lukemillar
17th May 2010, 10:27
Before this round, I was in two minds as to whether enter F2 or Clubmans. Since starting racing at rnd 5 last year, and doing 3 rounds of the BRM summer series, I wasn't sure whether I would be quick enough yet. Last time at Manfeild, it chucked it down so the only dry times I had to compare to were my best from my first race meeting which was a mid 1:23! Because of that, I thought I'd enter Clubmans one last time.
Made a couple of mods to the bike since the last race -A quick-turn throttle and swapped to a 190 rear.
Friday Practice
Arrive late and then spend an hour getting tyres changed. About to complete my first lap when the red flag comes out! Turns out some guys oil filter had come unscrewed and dropped oil round most of the track on the racing line! The marshals did a great job of clearing it up, but by the time we went out on track again, there was A LOT of dust. Going into Dunlop with a couple of guys in front and you couldn't see a thing - just a big cloud of dust!
Still, times were looking encouraging so I was looking forward to the next day
Practice/Qualify
It is proper wet out on the track, so I chuck on my wets. Doesn't really bother me and I quite like a wet track. Put in a few quick laps and think maybe I should ease off when coming out of Higgins, the back comes round on me and sends me into the dirt. Not really sure why it happened? Maybe I was a bit greedy on the throttle or carried a bit too much lean for the conditions and hit a bump? It was heading towards the corner exit and just snapped - not even a slide. Quick look at the bike and it's looks promising! It is covered in crap, but the majority of the slide was taking on various sliders. Few things looking a little bent, but it is ridable. I also seem fine which is nice! Get back to the pits and ended up on pole! Woohoo!
Race 1:
Just managed to get my tyres changed and bike patched up for race 1. The new throttle has been working out great on track, but I have never used it for a start so am pretty nervous. Lights go out and I ease off the clutch. All seems good, so I roll on the the front comes straight up. Roll off, front down, roll-on,back up again (You get the picture). All this leaves me in 5th into turn one. I get my head down and just start catching and picking of the guys in front. Ended up winning my first race! Very happy :wari:
Race 2:
Now I really starting to feel the crash from pratcice. My arse/thigh has started to swell up, is bruised and very uncomfortable to sit on. I'm really nervous about the throttle this time and end up short-shifting off the line to early and bogging the bike down :( Wind up in about 8th-9th into turn 1. It's now a 5 lap sprint and I get up to 4th or 5th when the checker drops, but I just can't move about the bike as much with my aching leg so times are down ~1sec from the 1st race. Still not bad, but I feel a bit annoyed with myself.
All in all a pretty good weekend, but the time is definitely right to go to F2. My best times from the weekend were mid 18s, but now I need some similar paced people to keep on learning/improving.
My swingarm bobbin bolt snapped in the swingarm in the crash and last night I ended up snapping the tip off an EZ-out in there as well. It's not too bad, but I might need some help getting the bolt out. If anyone knows anyone who can do this in the Wellington area (even better if they can come to me!) then please pass me their number as I'd like to use their services!
Cheers
Luke
Made a couple of mods to the bike since the last race -A quick-turn throttle and swapped to a 190 rear.
Friday Practice
Arrive late and then spend an hour getting tyres changed. About to complete my first lap when the red flag comes out! Turns out some guys oil filter had come unscrewed and dropped oil round most of the track on the racing line! The marshals did a great job of clearing it up, but by the time we went out on track again, there was A LOT of dust. Going into Dunlop with a couple of guys in front and you couldn't see a thing - just a big cloud of dust!
Still, times were looking encouraging so I was looking forward to the next day
Practice/Qualify
It is proper wet out on the track, so I chuck on my wets. Doesn't really bother me and I quite like a wet track. Put in a few quick laps and think maybe I should ease off when coming out of Higgins, the back comes round on me and sends me into the dirt. Not really sure why it happened? Maybe I was a bit greedy on the throttle or carried a bit too much lean for the conditions and hit a bump? It was heading towards the corner exit and just snapped - not even a slide. Quick look at the bike and it's looks promising! It is covered in crap, but the majority of the slide was taking on various sliders. Few things looking a little bent, but it is ridable. I also seem fine which is nice! Get back to the pits and ended up on pole! Woohoo!
Race 1:
Just managed to get my tyres changed and bike patched up for race 1. The new throttle has been working out great on track, but I have never used it for a start so am pretty nervous. Lights go out and I ease off the clutch. All seems good, so I roll on the the front comes straight up. Roll off, front down, roll-on,back up again (You get the picture). All this leaves me in 5th into turn one. I get my head down and just start catching and picking of the guys in front. Ended up winning my first race! Very happy :wari:
Race 2:
Now I really starting to feel the crash from pratcice. My arse/thigh has started to swell up, is bruised and very uncomfortable to sit on. I'm really nervous about the throttle this time and end up short-shifting off the line to early and bogging the bike down :( Wind up in about 8th-9th into turn 1. It's now a 5 lap sprint and I get up to 4th or 5th when the checker drops, but I just can't move about the bike as much with my aching leg so times are down ~1sec from the 1st race. Still not bad, but I feel a bit annoyed with myself.
All in all a pretty good weekend, but the time is definitely right to go to F2. My best times from the weekend were mid 18s, but now I need some similar paced people to keep on learning/improving.
My swingarm bobbin bolt snapped in the swingarm in the crash and last night I ended up snapping the tip off an EZ-out in there as well. It's not too bad, but I might need some help getting the bolt out. If anyone knows anyone who can do this in the Wellington area (even better if they can come to me!) then please pass me their number as I'd like to use their services!
Cheers
Luke