WORLD CLASS TRACK WHANGAREI NZ

[Kevo15]

My folks sent me over 2 newspaper articles about Tom Ritzenthaler from Columbus Ohia.
Northern Avocate- 7th November 2008 `BMXers aren't all bandits, this is an athletes sport' and Saturday 4th December 2008 `Walker wants a dry run on track'
He has designed and built a new track at Pohe Island Whangarei which must be something as he built the Olympics track for China. He has used some new ideas which he is trialing for the South African track that he will build for the 2010 Worlds. Not bad for a city of just over 40, 000. They will be holding their countries Nationals in April so good build up to Adelaides Worlds event. They must have a strong club to aquire a man of his talents and allow him to use them. Next time we go over the family and I will be taking our rides to do a lap or two. How can a club over there do that and BMXA sit on their... Surely the sport is big enough over here to have world class tracks all year round as well?

[Kevo15]

Did anyone from Oz other than Steve Ewart race in Whangarei at their Nationals? He raved about the track and like myself asked the question...If we are so strong in the International scene of BMX why do we leave everything to individuals to have to keep up?
Luke `Doctor Smooth' had to build his own track to practice the China Olympics setup. If these guys that have been in the sport for so long are still having to grind away to get things done then I am wondering why bother applying my two boys to a sport that sucks from a National support point of view.

[Mr Ex Speaker]

Steve Ewart where is he from?
Cheers

[mark]

Did anyone from Oz other than Steve Ewart race in Whangarei at their Nationals?

I think Derek Harris from Melbourne (expat Kiwi) went back to race there ?

[SE68]

Hi There,
Im from the Pine Rivers Bmx Club in Strathpine Qld.Im an expat kiwi.
Yes Derek was there too(I hadnt seen Him in 25 years)....
Killer event&the BEST track I have ever ridden(started racing in 1978).
Its time to build some tracks like that one-Whangarei(Worlds replica).
The standard of the competitors has lifted considerably in recent years,and this would be due to the new tracks,and help from bmxnz.
Cheers
Steve.

[BOBCATZZ]

Thats it having a track that can challenge riders technically is  the best form of training for all levals of riders .............easy as that
I really beleive a club may not have the best canteen or commentary tower but if it has a track that is both technically tough and pushes all levals of racing then the club has done its job to its members and riders who will benifit more in the long run .

[WAmum]

does anyone have picture of this track so we can check it out

[SE68]

hi Guys,
I ll try to attach some photos for you.

[SE68]

Thats the start hill,
Ive got some more photos somewhere.

[BOBCATZZ]

LOOKS ABOUT 4M 15 DEGREES standard angles nice very similar to SOPA bmx track
asphalt corners are the bomb how much maintanance does that save

[fletch]

Looks cool , but why timber?? ,  canteen or club rooms below??

[SE68]

I have no idea why it was made of wood,but it was fast & 6m high.
The local council kicked in 250k towards the track (it would be nice to get help like that here).
It would be nice to have concrete berms on our own track(to stop erosion).Council,take note LOL.
Maybe the new taxes that the govt are thinking about,could go into building some rad tracks for us all.Nice thought....
Unfortunately all of my other photos of the track are too big to load onto the site,I ll see if someone can resize them for me.Then i ll post them.

[Mr Ex Speaker]

Steve did you used to ride a onesided Katan a while ago?
Cheers

[fletch]

Look forward to the photos, is that a tabletop as the first jump??

[cool as ice]

Now thats a start gate,,,,,,,,
SE68 can ya send those to BMXA.

Marked...

"this is how an association builds a National track"

Australias governing BMX body has spent... sorry I stand corrected...............
Just imagine all that cash that All the states have spent on holding the Nats at temporary indoor tracks, could have had a massive shed built over one of SA's tracks, changed it 6 times, have different pro sections and still have cash left over to spend on chocolates for the associations free accomodation.

But they still have it that dust bowl due to a "contractual" agreement.

I'll just spend a crap load tryn to get to Qualify for the Worlds......... only be shat on from a great height, and now has beens (that couldn't give a toss about racing) pay their cash and just so they can be known to "have raced a Worlds"

Pathetic
Disgraceful
Insubordinate
Scandalous
Discreditable

I'm am mega pi#@$@ off................. arnet yooooz