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22 Apr 2012, 08:57 (Ref:3063499) | #1 | ||
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motorsport and forest fires
Hi all I'm a long time lurker and first time poster and the catalyst for this is a question that I've had about the fire risks presented by motorsport in relation to forestry not entirely sure where this should go but this seems to be the forum most relevant to circuits and related issues. Some of you may be aware of new track projects in New Zealand an one of these is planned for my local area where their has been a lot of enthusiasm for a local track for some time. one of the issues raised at the resource consent hearing in opposition to the proposal was its position at the bottom of a valley surrounded by commercial forestry and the potential fire risk posed by motorsport activities to these large valuable forests. Now I know that events are held around New Zealand in forestry blocks the Ashley forest rallysprint for one and several other rallys and of road events around the country and piles peak is held through a pine forest and I've never heard of anyone complaining about the risk of forest fires in relation to motorsport before and was wondering if anyone has any experiance of issues like this one. Here's a link for the proposed park which should answer any questions about the project http://www.centralmotorsport.org.nz/node .
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22 Apr 2012, 18:40 (Ref:3063809) | #2 | ||
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Real World environmental issues don't really come into the thinking of the fantasy track designers in the My Tracks section.
Trackside might be more a more appropriate area for thoughts and discussion. |
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22 Apr 2012, 23:55 (Ref:3063940) | #3 | ||
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Ok thank you for the move though the thread still seems a little out of place must really not be something that comes into normal consideration around here. mainly I'm just interested to hear if anyone has any knowledge of issues like those raised actually occurring.
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23 Apr 2012, 02:07 (Ref:3063975) | #4 | |
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Sounds pretty ridiculous. Sounds like some NIMBY is really stretching for it to make their case. I've heard some crazy stuff before, but this is a new form of crazy.
There are plenty of tracks in dry places like Australia and the USA that have fire issues nearby or the potential for it and there has never been a race situation that I know of that has caused a forest fire, as motorsport fires are quickly contained due to safety standards at tracks and at a club track like what is purposed would probably not often happen there anyways. |
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23 Apr 2012, 09:55 (Ref:3064131) | #5 | |
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I'd have thought the track, run off areas and service roads would actually act as a 'fire break' so would be of benefit to the local enviroment.
I'd be very surprised if there were any recodered instances of racing activity creating forest fires. |
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23 Apr 2012, 12:41 (Ref:3064243) | #6 | ||
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If the proposed "Rally road" runs through woods, then there is a very real risk of fire. I've seen one on a stage rally in the north of England (? south Scotland?) caused by a car.
Regards Jim |
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23 Apr 2012, 15:30 (Ref:3064345) | #7 | ||
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The only instance I know of was the start of this year, at (i think) the sun seeker??
Suzuki swift rolled down a hill and off the track into the trees causing a small fire which spread to a few trees - however this was still quickly contained! Don't believe it would pose any real risk and the possibility of it actually happening are so low its unreal. |
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23 Apr 2012, 16:18 (Ref:3064371) | #8 | |||
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Quote:
So nothing trivial there. Not just a real risk but an actual occurrence. Regards Jim |
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23 Apr 2012, 20:23 (Ref:3064489) | #9 | |
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I'd be more worried about things like lightning and people camping than something within a contained facility.
New Zealand also has an extensive amount of rallying going on in and around pine plantations on both islands and I've never heard of anything like this happening. |
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24 Apr 2012, 00:20 (Ref:3064592) | #10 | ||
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thanks for mainly confirming my suspicions on this though the proposed track will include a camping area maybe they will just have to make it gas cooker only. the other objection raised by the forestry company was that they would have right of way on the access road and even when upgraded to a 2 lane road like all the others around here they would still have to close it, if so they should surely have to close all the other 2lane roads to the port. although they may be nimbys they are very important nimbys as forestry is a big employer and cash cow locally so the council may well cave to the pressure and if it establishes a precedent ain't no race track being built here it's pine as far as the eye can see.
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10 May 2012, 02:36 (Ref:3072022) | #11 | ||
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JimW is talking about a rally road, but it appears that everyone else is talking about a circuit. The risk of a forest fire being caused by activities at a racing circuit is so minimal as to be not worth considering, for the reasons stated above.
The fire risk of running a rally through a forest is very real and in my corner of the world is carefully managed. Events are often cancelled or postponed when prevailing conditions cause high fire danger. |
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13 May 2012, 00:26 (Ref:3073391) | #12 | ||
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David I will just clarify this the park will include a circuit but there are also plans for a rally stage to hold rallysprints on though that would still be on the private developers land and so i believe they could integrate the necessary safety features into the design.
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4 Jul 2012, 06:16 (Ref:3101669) | #13 | ||
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And the circuit has been approved by the resource consent process
just in time for me to move to wellington |
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4 Jul 2012, 23:04 (Ref:3102180) | #14 | ||
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Don't you just hate it when that happens?
This LINK will take you to pictures of a real forrest fire now burning in the mountains of Colorado (USA). Althought there are no motorsports activities in the area it is worthwhile viewing the result so far as well as the progress.
The gray areas in the early pictures have burned already. The red areas in the later pictures are treated with fire retarding chemicals. |
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5 Jul 2012, 06:11 (Ref:3102246) | #15 | ||
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http://www.tasman.govt.nz/property/r...stanley-brook/
this covers some more information of the decision in the case of the stanley brook motorsport park (also has stuff like a map of the planned facilities at the bottom of the commissioners decision PDF). the pictures linked to above show how horrendous forrest fires can be and the possibility of starting a fire when flammable materials and the outdoors are mixed should be in the back of everyones mind who takes part in such things it should be noted that to the best of my knowledge and like has been stated above motorsports facilities are generally well equiped to deal with fire hazards |
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6 Jul 2012, 03:00 (Ref:3102682) | #16 | |||
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Quote:
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