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Post by hienekenno1 on Feb 12, 2023 9:21:52 GMT 12
Yes Waikaraka has always been my happy place,seem to forget about the outside world when I am there🙂
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Post by hienekenno1 on Feb 12, 2023 9:27:10 GMT 12
the track surface itself at WP is usually very good, consistently better than at WS. As for the rest of the place ... Waikaraka has a big new screen sitting on containers ready for replays, starting to look very professional 😁 but seriously I don't know why it is there, not needed at all, well done 144g Tim Ross winning the Ollie Brown title last night and the 3rd heat of the North Island Streetstock championship was real good, anyway Waikaraka has to survive the next few days as well as do we all,stay safe everyone 🙂 Then again I suppose when the big screen starts playing it will be cool, hopefully up and running when the teams champs are on. |
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Post by azzurro on Feb 12, 2023 10:05:14 GMT 12
the track surface itself at WP is usually very good, consistently better than at WS. As for the rest of the place ... How about being more specific. What are you looking for at a race track that Waikaraka Park doesn't provide? It may not be a Palmy or Bay Park standard aesthetically, but has all the basic requirements. I have been to a number of tracks this year and struggle to understand what peoples problem with it is both from a competitors point of view and a spectators. Genuinely interested in your opinion but dont make some vague sweeping statement that doesn't mean anything specific. The track and surface itself is good. The 3 primary issues and a few other tracks have components of this: 1) crash crew don’t know what they are doing or what is required. Just ask Brunt’s how it went at the end of last season when the midgets ran and he had a major incident. When western springs crew is there it alleviates this concern. On top of the crash crew are slow tractors and vehicles to remove damaged vehicles from the track. 2) safety fence with polls and etc exposed on top of the wall. Having dual catch fences with the first fence lower than the main safety fence. 3) officials and management aren’t used to running openwheel racing. Way too many delays and yellow laps. Extra roll round laps for no reason and lack of understanding of the classes |
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Post by magilla on Feb 12, 2023 10:38:08 GMT 12
pits are small (though can leave trailers there so has that advantage over WS),
the spectator area is horrible,
always seems to be a cold wind,
just looks like a dump,
the atmosphere is lacking ...
I have been to 30+ speedway tracks and would rate WP in top 5 in racing surface but outside the top 20 otherwise.
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Post by graemeh on Feb 12, 2023 11:29:25 GMT 12
How about being more specific. What are you looking for at a race track that Waikaraka Park doesn't provide? It may not be a Palmy or Bay Park standard aesthetically, but has all the basic requirements. I have been to a number of tracks this year and struggle to understand what peoples problem with it is both from a competitors point of view and a spectators. Genuinely interested in your opinion but dont make some vague sweeping statement that doesn't mean anything specific. The track and surface itself is good. The 3 primary issues and a few other tracks have components of this: 1) crash crew don’t know what they are doing or what is required. Just ask Brunt’s how it went at the end of last season when the midgets ran and he had a major incident. When western springs crew is there it alleviates this concern. On top of the crash crew are slow tractors and vehicles to remove damaged vehicles from the track. 2) safety fence with polls and etc exposed on top of the wall. Having dual catch fences with the first fence lower than the main safety fence. 3) officials and management aren’t used to running openwheel racing. Way too many delays and yellow laps. Extra roll round laps for no reason and lack of understanding of the classes Thanks for replying. Can't comment on W/S, but officials etc frustrate me at most tracks. Not sure what you mean about the safety fence "dual catch fence" W/P looks fine to me, just a single fence and obviously meets SNZ requirements |
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Post by azzurro on Feb 12, 2023 11:32:56 GMT 12
The track and surface itself is good. The 3 primary issues and a few other tracks have components of this: 1) crash crew don’t know what they are doing or what is required. Just ask Brunt’s how it went at the end of last season when the midgets ran and he had a major incident. When western springs crew is there it alleviates this concern. On top of the crash crew are slow tractors and vehicles to remove damaged vehicles from the track. 2) safety fence with polls and etc exposed on top of the wall. Having dual catch fences with the first fence lower than the main safety fence. 3) officials and management aren’t used to running openwheel racing. Way too many delays and yellow laps. Extra roll round laps for no reason and lack of understanding of the classes Thanks for replying. Can't comment on W/S, but officials etc frustrate me at most tracks. Not sure what you mean about the safety fence "dual catch fence" W/P looks fine to me, just a single fence and obviously meets SNZ requirements There is a wire fence on the inside with steel poles. For a rolling openwheel car they are a serious risk. A lot of the stockcar tracks have this style of fence |
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Post by graemeh on Feb 12, 2023 11:40:34 GMT 12
pits are small (though can leave trailers there so has that advantage over WS), the spectator area is horrible, always seems to be a cold wind, just looks like a dump, the atmosphere is lacking ... I have been to 30+ speedway tracks and would rate WP in top 5 in racing surface but outside the top 20 otherwise. Hahaha, wear a jacket  Seriously though I thought the seating was good with the bucket seats, not as cramped as the seating at Palmy and personally prefer them to sitting on concrete. The atmosphere when the open-wheelers are there could be improved if W/S supporters got there in greater numbers and supported the drivers rather than as it seems, prefer to "cut off their noses in spite of their face" as the saying goes. We all have differing opinions on what matters, but, for me its more about what happens on the dirt not some creature comforts and dusty race tracks are a big turn-off for me THanks for the reply. |
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Post by accobra on Feb 12, 2023 11:42:22 GMT 12
Waikaraka has a big new screen sitting on containers ready for replays, starting to look very professional 😁 but seriously I don't know why it is there, not needed at all, well done 144g Tim Ross winning the Ollie Brown title last night and the 3rd heat of the North Island Streetstock championship was real good, anyway Waikaraka has to survive the next few days as well as do we all,stay safe everyone 🙂 Then again I suppose when the big screen starts playing it will be cool, hopefully up and running when the teams champs are on. With these winds. I hope it's strapped down well. 🤔 |
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Post by graemeh on Feb 12, 2023 11:57:31 GMT 12
Thanks for replying. Can't comment on W/S, but officials etc frustrate me at most tracks. Not sure what you mean about the safety fence "dual catch fence" W/P looks fine to me, just a single fence and obviously meets SNZ requirements There is a wire fence on the inside with steel poles. For a rolling openwheel car they are a serious risk. A lot of the stockcar tracks have this style of fence Just watched a "petrolfumes" video from January and cant see exactly what you mean sorry, looks all good but I'm getting old and eyesight hearing etc not what it used to be. |
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Post by hienekenno1 on Feb 12, 2023 12:29:05 GMT 12
Then again I suppose when the big screen starts playing it will be cool, hopefully up and running when the teams champs are on. With these winds. I hope it's strapped down well. 🤔 Yea looks like some big straps holding it in place, they better be extra duty ones 🌬️😯 |
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Post by salooncar on Feb 12, 2023 15:26:16 GMT 12
There is a wire fence on the inside with steel poles. For a rolling openwheel car they are a serious risk. A lot of the stockcar tracks have this style of fence Are you confusing Waikaraka with Huntly and Rotorua in terms of the fence? |
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Post by theycallmewade on Feb 13, 2023 11:04:32 GMT 12
Send out air plugs 🤣🤣. So we can get on to some racing. I would suggest before beating the drums for more meetings including Sundays, refer back to Wade Jennings 48A super saloon [ theycallme wade]. When he drew up the plans for the redesign of Waikaraka Park and negotiated a 30 yr lease you may recall he said had to be done gently so as not to require rezoning as this is where the neighbours will put in objections to the parks operation. Think Wade worked closely with local community board It is a case of not cutting off your nose to spite your face. Think he also said about value of place and over certain figure comes under the organisation that operate Eden Park, Mt Smart etc not community council Think Springs and Waikaraka work in harmony and not raise ripples which the cash strapped council will get out the pruning shears and bye bye just like Pukekohe Ok, just dropping into this conversation on a technical basis as to venue and a few thoughts around the zoning, Unitary Plan rules, considerations in the masterplan and conditions of lease. This is just a once over so all interested in getting as much racing in this "summer" as possoble in Auckland are aware. No. of Events in a 12 month period - 35 including practice sessions. If the event is rained out within 2 hours of the first race starting it does not count against the 35 consented events. Time - Motorsport events must not exceed 6 hours in duration from first race to track closed and must occur between the folloing times: 12.00pm to 10.00pm Monday to Thursday, 12.00pm to 11.00pm Friday and Saturday and 10.00am to 9.30pm on Sundays. There are no restrictions on dates of events. There are no restrictions on access for track preparation and typically this starts happening a couple of days out from an event. Noise - The maximum noise levels are the same as the surrounding light industrial area. Specifically for the speedway it is 75dB LAeq when measured on the footpath outside 14 Alfred Street. We have had independent noise testing done during a meeting and never got close. If race cars comply with SNZ dB levels then the noise rules will not be challenged. Interestingly, noise associated with motorsport events that occuer outside the "stadium" is limited to 90dB. Fans walking to their cars would need to be making some serious noise to challenge 90dB. Further to this, and for sharp eyed observers, the new 30 year lease includes a clause where the noise meter for any noise related testing for motorsport events is held by and controlled by the ASSCC. Lease - Pretty bullet proof lease through to 2051 in force. Masterplan - Due consideration of all the planning rules and future possibilities for reverse sensitivity (new residents deciding they don't like what has been there for 50+ years) has been considered and designed in to the plan, which was publicly notified through the "have your say" consultation, and approved by Auckland Council unchallenged. Future Development - The design work into the plan is on the basis of "Permitted Activity" under the RMA classifications, meaning when funding is raised to the point the club can move forward and submit a resource consent application, it will not be "publicly notified", and as a permitted activity will only require the proper engineering reports to be granted. Heritage classifications over the whole park, potentially the only curly issue. But heritage was tested during Auckland Council's own resource consent application to demolish the grandstand when it was challenged by Auckland Council Heritage and went to an indpendent Hearings Panel. Heritage lost setting a documented legal precedent specifically around the speedway activites at Waikaraka Park in relation to cultural and social heritage to be protected. Again, keen eyed observers might understand the significance of the work the club did during that process, quietly, in ensuring at least one motorsport venue in Auckland is protected. As for Open Wheel events at Waikaraka Park, the ASSCC very carefully went through all the proper channels with Auckland Council to ensure the venue could be "hired out" to others for speedway events under the current lease conditions. This went all the way to the legal department in Auckland Council and has written approval to do so. This was done for the November "Western Springs Season Opener", and is a blanket approval as long as total motorsport events remain within the 35 max limit and within the event daily time limits. In fact, in testing the lease conditions for this purpose, the response from Auckland Council is that we can "hire" the venue for any event as long as any single event is not more than 6 consecutive days in duration, without need to ask them again. Which is why the Feb 18th meeting could be confirmed quickly. As far as running speedway evetns for what remains of this summer, the rules and restrictions are not an issue - have at it. As far as scheduling - there is a reason there are two tracks in Auckland. 13 racing classes need to be considered and all need approriate respect and a fair number of race events. This would seem to me to be the greatest challenge in the current context. And, to expand this thought, has always been the greatest unanswered question that the conspiracy theorists have not quite grappled with. There are only 52 Saturdays in a year, not quite sure how you get 35 fine ones in an Auckand summer, but I am sure there wll be some theory about how that has all been worked out. Energy sapping conversations aside, the immediate issues facing Auckland speedway are going to need a sensible workaround this season. Seems to me the current approach is sensible in the face of no other options to keep the open wheel events in Auckland. Yes the Waikaraka Park venue is not up to scratch. We know this, hence the work over the last 8 years, and counting, to take a venue conceived and established in 1967 and make it fit for purpose for a modern audience and modern race teams. Fans are going to have to be a big part of the "workaround" too. I get it, it is not what you had hoped for, but perhaps we just have to play the cards in front of us (and pack a warm jacket). The Waikaraka track, however, is stellar. Forget everything you have learned about tire wear and slick set ups. With the amount of moisture in the track and a couple days of prep, it is going to be very racey and very fast. In closing, it is extremely unfortunate that Western Springs can't continue this season, but these are the cards that have been dealt. As far the rules, restrictions and whats possible at Waikaraka Park, all the ingredients are on the table. People have to decide whether they want to bake a cake with them or have a food fight - cake seems like the grown up thing to do. |
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Post by tonyr on Feb 13, 2023 11:34:28 GMT 12
Little wonder the ASSCC was so successful in their negotiations with Auckland Council with someone as levelheaded and pragmatic as Wade on their side.
As always he talks common sense and as a regular WS attendee I am grateful the ASSCC are able and willing to allow the use of their facility in Western Springs time of need.
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Post by graemeh on Feb 13, 2023 11:50:09 GMT 12
It almost doesn't seem fair that a bunch of "knuckle-draggers" who race 'Dodgems, Wobbleys, Billycarts and Taxi's are in such a strong and secure position. Thanks Wade and the ASSCC committees for all your efforts.
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Post by johnf on Feb 13, 2023 12:26:03 GMT 12
Thank you to theycallmewade, one of the best replies of seen on here.
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Post by magilla on Feb 13, 2023 14:01:46 GMT 12
It almost doesn't seem fair that a bunch of "knuckle-draggers" who race 'Dodgems, Wobbleys, Billycarts and Taxi's are in such a strong and secure position. Thanks Wade and the ASSCC committees for all your efforts. not sure where the "knuckle-draggers" comes from. most competitors at WP have many $$ invested in their equipment, you don't get that sort of money by being stupid or a low rent bogen. Just because some people are not fans of some of the classes that race there doesn't mean there is no respect for those racers. They all work just as hard and are as passionate about what they do as those who race at WS. Much respect for them. |
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Post by graemeh on Feb 13, 2023 14:55:38 GMT 12
It almost doesn't seem fair that a bunch of "knuckle-draggers" who race 'Dodgems, Wobbleys, Billycarts and Taxi's are in such a strong and secure position. Thanks Wade and the ASSCC committees for all your efforts. not sure where the "knuckle-draggers" comes from. most competitors at WP have many $$ invested in their equipment, you don't get that sort of money by being stupid or a low rent bogen. Just because some people are not fans of some of the classes that race there doesn't mean there is no respect for those racers. They all work just as hard and are as passionate about what they do as those who race at WS. Much respect for them. Knuckle-draggers was a term used to describe the superstock competitors when they appeared at W/Springs recently on facebook. I agree 100% with your comments regarding respect and admit my blood boils when respect isn't given. |
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Post by spuddy on Feb 14, 2023 16:16:56 GMT 12
Hell of a test for the track team this week
NI Midgets, NZ TQ GP, Modified Dirt Cup and Saloons running as well
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Post by magilla on Feb 14, 2023 20:07:18 GMT 12
and some wild weather leading in
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Post by turnright on Feb 18, 2023 19:00:52 GMT 12
Thanks for replying. Can't comment on W/S, but officials etc frustrate me at most tracks. Not sure what you mean about the safety fence "dual catch fence" W/P looks fine to me, just a single fence and obviously meets SNZ requirements There is a wire fence on the inside with steel poles. For a rolling openwheel car they are a serious risk. A lot of the stockcar tracks have this style of fence I'm watching the livestream of waikaraka right now and Azzuro you are 100% wrong about the catch fence at waikaraka, maybe some other tracks are like that but waikaraka definitely is not |
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Seriously though I thought the seating was good with the bucket seats, not as cramped as the seating at Palmy and personally prefer them to sitting on concrete. The atmosphere when the open-wheelers are there could be improved if W/S supporters got there in greater numbers and supported the drivers rather than as it seems, prefer to "cut off their noses in spite of their face" as the saying goes. 
