wharfy
7th January 2010, 16:16
A leisurely drive from Ratehi (via a stop at the Château for an upmarket cup of coffee and a stop at Turangi for a soak in a mineral pool :) ) got us to Taupo mid afternoon on 27th the 3 hour was in full swing. Unloaded the bike and scratcha's tent thingy, inflated the air bed and off to scrutineering.
Thanks to all the work done by the guy's at Whanganui the bike passed no problems (the lacing on the front mudguard was much admired :))
My brand new Arai helmet however caused some concern, the scrutineer was not happy about the scuff marks on the back and wouldn't let me use it – he did however say I could borrow his helmet – How cool is that !!!
The 3 hour was great to watch – We were pitted next to “Choppa” and his dad told me he decided to enter on the spur of the moment and ride until he got bored or tired – I guess neither happened – he's a machine !!
Attended the after match function got some of the NZ “legends” to sign the book by the same title that the lovely Katie O'Donnell gave me for xmas (shame I was to busy putting my bike back together on Boxing day to get Mr Hiscock's – anyone know where he lives ? )
Race Day
Qualifying
Umm.. a non-event as my number could not be read from the tower – back of the grid for me – I would have been close to the back anyway as I had a sharp pain in my ribs when reaching out (or coughing) and was quite stiff, using voltaren to combat that as opposed to the other “V” medication (my recreational drug of choice now days) that has the OPPOSITE affect :) so my pace was below my usual and well below the “pack”.
Race 1 F2
Not bad start from the back of the grid, managed to NOT run over sketcy racer who was kneeling in the middle of the track – the only time I have ever passed him – does it count ? A bit of light rain started to fall and so did the riders !! The conti race attacks I use are treaded (no much on the edge) and I was riding like a wuss anyway so managed to NOT crash. Interestingly (as in the ancient Chinese “may you live in interesting times” curse) the back end of the track was much wetter than the front/infield which caught out a couple of people. The race was red flagged but we had done enough laps to get a result and I ended up 18th ! Much better than I had hoped (or deserved really but as my dear departed mum would say “It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good” so I'll take it).
I spent the time between races watching the sky, phoning work to see if I could get any inside information on what the weather was going to do (I got the accurate but not helpful “variable/showers” ) and dithered about trying to decide whether to fit my wets or not until it was to late to change them anyway...
Race 2 F2
The sun was out the track was drying fast and I had the right tyres !!
Another not to bad start from the back of the grid – managed to hold the positions I had gained for about a lap and a half then everybody but one passed me and fucked of into the distance !!!
Finished 25th I was quite happy to finish and not do any more damage to myself, my bike or the helmet so generously loaned to me !!
The omission of lap times is deliberate – embarrassingly slow, those of you with a morbid curiosity can look them up – I still have not been able to find the final points tally for the series (except BEARS)
I really enjoy the Tri-series a great atmosphere, a real buzz at the Cemetery Circuit with the tricky track and big crowds, TRRS with GREAT atmosphere and excellent after match function.
Well done Mr Scrivener and Mr Lawrence :2thumbsup
Pearoa next ?
Thanks to all the work done by the guy's at Whanganui the bike passed no problems (the lacing on the front mudguard was much admired :))
My brand new Arai helmet however caused some concern, the scrutineer was not happy about the scuff marks on the back and wouldn't let me use it – he did however say I could borrow his helmet – How cool is that !!!
The 3 hour was great to watch – We were pitted next to “Choppa” and his dad told me he decided to enter on the spur of the moment and ride until he got bored or tired – I guess neither happened – he's a machine !!
Attended the after match function got some of the NZ “legends” to sign the book by the same title that the lovely Katie O'Donnell gave me for xmas (shame I was to busy putting my bike back together on Boxing day to get Mr Hiscock's – anyone know where he lives ? )
Race Day
Qualifying
Umm.. a non-event as my number could not be read from the tower – back of the grid for me – I would have been close to the back anyway as I had a sharp pain in my ribs when reaching out (or coughing) and was quite stiff, using voltaren to combat that as opposed to the other “V” medication (my recreational drug of choice now days) that has the OPPOSITE affect :) so my pace was below my usual and well below the “pack”.
Race 1 F2
Not bad start from the back of the grid, managed to NOT run over sketcy racer who was kneeling in the middle of the track – the only time I have ever passed him – does it count ? A bit of light rain started to fall and so did the riders !! The conti race attacks I use are treaded (no much on the edge) and I was riding like a wuss anyway so managed to NOT crash. Interestingly (as in the ancient Chinese “may you live in interesting times” curse) the back end of the track was much wetter than the front/infield which caught out a couple of people. The race was red flagged but we had done enough laps to get a result and I ended up 18th ! Much better than I had hoped (or deserved really but as my dear departed mum would say “It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good” so I'll take it).
I spent the time between races watching the sky, phoning work to see if I could get any inside information on what the weather was going to do (I got the accurate but not helpful “variable/showers” ) and dithered about trying to decide whether to fit my wets or not until it was to late to change them anyway...
Race 2 F2
The sun was out the track was drying fast and I had the right tyres !!
Another not to bad start from the back of the grid – managed to hold the positions I had gained for about a lap and a half then everybody but one passed me and fucked of into the distance !!!
Finished 25th I was quite happy to finish and not do any more damage to myself, my bike or the helmet so generously loaned to me !!
The omission of lap times is deliberate – embarrassingly slow, those of you with a morbid curiosity can look them up – I still have not been able to find the final points tally for the series (except BEARS)
I really enjoy the Tri-series a great atmosphere, a real buzz at the Cemetery Circuit with the tricky track and big crowds, TRRS with GREAT atmosphere and excellent after match function.
Well done Mr Scrivener and Mr Lawrence :2thumbsup
Pearoa next ?