Beach drivers/riders - Close Up 7pm tonight TV1 (23 January)

[Dutchee]

So are people not allowed in the bombing range?

I know the forestry is off limits. But what is wrong with people using the tracks and trails that exist in the bombing range? Its miles from anywhere.

The reason it's called The Bombing Range, is ummmm, they bomb it. It's leased by the military, and they use it for target practice and have done for many years. There are unexploded bombs somewhere under the sand. They can't find them as the sand keeps moving. They also use it for driver training.
They used to do bomb runs there, but with so many illegals, had to stop.
If they catch you, they can confiscate the bike and charge you.
They still go shooting up there and no doubt, along with the bombs, there are bodies from those they decided they couldn't catch (j/k about the bodies).

As for no cell phone coverage and not caring if someone gets hurt up there, hello, that's sort of like those that claim acc for injuring themselves breaking out of prison. Why should I have to pay for a cellphone tower so that trespassers can phone for help when needed?

As for KTMboy's request to play on your land, doh!!!!!! Why the heck are you asking, just go, trespassers don't ask permission, and will bitch at you if anything goes wrong.

Yes, I have ridden at the bombing range, but am in no hurry to go back.

[sAsLEX]

as you mentioned regarding your friend Dads accident.

That was on the beach, fully visibility not on lease land, on a public highway .....

and my telecom phone gets coverage up there.

[sAsLEX]

As for no cell phone coverage and not caring if someone gets hurt up there, hello, that's sort of like those that claim acc for injuring themselves breaking out of prison.

Well Mr Holland?


Why should we pay for farmers who don't use proper safety gear, why should we pay for equestrian injuries, why should we pay for MTB accidents...... hell why do we have ACC? To cover accidents maybe?

[Dutchee]

You think they don't pay for ACC?
Down around the Wairarapa area, there is a small community that pay a fortune for electricity, utilities because of where they live - it's expensive to put the services in for them. The whole community pays for them.
for the few people who visit the bombing range, how much to put in a cell tower? It wouldn't be cheap. And that leads to all these other areas (where people live) that can't get cellphone or telephone coverage. what about them?
If you can get telecom coverage up there, what the fuck is your problem? You get a telecom phone obviously.
We have ACC to cover accidents. What that has to do with phones I don't know. If someone tries to break out of prison and claims ACC, they shouldn't get coverage. If someone breaks into a house or tresspasses, they shouldn't be able to claim ACC. If someone goes into an area knowing there is limited cellphone coverage doing a "dangerous" activity, and then bitches they can't get cellphone coverage, they should stop and think about what they're doing and not bitch when it goes wrong.

[Dave_G]

Well the signs that used to be up there only forbid going in whilst flag Bravo was being flown. I will remember my MD 58N next time......

Saw a DOC ute tootling in and about there on the weekend. Are they trained to recognise UXO?

And the amount of traffic through those trails would of cleared them well before we have gone in there.

Like I said, Go for it...ain't gonna bother me.

[sAsLEX]

You think they don't pay for ACC?
Down around the Wairarapa area, there is a small community that pay a fortune for electricity, utilities because of where they live - it's expensive to put the services in for them. The whole community pays for them.
for the few people who visit the bombing range, how much to put in a cell tower? It wouldn't be cheap. And that leads to all these other areas (where people live) that can't get cellphone or telephone coverage. what about them?
If you can get telecom coverage up there, what the fuck is your problem? You get a telecom phone obviously.
We have ACC to cover accidents. What that has to do with phones I don't know. If someone tries to break out of prison and claims ACC, they shouldn't get coverage. If someone breaks into a house or tresspasses, they shouldn't be able to claim ACC. If someone goes into an area knowing there is limited cellphone coverage doing a "dangerous" activity, and then bitches they can't get cellphone coverage, they should stop and think about what they're doing and not bitch when it goes wrong.

umm who is talking about phones?


My problem is they wouldn't send the helo for the broken neck.

[Pixie]

Typical motorcyclists...

"We can ride however we like... we could go like rocket ships along here if we want to... bloody greenies and the PC brigade trying to ruin everybody's fun... Would they rather have us sitting at home taking drugs or something? blah blah blah... "

So now we have 30kph limits and heavy policing with laser guns on beaches.

Learn from this people.

Suits me - less cops on the roads

People who play on the beach in vehicles are dickheads anyway.
Some challenge

[xwhatsit]

Actually, no you aren't allowed on the range. Its defence property and unless you are defence you aren't supposed to be there. The reason for that by the way, is that there is unaccounted for, unexploded ordanance all over the range, so its to protect you arse. I spent close to 30 yrs in the Airforce by the way, thats how I know this. But hey, go for it, run over one and its one less they have to find.

Dad used to do offroad (car) racing in NZ. Kind of like short-course Dakar in style; buggies, big jacked-up 4x4s etc. They used to have races at the Bombing Range all the time -- remember going there when I was a youngster. Big paddle-wheel tyres to get traction in the sand.

One year in the mid-90s, somebody ran over some UXO and it h'exploded. *Boom*! Not sure what happened to the guy, but I don't think they raced there the next year. In fact I think after that (perhaps not caused by that exact event) they didn't allow them to race there again. But I thought I heard they were racing there again now?

I know some people on this site are involved with offroad racing in NZ, perhaps they know.

[Ixion]

The reason it's called The Bombing Range, is ummmm, they bomb it. It's leased by the military, and they use it for target practice and have done for many years. There are unexploded bombs somewhere under the sand. They can't find them as the sand keeps moving. They also use it for driver training.
..

Am I the only one who sees the problem with this picture ? Mind you, back in the day an awful lot of people learned to drive in old bombs

I believe, BTW, that the 'bombs' aren't real bombs, just something called practice bombs that have a tiny little charge, just to make a bit of bang and smoke to mark where they hit.

[chris]

Jess came across well....

[PrincessBandit]

Jess came across well....

Yeah, how many of us were watching thinking "what a great spokesman on our behalf"?

[2fst4u]

i think my cousin was there. she told us new years sucked because 'a girl [she knew] got killed by a motorbike in the night'.

same night i burnt a 20 cent peice size hole in my scalp because of a dud firework .

new years is dangerous. my condolences go out to the family

[Beemer]

That was our local beach they showed - Waitarere! We always take our foreign tourists out there as it's a novelty for them to be able to ride/drive on the beach. We often get fish and chips and head down there for dinner on the beach. Mind you, we do obey the speed limits as there are always heaps of people on the beach - unlike others who tend to think it's a racetrack. But the majority of them are in cars or on quads to be honest.

And yes, I get fed up with the fisherpeople who not only have lines running out into the water but also leave their fish heads and other crap all over the beach when they are finished.

[Cruisin' Craig]

Here's what I think:

First; Mum, Dad and the little toddlers should be able to go for a picnic on the beach without having to listen to trailbikers and boy racers all day long.

Second; people who own houses or batches on waterfront property shouldn't have to worry about their kids wandering out back into the sand dunes and getting mowed down by some thoughtless young hoon.

But on the flipside - third; there's absolutely no reson why, if you travel far enough from the busiest spots on the beach, there can't be a big sign that says: "Warning - trailbike activity permitted beyond this point".

Seems to me it's possible for everyone to have their way here.

[sAsLEX]

Here's what I think:

First; Mum, Dad and the little toddlers should be able to go for a picnic on the beach without having to listen to trailbikers and boy racers all day long.

Second; people who own houses or batches on waterfront property shouldn't have to worry about their kids wandering out back into the sand dunes and getting mowed down by some thoughtless young hoon.

But on the flipside - third; there's absolutely no reson why, if you travel far enough from the busiest spots on the beach, there can't be a big sign that says: "Warning - trailbike activity permitted beyond this point".

Seems to me it's possible for everyone to have their way here.

Murawai is well set up for this, hell its near on 80km long surely we can all fit!