Silverstone Race to the Sky

**chris** · 3rd April 2006, 11:31

Race to the Sky is New Zealand’s premier hill climb event. Held each Easter - 14th to 19th April this year - it starts on the Cardrona Valley floor and finishes after a tortuous 15km, 137 corner, smooth gravel course that takes competitors 5000 feet skywards to the summit of the Waiorau Mountain range.

For this year’s event, Kiwi Rider and BMW Motorrad NZ have entered a team in the unlimited motorcycle class with the BMW HP2 Super Enduro. Powered by an 1170cc, 105 hp version of BMW’s famous boxer engine, the HP2 is without doubt one of the most exciting bikes to be entered in this years race.

Renowned gravel road riding expert, Colin Cooper will be the pilot and has long held a desire to enter Race to the Sky. Support comes from BMW, KC Tools, Continental Tyres, Eurobike Wholesale and Motohaus.

**Motu** · 3rd April 2006, 11:54

I'm really looking forward to that! The bikes are in the top 5 these days I think,that KX500 does well.But a near 1200cc 4 stroke should kick arse.Colin is a pretty good gravel road rider...even though he has a 20 yr advantage and 800cc on me,he kept up with me pretty well I thought....

**clint640** · 4th April 2006, 09:27

Awesome! Now we just need KTM to enter a 950 Superenduro, then we would have an interesting race on our hands. The power/weight of a 500cc motocrosser will still be hard to beat though.
Cheers
Clint

**sAsLEX** · 4th April 2006, 09:31

whats up with the dirty big earth strap from the brake pedal?

Doesnt look very roboust hanging out there like that.

**chris** · 4th April 2006, 09:38

Originally Posted by clint640

Now we just need KTM to enter a 950 Superenduro, Cheers
Clint

If there was one in the country, it would have been entered.

**clint640** · 5th April 2006, 12:20

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

whats up with the dirty big earth strap from the brake pedal?

Doesnt look very roboust hanging out there like that.

Earth Strap? that would be the 'brake snake' they're designed to stop sticks or whatever tearing off the lever. Most hard core enduro guys use 'em.

Cheers
Clint

**sAsLEX** · 5th April 2006, 12:31

Originally Posted by clint640

Earth Strap? that would be the 'brake snake' they're designed to stop sticks or whatever tearing off the lever. Most hard core enduro guys use 'em.

Cheers
Clint

Sweet, just looked like one hence the ?, now I know what iit I wont be calling it an earth strap anymore

**Motu** · 16th April 2006, 22:49

Looks like Colin didn't do so well,but I hope he had a good time anyway.Perhaps Chris can fill us in later.Fastest bike was Nathan McAlwee who was 14th overall on a KTM Super Enduro,Darcy Pendergrast was 9th on a superquad.The bikes did well,all scattered amongst the cars and quads,some fast riders out there.Here are the results.

http://www.racetothesky.com/default.asp?articleid=151

I was riding will Colin Cooper on gravel only a few weeks ago,so I know he's pretty damn good on gravel,but I'm not sure if he's competed in this race before.In these races knowing the road is vitaly important,and the guys in the top places know the road like the back of their hand.The biggest problem with a bike is nailing the braking and throttle points,you can't afford to get it wrong like you can in a car and get it under control again...they only get 4 runs at this thing,not a hope in hell of knowing the road let alone finding how late you can get on the brakes and how early you can get on the gas.I'd sure like a crack at it myself.....

**Kickaha** · 17th April 2006, 08:11

Originally Posted by Motu

Darcy Pendergrast was 9th on a superquad.

Ian Ffitch at 4th is also on a quad

Originally Posted by Motu

I'd sure like a crack at it myself.....

I'll pay your entry

**TonyB** · 17th April 2006, 08:20

Wouldn't the weight of the beemer make it too much of a handful? Watching the bikes in past years when charging hard they often have to catch a fall with the inside leg

**ajturbo** · 17th April 2006, 09:15

i have been up and down that road so many times.. i preaty know each corner off by heart... but the best time i did was 20:45s.... and one of my fuckin dogs barked the whole way up...grrrrrrrr

oh did i mention i was in my van?

**Motu** · 17th April 2006, 09:25

Originally Posted by Kickaha

Ian Ffitch at 4th is also on a quad
I'll pay your entry

I thought a BRM would be a car,but now I see SQ,so it was a super quad...not bad up there showing the cars a thing or two.Having a go at it is just a personal thing,to see how I rate against the hill and times set by others....if they let wannbe rabble go up I'd be there.Maybe an open day or some such.

The HP2 is not as heavy as you think TonyB,but it's way heavier than a modern MX bike which it was competing against.The problem with these big powerful bikes on gravel is they make huge speeds in the lunge between corners,but then you have to slow them down with the same size tyres as a bike with 1/4 the power and weight.Same with traction out of the turn,you can only put so much down,the rest is wasted in wheelspin - you end up fighting the bike through the turns,and squirting at silly speeds on the straights.It's fast,but not smooth.Getting the tyres to hook up is the answer to a quick time.

**clint640** · 18th April 2006, 12:53

Shit, I'd be gutted if someone on a 1200 GS beat me.

The road is open to the public I think, we went for a fang up there when we were down that way a few weeks back.

When will it be on TV? I can't wait to see & hear the Superenduro.

Cheers
Clint

**Mental Trousers** · 18th April 2006, 14:10

Was this on any tv channel at all over the weekend?? I've completely lost interest in it because I don't get to see it on tv so fucked if I'm buying the DVD's. Really bad marketing if you ask me.