Hampton Downs: is there an issue?

[BoristheBiter]

that would make turns 2 & 3 fun if done in reverse.

[Kickaha]

I bet these two would have something to say about the design.... would this have happened if the circuit was run the other way round ?

If the dumb fuck in the Mini drove the Porsche off the track then yes quite possibly

Its shocking to think the accident with Tim would not have happened if the circuit was run as designed..... there needs to be an explanation from the circuit owners.

Might not have happened at that part of the circuit, it doesn't mean it wouldn't have happened somewhere else on it

Yep this is true, LTSA stopped the owners running the track in the direction it was meant to run for this reason ( from one of the owners mouth). You just have to look at the pit entrance and exit. They are completely wrong for the direction as it is.

Why would the LTSA have any input into it? was it the reason Shaun gave before regarding proximity to the motorway?

You know what - that really is a disgusting monolithic fuck up which arguably cost some one their life.

Getting up in the morning can cost you your life

[FROSTY:Me]

Gosh guys this is unbelievable.
RT you can argue round n round but a propperly desighned track wont by desighn flaws lead to a death.
As I've said repeatedly Yes suspenders,yes a hump, yes potholes,yes an incorrectly tensioned chain,yes a flat tyre at the wrong moment or cold tyres are all going to result in a crash if the stars are alighned right.
What NEVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES should be a result of this combination of factors is somebody ending up dead.
Yea I know it has happened but in this case had there not been an immobile object on the outside of the corner he most likely would have just been going home early or maybee have busted a leg.

[FROSTY:Me]

one question I'd like to ask-havent actually got down on hands n knees and checked.
The walls concerned are they actually bolted down or do they float? Ie could a forkhoist come along and simply shift the wall back?

[roadracingoldfart]

one question I'd like to ask-havent actually got down on hands n knees and checked.
The walls concerned are they actually bolted down or do they float? Ie could a forkhoist come along and simply shift the wall back?

I dont know the answer your asking Frosty but i can tell you a good 40 ton digger operator can move them for ya while hes taking the hump off .

Paul.

[cowpoos]

Rather than a poo fight

Who wants a fight????

[10bikekid]

The Fact that's it a Tuono doesn't help either, and without a steering damper I'd hate to go over there pinned (fun for sure but probable not safe)

[Shaun]

one question I'd like to ask-havent actually got down on hands n knees and checked.
The walls concerned are they actually bolted down or do they float? Ie could a forkhoist come along and simply shift the wall back?

It probally could Frosty, but there is NO money to even put power in the pits mate, how are they going to afford to do that????? Money is simply the issue at Hampton D, I am very very sure No one had seen the major dangerous potentuall of the lay out as it has been used

[FROSTY:Me]

It probally could Frosty, but there is NO money to even put power in the pits mate, how are they going to afford to do that????? Money is simply the issue at Hampton D, I am very very sure No one had seen the major dangerous potentuall of the lay out as it has been used

Im working on the KISS principle here. Ie 1 forkhoist 1 day shift the wall back about 2.0m to the foot of the stairs.Then a cone chicane leading to the "hump" Sure it isn't the "answer" but maybee its enough to keep the joint able to be used by the race clubs untill they have some money to review the situation.
Then again Isn't this the whole armco at pukie argument all over again? --armco was very good for the v8 boys but pretty deadly for bike riders.
The money at HD isn't in bikes now is it . The money is in the cars

[scracha]

Out of all the people who think that the track design is dangerous, who would be prepared to boycott riding there at the next series/national event due to this and possibly present the track owners with a reason why they aren't going?
Noone, amirite?

No, you're wrong. Lotsa riders boycott Puke. Can't see why HD would be any different.


If the track was in reverse if would have just as many problems:
1) The hairpin would need its wall moved back umm....50m (with a gentle up hill slope before it to scrub off speed).
2) T3 would launch riders
3) T4 exit would need more run-off
4) the sticky out bits in the start-finish straight wall would still cause problems....no different just because they'd be on the RHS of the rider.


Basically the wall needs smoothed out ASAP. Ideally it needs pushed back with some runoff. Clearly, car money is doing the talking.

[Kickaha]

Im working on the KISS principle here. Ie 1 forkhoist 1 day shift the wall back about 2.0m to the foot of the stairs.

I thought behind the wall was full of dirt? then there's also the fence to move as well

Even if you could move it back that easily it also means the track is unusable until that extra 2.0m strip is sealed

Moving it back still means there's a wall there you can hit if it all goes wrong, an extra 2.0m doesn't take long to travel at speeds in excess of 200kmh

[Robert Taylor]

Gosh guys this is unbelievable.
RT you can argue round n round but a propperly desighned track wont by desighn flaws lead to a death.
As I've said repeatedly Yes suspenders,yes a hump, yes potholes,yes an incorrectly tensioned chain,yes a flat tyre at the wrong moment or cold tyres are all going to result in a crash if the stars are alighned right.
What NEVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES should be a result of this combination of factors is somebody ending up dead.
Yea I know it has happened but in this case had there not been an immobile object on the outside of the corner he most likely would have just been going home early or maybee have busted a leg.

I never was in effect ''justifying'' the wall proximity Frosty and I happen to think its dangerous as well.

There are two very valid points;

1) Safety of the circuit itself. (Heck that in NZ rules out all the street circuits.) Often leading to,
*** End result scenarios if someone crashes.***

2) Motorcycle industry and personal responsibility in ensuring that bikes that are ridden on such circuits are themselves fit to do so. ( Now thats a real can of worms and doubtless emotional to a few ) If a bike gets into a trajectory where it may be heading towards a crash is the chassis ''forgiving and responsive'' so that the crash may be averted ( for example )
*** Prevention of crashes that may and can occur because of poor bike setup***

Before someone gets off their high horse the above comments are generalised and worthy of thought

[FROSTY:Me]

I thought behind the wall was full of dirt? then there's also the fence to move as well

Even if you could move it back that easily it also means the track is unusable until that extra 2.0m strip is sealed

Moving it back still means there's a wall there you can hit if it all goes wrong, an extra 2.0m doesn't take long to travel at speeds in excess of 200kmh

The fence is bolted to the wall and under the wall is currently sealed (to the best of my knowledge) moving it back 2.0m would mean that if deemed nessesary AMCC could use some of their Pukie crash bales. For that matter as raised a couple of years back KB vollys were prepared to be drop off points for the filling and someone was prepared to donate bags so maybee again its something positive KB could do.

[Kickaha]

The fence is bolted to the wall and under the wall is currently sealed (to the best of my knowledge) moving it back 2.0m would mean that if deemed nessesary AMCC could use some of their Pukie crash bales. For that matter as raised a couple of years back KB vollys were prepared to be drop off points for the filling and someone was prepared to donate bags so maybee again its something positive KB could do.

What is behind the wall?

Would a resource consent be needed as it is an alteration to the track?

Ok Guys I've hinted here but lets be clear. I think you will find that the official report will show It was NOT the wall itself that killed him.

What killed the poor guy was the brackets on the wall.

You've said it wasn't the wall that killed him so will moving it really help?

[FROSTY:Me]

I never was in effect ''justifying'' the wall proximity Frosty and I happen to think its dangerous as well.
Before someone gets off their high horse the above comments are generalised and worthy of thought

Robert you yourself are only to aware of the good ol kiwi --"she'll be right mate" attitude. Gosh darn it in so many ways this is just plumb fantastic.
Where its not fantastic is this often results in issues being swept under the carpet.
So If possible I really want as many folks to get ON their high horses before this issue does the same and becomes forgotten. Getting em emotional getting em outraged may be enough for change to be put in place to the track.
Otherwise I genuinely live in fear that this senario will be repeated and this time maybee not "just" one guy.
My point ??
You have valid arguements but you are diluting the impact of this specific issue by offering the other contributing factors.