SUPERSTOCKS AND STOCKCARS: IMPORTANT WHEEL

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
2015/16 NZ Streetstock Date
Pit Safety
Motorcycles: Long Hair
Feedback Welcomed
Superstock Attacking Outcome
Minisprint Trial Feedback
2014/15 Ferry Offer
Superstock Survey Analysis
SUPERSTOCKS AND STOCKCARS: IMPORTANT WHEEL INFORMATION!!
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Speedway NZ has on several occasions in the past advised competitors that the use of
non approved alternative wheels (as covered by rule T14-6), are not able to be used at
SNZ tracks. Despite these warnings it appears that some competitors continue to use
these wheels.
In doing so competitors place themselves at risk of legal action should a non-approved
wheel fail and cause injury or worse to a member of the public, as has unfortunately
happened in the past.
Two retailers recently submitted wheels to Speedway NZ’s nominated mechanical
engineer for testing. Unfortunately both wheels have come in significantly under the
required standard and will not be approved for use by SNZ. A sample of these wheels is
pictured right. They are similar in appearance to the approved Corsa wheel, but differ in
the stud area.
Speedway NZ advises competitors who have purchased wheels from these or any other
supplier of wheels that have not been approved for use to contact the seller and exercise
their rights under the Consumers Guarantees Act.
You can contact Speedway NZ anytime
using the following details:Post
Phone
Fax
Email
Web
PO Box 39-236
Wellington Mail Centre 5045
04 560 0317
04 560 0400
[email protected]
www.speedway.co.nz
facebook.com/SpeedwayNZ
Next Board Meeting
February 11
Agenda Items Due By February 6
Corsa Wheel
Corsa Copy
From February 1 these and any other wheels that have not been approved by
Speedway NZ cannot be used at Speedway NZ tracks.
We recommend that all competitors must ensure that all their wheels are both
compliant with the rules, and that they fit safely to the car, to avoid being turned away
from racing from February on. And no matter what their supplier may claim, it is the
responsibility of all competitors to ensure their wheels are compliant with the rules.
In addition, from February 1 the Elite 8 Hole 6 pin also can no longer be used for
Superstocks (pictured right). The Elite 8 hole 5 stud is unaffected.
We appreciate this information may cause inconvenience for a number of racers, but
Speedway NZ has to weigh up the ramifications of all decisions and the potential impact
on the sport as a whole. Therefore we thank in advance those competitors who make the
necessary changes.
Elite 8 Hole,
6 pin Wheel
Date Approval:
2015/16 NZ Streetstocks
Kihikihi are the first track to have
a title date for the 2015/16
season approved, with the NZ
Streetstock Champs set to take
place on January 22/23 next year.
Pit Safety
A number of tracks supply equipment to enable vehicle repairs to
take place during the meeting,
such as welders and cutting
equipment. This is a reminder
that any equipment supplied by
tracks must be appropriately
monitored to ensure it is used in
a safe manner.
Motorycle Classes: Long Hair
The last thing anyone wants to
see when they head to a race
track is a scalping because the
long hair of a competitor became
entangled in the wheels of a
motorcycle.
Please ensure that if you have
long hair that it is either tied up
or put down your leathers.
Feedback Welcomed Anytime
Cook Strait Crossings
From time to time issues arise at race meetings that require the input
of Speedway NZ. Following a detailed review of our processes by
Worksafe NZ, we have set up a dedicated feedback page on our
website, to enable any concerned party to get in touch and provide
details of issues at a race track. Track personnel, officials, competitors
and spectators can report below standard behaviour to Speedway
NZ without repercussion via the following link:-
www.cookstraitcrossings.co.nz are Speedway NZ’s ferry crossing
partner for the 2014/15 season. Their great rates and generous
terms and conditions that are available for all members of the
speedway community, so support those that support the sport!
www.speedway.co.nz/feedback
As part of Speedway NZ’s commitment to health & safety all
feedback will be formally reviewed and acknowledged in writing.
Superstocks: Over-Aggressive Attacking Leads to Penalties
A highly charged runoff for third place at the NZ Superstock title saw
Chad Ace make contact with Graeme Barr on the final lap. Chad was
referred to the Board as a result of the hit, and they deemed the
incident to be an over-aggressive attack that was in breach of Rule
R12-3-34.
Chad has been suspended from all racing until April 1 and fined
$1500.
Minisprint Trial Feedback
Two Taranaki based competitors (Kurt Phillips and Dan Fromings) are
currently trialling Toyota 4AGE 1587cc engines in their cars. They
have provided some excellent feedback to Speedway NZ and are
happy for it to be shared.
If you would like to review their data, click this link here.
Passengers
Adults
Child (0-17 years)
$39.53
$22.89
Cars, Utes & Vans
Kaitake
Arahura/Aratere
$103
$114.44
Motorbikes
Kaitake
Arahura/Aratere
$22.89
$36.50
Trailers up to 5.5m
Kaitake
$132.13
Arahura/Aratere
$143.57
Each extra metre or part thereof $40
Trucks, motorhomes etc per metre, including 1 passenger,
meal & cabin
Kaitake
$49.94
Arahura/Aratere
$55.14
To book, visit their website or contact Tony directly on
021 726 711.
As a result of the fact that racing rules in the Superstock class had been adjusted a
number of times in the last few months, Speedway NZ thought it important that
competitors had the opportunity to submit direct feedback about those changes, and
about any other issues they may have had at this point in the season.
With over 70 responses, this was the most direct feedback Speedway NZ has received
from a specific class. A big thanks goes out to all those who took the time to complete
the survey, and to others who have corresponded with us on these topics in the last few
months. A quick overview of the survey follows:Question 1: Did you attend your track remit meeting in May last year?
Why ask this? This was a question to get them thinking about the pros and cons of the
new and old rulemaking processes.
Yes = 32, No = 32, Unsure = 7
Question 2: Did you make a submission on the straightlining rule when give a
chance last October? Yes = 30, No = 29, Unsure = 12
Question 3: Is the current consultation rulemaking process better than the old process where rules were changed every two years at the AGM?
Yes = 42, No = 9, Unsure = 20
This shows that despite the irritation in some quarters, SNZ is moving in the right direction with the consultation rulemaking process for the Superstock class. Only 13% of respondents think the old process is better.
Question Four: Thinking about the four sets of racing rules you’ve had the chance
review in the last 12 months, please rank them below in order of preference
(1 = best, 4 = least best):
The aim of this question was to determine how competitors feel about the various racing
rules they’ve had to look at and race under in the last 12 months.
 Option One was last season’s rules where straightlining was permitted
 Option Two was the rule that was submitted as a remit
 Option Three was the rule voted in at the AGM
 Option Four is the current no over-aggressive attacking rule.
The responses were as follows (with the lowest average being the most popular):Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
Best
21
17
12
29
Second
5
13
26
10
Third
4
27
13
11
40
2.9
13
2.51
19
2.56
19
2.28
Least Best
Average
What does this tell us?
 The Board’s current rule is the most popular of the four options, both in terms of
having the most “1” votes and having the lowest weighted average when ranking all
four options.
 21 of the 71 drivers would prefer no straightlining rule at all, but 40 are in complete
disagreement with them and think that’s the worst scenario.
 Each option that has been used in a racing scenario (1,3,4) received progressively
lower scores, indicating that overall the competitors are of the belief that each rule
change has led to an improvement.
Question Five: Are you concerned about the current rate of injuries in the
Superstock class?
Yes = 54, No = 17
Just over 3/4 of the surveyed competitors are concerned about the injuries in the class.
Question Six: If yes above, do you have any suggestions on how this might be
addressed?
Responses here varied, but could be categorised into the major topics of safety
equipment, chassis construction, speed of the cars and the racing rules themselves. Some
of the points raised will be investigated by the Technical Committee, and others by the
Health & Safety Committee.
All in all it was a successful exercise that will be repeated in the future. The next survey
will be for Youth competitors at some stage during the remainder of the season.