Nicksta
3rd April 2007, 00:15
First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone that have helped me in the last few months to bring me to this report. Bruce, love you, thanks for the introduction to the track on Gix and the challenge set for my racing ahead. Andy, Jen, Squirt, Daryl, Jill, Aaron, Jimmy, Sue, Eddy, Jono, Shane (and Megan), Bret, Shaun and Logan, thank you all for being there for me and helping in every way possible.
Round 4 of PMCC kicked off with a practice session, setting off behind Jen my goal was to keep up and see how the others in my class rode. First thing I notice is Tweety won’t rev over 11000rpm so I have to change gears in random places to keep up. Practice over and I’m on the phone to Logan to describe what was going on. Nothing major, but something I had to work with for the rest of the day.
Race 1: lining up on the grid my goal was to try and keep up with Jen and see what this race stuff is like. Jen slides up to the third row so I position myself on the outside next to her. Start was sweet I stuck to the outside as per my normal line, saw everyone crowd into T1 so I go wide and overtake 3 bikes (Yay I overtook people!) Had an awesome time with Jen taking me so I had to work hard to pass her and the 2 slower riders that were holding us up… managed a sweet move on T1/2 and took all 3 and ended up 10th. Was amazed, top 10 in my first race! I over took people kept up, and got real close to other bikes.. mission 1 accomplished.
Race 2: With Jen and I in 12th and 10th place, I figure 3rd row is sweet on the grid, lining up in the same outside position, which seemed sweet in R1, my goal was to find Ms Boyd who came in 6th in race 1. Got a shit start as the VFR had nothing and was missing like crazy. Found something in 2nd as everyone flew past me, T1 I took the outside again and made up a few places and more through a (first ever) inside move on 2 bikes in T2. Closing in on Jen and the other 2 from the first race I’m struggling with gears and finding revs that work. Managed the outside manoeuvre in T1 to get past Jen and the other 2 and saw Ms Boyd in T4 when I was at T2, pinned my ears and caught up by T7. Stuck behind her through the chicane onto the back straight where I tried to accelerate after her and found nothing. Change down, nothing, coasted to the pits where I find I had no gas. Lessons learned: when you think you have enough gas, put more in and Ms Boyd wasn’t as far in front as I first thought. Result: DNF :(
Race 3: After my suspect start and DNF my goal was to better my start and finish this one. Warm up lap tells me the VFR isn’t happy in 2nd gear, missing at different revs now it was roulette out of a corner as to if it would go or no. Start was a no, found a gear with pep and resorted to the outside move on T1 to make up a few places and got zealous through T2 for a few more. Struggling with 8000rpm in 2nd I find 3rd gear a ripper to make up time round the big sweep to the tyre chicane. Lap 3 and I have nothing out of turn 5 and Jen fly’s past and I find myself struggling to keep up and my mind drifts to Jono’s comments about getting my knee down which I try on T7’s sweet left, no luck, I remember I’m in a race and push on to the chequered flag. Result: Finished, no knee down, must work on carb and airflow before next track day, stoked to watch Jen kick my ass and get more aggressive through the day.
So after all that, 13th overall for the day, I learned a hell of a lot, had a blast and was so stoked to have all my mates there with me enjoying the day. Roll on the next race and Vic Club winter series. Big thanks to Team Bent Spanner Racing; Eddy, Jill and Jono. Also mega thanks to Andy and Logan the mighty VFR mechanics.
Check out Dave from www.kiwibike.co.nz for all your insurance needs and track day coverage!
Round 4 of PMCC kicked off with a practice session, setting off behind Jen my goal was to keep up and see how the others in my class rode. First thing I notice is Tweety won’t rev over 11000rpm so I have to change gears in random places to keep up. Practice over and I’m on the phone to Logan to describe what was going on. Nothing major, but something I had to work with for the rest of the day.
Race 1: lining up on the grid my goal was to try and keep up with Jen and see what this race stuff is like. Jen slides up to the third row so I position myself on the outside next to her. Start was sweet I stuck to the outside as per my normal line, saw everyone crowd into T1 so I go wide and overtake 3 bikes (Yay I overtook people!) Had an awesome time with Jen taking me so I had to work hard to pass her and the 2 slower riders that were holding us up… managed a sweet move on T1/2 and took all 3 and ended up 10th. Was amazed, top 10 in my first race! I over took people kept up, and got real close to other bikes.. mission 1 accomplished.
Race 2: With Jen and I in 12th and 10th place, I figure 3rd row is sweet on the grid, lining up in the same outside position, which seemed sweet in R1, my goal was to find Ms Boyd who came in 6th in race 1. Got a shit start as the VFR had nothing and was missing like crazy. Found something in 2nd as everyone flew past me, T1 I took the outside again and made up a few places and more through a (first ever) inside move on 2 bikes in T2. Closing in on Jen and the other 2 from the first race I’m struggling with gears and finding revs that work. Managed the outside manoeuvre in T1 to get past Jen and the other 2 and saw Ms Boyd in T4 when I was at T2, pinned my ears and caught up by T7. Stuck behind her through the chicane onto the back straight where I tried to accelerate after her and found nothing. Change down, nothing, coasted to the pits where I find I had no gas. Lessons learned: when you think you have enough gas, put more in and Ms Boyd wasn’t as far in front as I first thought. Result: DNF :(
Race 3: After my suspect start and DNF my goal was to better my start and finish this one. Warm up lap tells me the VFR isn’t happy in 2nd gear, missing at different revs now it was roulette out of a corner as to if it would go or no. Start was a no, found a gear with pep and resorted to the outside move on T1 to make up a few places and got zealous through T2 for a few more. Struggling with 8000rpm in 2nd I find 3rd gear a ripper to make up time round the big sweep to the tyre chicane. Lap 3 and I have nothing out of turn 5 and Jen fly’s past and I find myself struggling to keep up and my mind drifts to Jono’s comments about getting my knee down which I try on T7’s sweet left, no luck, I remember I’m in a race and push on to the chequered flag. Result: Finished, no knee down, must work on carb and airflow before next track day, stoked to watch Jen kick my ass and get more aggressive through the day.
So after all that, 13th overall for the day, I learned a hell of a lot, had a blast and was so stoked to have all my mates there with me enjoying the day. Roll on the next race and Vic Club winter series. Big thanks to Team Bent Spanner Racing; Eddy, Jill and Jono. Also mega thanks to Andy and Logan the mighty VFR mechanics.
Check out Dave from www.kiwibike.co.nz for all your insurance needs and track day coverage!