Discussion
Wondering if anyone in this country ever does autocross? Its a pretty popular way to get into basic motorsport in the US, but I have never seen any mention of it taking place here.
And for those that don't know, autocross is a single car timed event over a course set out in cones, usually in a large empty (paved) parkng lot.
And for those that don't know, autocross is a single car timed event over a course set out in cones, usually in a large empty (paved) parkng lot.
Good luck. I mean that in the best possible way, however in NZ you will run into big problems with finding a venue, with the Police saying you're encouraging irresponsible driving and with ACC and OSH both trying to make sure no one goes faster than 10km/h in case they got hurt. You may well be best talking to your local car club and see if they have any experience in doing it. Starting from scratch would be a royal pain in the proverbial.
Oh absolutely. My local club in the US has a pretty hard time finding venues that want to help out. But police shouldn't care as its all done under controlled, private conditions (at least they don't in the US).
I would assume that in NZ you would still need insurance (from a local club) to do such an event?
I would assume that in NZ you would still need insurance (from a local club) to do such an event?
BrianisHHC said:
Police saying you're encouraging irresponsible driving
Thats quite sad, since having these events encourages them to do their speed driving in a safe environment and not on the streets.
In NZ we have a hard-line speeding mentality in government and law enforcement that "no speed is safe speed"... if you're speeding you're a criminal as far as NZ is concerned and that's all there is to it. Just ask Venom on his speeding experiences in NZ relative to the UK, he'll tell ya the differences as he's suffered it full-force.
We have an advertiding campaign over here "if you're prepared to speed, be prepared to kill" ..... I think this is criminally misleading as it implies that you shouldn't be prepared to kill in a car when driving at legal speeds... it's all up the cock.
Yeah, thats one of the stupidest campaigns. Its amazing how many public safety campaigns there are in this country.
What amazes me most about speeding in this country is that there are so many smaller roads, where the speed limit is 100km/h yet, to go that speed would require big risks, a really competent car and most certainly wouldn't be classified as safe.
So apparently its perfectly legal to push the absolute limits of your cars (and your own) performance on small roads, but if you go 10km/h over the limit on big roads built for high speed you would be willing to kill!
Another interesting thing to note is that major roads (not interstate) in the US are generally 50mph, and here are 100km/h, so they allow you to go 12mph faster in most cases here, so to me, its still reasonably quick. Then again I don't have a viper!
What amazes me most about speeding in this country is that there are so many smaller roads, where the speed limit is 100km/h yet, to go that speed would require big risks, a really competent car and most certainly wouldn't be classified as safe.
So apparently its perfectly legal to push the absolute limits of your cars (and your own) performance on small roads, but if you go 10km/h over the limit on big roads built for high speed you would be willing to kill!
Another interesting thing to note is that major roads (not interstate) in the US are generally 50mph, and here are 100km/h, so they allow you to go 12mph faster in most cases here, so to me, its still reasonably quick. Then again I don't have a viper!
Esprit said:
htsd said:
Police saying you're encouraging irresponsible driving
Thats quite sad, since having these events encourages them to do their speed driving in a safe environment and not on the streets.
In NZ we have a hard-line speeding mentality in government and law enforcement that "no speed is safe speed"... if you're speeding you're a criminal as far as NZ is concerned and that's all there is to it. Just ask Venom on his speeding experiences in NZ relative to the UK, he'll tell ya the differences as he's suffered it full-force.
We have an advertiding campaign over here "if you're prepared to speed, be prepared to kill" ..... I think this is criminally misleading as it implies that you shouldn't be prepared to kill in a car when driving at legal speeds... it's all up the cock.
Ugh.....that sucks.
So even on a track/open lot if you speed you will kill people? I feel sorry for the NZ speed enthusiasts.
Roger A said:Speaking of Frasers . . .
. . . i would love to join your revolution-tight twisty stuff rather than pukekohe-style backstraight speed suits my wee Fraser nicely thankyou. . .
I understand there was a Fraser-Day at Taupo over the weekend . . . anyone got the news or pics ???
Rather than all the negative, wrist-slapping 'speed kills' campaigns and cars ticking and crashing at junctions, how about some positive, educational adverts/public information films? I still remember most of them that they ran in the UK during the 70s and early 80s - that's what I call effective!
I think a campaign to improve driver courtesy would be a good idea too. Not just a 5 minute, 'be kind to your neighbour' regional radio campaign, but a sustained, long-term national effort to improve peoples attitudes. If you could get people in NZ to be as friendly behind the wheel as they are in person you'd cut the road-toll in next to no time!
I think a campaign to improve driver courtesy would be a good idea too. Not just a 5 minute, 'be kind to your neighbour' regional radio campaign, but a sustained, long-term national effort to improve peoples attitudes. If you could get people in NZ to be as friendly behind the wheel as they are in person you'd cut the road-toll in next to no time!
jamieheasman said:
Rather than all the negative, wrist-slapping 'speed kills' campaigns and cars ticking and crashing at junctions, how about some positive, educational adverts/public information films? I still remember most of them that they ran in the UK during the 70s and early 80s - that's what I call effective!
I think a campaign to improve driver courtesy would be a good idea too. Not just a 5 minute, 'be kind to your neighbour' regional radio campaign, but a sustained, long-term national effort to improve peoples attitudes. If you could get people in NZ to be as friendly behind the wheel as they are in person you'd cut the road-toll in next to no time!
AGREED! And where are all the ads telling people to PAY ATTENTION to what they're doing while driving? I remember a few years back there was an ad on TV where a guy and his son and his son's friend had a head-on with someone who cut across his path and a girl from the other car landed on his bonnet.... it was for wearing safety belts... fair enough and got the message across, but if the driver of this car had been driving devensively and not talking to his kid (he was looking at the kid in the back seat and then turned back around to see the car crossing his path) there may not have been an accident at all.
NZ seems hell-bent on pinning the blame on actual FACTORS rather than BEHAVIOURS behind the wheel.... speeding, intoxication, fatigue etc.... when was the last time you saw an ad warning of the dangers of tuning your radio while driving, or adjusting your aircon, or placating the kids in the back seat?
The road is for driving on... therefore when you're on it you should be driving and be focussed on this.... but according to the LTSA, if you're not drunk or speeding, you're safe.... even if you decide to bu your license without even sitting the test.... the sooner someone ploughs into Andy Knackstedt (LTSA chief) head-on on state-higheway 2 with a semi loaded with petrol and fireworks, the better.
Esprit said:
.... the sooner someone ploughs into Andy Knackstedt (LTSA chief) head-on on state-highway 2 with a semi loaded with petrol and fireworks, the better.
Andy Knackstedt said:
I've installed extra Dilithium Crystals in my Flux Capacitor and I'm therefore immune to petrol, fireworks, kinetic redistribution (being hit by a semi) and your insults
Sorry, having a bad day at work . . . and isn't it amazing how off-track a thread can get
>> Edited by Kiwi XTR2 on Tuesday 19th April 06:26
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