[nickydwuk]

When looking on google earth at the Christchurch area we have noticed there are a huge number of oval shaped 'racing' tracks. Can anyone shed any light on these? :confused: Are Kiwi's obsessed with racing cars or is there some other more sinister use? :eek: We have seen properties near these tracks and the write up says 'quiet' is this true?

[macuser]

They're big on trotting/pacing. Maybe that's what they are.

Helen

[Moorf]

Yep - it's harness racing / trotting related.

Some of the circles - not ovals - in fields are made by the tracks of the large (sometimes 2 - 3km long) irrigation set ups which pivot on a central spindle.

[Smiler]

Oh thought Woz's tattoo could be seen from space now :laugh :laugh :laugh

[Moorf]

:laugh

[nickydwuk]

So would it be ok to buy a property near one or does it get noisy and have loads of visitors?

[ourquest]

So would it be ok to buy a property near one or does it get noisy and have loads of visitors?

Are you thinking of buying a property on the internet? Google Earth is a start, but I would be more worried about the immediate neighbour who is a bad rock musician, or the view of the power lines, than an occasional sports meet. A fair question I suppose, but surely more appropriately asked when your standing in your dream house with your estate agent? But then again, don't ask your agent. Find some poor unsuspecting non-rock musician granny who lives next door and ask her if it's noisy. :laugh

[nickydwuk]

We wouldn't buy from the internet - maybe rent so we had somewhere to go to immediately on arrival (with the dogs!!) but I was more interested in areas to settle. Some smaller towns/villages seem to have as many as 6 of these circles for such a small place - I wondered what the catch was?

[Moorf]

Most of the rural ovals you see will be private tracks - a couple of the farmers round here have them for their own use, they're not used for big competitions or anything although you can watch a few of them practising together at times.

If you give me the specific areas you're looking at (I assume Springston/Lincoln/West Melton areas if Chch as many are around there) I can be more accurate and investigate if need be, but I have to say there are very very few professional, large meet-holding tracks..... the main ones being in Addington (Christchurch), Timaru, Rangiora and Ashburton.

If it's a circle it's not a racing track.