Silverstone Race to the Sky

[chris]

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]

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]

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]

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

Doesnt look very roboust hanging out there like that.

[chris]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Darcy Pendergrast was 9th on a superquad.

Ian Ffitch at 4th is also on a quad


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

I'll pay your entry :yes:

[TonyB]

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]

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?:killingme

[Motu]

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

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]

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]

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.

[Motu]

All motorsport seems to be going to Sky....but you can stick Sky up your arse backwards,they'll never get me back on board again.

[clint640]

It wasn't even on sky as far as I could tell. Last year they had a good highlights session the weekend after, on tv2 IIRC.

Cheers
Clint

[Deano]

How the hell did Monster take 9 seconds off last years time ?

[Motu]

That's one Asian driver that earns my respect,I hope we get to see his run sometime.Bet he still can't park a car though....

[Mental Trousers]

It wasn't even on sky as far as I could tell.

Indeed. Easter weekend I usually get stuck at the inlaws place so I camp the Sky remote but this is the 2nd year it hasn't been on any channel at all so I say fuck em. Don't want to at least show highlights (ie teasers) as it's happening then I'm not buying.

[sAsLEX]

That's one Asian driver that earns my respect,I hope we get to see his run sometime.Bet he still can't park a car though....

you see a lot of talanted asian drivers on the track and in rallys, law of averages I guess, but that means there is a shitload more on the roads that aint that good.....

[Motu]

Wot,like Sato? Ahem,you should see me in an F1 car man,I'd wipe the floor with those hasbeens....

[sAsLEX]

Wot,like Sato? Ahem,you should see me in an F1 car man,I'd wipe the floor with those hasbeens....

they seem to do alright in the drifting as thats whats popular over there

[gav]

No Rod Millen this year? No competition for Monster was there, mind you Kenneth Erickson may have pushed him abit. Nathan McAlwee got in the top 10 on a RM125 couple of years back. I'm sure they'll have a wrap up programme on the Sunday motorsport on TV1 sometime soon.

[chris]

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.
Just about spot on. The HP2 was too heavy to seriously put up a challenge. It was the fastest bike on the straights though, Colin regularly took it over 180. Plans are already been discussed for a serious attempt next year.

[chris]

Shit, I'd be gutted if someone on a 1200 GS beat me.So would I! Good job it was actually another HP2 ridden by Barry Morris


I can't wait to see & hear the Superenduro.It didn't take part.


[/QUOTE]

[clint640]

Who was this then?

14 72 Nathan McAlwee Nathan McAlwee KTM Super Enduro 950 251 9:14.0856 1:12.9126

Was it a 950 Adv or modified SM? Did pretty well compared to the beemers anyway.

Cheers
Clint

[chris]

Who was this then?

14 72 Nathan McAlwee Nathan McAlwee KTM Super Enduro 950 251 9:14.0856 1:12.9126

Was it a 950 Adv or modified SM? Did pretty well compared to the beemers anyway.

Cheers
Clint

He was on a 525. The Super Enduro was not available in time.

[Motu]

Ah,good - that clears that one up then....a bit embaressing having the HP2 cleaned up by the Super Enduro by that sort of margin.

I've given the race a bit of thought over the years...and as much as I'm reluctant to go away from a 21in front wheel - I wonder about setting up for this race as a flattracker,using a 19in wheel on a speedway rear tyre.There would be much more braking available,and you'd be able to carry a lot more weight on the front wheel,keeping the speed up in the corners.

[k14]

Ah,good - that clears that one up then....a bit embaressing having the HP2 cleaned up by the Super Enduro by that sort of margin.

I've given the race a bit of thought over the years...and as much as I'm reluctant to go away from a 21in front wheel - I wonder about setting up for this race as a flattracker,using a 19in wheel on a speedway rear tyre.There would be much more braking available,and you'd be able to carry a lot more weight on the front wheel,keeping the speed up in the corners.
Yeah I've been pretty keen to give it a go sometime on a mx or trail bike. Although the $500 entry fee is slightly more than I was expecting. Will have to think about it for next year though. Seeing as i live less than an hours drive from the venue.

[sAsLEX]

Seeing as i live less than an hours drive from the venue.


Go for a few practice runs in the van till you get the bike!