FROSTY
30th April 2006, 22:36
I went to Taupo with a definite game plan. I wanted to win the AMCC club series. I was 40 or so points in front of Stu Dawe and Logan (KK). The plan was to stay just behind whichever of them was the fastest. The plan was made easier when KK wasn't there. I only had to follow Stu for 3 races and i had the champs sussed.
It started badly with a bike running on one cylinder in practice and the sweeper a lil bit slippery so instead of a first row grid I got a second row.--somehow on a 325cc single I still posted the 5th fasted qualifying time.
With a lot of fast work from Madduck and Doogal the bike was running on 2 again and I got a sneaky extra couple of laps practice to be sure we had it sussed.
Dougal acting as team manager told me I needed to run an intermediate front -But NO Frosty Knows best so the dry tyre I wanted was fitted .Dougal reminded me to Keep Ya eyes on the prize.
Race 1 and It all just came together. a lap and a bit to warm the tyres up and I started to wind up to my groove.
Everybody seemed to be riding so darned slow.The game plan went out the window and The red veil dropped Yea stupid Frosty. I was racing to win the RACE. I wound it up to a better pace and started reeling in and passing the riders in front of me.it was lap 4 and I was hunting down the guy leading the race. i tipped into Turn 1 -a slightly downhill lefthander.I went in a bit too hot --OK read that as a LOT too hot.faster than ya can say christpher robinson I was sitting on my ass sliding down the track.
It seemed to take hours for me and the bike to come to a stop -Long enough to me to remember exactly what spares i'd left at home and what I'd need to repair the bike. When I came to a stop I picked the bike up --no clutch lever end,no gear lever,no footpeg and worst of all a busted up change lever rod. I reached down and hand shifted her into third gear. I fired her back into life and wound up to as fast a pace as one gear would let me--not too fast I noticed --But it gave me the vital two or three points for finishing --admittedly dead set last.
I got into the pits to face the fury from Madduck and Doogal -and rightly so --I'd just blown 17 points of my lead away by being stupid. And yes Dougal was right --i needed a softer front tyre it was too cold for the full dry
Frantic work hunting down a spare change rod-the only spare I forgot to bring with me. Doogal and Madduck worked away madly getting the bike back together for me. Rescrutineered and sorted
I somehow managed to get a start behind the pre 89 guys to do a couple of checkout laps--hoping nothing was bent. --All good
Race 2 and I stuck 100% to the plan Good start -folow Stu -sit back and cruise. Finish 1 place behind him and only give him an extra 3 points over me. Done deal
Over the Loud hailer they announced there would only be 3 races per class.
WOHOO--nomally I want as many races as I can get but not this time
Quick calculation and I could finish 2 or 3 places behind Stu and still win the series.
race 3 and same as--wiggles and stu got into a bit of a dogfight--I sat back and cruised.
I gave stu a pit of a hurry up --shoving up the inside a couple of times. Nothing too serious but he did pick up the pace a bit more.
Flag drop and That was the end of the series --This meeting I did 1 11th place and 2 fourth places.
But -DRUMROLL
I WON THE AUCKLAND FORMULA 3 CLUB CHAMPS
very important though I couldn't have done it without a loyal and dedicated crew.
Madduck and Dougal did all the hard work --i was just the guy out there riding the beast.
I also couldn't have done it without you lot--Your encouragement and support has meant a lot to me.
Where to from here??
I'm not the kinda guy to rest on his laurels.I have a 3 year plan and winning the club champs was year one. This coming season (starting sept 06??)
Im planning on having a serious attack at the nationals.This year I want a top 5 placing in every round. Next year I want to see If I can Grab the F3 national crown.
There is no point in aiming lower than the best I think.
I hope this doesn't sound like ego talking --this is my goal.
It started badly with a bike running on one cylinder in practice and the sweeper a lil bit slippery so instead of a first row grid I got a second row.--somehow on a 325cc single I still posted the 5th fasted qualifying time.
With a lot of fast work from Madduck and Doogal the bike was running on 2 again and I got a sneaky extra couple of laps practice to be sure we had it sussed.
Dougal acting as team manager told me I needed to run an intermediate front -But NO Frosty Knows best so the dry tyre I wanted was fitted .Dougal reminded me to Keep Ya eyes on the prize.
Race 1 and It all just came together. a lap and a bit to warm the tyres up and I started to wind up to my groove.
Everybody seemed to be riding so darned slow.The game plan went out the window and The red veil dropped Yea stupid Frosty. I was racing to win the RACE. I wound it up to a better pace and started reeling in and passing the riders in front of me.it was lap 4 and I was hunting down the guy leading the race. i tipped into Turn 1 -a slightly downhill lefthander.I went in a bit too hot --OK read that as a LOT too hot.faster than ya can say christpher robinson I was sitting on my ass sliding down the track.
It seemed to take hours for me and the bike to come to a stop -Long enough to me to remember exactly what spares i'd left at home and what I'd need to repair the bike. When I came to a stop I picked the bike up --no clutch lever end,no gear lever,no footpeg and worst of all a busted up change lever rod. I reached down and hand shifted her into third gear. I fired her back into life and wound up to as fast a pace as one gear would let me--not too fast I noticed --But it gave me the vital two or three points for finishing --admittedly dead set last.
I got into the pits to face the fury from Madduck and Doogal -and rightly so --I'd just blown 17 points of my lead away by being stupid. And yes Dougal was right --i needed a softer front tyre it was too cold for the full dry
Frantic work hunting down a spare change rod-the only spare I forgot to bring with me. Doogal and Madduck worked away madly getting the bike back together for me. Rescrutineered and sorted
I somehow managed to get a start behind the pre 89 guys to do a couple of checkout laps--hoping nothing was bent. --All good
Race 2 and I stuck 100% to the plan Good start -folow Stu -sit back and cruise. Finish 1 place behind him and only give him an extra 3 points over me. Done deal
Over the Loud hailer they announced there would only be 3 races per class.
WOHOO--nomally I want as many races as I can get but not this time
Quick calculation and I could finish 2 or 3 places behind Stu and still win the series.
race 3 and same as--wiggles and stu got into a bit of a dogfight--I sat back and cruised.
I gave stu a pit of a hurry up --shoving up the inside a couple of times. Nothing too serious but he did pick up the pace a bit more.
Flag drop and That was the end of the series --This meeting I did 1 11th place and 2 fourth places.
But -DRUMROLL
I WON THE AUCKLAND FORMULA 3 CLUB CHAMPS
very important though I couldn't have done it without a loyal and dedicated crew.
Madduck and Dougal did all the hard work --i was just the guy out there riding the beast.
I also couldn't have done it without you lot--Your encouragement and support has meant a lot to me.
Where to from here??
I'm not the kinda guy to rest on his laurels.I have a 3 year plan and winning the club champs was year one. This coming season (starting sept 06??)
Im planning on having a serious attack at the nationals.This year I want a top 5 placing in every round. Next year I want to see If I can Grab the F3 national crown.
There is no point in aiming lower than the best I think.
I hope this doesn't sound like ego talking --this is my goal.