Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 31 to 45 of 49

Thread: Blue Thunder Race reports. Vic club 06

  1. #31
    Join Date
    26th June 2004 - 12:00
    Bike
    N/a
    Location
    WEllington
    Posts
    633
    yes you made a school boy error on higgins old boy.

    i was in tears watching that. lol

    i managed to stick with neil and the other dude on the kr for a bit. then i watched the kr drag past neil down the strait, neil has tons more corner speed than i do and they vanished.

    I tried taking out my air filter for the last race in f3 to see if i could get any more speed out of the bike. it didnt like it as its not tuned for it and had a dead spot up top.

    im thinking about geting the bike tuned after vic club, no airbox cover, or air filter and sticking in a bigger main jet.
    should be good for a few more hp and race it at boxing day races

  2. #32
    Join Date
    30th May 2003 - 21:22
    Bike
    Walking
    Location
    New Plymouth
    Posts
    1,719

    Round Five

    Round Five of the Victoria Motorcycle Club’s Super Bike Series started with another test day for me. I had recently brought another cheap fixer-upper KR150a which I had got going with a new piston and rings set. I was interested to see how this ‘refreshed’ motor would compare to my latest ‘race bike’ motor, so brought both bikes down to run againist each other.
    I got three sessions in on a dry track to begin with, starting with the ‘race bike’ which is a ‘b’ model KR150 to get me into the groove . Session two had the new ‘a’ model bike running through it’s paces, and I immediately felt this ‘new piston kit’ motor was pulling better than my race motor. I had no-one there to time me, but it just felt I was kicking it up into sixth gear sooner down the straights. One other thing I noticed was I was cornering well and touching the exhaust down through the sweeper as the bike was leant over to make the corner. Later in the day I noticed that the ‘a’ model exhaust was shaped differently to the one I normally race with. This caused it to stick out further, and not give as much ground clearance when cornering.
    The third session of the morning I taped a stopwatch to the handle bars to give me an idea of what I was doing with this ‘refreshed’ motor. First lap was warming the tyres. Lap two I started the watch, but after putting in a good lap forgot to hit the ‘stop’ to record the lap. Reset it on lap three ready to put in another good effort for lap four. All this time I’m grinding the exhaust (expansion chamber) on each turn through the sweeper before the front straight. I hit the start button on the stop watch going over the line for lap four and start stringing together an impressive display of how it should be done round Manfield short circuit. (well... nobody was watching so I can say what I like!).
    Things were going well till the last sweeper. Going through this corner at approx 100km/h I must have hit a bump which caused that scraping exhaust to dig into the track, lifting the back wheel off the ground. This meant I no longer had traction/ tyre balance, and the bike flew out from underneath me, dumping me heavily on the track. Both bike and I careered along the track for quite a ways, me tumbling uncontrollably before ending up in the off track ‘kitty litter’.
    I slowly got to my knees... trying to catch my breath as hitting the track had winded me, cracking a rib in the process. The body armour in my leathers had done it’s job, with a hole in the shoulder of my suit, but my shoulder feeling fine, and my elbow armour partially ripped off. I did have a very sore hand though. I must have wacked the back of it down hard on the track as I was tumbling, and in short time it was getting quite swollen. The bike too had it’s problems, with a bent handle bar, broken brake lever, smashed up muffler, and one bent fork. I had no flarings on it at the time so no damage there.
    It would have been good to get ice on my hand straight away... but... well, who brings ice with them?
    It would be a good customer service for Track staff to have ice on hand for such happenings you would think.

    So my hand was sore, but I felt alright, and wanted to get straight back on the horse again, so took my other bike out in the next session. I couldn’t use my clutch at all with my hand as it was, but was doing alright on a wet track after a rain storm had gone through. Near the end of that session I had a front wheel slide which put pressure on my hand causing some pain in my wrist, so it was time to call it a day.
    I had decided I wanted to race the ‘refreshed’ motor if I was able to the next day, but as this was in the crashed bike, and my hand was stuffed, I was unable to change the bent forks over to my spare set. But I removed the offending exhaust, straightened the bar with a few good wollups, put my good flarings and exhaust on and the bike was good to go. The fact that the steering was all cockeyed (pointing left when the bike was going straight) I’d have to live with. Thanks to ‘Kickingzebras’ Dad for binding my hand up with tape. It would be a case of seeing how it felt in the morning!

    On race day my fingers wouldn’t move much, but the wrist felt ok. I knew it wouldn’t be the best of days, but entries had been paid... so... lets just go out and circulate... pick up a point or two. Thoughout the day it took me about 2 minutes each time to get my swollen hand carefully into my left glove. Then it was a case of whoever was closest to help get the other glove on (thankyou all). Qualifing went ok considering I couldn’t use the clutch at all and could put limited pressure on the left bar. 2:35 put me 10th of 11 on the start grid (just where you want to be to get the best view).

    Race 1 & 2
    To get off the start line I had to pull the clutch in with my right hand, then hold it with three fingers on my left. When the rev’s hit the red, I’d have one shot at letting the clutch engage slowly. Either I got it right, or I’d stall... as there was no way I could pull it in again with that hand. Thankfully my starts went ok in both races, and I settled into timing the gear changes up and down nicely with the revs.
    I actually enjoyed both the streetstock races as I had put no pressure on myself to perform well, and both times was in a group of 4 or 5 bikes that I was keeping up with well. I did feel extra strain on my right arm though as it was doing twice the work to control the bike with the other arm at only 30%.
    In the last lap of the last race I remember thinking I had a chance to catch/pass Tim (KR150) and Russel (ZXR250) who were now right in front of me. I had been pushing it well and was right on Tim’s tail knowing that the last half of the track had corners that I had passed him on before. But right after ‘Higgins’ corner the two of them passed the last GP125 rider, (GP125’s had been given a good 30 headstart before us), which placed him right on my line for the lefthander onto the long track. This stuffed my line, slowing me and allowing my chance of victory over Tim (& maybe Russel) to be over. I pressed on hoping to catchup, but it wasn’t to be. Coming back onto the short track I eased off a bit as my opportunity had gone, and what happens... Paul (last years winner) passes me heading into the last corner. Darn! Where’d he come from? I decided I wasn’t willing for that to be the last account of the day, so got back into ‘do or die’ mode and rode round the outside of him to take the flag before him.

    So I was pleased with my result for the day despite being at the wrong end of the field. Having no pressure on myself to perform made my riding so much more enjoyable. I picked up 23 points for the day, only losing 4 points to the guy behind me in the Champs and holding my 6th place overall.
    My best times were 2:31 on a bike with a bent fork, no clutch use, and my stuffed hand. Thats the same BT as last time on the long track with my “new” race motor with everything working well.

    I’m wondering if that “new” motor I brought with 350km on it, was not run in properly, thus not developing it’s best power? I know what I did to run in this latest ‘refreshed’ motor, so maybe at the end of this season I’ll have to do a piston kit in the other one too, and run it in properly.

    Well you’ve done well to read all that.
    Thanks to those who helped me.



    Thanks to my Sponsors:
    2Day.com - Web hosting, Domain names, Dedicated servers
    Freeparking.co.nz - Online solutions You can Use.
    Un-named KiwiBiker

    Cheers,
    Racey.

  3. #33
    Join Date
    21st December 2005 - 23:41
    Bike
    HONDA EXPRESS
    Location
    forest brightly feathered
    Posts
    6,457
    great report Alex
    would have loved to have been there chasing you!

    www.PhotoRecall.co.nz

  4. #34
    Join Date
    8th November 2005 - 12:25
    Bike
    Aprillia RSV1000R 92 KX500
    Location
    Waverley, kind off
    Posts
    2,367
    Blog Entries
    4
    Well done Racey Rider! A stirring ride through the odds!

  5. #35
    Join Date
    28th February 2006 - 17:48
    Bike
    dirty ns2fiddyr
    Location
    Dunnydin
    Posts
    1,377
    Was a bit gutted to see you crash! Sorry I could get the other one started and joined ya... Damn near killed me trying to kick it over!! LOL forgotten the 2 stroke technique maybe, or just flooded it more likely!!
    Cheers for taking Shauns stuff back with you, much appreciated!!
    Hope you mend up well, and come back strong at taupo to take it out!
    Boyd hh er Suzuki are my heroes!
    The best deals, all the time!

  6. #36
    Join Date
    30th May 2003 - 21:22
    Bike
    Walking
    Location
    New Plymouth
    Posts
    1,719
    Yer its called a manual choke Mate.

  7. #37
    Join Date
    28th February 2006 - 17:48
    Bike
    dirty ns2fiddyr
    Location
    Dunnydin
    Posts
    1,377
    Oooh, eerrr... I hang my head in shame!!
    Thought never crossed my mind!!
    Boyd hh er Suzuki are my heroes!
    The best deals, all the time!

  8. #38
    Join Date
    28th September 2004 - 23:00
    Bike
    1992 VFR400R, 2007 SV650 Pro Twin
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    1,349
    Dramas and excitement. Made for a good read. You're right about it being more fun with the pressure off. But if you're having a good tussle it can be just as fun with the pressure on, but usually I end up out on my lonesome.

  9. #39
    Join Date
    16th February 2003 - 20:53
    Bike
    '96 suzuki GSF600s,'86 CBR400R Aero
    Location
    Tauranga.
    Posts
    896
    another good read Racey. sounds like a mixed day for ya well done.
    hope ya not too sore
    asked Mom if I was a gifted child ... she said they certainly wouldn't have paid for me.


  10. #40
    Join Date
    30th May 2003 - 21:22
    Bike
    Walking
    Location
    New Plymouth
    Posts
    1,719
    O Blow!
    I went to get my hand looked at today as one finger was still sore to bump 10 days latter. Apparently I broke my finger. Now two surgeons have looked at the x-rays and agree, I should get the finger cut open and the bone checked so it heals with less chance of causing arthritis.
    Great.
    Booked in on Wednesday. 10 day before Taupo race day.
    Thats sucks!

  11. #41
    Join Date
    26th June 2005 - 21:11
    Bike
    Honda NSR300 track hack
    Location
    Pukerua Bay
    Posts
    4,092
    Man. Thats a bummer man!!

    So will that put you out of racing? or will you tough it out?

  12. #42
    Join Date
    30th May 2003 - 21:22
    Bike
    Walking
    Location
    New Plymouth
    Posts
    1,719
    Have to wait and see if I can get my glove on again.
    Then it will be back to clutchless shifting.

    You boys wan'a give me half a lap head start??

  13. #43
    Join Date
    26th June 2004 - 12:00
    Bike
    N/a
    Location
    WEllington
    Posts
    633
    meh

    clutches are for the weak

  14. #44
    Join Date
    28th February 2006 - 17:48
    Bike
    dirty ns2fiddyr
    Location
    Dunnydin
    Posts
    1,377
    Bro, that sucks!! Still know you'll be giving it a damn good shot at taupo.
    Hope it goes smoothly!
    Boyd hh er Suzuki are my heroes!
    The best deals, all the time!

  15. #45
    Join Date
    30th May 2003 - 21:22
    Bike
    Walking
    Location
    New Plymouth
    Posts
    1,719
    Well,, Sadly it's official. 6th place in the champs, of the Vic club Streetstocks is up for grabs, as I won't be able to defend it.

    The surgeons must have been bribed by somebody as they did a major job on my hand yesterday. Slashed, plated and screwed. and I have been!

    Thanks to all that were interested in my progress.

    Maybe next year huh.

    Racey.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Hand.jpg 
Views:	239 
Size:	25.6 KB 
ID:	43467  

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •