Baypark Season Opener this Saturday (Read 8,321 times)

[TrevG]

Like it not, midget and sprintcars chew up time, push starts and restarts.
It's wrong that over driving, lack of driver discipline should result in other classes and competitors, and the spectators being penalised.
The sooner a the number of laps and a predetermined start and finish time per race is implemented the happier this spectator will be. 12 laps 10 minutes.
All races would be undertaken as per program and competitor and spectator expectations.
The push start class features should last on the program as at Baypark, provided a race starts prior to 9.50pm, it can finish after 10pm, as late as 10:20pm for a championship event.

The saloon class (15 present with visitors) has certainly two distinct groups. Those that are passed and those that do the passing.
Baypark's 18 metre wide straights certainly provides for 'fasted off the rear and handicapping' which would greatly enhance the spectacle, but it appears unacceptable for reasons unknown.

Yip, Bernie can be quietly pleased with his efforts first up with a relatively solid foundation on which to move forward!
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Unfortunately I have to agree with some of Grandads comments. When a meeting is on a time constraint you therefore have to run the meeting to a strict timetable. A lot of spectators follow one driver or one class, so to deny a premier class there feature is (unless a serious situation arises) not acceptable and a serious flaw in the management of the programme, so you either have to have a time limit on each event or you have a "programme director" who will change the programme around the time constraint.
2/ Handicapping. This comment will upset some drivers. As a Promoter he/she has to have a balance betwen pleasing the spectators and pleasing the drivers. Fastest off the front (Unless you have say 10 drivers with nearly equall lap times) you have no spectacle, because who can catch and pass the fastest. If you want the spectators to rise to their feet in anticipation and excitement you have to have handicapping. Mabe not so important on a smaller track but with the sheer size of Baypark the gap between the quickest and not so quick is huge. Only talking about some of the non contact classes. Would also bring back some competitors who have given up because they are not front runners due to a number of reasons. The alternative would be if numbers increase in the saloons would be to have "A" and "B" grade. Just my thoughts and a controversial subject, depending from where you sit.

[percy]

I think Murray's rating of 7/10 is an accurate representation of the meeting. There were good moments but there is also plenty to work on for the promotion going forward.

Sprintcars were the highlight for me. Some excellent racing in every heat and the sight of close to 20 wings coming out of turn 2 is one of the best sights in New Zealand Speedway. A great drive from 88m Keaton Dahm in the feature. Just held off 2nz Dean Brindle and 3nz Jamie McDonald in lapped traffic until a caution, then somehow managed to repel a blistering attack from 5a Daniel Rogers in the closing laps. Stockcars were the surprise of the night, producing 3 entertaining heats. The M vs R battle was on from the get-go. Hit of the night was delivered in heat 3 by Caitlin "The Hitwoman" Hayward who snotted the 513r entry in turns 3/4. Will be a busy week for the 513r crew.

Many of the issues have been mentioned by previous posters. The track was dry, I've heard there was a problem earlier in the week with a water truck breaking down. Still, the track staff on the night could have done more to help the issue. They were slow to add water to the surface given how wide the track was racing in the early going. Once they did add water they seemed hell bent on dumping water on the low line. WTF? The dirt flies from the high line plus you get a better race track. They did get the message as the meeting progressed but by then the damage was done.

Running all the Midgets in one group was just asking for trouble. Half the field hadn't had as much as a practice let alone a race and there was a lot of new machinery on display being peddled by drivers who hadn't raced for 6 months. Midgets don't have a good record of caution free racing at Baypark so I couldn't see the logic in running them as one group. The 3/2 format should have been used, that is 3 heats with every driver running 2.

Whilst some of the above posters have mentioned the open wheel classes as the culprits of a curfew induced finished the real reason was a total lack of efficiency & urgency from start to finish. The whole meeting seemed to be running on Fiji time whether it be the unresponsive & pedestrian infield crew, getting cars on and off the track, drivers gridding up or everyone sitting around looking at each other waiting for god knows what. Someone needed to take charge of the situation because it was only going to take one big crash, or a caution filled race to stuff things up. Sure enough the Midget feature was a caution filled race and the Super Saloons missed their feature. Not that the Super Saloons added much to the entertainment on the night, they were outdone in the entertainment stakes by the Saloons.

We may have started late due to a perplexing all classes grand parade? Didn't have my watch on but it seemed to take quite a bit of time to sort out. I don't know who looked more bemused, the drivers or the fans. I can report however that one driver was throwing lollies and I did get one, proving I am still the 1nz of lolly scrambles. We ran 16 races in three and a half hours, an average of just over 13 minutes per race. That's not going to get the job done.

It was pleasing to see reported field numbers eventuate. Every class was as good as advertised in terms of cars on track and the quality of the fields was high with the exception of the Super Saloons. So I'm glad I made the trip down and I look forward to my next visit on January 5th.

[cards]

I see the 63a Supersaloon in one of Murray's photos ... shouldn't he have been at Waikaraka Park last night ?
The Auckland meeting was struggling for numbers last night. (plus it was bloody freezing)

[japsuper]

Murrays post also indicates that the 63a car was green sheeted last night at baypark. I thought you had to green sheet at your home track or perhaps I'm wrong.
I guess the 1nz super was green sheeted away from bay park to run at Breslin last week. What are the snz rules?

[Murray Guy (Grandad)]

Oct 26, 2014 15:58:30 GMT 12 japsuper said:

Murrays post also indicates that the 63a car was green sheeted last night at baypark. I thought you had to green sheet at your home track or perhaps I'm wrong.
I guess the 1nz super was green sheeted away from bay park to run at Breslin last week. What are the snz rules?

Regarding Nige 63a at Baypark, need to ask him the reason for BP and not Auckland.
However, I do know Waikaraka earlier in the week wasn't running super saloons then put them in at the last minute (perhaps a super competitor desperate to race / practice.
No clearance is required if a promotion includes an otherwise excluded class a few days out.
I think it used to be 7 clear days notice of a meeting?
Not uncommon for a track on race night NOT to provide a green sheet service, also possibly contributing to the BP decision, noting 63a was hoping to carry on to Wellington to compete the next day (Sunday).
Some competitors prefer to avoid racing with the super saloons and saloons mixed and rather than upset other (has to be unanimous of competitors) not race or race elsewhere.


The green sheet, certification process is a SNZ process that must be consistent NZ wide.
Not aware of any rule or reason why this process would be restricted to the contracted track.
Often, due to distance from track (EG: 1 NZ Super Saloon) and other timing considerations it is not practical or reasonable for such a requirement.

In my own case I have often been green sheeted, and re-green sheeted during the season, away from my contracted track as I may be looking to practice and or race earlier than my contracted track offers these opportunities, may be away when the 20 meetings are up and due for renewal.

[fi63]

In regards to 63a super saloon .... Waikaraka did not have supers listed for the opening night...so we made plans to travel it to bay park to run the car first night...we did get rung by waikaraka mid last week to see if we would run but as we had made plans to go to bp and then carry on to Wellington so we had to decline. Unfortunately due to us having to finish the car at the track we were unable to organise to continue onto wellington...it's been a big week !!! Must say disappointed at bay park cutting heat 2 short and cancelling the feature.

[stdstock]

I think everyone expected everything to run without a problem.? When has a opening night ever been perfect? give it time.

[stdstock]

Plus the weather has been pretty crappie this week.
Overall I think they did good job, nice start to the seasons

[Hoosier]

Oct 26, 2014 21:20:50 GMT 12 stdstock said:

Plus the weather has been pretty crappie this week.
Overall I think they did good job, nice start to the seasons

Yip I agree..

[scorpion]

No matter who ended up being promoter was going to be up against it for opening night.With such a short time frame for all those involved to get Baypark up and running for the season was a job well done.

Yep was dusty when the sprinters were out but that happens at alot of tracks.For all those involved in getting Baypark running for opening night good work guys.

Bring on next week.

[Murray Guy (Grandad)]

Perfection doesn't exist, and nobody expects it, BUT more focus has to be where it counts, on the track!
Perhaps Peter Harford took the grader rippers with him when he left?

November the FIRST is another meeting with a significant family focus. Mother and Nanna (or grandad) will NOT want another 'clay coating' of their expensive hair do, their chips and hot dog!
They will not want a repeat and we will loose the newbies forever with a repeat.
If the grader did not start ripping (versus scratching and grading) the track immediately after the last race car left the track, then I suspect come next Saturday we will suffer the same.

Personally, a significant point of difference with a couple of past performers is I believe Bernie Gillon has a 'customer focus' which includes spectators, advertisers, competitors, versus the 'F...off' if you don't like it approach of others'.
There can be NO doubt his life this past few weeks must have been one constant spaghetti junction trying or take on all the needs, wants and aspirations, what has to be done and what would be great to have done - Night one is over.
I think he will up the anti, take on board his own observations, those he has gleaned from various sources.

Just a little dusty impacting on visibility, and breathing ...

[bluflame]

Customer focus as in trying to please everyone has to also be viewed with caution especially the dust issue.
A smooth track without the gear being torn up on opening night was a welcome amendment to the tracks we saw late last year.

Creating family friendly entertainment will always be tough when you run to 10pm and the cold wind starts biting the kids around 8.30 when they are getting tired.
It would be good to see the impacts of an earlier start and finish in terms of family participation but I doubt consent conditions allow it?

Some of the ongoing issues that we've seen for years need addressing particularly shortened or completely removed features
The sprintcar feature was only just warming up at 15 laps and no super saloon feature at all prompted an immediate 'not coming back' response from several spectators in our block.
As Percy alluded to, it again looked more centered around the real time race management and cumbersome Baypark entry and exit constraints

Why do track staff persist to continue with dumping water directly before sprintcar events?

Some results and photo updates on Facebook throughout the night would be a good addition.

Couple of questions:
What was the surprise?
Are we likely to see STM pay per view live feeds again?

[Deleted]

A few early season bugs to iron out ,
Bit harsh being critical after the very first meeting of the season..

[bernie1]

Hi Everyone. Thanks for your feedback. I will take it all on board some more than others.
1. There does need to be a sharpening up of keeping the show rolling.
2. The track was ripped last Monday that's why it was like corrugated iron at the pit exit/entry
3. The water truck that I purchased off Bay Venues crapped out first thing on Saturday morning and it was 2 and a half hours before we could get Colin Amreins water truck to fill the gap. Thanks Colin
4. The time lost with the water truck was at the most crucial time in terms of flooding the track to take advantage of the Pre soak from the previous days
5.It was a Midget show so the midgets got the benefit of the doubt. When we run a super saloon show they will get the benefit of time above other classes, the same with sprint cars etc.
6. Going forward - if you have criticism that's ok, I will take it on board and learn, if you also offer a realistic alternative or solution.
7. If you are just a whinger without a clue - sorry I can't be bothered.
As with anything in life we should always be striving to improve that's why some succeed and some don't.
Thanks everyone who came along to Baypark Family Speedway Last Saturday, our attendance was 50% up on last year. I look forward to seeing you all next week at the Fireworks Extravaganza.

[midway]

Has the thought crossed your mind about using sprinklers especially on the corners in the preparation after grooming the track to reduce dust ,A constant by timed presoak ,cost effective ,basically simple operation as used by us and many more Queen street farmers that just like a little more income from the general run of the mill stuff .Mind you the watercart driver wont be redundant totally there is always going to be hot spots to cool down .

[bald 81m]

Oct 27, 2014 20:57:17 GMT 12 bernie1 said:

Hi Everyone. Thanks for your feedback. I will take it all on board some more than others.
1. There does need to be a sharpening up of keeping the show rolling.
2. The track was ripped last Monday that's why it was like corrugated iron at the pit exit/entry
3. The water truck that I purchased off Bay Venues crapped out first thing on Saturday morning and it was 2 and a half hours before we could get Colin Amreins water truck to fill the gap. Thanks Colin
4. The time lost with the water truck was at the most crucial time in terms of flooding the track to take advantage of the Pre soak from the previous days
5.It was a Midget show so the midgets got the benefit of the doubt. When we run a super saloon show they will get the benefit of time above other classes, the same with sprint cars etc.
6. Going forward - if you have criticism that's ok, I will take it on board and learn, if you also offer a realistic alternative or solution.
7. If you are just a whinger without a clue - sorry I can't be bothered.
As with anything in life we should always be striving to improve that's why some succeed and some don't.
Thanks everyone who came along to Baypark Family Speedway Last Saturday, our attendance was 50% up on last year. I look forward to seeing you all next week at the Fireworks Extravaganza.

All I can say it was a bloody great show well done team

[superstock]

that's why we like Bernie- making things happen

[bernie1]

Finally I almost have the complete results of our opening night. To say that the timing system is adequate at Baypark is a huge optimistic overstatement. Please click on the attached link and you will see all of the results other than the Midget Feature that needs to be confirmed. www.bayparkspeedway.co.nz/results/results-october-25. cheers. Bernie

[jimmyj]

Give them a break guys after all it was meeting No 1

Hope to get down a few times this year and would be good to watch the racing with out too much dust by the pictures on here,

[timsideng]

I believe from some discussions with a few "family" punters that yes dust was annoying but the bigger reason for them leaving early was that it was darn cold, still early in the season and Baypark not normally a cold venue so some were caught out.