MadDuck
24th January 2007, 19:32
Well I know its not a race report but I kinda thought I would share what its like being on the road to the Nationals as a "worker".....note I did not say "Pit Bitch"
It started about 18 months ago when I rocked up to Frosty and asked if I could tag along and maybe help out a bit with the racing stuff (thats a technical word for this time of night ok).
Well most of yas know that he and Doogle have kept me on so I must be doing summit right. They have taught me more about bikes in this time than I could ever learn. Then Frosty said he was going to do the Nationals and I kinda suggested he would need his pit crew with him. How could i pass up what could be a once in a lifetime chance to experience the Nationals? Lucky for him I am an organiser by nature and I started about organising accommodation, ferry sailings and all the practical stuff that boys are just no good at doing.
I will keep it as short as possible as most of the race reports that have been written give everyone an idea of how AWESOME the racing was. It was a real cool buzz to watch the likes of Torque, TwoSmoker, Craig and Kicking Zebra just go from strength to strength when they stayed on board! Lynda Blair and K14 got some fantastic photos.
Now I am not saying it was easy cos it wasnt. I felt like I had worked my butt off and was so tired on Saturday fell alseep in a chair in the pits at Ruapuna. Lucky I woke up with both eyebrows intact. The main problem was the blasted weather. First it was fine then it was rain so changing tyres at least twice a day was the norm. Getting the grease out from ones fingernails was also a challenge but swarfegga is an amazing invention.
We learnt some mighty big lessons along the way for instance....
- Do not try and use tools directly over a drainage sewer. Gravity will win!
- Do take thermal underwear to the SI on the middle of summer
- Warehouse tents are absolutely friggin useless in Invercargill
- 4wd come off second best went hit by flying motorcycles
- Be prepared for rain and lots of it
- Blacked out windows on a van packed to capacity can cause you to misjudge distances especially hotel doors set too close to the parking
- Sun burn on the back of the legs is really really really painful
- Dont eat Thai when staying at someones house you dont know all that well
- Cancer society sun block is next to useless
- Always have chocolate in the pits and people will come visit often
To the KBers I met for the first time and those I hadnt met before thanks for making the trip an awesome time.
So many people to thank for making the trip a wonderful experience I am afraid of leaving someone out. BUT SpeedyGirl thank you the biggest for putting up with us for such a long time.
And to all of those of you that were out there racing from AJ and the 150 riders to the guys on the big bikes...thanks for the spectacle. Would I do it all again - HELL YEAH!
It started about 18 months ago when I rocked up to Frosty and asked if I could tag along and maybe help out a bit with the racing stuff (thats a technical word for this time of night ok).
Well most of yas know that he and Doogle have kept me on so I must be doing summit right. They have taught me more about bikes in this time than I could ever learn. Then Frosty said he was going to do the Nationals and I kinda suggested he would need his pit crew with him. How could i pass up what could be a once in a lifetime chance to experience the Nationals? Lucky for him I am an organiser by nature and I started about organising accommodation, ferry sailings and all the practical stuff that boys are just no good at doing.
I will keep it as short as possible as most of the race reports that have been written give everyone an idea of how AWESOME the racing was. It was a real cool buzz to watch the likes of Torque, TwoSmoker, Craig and Kicking Zebra just go from strength to strength when they stayed on board! Lynda Blair and K14 got some fantastic photos.
Now I am not saying it was easy cos it wasnt. I felt like I had worked my butt off and was so tired on Saturday fell alseep in a chair in the pits at Ruapuna. Lucky I woke up with both eyebrows intact. The main problem was the blasted weather. First it was fine then it was rain so changing tyres at least twice a day was the norm. Getting the grease out from ones fingernails was also a challenge but swarfegga is an amazing invention.
We learnt some mighty big lessons along the way for instance....
- Do not try and use tools directly over a drainage sewer. Gravity will win!
- Do take thermal underwear to the SI on the middle of summer
- Warehouse tents are absolutely friggin useless in Invercargill
- 4wd come off second best went hit by flying motorcycles
- Be prepared for rain and lots of it
- Blacked out windows on a van packed to capacity can cause you to misjudge distances especially hotel doors set too close to the parking
- Sun burn on the back of the legs is really really really painful
- Dont eat Thai when staying at someones house you dont know all that well
- Cancer society sun block is next to useless
- Always have chocolate in the pits and people will come visit often
To the KBers I met for the first time and those I hadnt met before thanks for making the trip an awesome time.
So many people to thank for making the trip a wonderful experience I am afraid of leaving someone out. BUT SpeedyGirl thank you the biggest for putting up with us for such a long time.
And to all of those of you that were out there racing from AJ and the 150 riders to the guys on the big bikes...thanks for the spectacle. Would I do it all again - HELL YEAH!