For old times sake 3 - Birdwood Road , Massey

[Jeff]

I'm starting from where Birdwood Road turns off the main road in Massey.
Was the start line near the bridge or futher back along the road ?
Those who have raced there can tell many of the corners have been removed ( except for the 3 or 4 main sharp corners that must have really defined the hillclimb )
Ironically some roadworks just after the last corner see the road revert back to it's pre-tarsealed days.
The second to last sharp corner must have been a beauty in it's day for spectators


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_exhgY5XY8&feature=youtu.be

[Bryan]

It would be interesting to see any old photos. Would speculate the start would be after Chamberlain Rd.

I live nearby and drive Birdwood Rd at least a couple of times a week. There are aerial photos from 1959 on the Auckland Council GIS Viewer (http://maps.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/aucklandcouncilviewer/), that show the flat section alongside the stream to be pretty much as windy as it ever was, but the sections between the hairpin bends are much straighter (but the hairpin bends are all still the same:D).

Back in the '60s or '70s, this was planned to be the western end of the Henderson Motorway, connecting Don Buck Rd in Massey with Henderson, New Lynn and Avondale. Thankfully that plan bit the dust (although there are only two streams to be bridged to complete the route from Henderson to Swanson).