I think the first thing we need to do is put our money where our mouth is ,
By this i mean next dig (this sunday) we do runs of the race track and push up to the corner and see how much of an issue it would be.
The advantage of picking up from the corner is we might not have to cancel if it rains.

i wouldnt race this race if if had a push up like that to the transport.
its just not the goods when you're trying to train and race on a weekend that will take the energy you need out of you.
it'd be diabollically moaned about also regardless of whether you warned people or not.

IMO

Slacky's right, people will complain bout it.
Might not be practical, but maybe you could look at giving riders the option of pushing up to the hairpin or paying A LOT more and getting shuttled the whole way?

Dunno how that'd work out though... just a thought.

SlackBoy wrote: IMHO I'd look at smaller vehicles, i'e van and trailers as ooposed to walking the riders up that track to the hairpin.
Not only would it suck balls, but you'd be sending riders down the hill into and amongst all the traffic coming into park.

It's not just the size of the vehicle but the volume of traffic a race will bring to that road that the land owner is concerned about.


Maybe we could look at 4WD Vans or similar to run riders from the Air strip to the hair pin corner where they can get off onto the big trucks to go to the top.

SlackBoy wrote:that or you'll have to look at generating some more money at the event and putting well towards grader costs for that section of road

The section of road we are talking about is tar sealed (the land owner has spent about $50,000 + to do this) and it is already being damaged & Heavy shuttle vehicles will only damages the road more, leaving the club liable to the repair bill – & Trust me... BikeNZ won't pay for that!

banga wrote: Its a bit of shame after all the work put into the tracks etc that LG isn't really a viable race venue anymore.

Tell me about it.

Hence why we are trying to come up with ways to make it viable.

Ultimatly if we had about 10 to 20 4WD utes with trailers on them we would be set to run the event - but we don't.

Maybe we should approch the local 4WD club that is always out long gully LOL

yea definatly wortha crack.

maybe we might be able to arrange something in the way of transport to the top during racing with 4wd as riders only need to be drip feed to the start.

or could just add in a short water feature across the crick at the bottom of the walk and call it a triathlon

For my money, I'd say it's not a goer. which is a shame frankly. but it's either a logistical nightmare with 2 seperate sections of shuttle (one of which is super short and barely worth it, but still too far to push), or an event that no-one will want to race cos of the nightmare push.

I'd say turn away from it this year and serisouly look at other options for the future. Long Gully is nigh on flogged to death, and the club needs to start looking elsewhere and developing other tracks

Personally im not that keen , yes I think we could make it work but its asking too much from the punters. There is a limit of what you can ask of the average grommit before they start to moan and drag their parents in with them.

The last thing i want is to run an event that turns sour and puts me off doing it ever again.

all feedback has been well recivied and really gives us something to work with at the meeting.

Fuck. whatever happened to the late 90's hard group who had never heard of shuttles? We used to push terawhiti for both runs! lazy. I'll be there on Wednesday work pending. There will be a way.

most of them aren't riding DH anymore, all gone to trail

or xc racing?

big_d wrote:

banga wrote: Its a bit of shame after all the work put into the tracks etc that LG isn't really a viable race venue anymore.

Tell me about it.

Hence why we are trying to come up with ways to make it viable.

Ultimatly if we had about 10 to 20 4WD utes with trailers on them we would be set to run the event - but we don't.

Maybe we should approch the local 4WD club that is always out long gully LOL

At the Auckland Dome Valley Races, they hire out utes and have traylers. Works quite well, fast turnaround and easy.

Just putting it out there...