Two Smoker
22nd July 2007, 23:01
Hey everyone
Sorry haven’t been able to keep up with KB lately, I am trying to average a minimum of 70 hours a week to semi pay for racing. When not working, i seem to be working on the bike hehehe....
Dramas: Well i ordered a Yoshi head gasket about a month ago, so Milky and I dropped the motor out and dropped it round to Gav’s for him to split the block and rebuild the motor, a week out from round 3 I made the call to put the stock head gasket in and put the motor back in the bike. Three days out from race day, I was taking the motor back inside at around midnight after Gav had rebuilt it. There was a little bit of oil on the head and the motor slipped out of one of my hands straight onto some concrete. Damage = smashed rocker cover, thankfully the cams were ok but i still needed a cover. After many phone calls to Colemans, Ray Clee and a couple others no one had one. Luckily after a call to Paul Booth, I managed to borrow one off Geoff for the race day, cheers for that guys...
After a big help from Milky and Gav the bike was put back together on Friday. We were on our way down to Fielding at about 1930 Friday night, and managed a good time in the bluebird and arrived down at Fielding at 0130 on Saturday morning.
Gav gave me a quick hand to sort out taking off the rocker cover, but then had to shoot off to spanner for Jimmy. Geoff turned up, and I got the rocker cover on and the bike back together. During riders briefing I asked Gav to bleed the radiator and start the bike. Thankfully walking back to the pits I heard the bike running. Then there was the waterfall coming from the thermostat... Not good... I was gutted, but Gav came to the rescue and shot off to get some radiator sealant. After lots of water and waiting the thermostat stopped leaking just in time for Qualifying.
Qualifying SSport: Track was wet, but due to working on the bike, didn’t have time to put on wets... Tyres still needed to be scrubbed in so took it very gingerly and slowly pushed harder. Conti Race attacks are amazing in the wet!!! Managed to get my knee down a couple of times, but was worried as I knew I hadn’t seen a couple of fast racers and there were some people out on wets. Much to my surprise I had qualified 2nd on Proddie tyres with a 1:23. Pole going to Johnathan Daley on wets with a 1:21 and Gorden Pullen on wets in 3rd with a 1:25. Closest guys on Proddie tyres were doing 1:27's.
Qualifying SBike: With a newfound confidence I pushed a little harder and the track had dried a bit. Slotted into 5th with a 1:19.3, first 600 with Jimmy Mair and Derek McAdam just in front with 1:17's.
Race 1 SS: Got a good start, but Jay got a wicked one too. Slotted in behind him right up his exhaust. Knew I could go faster, so got on the gas early out of the hairpin on lap one and slotted into 1st place. The bike was sliding in a very predictable way and I was feeling very comfortable. I kept my head down just waiting for Jay to poke his nose past. I laughed as the flag Marshall hesitated to put out the white flag for this nobody on the number 17 bike, but at the last second they did. I crossed the finish line and looked back but couldn’t see anyone. Jay finished 11 seconds behind me and I put down a best time of 1:15.208.
Race 1 SB: Got a good start again, but its hard to keep up with the raw power of the 1000's, braked hard and deep and slotted in behind Neil Martin and Jimmy. Went underneath Neil at the hairpin and got on the gas early to pass Jimmy. They then passed me at warp 9 down Denny Hulme straight. Locked onto Peter Tanner, I tried to go around the outside of him at turn 4 on the last lap, but it was a bit slippery and had a massive slide which chucked me out of the seat. Managed to catch it and quickly got back to business of passing Peter. Finished in 6th 0.7s behind Peter. Best time of 1:14.996 and was first 600.
Race 2 SS: Got an average start and got swamped, but out braked everyone and shot up the inside of Jay in turn one. Stayed in the lead for all 6 laps with Jay right on my tail 1.7s behind. Best time of 1:14.591
Race 2 SB: Got another average start and had heaps of thousands around me. Braked hard and late on the inside but was a bit sketchy on the mud, but luckily no slides and managed to slot into 7th. I stayed there chasing Neil really hard, but couldn’t match that power down those straights!!! Finished in 7th 1.3s behind Neil and 3.1s in front of Jay. Put down time of 1:13.995 (similar to my nationals pace, but the 1:13.995 was in damp conditions hehehe).
Race 3 SS: Got a good start and slotted in behind Jay. Took just under a lap to pass him. Stayed in the lead and worked on being smooth. Finished 1st, with Jay and Nick Cole just behind me by 1.4s. Best time of 1:14.658.
Race 3 SB: Got another good start and slotted in behind Jay. Jay was riding well, and I was pushing hard to try and pass him on the hairpin a few times. The 2004 GSXR is simply no match for the 07 ZX6R when it comes to power!!! Jay rode well, and pulled an amazing move on the last corner to go around the outside of Peter Tanner, onto the ripple strip, and then off the track, to then come back on the track to beat Peter. I finished 5th 1.2s behind Peter. Best time was 1:14.424.
Big thanks to Chloe for the support, Trev for the bike, Gav and Milky for helping work on the bike, Continental Tyres, Colemans Suzuki and all the people that gave me congratulations. Its been a long road for my recovery from my big crash, but things are coming together on the track and I’m starting to perform :niceone: I’ve got plenty to learn, and plenty of hard work to do. But I’m more than looking forward to it!!!
Cheers, Chris
Sorry haven’t been able to keep up with KB lately, I am trying to average a minimum of 70 hours a week to semi pay for racing. When not working, i seem to be working on the bike hehehe....
Dramas: Well i ordered a Yoshi head gasket about a month ago, so Milky and I dropped the motor out and dropped it round to Gav’s for him to split the block and rebuild the motor, a week out from round 3 I made the call to put the stock head gasket in and put the motor back in the bike. Three days out from race day, I was taking the motor back inside at around midnight after Gav had rebuilt it. There was a little bit of oil on the head and the motor slipped out of one of my hands straight onto some concrete. Damage = smashed rocker cover, thankfully the cams were ok but i still needed a cover. After many phone calls to Colemans, Ray Clee and a couple others no one had one. Luckily after a call to Paul Booth, I managed to borrow one off Geoff for the race day, cheers for that guys...
After a big help from Milky and Gav the bike was put back together on Friday. We were on our way down to Fielding at about 1930 Friday night, and managed a good time in the bluebird and arrived down at Fielding at 0130 on Saturday morning.
Gav gave me a quick hand to sort out taking off the rocker cover, but then had to shoot off to spanner for Jimmy. Geoff turned up, and I got the rocker cover on and the bike back together. During riders briefing I asked Gav to bleed the radiator and start the bike. Thankfully walking back to the pits I heard the bike running. Then there was the waterfall coming from the thermostat... Not good... I was gutted, but Gav came to the rescue and shot off to get some radiator sealant. After lots of water and waiting the thermostat stopped leaking just in time for Qualifying.
Qualifying SSport: Track was wet, but due to working on the bike, didn’t have time to put on wets... Tyres still needed to be scrubbed in so took it very gingerly and slowly pushed harder. Conti Race attacks are amazing in the wet!!! Managed to get my knee down a couple of times, but was worried as I knew I hadn’t seen a couple of fast racers and there were some people out on wets. Much to my surprise I had qualified 2nd on Proddie tyres with a 1:23. Pole going to Johnathan Daley on wets with a 1:21 and Gorden Pullen on wets in 3rd with a 1:25. Closest guys on Proddie tyres were doing 1:27's.
Qualifying SBike: With a newfound confidence I pushed a little harder and the track had dried a bit. Slotted into 5th with a 1:19.3, first 600 with Jimmy Mair and Derek McAdam just in front with 1:17's.
Race 1 SS: Got a good start, but Jay got a wicked one too. Slotted in behind him right up his exhaust. Knew I could go faster, so got on the gas early out of the hairpin on lap one and slotted into 1st place. The bike was sliding in a very predictable way and I was feeling very comfortable. I kept my head down just waiting for Jay to poke his nose past. I laughed as the flag Marshall hesitated to put out the white flag for this nobody on the number 17 bike, but at the last second they did. I crossed the finish line and looked back but couldn’t see anyone. Jay finished 11 seconds behind me and I put down a best time of 1:15.208.
Race 1 SB: Got a good start again, but its hard to keep up with the raw power of the 1000's, braked hard and deep and slotted in behind Neil Martin and Jimmy. Went underneath Neil at the hairpin and got on the gas early to pass Jimmy. They then passed me at warp 9 down Denny Hulme straight. Locked onto Peter Tanner, I tried to go around the outside of him at turn 4 on the last lap, but it was a bit slippery and had a massive slide which chucked me out of the seat. Managed to catch it and quickly got back to business of passing Peter. Finished in 6th 0.7s behind Peter. Best time of 1:14.996 and was first 600.
Race 2 SS: Got an average start and got swamped, but out braked everyone and shot up the inside of Jay in turn one. Stayed in the lead for all 6 laps with Jay right on my tail 1.7s behind. Best time of 1:14.591
Race 2 SB: Got another average start and had heaps of thousands around me. Braked hard and late on the inside but was a bit sketchy on the mud, but luckily no slides and managed to slot into 7th. I stayed there chasing Neil really hard, but couldn’t match that power down those straights!!! Finished in 7th 1.3s behind Neil and 3.1s in front of Jay. Put down time of 1:13.995 (similar to my nationals pace, but the 1:13.995 was in damp conditions hehehe).
Race 3 SS: Got a good start and slotted in behind Jay. Took just under a lap to pass him. Stayed in the lead and worked on being smooth. Finished 1st, with Jay and Nick Cole just behind me by 1.4s. Best time of 1:14.658.
Race 3 SB: Got another good start and slotted in behind Jay. Jay was riding well, and I was pushing hard to try and pass him on the hairpin a few times. The 2004 GSXR is simply no match for the 07 ZX6R when it comes to power!!! Jay rode well, and pulled an amazing move on the last corner to go around the outside of Peter Tanner, onto the ripple strip, and then off the track, to then come back on the track to beat Peter. I finished 5th 1.2s behind Peter. Best time was 1:14.424.
Big thanks to Chloe for the support, Trev for the bike, Gav and Milky for helping work on the bike, Continental Tyres, Colemans Suzuki and all the people that gave me congratulations. Its been a long road for my recovery from my big crash, but things are coming together on the track and I’m starting to perform :niceone: I’ve got plenty to learn, and plenty of hard work to do. But I’m more than looking forward to it!!!
Cheers, Chris