cowboyz
14th February 2011, 15:46
This could turn out to be really really long. So much happened this weekend!
86 and I loaded up the bikes on Friday and headed to Taupo. Didnt get away till 5pm so was a bit late on the arrival at the track but thats pretty much tradition round here so thats ok really. Set tents up in the dark. Unloaded bikes and talked some shit before getting some sleep for the night.
SAT. Practice/trackday
I had never seen Taupo before so I was up around 6am and went for a walk around the track. It was an interesting walk. First off its a frikken long track! So many corners! I tried picturing how I would make it round the track but it wasnt working out so I went back for some breakfast.
Got the garage sorted with 86gsxr, polly, supersonic and Paul. having never seen the track before I thought it would go out in the med group and follow supersonic around being as he is pretty quick and ridden the track a few times.
First session out was really quite interesting. The track is alot more complicated that Manfield and lots and lots of corners! I kept a steady follow on supersonic which was great
and a good base to build some laps on. Few times I screwed up turn 4 with no being able to see where the track went but made it through in one piece thinking that I had loads
and loads to learn about the track
A couple of sessions and then after lunch it was time to move to the fast group. I got the general layout of how things worked and started getting on with the track quite nicely.
The last session of the day and I was feeling real good about the bike and the track. I started riding a bit more aggressively and T1,7 and 9 was pretty much biffing the bike
on its side until my knee hit the ground and holding it there till the corner finished. Was real pleased about the pace and the track. confidence booming and time to
get bike scrunteered and signed in for raceday before heading for dinner and a bourbon.
Real good camping at the track. Met a heap of people and everyone was really friendly. Had a few and talked some shit before heading to my tent and thinking about how sunday was
going to work out
SUN. Raceday.
Qualifying
Sunday morning and the weather looked like it was going to be a scorcher! I missed the call for qualifying so got out late srambling for all my gear and feeling a bit rushed. Slapped together some laps very hapharrard.
Tried to get a fast one in and ended up qualifying 3rd with a 1.52.702 with Richard Clulee on a R6 right a second quicker and Brent Nelson nearly 5 seconds ahead on a rsv4.
I really wanted to win a race so time to hatch a plan. I was thinking.. Get to turn one before everyone else. Then just stay out in front. Clever plan but....
Race 1.
Lights went out and I gave the 9 a huge handful to get to turn one first. Took off in a huge hurry and made turn one well in front. Right.. Part 1 of plan working nicely!
Did the first 3 laps trying to keep everything really tidy and trying to go fast. Wasnt too long before the RSV4 stretched its legs on the striaght and I had no answer at all
for it. Back to second. I wasnt going to let him have it though so I was pushing like crazy but I couldnt get it back again. Then Richard Clulee shows up to put me back to 3rd!
Im like... Where the hell did he come from? I got the feeling he was alot closer the whole time but I didnt even know he was looming. A couple of really exciting laps
with the 3 of us pretty much within 2 bike lengths and the white flag came out. R6 in front then RSV4 then me. As we went past the white flag Richard slowed right down and so did
Brent. I was like.. That was white? was that a red flag? ummmmmm? Little confused. ... Richard waved both Brent and I through and we muppeted past really confused to complete the
last lap and finish 2nd. Got a fastest lap of 1.49.084. Turned out Richard broke a value spring which is really bad luck.
Race 2.
With Richard out of action and feeling like the RSV4 was just too much I kinda thought 2nd place again. I didnt put so much of an effort to get off the line and went into
T1 behind the RSV4. I got the feeling that Brent knew that if I passed him he would have me back anyhow so we circulated with a littel bit of complacency. All of a sudden I
got Broddie Scott on a GSX6 pass me. Damn! Now I got to fight for 2nd place again. We really battled for the position with a couple of drag races down the back striaght and really evenly
matched in the infield. I lost the braking test on the second to last lap. White flag come out and I was determined to get my second place back. I tried a few times on the
infield but I couldnt make anything stick. Got side by side down the back striaght but braking as late as I dared wasnt late enough and the gsx went into the last cicane
a bit hot and off line which let me get right up beside him again coming onto the front striaght. He got me by 0.084 sec so I had to have a 3rd but really exciting racing!
Loving it! Fastest lap was in the 1.51.xx
As it turned out, with 1 second and 4 thirds for the season put me in 1st place overall which is a fantastic way to finish the summer. Its been a really good series and I definitely
will be doing it again next year. Really friendly crowd and its a great way to spent the summer. Huge huge thanks to 86gsxr who has been beside me racing in posties all summer
as well as all the huge background support from nzsarge, supersonic and of course Mrs Cowboyz. There are so many that need to be mentioned and Im sure Ill forget a heap
but I also have to say thanks to Carmen for the pie.. even the thought of it makes one want to try harder.....
Last but not least I couldnt have done it with the support of the Ashhurst Inn and really hoping that
they will pick me up for the winter series so if you happen to be around Ashhurst, or feel like going for a ride... then call in for some fantastic food and company.
86 and I loaded up the bikes on Friday and headed to Taupo. Didnt get away till 5pm so was a bit late on the arrival at the track but thats pretty much tradition round here so thats ok really. Set tents up in the dark. Unloaded bikes and talked some shit before getting some sleep for the night.
SAT. Practice/trackday
I had never seen Taupo before so I was up around 6am and went for a walk around the track. It was an interesting walk. First off its a frikken long track! So many corners! I tried picturing how I would make it round the track but it wasnt working out so I went back for some breakfast.
Got the garage sorted with 86gsxr, polly, supersonic and Paul. having never seen the track before I thought it would go out in the med group and follow supersonic around being as he is pretty quick and ridden the track a few times.
First session out was really quite interesting. The track is alot more complicated that Manfield and lots and lots of corners! I kept a steady follow on supersonic which was great
and a good base to build some laps on. Few times I screwed up turn 4 with no being able to see where the track went but made it through in one piece thinking that I had loads
and loads to learn about the track
A couple of sessions and then after lunch it was time to move to the fast group. I got the general layout of how things worked and started getting on with the track quite nicely.
The last session of the day and I was feeling real good about the bike and the track. I started riding a bit more aggressively and T1,7 and 9 was pretty much biffing the bike
on its side until my knee hit the ground and holding it there till the corner finished. Was real pleased about the pace and the track. confidence booming and time to
get bike scrunteered and signed in for raceday before heading for dinner and a bourbon.
Real good camping at the track. Met a heap of people and everyone was really friendly. Had a few and talked some shit before heading to my tent and thinking about how sunday was
going to work out
SUN. Raceday.
Qualifying
Sunday morning and the weather looked like it was going to be a scorcher! I missed the call for qualifying so got out late srambling for all my gear and feeling a bit rushed. Slapped together some laps very hapharrard.
Tried to get a fast one in and ended up qualifying 3rd with a 1.52.702 with Richard Clulee on a R6 right a second quicker and Brent Nelson nearly 5 seconds ahead on a rsv4.
I really wanted to win a race so time to hatch a plan. I was thinking.. Get to turn one before everyone else. Then just stay out in front. Clever plan but....
Race 1.
Lights went out and I gave the 9 a huge handful to get to turn one first. Took off in a huge hurry and made turn one well in front. Right.. Part 1 of plan working nicely!
Did the first 3 laps trying to keep everything really tidy and trying to go fast. Wasnt too long before the RSV4 stretched its legs on the striaght and I had no answer at all
for it. Back to second. I wasnt going to let him have it though so I was pushing like crazy but I couldnt get it back again. Then Richard Clulee shows up to put me back to 3rd!
Im like... Where the hell did he come from? I got the feeling he was alot closer the whole time but I didnt even know he was looming. A couple of really exciting laps
with the 3 of us pretty much within 2 bike lengths and the white flag came out. R6 in front then RSV4 then me. As we went past the white flag Richard slowed right down and so did
Brent. I was like.. That was white? was that a red flag? ummmmmm? Little confused. ... Richard waved both Brent and I through and we muppeted past really confused to complete the
last lap and finish 2nd. Got a fastest lap of 1.49.084. Turned out Richard broke a value spring which is really bad luck.
Race 2.
With Richard out of action and feeling like the RSV4 was just too much I kinda thought 2nd place again. I didnt put so much of an effort to get off the line and went into
T1 behind the RSV4. I got the feeling that Brent knew that if I passed him he would have me back anyhow so we circulated with a littel bit of complacency. All of a sudden I
got Broddie Scott on a GSX6 pass me. Damn! Now I got to fight for 2nd place again. We really battled for the position with a couple of drag races down the back striaght and really evenly
matched in the infield. I lost the braking test on the second to last lap. White flag come out and I was determined to get my second place back. I tried a few times on the
infield but I couldnt make anything stick. Got side by side down the back striaght but braking as late as I dared wasnt late enough and the gsx went into the last cicane
a bit hot and off line which let me get right up beside him again coming onto the front striaght. He got me by 0.084 sec so I had to have a 3rd but really exciting racing!
Loving it! Fastest lap was in the 1.51.xx
As it turned out, with 1 second and 4 thirds for the season put me in 1st place overall which is a fantastic way to finish the summer. Its been a really good series and I definitely
will be doing it again next year. Really friendly crowd and its a great way to spent the summer. Huge huge thanks to 86gsxr who has been beside me racing in posties all summer
as well as all the huge background support from nzsarge, supersonic and of course Mrs Cowboyz. There are so many that need to be mentioned and Im sure Ill forget a heap
but I also have to say thanks to Carmen for the pie.. even the thought of it makes one want to try harder.....
Last but not least I couldnt have done it with the support of the Ashhurst Inn and really hoping that
they will pick me up for the winter series so if you happen to be around Ashhurst, or feel like going for a ride... then call in for some fantastic food and company.