vtec tales of high and low from Taupo 7/5/06

[vtec]

Hi all, it's time for another installment of dramas from the life and times of vtec.

It all began one crisp early winter morning. Was excited as hell, cause I was about to enter my first streetstock race, and was planning on joining the F3 races for extra track time to learn the circuit really well... Can't really describe how anxious and excited I was. I spent all week trying to get my bike perfect. Had major problems with my brakes at the AMCC round 5, so I spent a couple of days rebuilding my calipers. And with everything in place and all the effort I had put in to make myself confident with the bike , I was expecting great things.

I arrive on the day, and my parents help me setup the ezy-up tent that we borrowed off a friend who's son races stockcars. Well my parents help me with everything. Ever since they first saw me on the track, and got all excited, realising that I do know how to chuck a bike around. They've always been bike enthusiasts and love watching all the races on TV.

After we got everything set up, I set about removing my headlight, as I have intentions of doing everything morally correct to take out my first streetstock race meeting. It was all looking so promising with the fine weather, and the fact that I was happy with the bike again. Breezed through scrutineering, and went back to my tent to chill and contemplate. Ended up socialising with the usual suspects. Quasi (Bret), Paul Buckley, HDT Boy (Gav), got to meet Keystone, and a couple of other KB'ers including Road Rash, and damn it that's all I can remember of user names. Good chats, all excited, except for poor old Gav, had a bung rear wheel bearing on his CBR400, and was looking like he was going to have to sit this one out.

With the first practice fast approaching, I was just gagging to get out there, and try out this wonderful new circuit that I had heard so much about. Got the bike warmed up, and took it out on to the dummy grid, little did I know that my mum had tricked me into joining the F3 practice field, since they had cancelled cross entry into F3 from other classes so I shouldn't have been there, but hey, I needed as much time to learn this track as I could get, so I wasn't complaining. Took off at the back of the field and just trundled around really, was definitely going to have to take my time to learn this track. The bike feels a little weak on the brakes, and I get fade going into a couple of corners, I figured that's cause the pads were yet to mate to the discs on my spare wheel (which has 90,000km's on it, so it wasn't going to be instant)

Just took my time rode out my laps, and headed back to the pits, was pretty cool, cause then I just rode up with my tyres all warm to join the start of the streetstock, and post classic practice. Dissappointingly I was the only 250cc 4stroke, but there were several other 150cc 2 stroke for me to tussle with. Was hoping for more, but this was just going to make my job easier. Followed a couple of the 150's around for a while, and then passed them when I could do so nice and safely giving plenty of room and either doing it out of the corner, or up the inside on the brakes. All was going well, until a rather noisy four stroke passed me on the power onto one of the straights. Bugger me I thought, that looks startlingly like a zxr250, maybe this isn't going to be as easy as I thought. I picked up the pace and followed his line, he went past one of the 150's which got in between us, and he opened up a gap, damn, this dude can ride I thought. Now this caused a slight wane in my confidence, but I knuckled down and managed to maintain the distance between us, before running out the practice sessions I knew I could do better after learning the track a bit/lot more. Little did I know, that this ZXR was no 250, but rather a post classic 1989 400. Which my father informed me of once I got back to the pits, and said he had been along to check out his bike.

Couldn't wait for the second practice session to come around, I formed up on the dummy grid as soon as I could, as I was just pumped to get out there again and get some more laps. This time streetstocks and classics was before the F3 practice, and I was going to try and do both again. Waited while the F2 practice finished, and they finally let us go out. I had put myself at the front, cause I wanted some clear track to try and learn my own lines. Cruised round one lap, think I got passed by one dude, then onto the second lap. Cruising around pretty quickly still just keeping relaxed, and getting used to the corners. Going down the side straight, and all of a sudden a loud throbbing Ducati, comes up on my outside on the straight, right next to me, and he jumps on the brakes and swung across infront of me catching my front wheel at pace, I had tried to brake out of it, but I just didn't have enough space or time, and as he was harder on the brakes, I had no chance. SShhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit Bang (- that bang was the back of my head hitting the ground at pace.) I had just been properly skittled, the bike landed fucking hard and so did I. I think me and the bike spun around cause I ended up flying backwards which is how I banged the back of my (helmeted) head on the ground. Bounced along and into the dirt. All I could think of was "not my baby".... Fuuuuuuck. Very loud and numerous expletives and gestures were to follow, I didn't take it out on the guy on the Ducati, which in hindsight, I gave him far too much credit, and even ran over to help him, but he got his bike up before I got to him, and just started taking it to the pits. Never even looked at me. Must have been a guilty conscience. Anyway I run back to check the damage on my bike. Still busy swearing away, I had been so happy, and I had just hit tarseal bottom. What a disaster. The bike looked unrideable, the fairing's all broken up on the right hand side (the prettier side) The handlebar broken but still hanging on, and the right footpedal completely broken off. If I wasn't so shocked I probably would have cried. Especially since it had all been so unnecessary, it was practice for fucksake, what was he thinking pulling a pass manoeuvre like that giving me zero racing space, and jamming the brakes on right after he passed me and swinging into my line. Fuck... just so damn unnecessary. More expletives followed. I started to think my racing day would be over before the races had even began. And all I had got from the day would be a smashed up version of my favourite bike that I own. Especially with my grandparents who had come to watch, and one of my father's friends who is a top bloke. I was so embarrassed. This incident would make me look so damn bad. The fact that I had no say in the whole event made it even worse. Anyways, enough blubbing from me. I get my baby back to the pits after taking a couple of minutes to find neutral on the dirt and pushing it back. Still hadn't felt any pain by this stage, so I thought I had got off scot free.

I get the bike back, and everyone comes up to me (not all at once) to see if I'm all right, and to take a look at the damage to the bike, and my leathers. Hmm I think to myself I can feel some damage to my body breaking through the shock. Bugger, "I'm going to suffer tomorrow" I think to myself. Anyways, Paul takes a special interest in my situation, and asks if the guy that took me out was a guy on a white ducati, I said he had the number 111. He said, yep thats the guy. Turns out I'm not the only person to have an unnecessary altercation with him. I don't know if he's missing a couple of marbles or what, but I decided that I was going to have a word with him.

[vtec]

On the way, Paul takes me on a search looking for spares, but it looked like we were pushing shit up hill, we find the guy's bike, but he's not with it, decide to keep looking for anyone with suitable spares, but again turns up fruitless. Head back to the Ducati man, and notice he's there this time. Go up to have a word with him. He starts talking loudly without letting me get much in, trying to say I had taken him out half way through the corner... I had never even had a chance to lean my bike for the corner, and we had just gone completely straight, so he was talking out his arse. He tells me I shouldn't be in F3, and that a beginner like myself would be more suited to clubmans, I point out that I was actually in Streetstock which is the perfect place for a beginner, as in clubmans you get some very fast bikes, which can cause a hazard for us slower bikes. He goes on to say that he's won a national championship. I then point out that he definitely knows how ride aggressively. The conversation started to get more heated after that. Him trying to be more condescending, and me telling him to pull his head in, and letting him know that he had smashed up my bike and I would probably be out of the racing. I don't know that he cared terribly much. I just hoped that he'd be out too.

All the while HDTBoy had been trying to do something constructive, he'd found a fellow KB'er (RoadRash) with a CBR250RR road bike which he had come down to taupo for the day on to get a bit of a view. He got more than he bargained for, and Gav had already begun taking the required parts off it. Couldn't believe it. I was just lucky that Gav had been out of the racing otherwise, I probably wouldn't have got my baby in racing shape. And damn that boy knows how to work a spanner, nuts and bolts were flying, and in about twenty minutes, he had my bike back in racing order minus the fairings. This just made my day, something could still be salvaged, but a huge onus had been placed on my shoulders, and there could be no crashing here on in. That wasn't going to stop me riding hard.

Race time. I'm excited again. Pull up on the dummy grid, trying to sit well back this time. Notice that Mr 111 on his Ducati pulled up behind me with no fairings, but still in running order. I try to get his attention, and try to get him to move further up the dummy grid, cause there's no way I want him behind me. I let him know. He does his best to ignore me. Shifting eyes and all. When we get waved on for the warmup, I make sure I don't move till he's gone past. I follow him round a bit just keeping my distance, I noticed that my handlebars didn't line up with the direction of the front wheel, but the handling was feeling fine, so I decided to continue.

We get round to the start finish grid. For some reason they wanted the 250's behind the 150's on the grid. I was fine with this, cause I wanted to stay out of the mix into the first corner, I couldn't afford to get caught up in any shennanigans, especially while wearing Roadrash's handlebar and footpeg and brake lever. He still had to ride his home at the end of the day. The green flag drops, and I just take off pretty easy, it all banks up into the first corner, and I'm happily in second to last, but right on the back of the pack. As the field spread out, I settle into my workload. The corners seem to be coming to me nicely, and I'm braking at the right time, and getting the bike right down. Making up ground on the straights, on the brakes and even through the corners, on the 150's, but still just being very timid on the overtake, and making sure I do it with tonnes of space. This is just how I like to ride. I know it wouldn't work in F2 or anything, but it doesn't matter when there's not too many of you. So I just take my time with my passes. And slowly work my way up through the field 1 at a time. After several passes, the gaps between bikes begins to widen, and the last 150 takes some setting up before I manage to pass him easily on the breaks into the corner at the end of the main straight, I just slow it right down, and take the very inside line right through the corner, so the only way round me is the outside. Then I just power it away, and he never came past, notice up ahead that I had made a lot of ground on that 400, and just worked the rest of the race trying to reel him in. I made good headway, but didn't manage to catch him before the checkered flag. I cruise round the warm down lap, and into the pits. The last 150 comes past me and gives me the thumbs up. Funny how a small gesture like that can make you feel great.

I roll up to our ezy-up tent, and mum and dad are looking well pleased. Dad helps me put the bike on the stand, and then lets me know that I was looking great out there. Gav and Roadrash, come over beaming, and let me know that I was the first streetstock bike. I hadn't even realised at that point, cause I had no idea how many there were up through the field. Stoked. This was definitely a high point. I'm pretty sure that all the guys felt great about my performance, cause they had all had a hand in it, and thus were effectively part of it. High point indeed. My dads mate said I was getting my bike down as well as a lot of the bikes in some of the higher classes. And my gran punched me and said "no more crashing". I laughed.

From here, I waited for my next race, chatting with Keystone, who was so damn nice. Talked with Quasi, and Paul Buckley, Gav, Roadrash (and the others).

Second race and we line up again, I notice number 111 come up last again, he avoids eye contact. I make sure he's out of the pits before me again. I cruise around to the start finish, and yet again settle into the 250 position right at the back of the field. This time I'm going to give it some stick on the launch. The green flag drops, I rev her up and have to double clutch it, so it was a lacklustre launch, but I still get past a couple of the 150's. Going into the first corner however, and I got boxed in behind a 150, and beside one of the slower post classics. Damn. I wait while the field spreads out a bit before I've got plenty of room to start making safe passes. Only takes about half a lap and I settle into the work again. Passing a bikes on every 1 or 2 corners. We get round a lap, and I can see the last two 150's just up ahead. I make great ground on them on the brakes at the end of the main straight. And nail it round the corner, still had some ground to make up which I was making thick and fast. Get half way round the second lap, when I see up ahead, the zxr400 that I always end up chasing, and a 2 cylinder 2 stroke go crashing off with rider's flying. Didn't see much of what happened but as I approached that corner, I noticed one of the guys go to sit up, and lie down in pain. Damn... Not good. The red comes out and the cross flag to let us know to head back to the pits. Well, this was just about where our day ended. Waited on the dummy grid for about 10 minutes, they let us know that there would be no more racing, oh well, I had achieved what I had wanted to today. I had won my first streetstock race, and was well on my way to getting my second. Just was a bit down about the condition of my bike, and wondering how I'm going to afford to fix it up by next weekend for the first round of the vic club series... I'll find a way.

We spent the next 20-30 minutes, putting all of roadrash's parts back on his bike so he could leave before it got too dark. I apologise for wearing out the edge of his footpeg. Then I headed over to watch some of the presentations. By this stage I was limping pretty good, cause my right hip had seized up nicely. Still, can't be too upset. My dream of being a great rider ASAP, continues, unabated.

For pics of the impact rash and bruising on my hip check it out below, sorry about the quality, my fujifilm camera has died, and I had to used a canon vidcam. Just a bit of gore for those who enjoy a good freakshow. And as we all know, it's nothing without pics.

Best wishes go out to the guys who got nailed in our last race, I really feel for you fellows... I have so much empathy after having a few falls myself. Mine are no comparison however. So here's hoping it's all OK

Seriously, I can't thank enough all those who helped me out, and completely revived my day. Special thanks go to spanner wizard HDTBoy, and for braveness letting me use his bike for bits, Roadrash. Paul Buckley for charging round with me looking for bits etc. I couldn't have asked for more help, but I didn't even have to ask. Legends.

[Racey Rider]

Highs and lows,,,,, Tell me about it! :banana: :mad:

Good work Vtec. Sorry I couldn't be there. Had motor problems again.

All the best for healing up.
I'm sure the KB coummity will rally together to get your bike ready for Manfield. :yes:

Racey.

[MOTOXXX]

ahhh so you were the little bastard on the cbr. those things sure do have a lot more speed. i was number 83 on one of the yellow and black rg150's

nice race dude

[loosebruce]

Great to see your parents getting right behind you mate, real good to see, ar eyou thinknig of heading down to manfeild for a bit of a play in the winter series? if so might catch ya down there, good efforts so far as well, keep it up. Bummer about ya off, there's pleanty of dickheads out there just dont let it get to you.

[Keystone19]

Brilliant write up Jason!

I was so bummed for you when I heard you'd come off. I couldn't believe that guy on the Ducati was such an arse. I heard him still mouthing off about it later in the day. As far as I understand it, the rider making the overtaking move is responsible for doing it in a safe manner which he obviously did not. He also had the cheek to come up to your pits before you caught up with him and say that he had no hard feelings towards you about you making him come off! Seriously thought about giving him a piece of my mind at that point but thought that I might be overstepping the mark.

Oh well, shit happens, main thing is you were ok and were able to get back in and race. And win street stock! Awesome effort!

[Mental Trousers]

Get half way round the second lap, when I see up ahead, the zxr400 that I always end up chasing, and a 2 cylinder 2 stroke go crashing off with rider's flying. Didn't see much of what happened but as I approached that corner, I noticed one of the guys go to sit up, and lie down in pain. Damn... Not good. The red comes out and the cross flag to let us know to head back to the pits.

That was a nasty wee accident. Apparently the guy on the RGV fell in front of the ZXR, which went straight over top of him. Wasn't good.



We spent the next 20-30 minutes, putting all of roadrash's parts back on his bike so he could leave before it got too dark. I apologise for wearing out the edge of his footpeg.

Haha, he'll love you for it mate.

[Wellyman]

On the way, Paul takes me on a search looking for spares, but it looked like we were pushing shit up hill, we find the guy's bike, but he's not with it, decide to keep looking for anyone with suitable spares, but again turns up fruitless. Head back to the Ducati man, and notice he's there this time. Go up to have a word with him. He starts talking loudly without letting me get much in, trying to say I had taken him out half way through the corner... I had never even had a chance to lean my bike for the corner, and we had just gone completely straight, so he was talking out his arse. He tells me I shouldn't be in F3, and that a beginner like myself would be more suited to clubmans, I point out that I was actually in Streetstock which is the perfect place for a beginner, as in clubmans you get some very fast bikes, which can cause a hazard for us slower bikes. He goes on to say that he's won a national championship. I then point out that he definitely knows how ride aggressively. The conversation started to get more heated after that. Him trying to be more condescending, and me telling him to pull his head in, and letting him know that he had smashed up my bike and I would probably be out of the racing. I don't know that he cared terribly much. I just hoped that he'd be out too.

All the while HDTBoy had been trying to do something constructive, he'd found a fellow KB'er (RoadRash) with a CBR250RR road bike which he had come down to taupo for the day on to get a bit of a view. He got more than he bargained for, and Gav had already begun taking the required parts off it. Couldn't believe it. I was just lucky that Gav had been out of the racing otherwise, I probably wouldn't have got my baby in racing shape. And damn that boy knows how to work a spanner, nuts and bolts were flying, and in about twenty minutes, he had my bike back in racing order minus the fairings. This just made my day, something could still be salvaged, but a huge onus had been placed on my shoulders, and there could be no crashing here on in. That wasn't going to stop me riding hard.

Race time. I'm excited again. Pull up on the dummy grid, trying to sit well back this time. Notice that Mr 111 on his Ducati pulled up behind me with no fairings, but still in running order. I try to get his attention, and try to get him to move further up the dummy grid, cause there's no way I want him behind me. I let him know. He does his best to ignore me. Shifting eyes and all. When we get waved on for the warmup, I make sure I don't move till he's gone past. I follow him round a bit just keeping my distance, I noticed that my handlebars didn't line up with the direction of the front wheel, but the handling was feeling fine, so I decided to continue.

We get round to the start finish grid. For some reason they wanted the 250's behind the 150's on the grid. I was fine with this, cause I wanted to stay out of the mix into the first corner, I couldn't afford to get caught up in any shennanigans, especially while wearing Roadrash's handlebar and footpeg and brake lever. He still had to ride his home at the end of the day. The green flag drops, and I just take off pretty easy, it all banks up into the first corner, and I'm happily in second to last, but right on the back of the pack. As the field spread out, I settle into my workload. The corners seem to be coming to me nicely, and I'm braking at the right time, and getting the bike right down. Making up ground on the straights, on the brakes and even through the corners, on the 150's, but still just being very timid on the overtake, and making sure I do it with tonnes of space. This is just how I like to ride. I know it wouldn't work in F2 or anything, but it doesn't matter when there's not too many of you. So I just take my time with my passes. And slowly work my way up through the field 1 at a time. After several passes, the gaps between bikes begins to widen, and the last 150 takes some setting up before I manage to pass him easily on the breaks into the corner at the end of the main straight, I just slow it right down, and take the very inside line right through the corner, so the only way round me is the outside. Then I just power it away, and he never came past, notice up ahead that I had made a lot of ground on that 400, and just worked the rest of the race trying to reel him in. I made good headway, but didn't manage to catch him before the checkered flag. I cruise round the warm down lap, and into the pits. The last 150 comes past me and gives me the thumbs up. Funny how a small gesture like that can make you feel great.

I roll up to our ezy-up tent, and mum and dad are looking well pleased. Dad helps me put the bike on the stand, and then lets me know that I was looking great out there. Gav and Roadrash, come over beaming, and let me know that I was the first streetstock bike. I hadn't even realised at that point, cause I had no idea how many there were up through the field. Stoked. This was definitely a high point. I'm pretty sure that all the guys felt great about my performance, cause they had all had a hand in it, and thus were effectively part of it. High point indeed. My dads mate said I was getting my bike down as well as a lot of the bikes in some of the higher classes. And my gran punched me and said "no more crashing". I laughed.

From here, I waited for my next race, chatting with Keystone, who was so damn nice. Talked with Quasi, and Paul Buckley, Gav, Roadrash (and the others).

Second race and we line up again, I notice number 111 come up last again, he avoids eye contact. I make sure he's out of the pits before me again. I cruise around to the start finish, and yet again settle into the 250 position right at the back of the field. This time I'm going to give it some stick on the launch. The green flag drops, I rev her up and have to double clutch it, so it was a lacklustre launch, but I still get past a couple of the 150's. Going into the first corner however, and I got boxed in behind a 150, and beside one of the slower post classics. Damn. I wait while the field spreads out a bit before I've got plenty of room to start making safe passes. Only takes about half a lap and I settle into the work again. Passing a bikes on every 1 or 2 corners. We get round a lap, and I can see the last two 150's just up ahead. I make great ground on them on the brakes at the end of the main straight. And nail it round the corner, still had some ground to make up which I was making thick and fast. Get half way round the second lap, when I see up ahead, the zxr400 that I always end up chasing, and a 2 cylinder 2 stroke go crashing off with rider's flying. Didn't see much of what happened but as I approached that corner, I noticed one of the guys go to sit up, and lie down in pain. Damn... Not good. The red comes out and the cross flag to let us know to head back to the pits. Well, this was just about where our day ended. Waited on the dummy grid for about 10 minutes, they let us know that there would be no more racing, oh well, I had achieved what I had wanted to today. I had won my first streetstock race, and was well on my way to getting my second. Just was a bit down about the condition of my bike, and wondering how I'm going to afford to fix it up by next weekend for the first round of the vic club series... I'll find a way.

We spent the next 20-30 minutes, putting all of roadrash's parts back on his bike so he could leave before it got too dark. I apologise for wearing out the edge of his footpeg. Then I headed over to watch some of the presentations. By this stage I was limping pretty good, cause my right hip had seized up nicely. Still, can't be too upset. My dream of being a great rider ASAP, continues, unabated.

For pics of the impact rash and bruising on my hip check it out below, sorry about the quality, my fujifilm camera has died, and I had to used a canon vidcam. Just a bit of gore for those who enjoy a good freakshow. And as we all know, it's nothing without pics.

Best wishes go out to the guys who got nailed in our last race, I really feel for you fellows... I have so much empathy after having a few falls myself. Mine are no comparison however. So here's hoping it's all OK

Seriously, I can't thank enough all those who helped me out, and completely revived my day. Special thanks go to spanner wizard HDTBoy, and for braveness letting me use his bike for bits, Roadrash. Paul Buckley for charging round with me looking for bits etc. I couldn't have asked for more help, but I didn't even have to ask. Legends.

Intresting write up there mate. have you made a complaint to race officals, surely if you make enough noise their will be a enquiry good luck.
WM

[Two Smoker]

That 750 Ducati, would be Matt Meads.... He's got a huge head, and thinks he is the dogs bollocks, but dont worry i gave him the learn and beat him by over a third of a lap... when ive raced at taupo...

Well done on the racing mate :niceone: keep it up :niceone:

[Sketchy_Racer]

Wicked mate!!!

It gets me excited when ever i read one of your write ups!!!

I cant wait till next weekend Hopefully ill see you there.

-RG!!

[R6_kid]

good shit bro, im seriously thinking about getting a CBR or ZXR for this sorta thing, just gotta find a smashed up one with a decent engine so i can come and have a thrash with you...

It's really good to see your enjoying it. When is the next race at taupo? I'll try and keep some money aside so i can come down and watch/help out.

[motobob]

That 750 Ducati, would be Matt Meads.... He's got a huge head, and thinks he is the dogs bollocks, but dont worry i gave him the learn and beat him by over a third of a lap... when ive raced at taupo...

Well done on the racing mate :niceone: keep it up :niceone:

Tough break vtec but this sorta shit happens. Welcome to the club. Unforunately you have no control over the decisions others make. As K19 pointed out responsibility for making the move lies with the person attempting the move. The stupid pricks bike has the legs over yours anyway he just had to wait two turns and take you on the pit straight.

Anyway it was good to see you back on the track after the incident.

[GSVR]

All the best with your future racing. Amazing to see you come in with busted up bike and all that road rash and then just get stuck in and back out there. I bet your hobbling around a bit today.

Big ups to the guy with the donor parts bike.

[HDTboy]

good shit bro, im seriously thinking about getting a CBR or ZXR for this sorta thing, just gotta find a smashed up one with a decent engine so i can come and have a thrash with you...

It's really good to see your enjoying it. When is the next race at taupo? I'll try and keep some money aside so i can come down and watch/help out.
I know a dude who bought a smashed one with a hot little motor

[dss3]

Great write up mate, bugger about the spill. Keep it up aye, only got to see a bit of you out there but you seemed to know what you were doing!

Daryl:cool:

[kiwifruit]

great write up vtec
didnt get out to watch you as i "had a headache" :)
sorry to hear of your fall *doh*
also sorry to hear how it happened :( that sux!
i hope the bike is sweet asap

[vtec]

Hey thanks for all the positive replies. They really make me feel better and more determined.

With regard to the questions, I'll try and answer them here:

Matt Meads might not hold it against me, but I'm sure as hell going to hold it against him. I hope this is my last outburst about the matter, but I think I'll have trouble holding it in.

Yes I did buy HDT Boy's wreck with the "Hot" motor (hot meaning he's rejetted the carbs, and let it breath easier), but I like to run my bike stock, but its nice to know that I've got a spare head and bottom end there. Not to mention all the other bits. Also, I think I'll be able to take all the spares I need off Gav's wrecked CBR that I bought. Sweet, not too much expense, but I'll still be riding one damn ugly CBR. I don't think that bike will ever ride as one piece again. So far I've taken from it... the wheels (with discs), brakepads, footpeg, chain, front tyre, brake lever, throttle grip, clip on handlebar. Not to mention the fact that it was pretty badly smashed up in the first place. I'm just lucky all the main components seem sweet.

Won't be making a complaint, don't want to get taken down the bureaucratic channels. I'll just make sure I keep my distance from him. But that was definitely the worst crash I've had in my whole life.

Heading to Manfield? Yep, my plans include making an honest attempt at the VMCC streetstock title. If I kick arse in that, it might give me a leg to stand on when approaching sponsors for next year. That's my plans anyways.

And gareth... quit pussy footing around, and buy yourself a 400, and if you're worried just go in clubmans until you think you are ready for F3, I think you'd be fine in F3, just do it man. It costs a quite a bit, but to be quite honest, it's become my main focus in life. Not much else seems to matter as much anymore... if that makes sense.

With regard to "hobbling today", yep I'm hobbling alright, but it feels better than it did last night after the 3.5 hour van ride back to auckland. However, I noticed that I was feeling quite hot around my face, I figured out that its being caused by straining of my neck muscles from landing hard backwards. My abdominals are pretty sore too... I should get you a pick of those aswell... not because it's gory, but because it's hot :P.
Hmmm, where else is sore... My adductor magnis (inside thigh) on my right leg, levator scapular, hell even my deltoids (shoulders) are sore.

And yes I'm just being a cock by using medical names :P

[Sensei]

[QUOTE=Two Smoker]That 750 Ducati, would be Matt Meads.... He's got a huge head, and thinks he is the dogs bollocks,

Yea his from the Naki , & yes he thinks he is the man on that old piece of shit
Runs the drag racing lights for most Drag days . Have BLOWN the road from underneath him on my old GSXR1100R that I use to drag . His older brother has a Very quick GSX1135cc suzuki has around 180HP does a high 9's 1/4 mile . Will teach him some manners for ya if I see him on the road :Oi:

[Sketchy_Racer]

Heading to Manfield? Yep, my plans include making an honest attempt at the VMCC streetstock title. If I kick arse in that, it might give me a leg to stand on when approaching sponsors for next year. That's my plans anyways.


Your not the only one :2guns: :2guns: :devil2: :Pokey:

[rustys]

:niceone: Nice one V-tec good write up, hey i,am trying to type with broken ribs, and stuffed collar bone .Saw you get taken out in practice which was totaly unnessasary. One thing mate there is some good people out there all willing to get you back going again, the KIWI BIKER guys in particular,its a pity that some how we can't sort of identify ourselves better when were at race meetings.My crash was'nt very nice its probably the worst one i've had in all the years of riding bikes, had bikes since i was 16, Iam now 59 and still riding them. I feel real stink for the guy i hit, and am trying hard to get in touch with him,to see what his condition is thats the worst part of the whole thing.
Soon as i get up and running i will be out in my shed straightening out my old girl,she needs some serious attention before i race her again.
I won't be at manfield for the 1st round, but i will catch up with you during the other rounds, forget about whats happend at taupo and focus hard on the Victoria Series. All the best mate.
Having Fun And "
GROWING OLD DISGRACEFULLY".

[vtec]

Dude. Are you telling me you are 59. Legend. You can really throw that bike around. Felt really bad when I saw you guys go down. Didn't really care that our racing got cancelled after that.

And yeah I was wondering how you typed your writeup. Had a strange picture, of a heavily bandaged person in a sling trying to type with one finger out of a cast, in my head.

[rustys]

:cool: yeh buddy you have the picture right, it was'nt a very nice way to win the series either:wavey:
having fun and
"GROWING OLD DISGRACEFULLY"

[Kwaka-Kid]

great write up vtec! rock on buddy

[babyB]

cool wight-up vtec good to see ya get back out there.

[kickingzebra]

Well done for not wasting road rashes gear! it was a cold ride back, but i wasn't keen on warming up by pillioning him!! LOL
You seemed to be racing bloody well! Good stuff, keep it up

[vtec]

Sweet thanks for the pic. That's the first one that shows me leaning the bike over a fair bit.

You guys do realise that by giving me positive feedback, you'll have to endure more of my gargantuan writeups :blah:

[Ducati Man]

If anyone would like to know what happened to me and Jason out there I was just getting some temp in my tyres so was taking it slow to start being the first lap of practise and come up behind Jason on the back straight and went around him (yes around to give him room) and at no stage got too close and then dipped over with brakes off for the corner and he hit me from behind.

(Rubber marks are still there on my bike)

With the line he must of been on the result would have ended the same way even if he had of missed me.

I was not over the moon about this but shit happens and seeing he was fine and my (red Ducati) wasn’t as lucky I needed to return to the pits for repairs.

After assessing the damage to my bike in the pits I went to his pit to find out he was ok and what happen out there but they told me he was not there and that he was a first time rider.

After hearing he was ok I said maybe he should try clubmans as this is a great way to start racing.

After returning to my pit to work on the damage to my bike Jason approached me and started to give me a hard time about making him come off when I was the one that had been hit from behind.

I did not want to go on about it as I could see he knew it all already and I told him clubmans is the best class for most to start in. Then he started telling me he was well good enough for that class and clubmans was not right for him I said go and tell the officials because I would be more than happy to get them involved.

Sorry Jason I have run out of patience with you by now but please tell me if you were a rider that felt you were not to blame for what happened out there and the other rider went on as you have. I think I did very well to last as long as I did.

Over the years I have swapped some paint with other riders and most of those races have been my best fun ever but for you to talk to me in that manner made me think shit if you keep riding which I hope you do I think you have some big hurdles to cross my friend.

I have a full time high profile job plus a very busy business at home making motorcycle exhaust systems and with six kids a granddaughter things are full on for me at home but due to the fact motorcycling is a very big part of my familys life I love to find time to go racing and help out others go racing.

[vtec]

I was moving wide for the corner when you came by me so as you came past you were about 6 inches from my right arm. Immediately that you came past, you were straight on the brakes before you'd cleared me. I worked my arse off to not hit you, but you never even checked your inside, you were trailing your brakes into the corner, and seriously I did everything I could to avoid you, due to the fact that I was moving wide when you came past really close, I already had momentum in your direction when you jumped on the brakes and swung in. The only person who could have prevented that incident was you... by being intelligent and sensible enough to pick a better time to pass, or by running wide enough to give the person on the inside enough time to give way. You fucked up and fucked me up in the process.

This was my third race meeting. Not my first, and I'm a much better and more experienced rider than you gave me credit for. Also, note, you were the one who opened up the mouthing off salvo. It took about 45 seconds of you talking very loudly before I even got to add anything. You couldn't have been much more condescending.

The reason why I have formed my opinion of you was due to your actions in causing the accident. Your actions immediately after the accident, with regard to completely ignoring my situation. I didn't even get to see how you came off, but I was thrown over pretty fucking hard and got spun around backwards. Also from what you said to my friends and family. About how I caused the accident. The first move to restoring any respect in yourself would be to acknowldge when you screwed up. Although I know your ego wouldn't let that possibility occur.

You are the first person that I have come across in both the motorcycling industry and indeed racing that I have not got on with fine. I'm pretty sure that it was your arrogance and self importance in trying to show up us streetstock boys that made you make that passing manoeuvre. Heck maybe it was just impatience, but whatever it was, you caused that situation, and there was absolutely no way out for me.

I think you lack a certain amount of foresight, because from where I'm sitting it doesn't take to much foresight to predict what happens when you rip (not entirely) past people jump on the brakes and swing in. Especially when we were all still figuring out our racing lines. You're going to take someone out. Even later on people were running very different lines everywhere. I was actually taking it pretty easy when our accident happened.

I think despite your racing experience you still lack a certain amount of racing etiquette. Maybe you've lost it due to either your attitude to other riders, or the fact that you've needed to be that aggressive to take out a title. I think it shows a lot more skill to ride more respectfully to others and still take out a win. I will never feel safe on a track as long as I know you are somewhere on it.

The reason I was/am so pissed, is probably because this racing has taken a huge investment from me. I have had to reduce my university course to part time so I can work the rest of the time to raise enough funds to race my bike. I have put everything I have into getting into this, and I feel that I have the ability and physical and mental strength to take this sport a long way. And this crash was a huge setback. You may have plenty of money from your high profile job to go and play smash em ups on the bikes on the weekend. But it was fully my intention to be able to race for the season, and on sell my bike at the end. I have sacrificed a lot to do this, and for someone else's extreme carelessness and innattention to nearly snatch it all away from me.

It didn't need to come to this, but your actions and words have caused this to go as far as it has. I was hoping to settle it with you at the track, and if you had behaved more appropriately after the incident, there would have been a lot less animosity. I am not one to let an overpowering personality overpower me.

Now lets try to add up what this accident cost me.
My dad had just bought me a new screen as a present about a week before 165$ (broken badly) (my old one was badly tarnished with age)
All front fairings wrecked. With bits still missing at the track. I'm guessing there is about $500 worth of plastic welding required to get them close to as they were. They are just in that many bits.
Broken handlebar $80 from wreckers
Heavily banged and grazed helmet $100
Numerous holes all over my Dainese leathers. Guessing about $200 in leather repairs. Not to mention they will never be the same.
Wrecked my gloves $150
Broken brake lever guessing $50
Broken footpeg guessing $80
Estimated total (still doesn't cover all things that were damaged in the crash but don't need replacing): $1325
Now working part time, I get between $250 and $300 per week, and I pay $100 for board. There's not all that much left for food/petrol/maintenance/race entry fees... and then, so for me crashing is a massive set back.

If my parents didn't pay for travelling costs, it would be all over.

[R6_kid]

i dont really want to add to this, and i wasnt there, but from what the people that were there have said it was pretty nasty the way it all happened. Practice is exactly that - practice, you dont need to go 100% or do stupid passing maneuvers on a new track, with new riders.

I do feel for Jason in this situation, and you have shit all right to tell him what class to go in. He raced F3's at pukekohe and ran 1.15's, which is pretty phenominal for a first time racer.

Let it lie, Jason has to some extent accepted his loss and is doing his best to move on and get on with his racing career. Perhaps you should do the same, and 'save it for the track'.

[Kwaka-Kid]

i wasnt there nuff said



Now cmon guys. WELCOME To racing. KB Gets used far too much as it is for general pack-dog slaying. Most of us here werent there, and so cant comment on the subject, and with that in mind - dont want to take sides and start a shit slinging thread (Despite what our fingers first try to type!).

It was a great writeup, thanks vtec :) Take care out there, and if you need anything that might be the same on NC30s as your CBR250 do let me know, or anybody to do any work/pick parts up you may buy off trade me up here etc.

KK

[MOTOXXX]

i had the pleasure of vtec passing me in the street stock race as the cbr250rr are a fuck load faster than the rg150.
i dont know who was at fault and dont want to know.

From what i saw of him then he seemed to give everyone plenty of room to move including me.

see you sunday at manfeild dude

[roogazza]

Welcome to Road Racing boys and girls ! Little bit different to the glossy mags and what is on TV ... Keep it real, this ain't Motogp , just club stuff.
I had a guy put me into a pole at Onekawa in about 73 , he was banned for 12 months ! I was pissed at the time but treated it as a racing incident . That is what happens now and again. as they say "thats racing. "
Now I'm coming out for this winter series after 23 years , so i have to practice what i preach. G.