Goat track

[wizzar]

Had great day out today, Drove down to Currumbin to check out some race leathers for my son and me. The shop is called MOTO ARMOUR. Great fella by the name of Errol Petterson. Unit 4/30 Currumbin Creek Rd. http://www.motoarmour.com/index.shtml He says if any pocketbike racers are interested in getting custom fitted for leathers he'll do a great price. He has done a great deal for us. Extra padding, speed humps, personalised names/numbers all included in the price.
We even visited the Kart track at Darlington Park. My first impression was a bit hilly but as I stood watching the karts motor around I noticed that they were running so smoothly due to a good track surface. This track will suit those riders who love a technical track and have plenty of torque. It is about 800 mtrs with lots of winding passing opporunities.
This brings me to the end of my days outing.
We stopped off at Parklands for a night of racing. It had been 5 weeks since we have raced there as we have missed a couple due to family commitments and the other weekends we have raced at Archerfield but that's another story.
Back to Parklands. Unloaded the gear, setup, and chatted to Pitcrew, Filthy Phil and Steph #49 for a while.
Took to the track for only 3 laps and was absolutely amazed how CRAP the surface was. There is grass growing between the huge cracks in the bitumin. Bumps, hollows, ruts, mud on the track and even a pothole in the surface. This track is disgrace. I have voude to my son that we will not return to race there again. It is unsafe for riders of pocketbikes. The track is so run down. Take a real close look at the surface and think to yourself, do you really need to submit yourself to this CRAPPY TRACK or are there better offerings in the wind. It is plainly obvious that Parklands management have no regard for your personal safety(track conditons) or your entertainment value. (I must admit they do provide a onsite ambulance, probably due to the CRAP track surface).
BRING ON DARLINGTON PARK and any other race venue who value their clientel. VOTE WITH YOUR FEET AND BIKE until Parklands improves. :!:

[x]

Unfortunately we have to put up wit hthe track..theres jsut a few corners that really need to be re surfaced..but the others are ohhhhk..I tihnk the bumps caused steph to be taken to hospital by ambo..it'sa dangerous corner though (exit of cork screw) theres bumps and ruts through it..and to top it off..if you run wide, you hit a vertical gutter (this is what happened to me- hit a bump, slid wide and bang) :roll:

but yeh..hopefully steph and stacy swartz are ok..

[Steph #49]

Originally Posted by x

Unfortunately we have to put up wit hthe track..theres jsut a few corners that really need to be re surfaced..but the others are ohhhhk..I tihnk the bumps caused steph to be taken to hospital by ambo..it'sa dangerous corner though (exit of cork screw) theres bumps and ruts through it..and to top it off..if you run wide, you hit a vertical gutter (this is what happened to me- hit a bump, slid wide and bang) :roll:

but yeh..hopefully steph and stacy swartz are ok..

Ryan,
It was either the bumps, the ruts or the vertical gutter at the edge of the track that brought steph undone - or maybe a combination of all three! :x She cant even remember the accident :wink:
Steph will be back out there again before you know it - even if we have to tape her onto the bike! :twisted: Ther's no way you'd keep her off a bike any longer than absolutely necessary! 8)

I know for sure we wont be racing there once other tracks start to open up - even if we have to travel further to race. The track at Parklands is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Although I should add it wont be from us, we know the dangers of motor racing and believe that if you brave enough to run on it, you have to take whatever happens in your stride.

I will commend the guys at Parklands for consistently putting on meets and at least giving us somewhere to be able to race each week, but hey, that track is seriously getting dangerous. These bikes are going a lot faster than they were when we started racing there, the fields are bigger and the track is getting worse - bad combination in any book! The sooner we get National Regulations set by an outside party to any of the tracks, the sooner this sport will be viewed seriously by the public and our riders will be able to do what they have wanted to do all along - race, have fun, and be safe (as safe as any motor sport can be)

We're not in this for the huge prize money :lol: or the prestige 8) , we are in this because it is a great sport (not just for the kids, but for everyone) and is fun :P . What other motorsport can you get into that doesn't set you back financially for a lifetime!

Sandi
Steph's mum

P.S. Yes, we do run a sponsored bike and are extremely grateful to our sponsors for everything they've done to help us - we could not afford to race competitively without them - but to all the sceptics that scoff at sponsored riders, we still spend big money each week to go racing, and we've done the hard yards like everyone else before we were worthy of getting a sponsor, but like any sport, if you want to do it badly enough, you'll find the money. :wink:

[CarterRaceEngines]

Just heard about Steph's big OFF last nite, and glad to see she is OK apart from the obvious injuries, nothing frustrates us more when these things happen another reason we have insisted on running better quality tyres.

Sandi i'll call tommorrow Sunday to get an update

Carter

[wizzar]

Sorry to hear about Steph. GREAT RIDER, CRAPPY TRACK.
Hope she recovers quickly.
Glad to hear you will be moving tracks as well.

[CarterRaceEngines]

I Smell Litigation in the AIR!!

[PITCREW]

Those who know our racing family know we are out there 'cause It's a great sport for both kids and families as Sandi said in her post.

Pocketracer have done more than anyone for this sport to date and I commend them for that, and yes, both our kids know the dangers of the track and do their best to ride to the condition of it.

However it is getting worse and no one running the track seems to care. There have been a lot of really serious unjuries there and a lot are due to the conditions of the track as the bikes and riders get faster.

Parklands is more suited to motorcross as it is that rough and the water/dirt filled tyre barriers where there should be run-off areas in some areas have and will continue to be extremely dangerous.

Cars parked within metres of the end of a fast straight are dangerous

Steph over-rode the track racing for 1st, hit the bumps and lost it, Phil a few weeks ago lost it badly due to a rider hitting the cones in the middle of the main straight around the drain. That's the track and thats racing, but as Sandi said, better tracks opening and Parklands will never see us again.

And the lapscoring last night was a laugh, with backrunners starting up the front in the final and Vice-versa.

I believe there is an information night about Darlington Park (possibly Monday night) I'll keep you informed

[x]

Originally Posted by PITCREW

And the lapscoring last night was a laugh, with backrunners starting up the front in the final and Vice-versa.

talk about bad lap scorers!!! they put robbie down as a DNF for the first two races that he won :lol: we get to our final and there like robbie dagan.. 12th :lol: and kurt (jsut as an example) started off the front, when he didn't even finish ther first 2 races.. :?

wierd...but looking forward to darlington park

[x]

Originally Posted by PITCREW

And the lapscoring last night was a laugh, with backrunners starting up the front in the final and Vice-versa.

talk about bad lap scorers!!! they put robbie down as a DNF for the first two races that he won :lol: we get to our final and there like robbie dagan.. 12th :lol: and kurt (jsut as an example) started off the front, when he didn't even finish ther first 2 races.. :?

wierd...but looking forward to darlington park

[Neo]

I was reading about the lap scorers and had to laugh to myself because of the comments made by Pitcrew about how bad they were. It doesnt matter where they start, as long as the kids are having fun. They are not racing for sheep stations or a trip to Disneyland. The sooner some parents realise its fun for the kids and not get their knickers in a knot, the better the sport will be. Maybe in the seniors like Robbie was riding, where they compete alot harder and they made the mistake about his DNF, it may make the person upset but I dont see anything from Robbie complaining and also I didnt count 12 starters in the race , but thats beside the point. Lets stop the bitching and let the kids enjoy the racing. Most of the young ones dont give a damn where they come, as long as they have a ride, however some parents seem to. I have seen this happen so much when kids sport is involved.