Should Solo Bikes come back to Ruapuna Speedway? (Read 1,378 times)

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The Speedway Bikes...at Ruapuna Park seem to off died off considerably and at the moment they are no longer existent.

Since the start of Moore Park in 1998 as a training track and now being built into a proper venue, it seems they are better off there.

However, more racing, the bigger the growth in the sport. I don't see why Solo Bikes can't race at both those tracks.
Part of the problem is lack of involvement. Many riders now retired or moved on, there doesn't seem to be much happening with newer riders, or much reason for them to become involved.

If Christchurch had two tracks running them it might be all for the better.

People like Andy Walker, Mark Thorpe, Mark Jamieson, Graham Hartshorne, Blair and Daniel Mckinlay, Scott Boyce have moved on or don't want to risk more injuries at an older age perhaps, but I don't even think its that. Its just there is no real reason to be involved in it anymore.

And while things come in different cycles often, I think Ruapuna Speedway is suffering because of it.
If you attend there now, you will be doubtful to see any Sidecar racing or Solo Bike racing these days.
Its all about the Sprintcars and Midgets, but one problem with the track now is all the car classes are to similar.

It was the Sidecars and Solo bikes that brought the variety, along with the Modified Sprints.

My suggestion to this problem is bring back the infield track. Maybe make it a little wider, and try a new track surface on the main track with a more water absorption ingredients that holds in water.

Clay is the problem with Sidecars, once it gets heated it makes holes because of hardening of it and DUST like you would not believe. Its enough to buy a pair of air plane or motorcycle goggles to keep it out.

In fact I think all speedways should sell them.

The reality is with the Sidecars, so much damages has been done to the quality of the racing, injuries and now deaths too that they refuse to race on such a dangerous surface, and riders from Gisborne in the past have said the same.

There must be a track surface that can be used that can benefit Sprintcars and Sidecars. Clay is useful as its strong but not for constant car tyres or holding in water. It needs something else put in it.
For example - Crusher dust has been mixed into the Moore Park track at West Melton to penetrate water into it.

Ruapuna Speedway changed their surface back in 1998 and tried running solo bikes on it, and it was a disaster the only one clever enough to avoid all the holes in the inside of the track was Andy Walker who very cleverly rode right around the outside by the wall. (Probably the only one experienced enough to it seems)

Anyway. Something has to be done about this, because Christchurch Speedway is the home of solo bike world champions, and Mark Thorpe who could of been a world champion had things not gone wrong for him with injuries in his career ending crash and accident involving a tractor.

If there is any chance of someone like Mark Thorpe returning it doesn't look likely with the sort of competition he will be up against... he will have to race against ATV and motorcross bikes, who do put on a good show can I just say..when they turn up. 

[tony27]

I'd have to vote no if Ruapuna is a clay track set up for sprintcars & midgets, any time they run here in Palmy they are so slow due to the excess grip of the clay surface meaning they end up running wheels inline, sidecars are a different matter though
I've seen the inside track at Meanee used before & it's really not good as it's really short-basically no straight at all & always seems in pretty bad condition from other classes damaging it when they leave the track

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Moore Park is not like Rosebank road track its much longer and wider. Moore Park is no way near as long.
Although I think they could do with some easier fencing if a rider goes wayward into the wall. (at Rosebank Road). Those wooden walls don't allow for much run off, they look painful to hit.

Unless you've been attending Ruapuna Speedway over the last 25 or 20 years you won't really know what I am talking about. There has been endless backwards and forwards decisions with the Solos there and because they have had quite a few successful riders in New Zealand and overseas and in the past world champions its a shame there is nothing happening with them anymore.

There was NZ grand prix held at Moore Park earlier this year and was cancelled due to lack of entries. The minimum of 14 riders was not met.
This is why I think Ruapuna should try and bring them back so that more racing can happen.
The inside track was the first of its type to be used in 1990 by Ruapuna and that was after they changed the surface for cars.

But since then the Sprintcars...have taken over the show, while there did used to be some good Solo and Sidecar racing its completely died off.

The Sidecars now also struggle with the main track at Ruapuna, once it dries out it gets holes in it, and has caused some serious accidents. Which means if they ever do race there, only a race class like TQs can race.

The main track has been prepared in the past for Solo Bikes and Sidecars. But the real reality is if Ruapuna Speedway want to draw in more crowds, people are going to want to see more than just Sprintcars and midgets and 7 other similar classes.

Its like Western Springs. They occasionally bring back Sidecars, and go down well.
I would like to know what sort of track surface Waikaraka Park uses as opposed to Ruapuna as they run Sidecars on their track and they race Stockcars and Streetstocks cars that put massive holes in the track.

Like I said, I think more thought needs to be put into track surfaces at various tracks for better racing, before everyone blows up their carburetor and engines with dust.

In the USA a new treatment has been tried with a water and wax mixture which holds the water into the clay. Detergent also works, and now you can get detergent made from plants which contains no chemicals from www.ecostore.com in large containers.

I would like to see a few of those containers added to a water truck tank and see what difference it might make.
One thing I notice about Ruapunas surface, when Sprintcars race on it, when its soaked they slide around.

For example, back in March 1999 at a Sprintcar event, Allan Wakeling along with others tried to set a lap record, he managed 15 seconds on a slippery track while the track record was much closer to 12 at 13.12 or something.

Once the track dries out it holds no water at all and the heat creates dust and lays down rubber, wears everybodies tyres out. People can't race if they have no money. Sprintcar tyres are not cheap.

But the other thing is, if you want to attract more females to the sport, they are the ones that do not like being covered in dust much I would say, some might not care, some don't like it whoever you are as well.

But clay...on its own. I think its a terrible surface no matter what is racing.