Deano
20th February 2007, 00:50
I had a fantastic day, despite a few problems.
Friday night after loading the bike onto the trailer, Mikey points out a 25mm crack in my front tyre. Closer inspection revealed it was cut to the canvas. Luckily I had a new set all ready for the VMCC winter series, so threw them in the car to change later.
Passed scrutineering on Saturday ok, despite the tyre. Pirelli were there early Sunday morning so I beat the rush and was their first customer. Cheers heaps Pirelli guys - it was well worth a dozen Mac's.
I was pretty tentative in the first practice as I had to scrub the new tyres in. The front slid a tiny amount in the left hander but after that it was all good. Next to no chicken strips after the first practice.
I missed the second practice, as did Goblin. I started getting my gear on at the first call and was just about to leave my pit when the final call was announced. It took a while to get through the crowd in the pits - had to rev the engine a lot to get people's attention to get out of the way. Got to the dummy grid as the marshal was closing the 'gate'. Bugger - something to remember for next time I guess.
First race - started on 3rd row beside Frosty. I got a wicked start and nearly ran into the back of a motard and Kawa ER6(?). Then Jarrod Wintle cut across and nearly took my front end off as he shot for a gap on his SV.
I think I was 10th for a while but slipped back to 13th by the end. I was second 400cc in the field so was rapt with that.
Second race.......well.....warm up lap and I could hear something wasn't quite right with the drivetrain. I pulled up at the rear of the start grid and had a quick glance but couldn't see anything amiss. Never the less, I think it had psyched me out a bit as I didn't get anywhere near as good a start and was too cautious going into the first corner. The 'problem' just got worse and I drifted further and further back - turns out it was a collapsed wheel bearing, so I guess it's lucky that the rear didn't lock up or spit the chain off.
Definitely more of a buzz than Wanganui - the kink on the front straight felt awesome flat out - dunno if I would like it so much on an F2 or F1 bike though. It seemed bloody well fast enough on the little 400.
I felt bad for Logan being taken out in the first practice - glad you were ok though.
Jono - I saw a bit of each of your races and you were doing bloody fantastic - big ups mate !!
Thanks to SVS for the loan of the wheel stands during the tyre changes.
Thanks to those who called in to the pit with best wishes - It was great to put some more faces to names.
Thanks to Poos for the loan of the trailer.
Thanks to Stew at TSS for the loan of the tent.
Thanks to the marshals for clapping when I crawled back to the pits after 'just' finishing the second race. You don't realise how many people are watching until you have to limp back all alone on the track. :pinch:
Friday night after loading the bike onto the trailer, Mikey points out a 25mm crack in my front tyre. Closer inspection revealed it was cut to the canvas. Luckily I had a new set all ready for the VMCC winter series, so threw them in the car to change later.
Passed scrutineering on Saturday ok, despite the tyre. Pirelli were there early Sunday morning so I beat the rush and was their first customer. Cheers heaps Pirelli guys - it was well worth a dozen Mac's.
I was pretty tentative in the first practice as I had to scrub the new tyres in. The front slid a tiny amount in the left hander but after that it was all good. Next to no chicken strips after the first practice.
I missed the second practice, as did Goblin. I started getting my gear on at the first call and was just about to leave my pit when the final call was announced. It took a while to get through the crowd in the pits - had to rev the engine a lot to get people's attention to get out of the way. Got to the dummy grid as the marshal was closing the 'gate'. Bugger - something to remember for next time I guess.
First race - started on 3rd row beside Frosty. I got a wicked start and nearly ran into the back of a motard and Kawa ER6(?). Then Jarrod Wintle cut across and nearly took my front end off as he shot for a gap on his SV.
I think I was 10th for a while but slipped back to 13th by the end. I was second 400cc in the field so was rapt with that.
Second race.......well.....warm up lap and I could hear something wasn't quite right with the drivetrain. I pulled up at the rear of the start grid and had a quick glance but couldn't see anything amiss. Never the less, I think it had psyched me out a bit as I didn't get anywhere near as good a start and was too cautious going into the first corner. The 'problem' just got worse and I drifted further and further back - turns out it was a collapsed wheel bearing, so I guess it's lucky that the rear didn't lock up or spit the chain off.
Definitely more of a buzz than Wanganui - the kink on the front straight felt awesome flat out - dunno if I would like it so much on an F2 or F1 bike though. It seemed bloody well fast enough on the little 400.
I felt bad for Logan being taken out in the first practice - glad you were ok though.
Jono - I saw a bit of each of your races and you were doing bloody fantastic - big ups mate !!
Thanks to SVS for the loan of the wheel stands during the tyre changes.
Thanks to those who called in to the pit with best wishes - It was great to put some more faces to names.
Thanks to Poos for the loan of the trailer.
Thanks to Stew at TSS for the loan of the tent.
Thanks to the marshals for clapping when I crawled back to the pits after 'just' finishing the second race. You don't realise how many people are watching until you have to limp back all alone on the track. :pinch: