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Bike riders from around the country will converge on Paeroa this year
on Sunday 19 February to compete on the famous 1.52km ‘Hacksaw’
street circuit, as shown above in the neon blue. owing to its shape. It has
provided a testing circuit on which riders reach speeds of 280kph and
sidecars close to 220kph along the main straight.
This mega event, which closes SH2 for the day, offers an adrenalin-filled
‘seat of your pants’ experience, even for a spectator. Riders will reach
speeds up to 260km per hour. Besides viewing action packed with
racing entertainment, the event offers plenty of food and merchandise.
Motorcycle clubs, groups and organised rallies welcome. Attendance
continues to grow each year and has even attracted national media
coverage. The race has been televised since 2004.
Petrolfumes posted a riproaring video programme of the racing from 2016,
which includes also two-person sidecar races. Aside from the flashby
speeds and the riproaring sounds, it is interesting
to note the ways spectators are protected from
the speeding bikes including low sandbag initial
barriers, interlocking concrete walls, padded
pillars and various heights and thicknesses of
hay bales. These don’t get there by themselves:
This event has dozens of sponsors and over 360
commuity volunteers that make it all happen.
Enjoy video here:
See:
Spectator tickets:
The ground breaking ceremonies for the
new library on Willoughby St in Paeroa
were in May, and it looks promising that the
new facility, twice the size of the old library,
will open in March.
Look for wifi and computers, a baby changing
table and plenty of shelf room. The old library
will be used at as Council office space. See
Paeroa gets a new look with modern,
stylish library and street renovation
Battle of the Streets roars through
Paeroa for its 26th year
PAEROA...
“the best little town in the middle of everywhere”
report and more photos:
The Mackay Road side of the library is
getting a parklike facelift, with numerous tree
plantings, raised brick planters, tile sidewalks,
bike racks, and benches. Below, the library
construction is just beyond the laundromat,
with the fields of the Paeroa Domain is seen in
the distance.
KAIUAU TO KOPU SECTION PROGRESS
Piako Bridge side clipon a welcome
addition to Hauraki Rail Trail project
Work continues on the extention of the Kauraki Rail Tail from Kaiaua
to Kopu (K2K), a gentle stretch that offers stunning views of the
firth and passes near the Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre.
The NZ Transport Agency announced funding a 250m lightweight
steel and timber `clip-on’ cycle lane attached to the downstream
side of the Piako Bridge, which spans the Piako River on SH25.
This provides a safe way for bikers and walkers to cross over.
Hauraki District Council, TCDC and the Transport Agency have
each contributed $1 million to the $4.2 million cost of completing
the final leg of the trail. The K2K section experienced a construction
setback due to foul weather over the winter, but it’s expected much
of the new section of the trail will be ride-ready in April.
The K2K trail section passes near the historic
Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre.
MIRANDA SHOREBIRD CENTRE EXPANDS
Good news for the Miranda Shorebird Centre and its famous flocks of
wading, international-travelling godwits. The shorebirds have become
benefactors of a $400,000 real estate deal.
The Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalists’ Trust and Fonterra’s Living Water
programme have teamed up to buy a 60-hectare farm near Miranda, 25
hectares of which will be restored into wetland, increasing the size of the
intertidal mudflats at the Firth of Thames.
50 COROMANDEL LIFE LATE SUMMER / EASTER 2017
12 hours entertainment
Sat. 11 Feb at the Domain
Paeroa
Highland Games
& Tattoo
FOR EVENTS & TICKETS
Now in its 24th year, the
Paeroa Highland Games
and Tattoo offers a 9 am
to 9pm day of pipe bands,
Celtic dancing, singing and
a variety of heavyweight
field and axe competitions.
The special lit nighttime
tattoo begins at 6:30pm.