same, its also so much easier to get around the track than say Pukekohe...

Where else can you stand topless a metre's distance away from Sports bikes on full lean?



EDIT: Did anyone racing bang their knee on that curb?

Nah, you would wack your head on the fence first. We were sliding our knees on the kerb over the stop bank and in the right hander right after that one though.

This year was my first at Paeroa. I thought it was a bit crazy after two slow laps of practice but got my head around it pretty quickly. I felt it was safer than Wanganui - at least there was the begginings of run off in the fast areas at Paeroa, wheras at Wanganui there is always a foot high kerb to greet you when/if you crash. We all know what we are getting into going there - and that's why this year was my first.

Jay