Roys Hill report

[Dutchee]

Thanks to the organisers and even the one who booked the weather - it could've been warmer, but driving back home, we had some damned awful weather to contemplate, so the cold was acceptable.

I know I don't have what it takes to race, but I am having fun circulating at the back of races. I do set myself realistic goals, taking into account my age and total inability and lack of confidence. Roys' Hill, I started wondering what the hell I'd been thinking when we worked out we could head down there to play. All I was doing was getting frustrated with myself and not really enjoying it.

When it was decided to run a C grade as well as A and B, I figured that C grade would be a bit quieter and I'd not get so intimidated with all the other riders heading past and might enjoy myself more. It was disappointing for the other 3 riders, as there wasn't so much racing happening, more 4 people circulating on the track at their own speeds.

Race 1 I was stoked that I could almost hang onto the guy in 3rd, but backed off when I spotted first coming through (didn't want to get in his way). Then when I saw either the white flag up (or coming up) I looked back to see if I could get away with not being lapped by #2 (I made it).

Race 2 and 3 were pretty much the same thing, but without me being able to almost keep up with #3. I'd said to whoever was coming first that my goal was to not be lapped by 2nd and he told me to aim for him not lapping me in the last race. I just couldn't manage that.

It was wierd to have been so intimidated by the riders, in some ways, as up here I guess I'm used to who's riding and even though there's some close overtaking, I'm comfortable with it (I do get visions of being taken out, but know it won't be malicious, and that's just racing).

A lot of the track I just can't work out how best to line up the corners, so spent a lot of time in both practice and racing, watching those ahead and trying different things, with some crappy results.

But it was a huge amount of fun, there was plenty of cackling happening, lots of shaking of the head as I was figuring out that wasn't a desired result. Helmet on - brain switched to total concentration, was something I seem to struggle with. I was noticing things that really I shouldn't have even seen, as it wasn't anything on the track. Funny as hell though working out how pathetic I am. (no, that's not a cue to say something decent, it's just a fact). I am sure that the birds flying in the air are not meant to be watched, nor should I be trying to figure out if they're doing lapscoring in the start/finish tower, or pitying the people who'd come down to watch some racing, having to see 4 people circulating at different speeds.

We will be back in a few months for the next round of the NI series, and I hope I'll see some improvement in myself by that stage.

Thanks again for a fun weekend.
Michelle

[Str8 Jacket]

Awesome, just keep at it until all of a sudden everything will fall into place and be awesome. At the very least you're going to have massive fun while you learn to become confident! :)

I love Roy's Hill, its a real shame that we couldn't make it!!

Should be there for the NI series though..... Henk wouldn't mind if I borrowed his bike again eh! ;)

[Trudes]

Good on ya for getting out there and doing it, even if you feel like you're just "circulating" you're still learning and practicing, everyone starts somewhere, just some of us start a bit later than others eh :)
Remember at Taumarunui you asked me if I "was really actually enjoying myself" even though I'm always trailing the pack and getting lapped, and I said "yep, just enjoy being out there doing my own thing" or something to that effect..... now you know what I meant. Every track offers some new experience and something new to learn, and although you probably don't feel like you're getting anywhere, I bet you are! :)
Keep up the good work. :niceone:

[Dutchee]

Awesome, just keep at it until all of a sudden everything will fall into place and be awesome. At the very least you're going to have massive fun while you learn to become confident! :)

I love Roy's Hill, its a real shame that we couldn't make it!!

Should be there for the NI series though..... Henk wouldn't mind if I borrowed his bike again eh! ;)

He's not to keen on lending his bike at the moment (but will still do it), but would rather trolley his bike himself, rather than someone else trolleying it for him - I dunno, no sense of adventure these days.

Trudes, it is because of talking to you that I decided to give it a go, and to try to persevere with it. Henk had been trying to get me keen since he started last year, but even though I'd had a couple of goes, it just wasn't happening for me. I'm pretty hard on myself (my worst critic, definitely), and need to compare myself to myself, rather than getting down about being lapped and how slow I am. Once I get that headspace locked in, I have a ball riding. I do the same on the road bike, I get frustrated when I am slower than I should be, and then end up focussing on the negatives.

hehehe, it is funny watching the racing down there, when you're riding the track and the guys in front (but coming up to lap) are having a good scrap. Bit hard to concentrate on where you're going, especially when one overshoots a corner and seems to be coming cross country to join me (I then spent a second or two trying to work out if the track had changed lol).

Definitely another addictive game.

[Str8 Jacket]

It's all good chick, I was kidding! ;)

[Henk]

Awesome weekend, I love that track, well organised and friendly bunch as ever.
A huge thanks to the unknown guy who let me have a blast in his Kart before the Saturday practice,what a ball. Also thanks to Pumba for getting some photos of it.

A few pics of saturday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hz13/sets/72157624634696446/

and Sunday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hz13/sets/72157624509988955/

[Dutchee]

It's all good chick, I was kidding! ;)
I know that. I was wondering if you were planning on letting Malc out on your bike (to trolley it hehehe), or you blow your one up, or you just wanted to get the back pressure blast happening again hehehe
I reckon you'd be better taking my bike out, teaching her she can go faster and not have to worry about changing down/up instead of up/down (just ask Grant about why he crashed twice on the same corner lol).

[grantnz]

http://picasaweb.google.com/robertydog/RoysHill2010_08_01

Rob takes damm fine photos. The one with the 3 'tards at turn 1 is the pic of the bunch...

[Dutchee]

http://picasaweb.google.com/robertydog/RoysHill2010_08_01#5500316807080976418 explains a lot of the conversation we had on the way home (Carl just behind Henk) :)
There was some great racing happening, that's for sure.

[froggyfrenchman]

Thanks heaps for the photos guys! Everyone is looking great out there in a little kind of way

[Henk]

Should be there for the NI series though..... Henk wouldn't mind if I borrowed his bike again eh! ;)

Turn up for the Auckland round and two hour in November and we'll find you something to ride.:yes:

[Str8 Jacket]

Turn up for the Auckland round and two hour in November and we'll find you something to ride.:yes:

It's all good, I have a working bucket. I just like yours better! :D

[Shorty_925]

A few of Dutchee..

[Shorty_925]

And a some more from the weekend..

[Kendog]

A lot of the track I just can't work out how best to line up the corners, so spent a lot of time in both practice and racing, watching those ahead and trying different things, with some crappy results
Next time try walking the track first, even better with someone that knows the lines that can tell you where to be and what to look at in each corner. It helps a lot, especially on a new track.
It probably won't all stick in your head to start with, but you can work on it one corner at a time.

[Shorty_925]

And also will hopefully get a chance to compress/edit the footage from the camera used in 2nd practice I'll let ya know the you tube link.

[GN1NiteStnd]

And a some more from the weekend..
Yay me !!!
:)

[Damien_Toman]

Awesome weekend, I love that track, well organised and friendly bunch as ever.
........and Sunday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hz13/sets/72157624509988955/

Looks like a great track. I would have been there except for the injuries. Next time, maybe. Great to see the photos. Thanks for sharing. Where is that waterfall?

[Dutchee]

Sorry, watching superbikes so haven't quoted.
Kendog: did think about walking the track, but it didn't eventuate, unfortunately.
GN1Nitestand: you were one of the reasons I wasn't so keen to stay in B grade and happily moved to C. (which wasn't a bad thing).
Damien: Napier-Taupo road - "scenic lookout" on the left heading to Napier. Somethingorother falls (maybe Pumba remembers, I won't bother asking Henk). Looks like a nothing stop (scrubby, bit of bush, but worth the stop). It's two falls/riverthingies that join at that spot. There's another fall further down the road somewhere, but I don't know it's worth trying to track it down - maybe a local can say otherwise?
No ducks, and more importantly - NO SNOW!!!!
Shorty: I do remember talking/emailing you about 6-10 years back about trials & your brother & stuff: good to meet you finally, even if I've not introduced myself properly hehehe - it seems funny to finally be meeting some of you DRN folk :)

[Pumba]

Waipunga Falls

<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=q&amp;source=s_q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=Waipunga+Fall s,+Hawkes+Bay&amp;sll=-38.954203,176.534286&amp;sspn=0.015452,0.058451&amp;ie=UTF 8&amp;hq=&amp;hnear=Waipunga+Falls&amp;ll=-38.955059,176.524759&amp;spn=0.007726,0.02105&amp;t=h&amp;z=14 &amp;output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=q&amp;source=embed&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=Waipunga+Fa lls,+Hawkes+Bay&amp;sll=-38.954203,176.534286&amp;sspn=0.015452,0.058451&amp;ie=UTF 8&amp;hq=&amp;hnear=Waipunga+Falls&amp;ll=-38.955059,176.524759&amp;spn=0.007726,0.02105&amp;t=h&amp;z=14" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>

[Henk]

Shit Pumba, I'm impressed, I had no idea.

[Pumba]

I remember pointless shit. it is a skill of sorts, and google helps

[Dutchee]

I'm brilliant at remembering random crap, but some things seem to be too random even for me.
Now, ask me someone's name, and I'll seriously give you a blank look, unless they stick out for some reason.
Bloody Corser, how dare he interrupt my train of thought (he oopsed).
Sheesh, I'm just good at random, but after the drive there & back with Henk blathering away, you'll understand that (yeah, shit he can talk - I do know one way to shut him up, but not a brilliant idea when he's going driving - nothing rude, just not that legal, say no more). I just wonder why he bothers making sure there's enough sounds for whatever trip we're going on, when he's just going to talk the whole way hehehe

[Shorty_925]

Shorty: I do remember talking/emailing you about 6-10 years back about trials & your brother & stuff: good to meet you finally, even if I've not introduced myself properly hehehe - it seems funny to finally be meeting some of you DRN folk :)

My memory is blury going that far back...something to do with the tuiversity....but yes my older and slower brother(aka Trial It), does wear the lycra rubbish(why would anyone?). He was at Kaitoke on the NS50 in b-grade.

[Dutchee]

I blame the wine, beer, spirits (plus whatever else I've drunk over the years) plus old age for my dodgy memory and cannot believe some things that I do remember. Often it seems it's more time-frame that I can't figure out.
Your brother was quite up there with trials. BT was just starting out as a young teen on the Euro circuit and we had many conversations about it all.
The whole lycra thing is just creepy and whenever we do ride "trials" we wear MX gear. I think some people think they look good in lycra, but it creeps me out totally.
I was laughing at you with the camera, but thought it was cool that at least someone had found a use of me wobbling around slowly - photography practice :)

[Shorty_925]

Dont mind taking photos of anyone going past and with digi cameras the %'s of poor photos go up but at least you can take alot more photos and not worry about the printing costs! I wanted to get up close between the bales and the track at the turn onto the start/finish straight and take photos, but think may have surprised a few people doing that, so just went with leaning out instead.

[grantnz]

[QUOTE=Henk;1129826400]Awesome weekend, I love that track, well organised and friendly bunch as ever.

Great to see a bunch of famous Aucklanders ( or should that be infamous) make the effort to come down for the weekend. Spiced things up a bit having some new faces around, although suggest Tim stay at home next time he's too bloody fast.
Great weekend. Found the guy on Trademe with the cheap brake levers, will get 2 or 3 before next month.

[Dutchee]

To be fair: we didn't bring Tim down with us. He just turned up as well :)
We're way too dysfunctional (something to do with drink latte's) to organise a coffee fest in a cafe.

[Damien_Toman]

I remember pointless shit. it is a skill of sorts, and google helps

Excellent :). That stop-off, for a few photos, is just another reason for me to make the next Roy's Hill round. I also noticed in the track photos that it is next to a vineyard! Well, count me in for next time if I can stay on the bike in the meantime. Pumba, how's that ankle coming on?

[Henk]

Third round of the NI series is there in October so that will be our next pilgrimage.
I assume the format is going to be the same 3-5 Sat all day Sun. If not let us know so that we can change our travel plans.

[Henk]

[QUOTE=grantnz;1129828213 Found the guy on Trademe with the cheap brake levers, will get 2 or 3 before next month.[/QUOTE]

If anyone knows what other models the brake lever fits could you let me know. I'd like to stock up on aftermarket cheapies but the three I've tried so far don't fit damit

[Shorty_925]

Third round of the NI series is there in October so that will be our next pilgrimage.
I assume the format is going to be the same 3-5 Sat all day Sun. If not let us know so that we can change our travel plans.

The club is also holding the Hawkes Bay 6 hour on the Saturday along Glengary road which people from north can pull off from the Napier-Taupo road and head along Glengary road towards the kart track, you'll actually drive through the 6 hour track as its crossing the road twice!! I hope to make it on the sunday, but will see how I end up after the 6 hour!!

[Pumba]

If anyone knows what other models the brake lever fits could you let me know. I'd like to stock up on aftermarket cheapies but the three I've tried so far don't fit damit

Stumbled across this today for you. Might answer a question or two

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=308132528

[Henk]

Cheers. Pulled the brake Lever off Michelles DR and what do you know, it fits. Nice to have confirmation. now I know what to try and track down.
Got the replacement from Grant today as well so unless we go on a lever smashing frenzy next Sunday we should be OK.

[grantnz]

Stumbled across this today for you. Might answer a question or two

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=308132528

Yep, thats the one.

[grantnz]

Cheers. Pulled the brake Lever off Michelles DR and what do you know, it fits. Nice to have confirmation. now I know what to try and track down.
Got the replacement from Grant today as well so unless we go on a lever smashing frenzy next Sunday we should be OK.

Sent that on the courier Monday morning at 10.30am and you just got it today?????
Talking of lever smashing frenzy's, does anyone have any info on the Mt Wellington 2 hour race in November? Need some time to sort a co rider ,travel, etc...

[Henk]

They tried to deliver it on Tuesday but strangely enough there was nobody home so we had them drop it off today when Michelle was off work.

The two hour is on the 14th November, the 13th (Saturday) is the 4th round of the North Island series. I'm assuming the format will be the same as normal, 9am gate open followed by open practice and racing kicking off around 12.

[Dutchee]

Got notice of it being here Tuesday, phoned them Wednesday to say for them to drop it off today as I was home :) So not a slack courier :)

Damn this puter, type something up for it to be swallowed.

Re the two hour, each team needs a lap scorer as you write down the times of each lap and the laps are around 30-40 seconds (depending if it's wet or dry and the rider, but they ain't long).

[Pumba]

Talking of lever smashing frenzy's, does anyone have any info on the Mt Wellington 2 hour race in November? Need some time to sort a co rider ,travel, etc...

The 2 hr team is actually ment to consist of 4 people, two riders, a lap scorer and a flag marshal that can be called on at any time durring the race.

It is probally safe to asume that out of town teams dont need to supply a flag marshal as there should be enough of them from the local teams, but if you are coming up you will want to confirm that one first with John Conner first before you make the trip.

Apart from that it is just like any normal race day. We must be racing Clockwise this year

[grantnz]

Got notice of it being here Tuesday, phoned them Wednesday to say for them to drop it off today as I was home :) So not a slack courier :)

Damn this puter, type something up for it to be swallowed.

Re the two hour, each team needs a lap scorer as you write down the times of each lap and the laps are around 30-40 seconds (depending if it's wet or dry and the rider, but they ain't long).

What about rules? Do you have to have 2 riders, pit stop/ stops,

[Pumba]

What about rules? Do you have to have 2 riders, pit stop/ stops,

It is a teams event so yes two riders are a must. Each rider must ride for at least 55min. Pit stops are up to you.

I think all of the top 3 places last year only had one pit stop/rider change. Anything else?

[grantnz]

It is a teams event so yes two riders are a must. Each rider must ride for at least 55min. Pit stops are up to you.

I think all of the top 3 places last year only had one pit stop/rider change. Anything else?

hmmm... 55 min in one stretch. I get a bit puffed after 10 laps. Might have to go to the gym for a week or two to get fit for that.

[Henk]

The top teams may have done it in two stints but others came to different arrangements. Some teams did four 30 minute stints, we did 6 at 20 minutes each. Up to the teams as long as each rider does at least 55 minutes so be it.

[Pumba]

Yea the two that Scott and I have done we have broken it down into 30min stints. Scott was keen to do an hour long stint in the middle last year, but I talked him out of that becuase I thought he would get too tired and bin my bike (which after the rain he agreed was the right option)

[Str8 Jacket]

Third round of the NI series is there in October so that will be our next pilgrimage.
I assume the format is going to be the same 3-5 Sat all day Sun. If not let us know so that we can change our travel plans.

Sweet me and Malcolm will be up for it. Where you fulla's staying? We'll avoid it..... ;)

[Henk]

Sweet me and Malcolm will be up for it. Where you fulla's staying? We'll avoid it..... ;)

Not sure but if you lot stay away at least I have a chance of waking up sober.

[Str8 Jacket]

Not sure but if you lot stay away at least I have a chance of waking up sober.

Yeah, whatever you say..... :shifty:

[Henk]

I did say chance, no gaurantees especially if that profesional bad influence from Taumuranui turns up to take photos again.

[Str8 Jacket]

I did say chance, no gaurantees especially if that profesional bad influence from Taumuranui turns up to take photos again.

:laugh:

Seriously though, there is a great camping ground in Hastings with pretty good rates. Maybe we could book a few of us in there?

[Henk]

If you are talking about the Hastings top 10 that's where we have stayed the last couple of times. Had an offer from one of the locals to crash at his place next time but are waiting to see how many of us are going down this time before we commit.

[Pumba]

I did say chance, no gaurantees especially if that profesional bad influence from Taumuranui turns up to take photos again.

sweet that must make me a good influence based on a couple of weeks ago:innocent:

[Dutchee]

Definitely a good influence - don't think either of us had hangovers, neither were written off, so we can continue to blame the bad influence we've blamed in the past - it's obviously him hahaha