Nicksta
23rd July 2007, 21:25
VMCC Round 3
21st July 07
Flying in from the USA one day before racing I knew I was pushing my luck without any riding in the last 5 weeks to prepare for round 3 and my body still in Eastern Time. With some new Under Armour to keep me warm under my leathers I packed up Tweety, my buddy (and stand in pit crew) Richard and I picked up Death to head to Manfeild for our 2nd attempt at the mines. Goals for round 4: Stay awake, qualify in top 5 Clubmans B and attempt 1:25’s.
Qualifying: The track was wet and it was trying to rain. Plan was to take it easy for 2 laps, put in 2 fast laps and pull in. I found myself at the back so slowed to get some clear track. Down the back straight for the 2nd time I sped up to prepare for a fast lap. Crossing the painted gridlines Tweety lost traction for the first time and tried to spit me off, rode it out and breathed a big relief. T2 the back end was sliding again, ok, its more slippery than I thought. Time to get a fast time and pull in. I gritted my teeth and told myself to ride smooth, faster each lap, I managed a 1:32.7. Not fast but landed me 11th on the grid and 1st in B class by .24 of a second. My best qualifying yet :Punk:
Race 1: Starting positioned behind Aria, I was hoping to follow her into T1. With not much of a game plan I grid up. Flag dropped and bikes instantly engulfed me, I had completely forgot I was a little 400 in front of 600+cc’s. Rounding splash bikes all around me I go wide, suddenly I get shunted in my back, I yelped and took a deep breath thanking my lucky stars I didn’t go flying. Settling in to a rhythm I slowly catch Vicki and an SV650. Confidence setting in and concentration diminishing, I push to keep up. Lap 5 and I head wide into splash as I was too close to Vicki, glancing left where I wanted to be I saw bikes, brain shut off and I head straight, braked (stupid) but it was too late, over the rumble strip and on the grass, I instantly loose it in the deep mud :shit: Result: Tweety and myself covered in mud and I’m kicking myself for pushing when I should have played safe and sat behind the faster bikes.
Pushing Tweety back to the pits channelled some anger at myself, I was calm when I reached Richard and Andy. In no time the guys had my rearset off and replaced and we were washing Tweety (and myself) down to get ready for race 2.
Race 2: Worrying about my slippery replacement foot peg I got engulfed in T1 again. Freaking out around T1, I watched 2 bikes narrowly miss big time, I buttoned off and bikes flew past. I lost my nerve and watched Steven and a few others fly past. Finding my foot constantly slipping off my replacement peg I struggled under breaking. Noticeably slowing for splash, I then found myself at Higgins in the biggest slide I have had, thinking oh f*ck this is it, my peg slams the tarmac, I push on the peg and my tyre grips again. With massive relief, I took it easy to finish the race. Result: 5th place and happy to have finished. Plan for R3: Make a plan for T1.
I come back from getting my times to find Andy and Rich have jimmied my old rearset back on with the shifter rod thingy from the spare connected. Much appreciated thanks guys! Was just the confidence boost I needed, as I was tiring and worried about struggling for another race.
Race 3: Plan for T1 was: go round the outside and take a faster wide line into T2. Plan worked till I got to the apex of T1, I glanced at the rumble strip and it was all over. Made it round, but not gracefully and lost a lot of speed. With my nerves shot, I watched Steven disappear and I latched on to the back of Warren on his 400 and followed him home to place 5th again. Lesson learned: focus, focus, and focus.
I was happy with my 5th overall for the day considering my play in the mud. I have learned more in one day about more aspects of racing than I think I have so far this year. Thank you Richard and Andy for all your help (and driving while I slept off my jetlag :zzzz:). Good to see everyone again, (you go girl Aria! And WT, what a machine!) Nice to meet you Paul (RROF thanks for the advice on splash).
Many thanks to Dave from Kiwibike Insurance, for your ongoing support and encouragement, without which, my racing wouldn’t be possible. Thank you.
Roll on the Long track at round 4 and Bent Spanner Racing coming out in force!
21st July 07
Flying in from the USA one day before racing I knew I was pushing my luck without any riding in the last 5 weeks to prepare for round 3 and my body still in Eastern Time. With some new Under Armour to keep me warm under my leathers I packed up Tweety, my buddy (and stand in pit crew) Richard and I picked up Death to head to Manfeild for our 2nd attempt at the mines. Goals for round 4: Stay awake, qualify in top 5 Clubmans B and attempt 1:25’s.
Qualifying: The track was wet and it was trying to rain. Plan was to take it easy for 2 laps, put in 2 fast laps and pull in. I found myself at the back so slowed to get some clear track. Down the back straight for the 2nd time I sped up to prepare for a fast lap. Crossing the painted gridlines Tweety lost traction for the first time and tried to spit me off, rode it out and breathed a big relief. T2 the back end was sliding again, ok, its more slippery than I thought. Time to get a fast time and pull in. I gritted my teeth and told myself to ride smooth, faster each lap, I managed a 1:32.7. Not fast but landed me 11th on the grid and 1st in B class by .24 of a second. My best qualifying yet :Punk:
Race 1: Starting positioned behind Aria, I was hoping to follow her into T1. With not much of a game plan I grid up. Flag dropped and bikes instantly engulfed me, I had completely forgot I was a little 400 in front of 600+cc’s. Rounding splash bikes all around me I go wide, suddenly I get shunted in my back, I yelped and took a deep breath thanking my lucky stars I didn’t go flying. Settling in to a rhythm I slowly catch Vicki and an SV650. Confidence setting in and concentration diminishing, I push to keep up. Lap 5 and I head wide into splash as I was too close to Vicki, glancing left where I wanted to be I saw bikes, brain shut off and I head straight, braked (stupid) but it was too late, over the rumble strip and on the grass, I instantly loose it in the deep mud :shit: Result: Tweety and myself covered in mud and I’m kicking myself for pushing when I should have played safe and sat behind the faster bikes.
Pushing Tweety back to the pits channelled some anger at myself, I was calm when I reached Richard and Andy. In no time the guys had my rearset off and replaced and we were washing Tweety (and myself) down to get ready for race 2.
Race 2: Worrying about my slippery replacement foot peg I got engulfed in T1 again. Freaking out around T1, I watched 2 bikes narrowly miss big time, I buttoned off and bikes flew past. I lost my nerve and watched Steven and a few others fly past. Finding my foot constantly slipping off my replacement peg I struggled under breaking. Noticeably slowing for splash, I then found myself at Higgins in the biggest slide I have had, thinking oh f*ck this is it, my peg slams the tarmac, I push on the peg and my tyre grips again. With massive relief, I took it easy to finish the race. Result: 5th place and happy to have finished. Plan for R3: Make a plan for T1.
I come back from getting my times to find Andy and Rich have jimmied my old rearset back on with the shifter rod thingy from the spare connected. Much appreciated thanks guys! Was just the confidence boost I needed, as I was tiring and worried about struggling for another race.
Race 3: Plan for T1 was: go round the outside and take a faster wide line into T2. Plan worked till I got to the apex of T1, I glanced at the rumble strip and it was all over. Made it round, but not gracefully and lost a lot of speed. With my nerves shot, I watched Steven disappear and I latched on to the back of Warren on his 400 and followed him home to place 5th again. Lesson learned: focus, focus, and focus.
I was happy with my 5th overall for the day considering my play in the mud. I have learned more in one day about more aspects of racing than I think I have so far this year. Thank you Richard and Andy for all your help (and driving while I slept off my jetlag :zzzz:). Good to see everyone again, (you go girl Aria! And WT, what a machine!) Nice to meet you Paul (RROF thanks for the advice on splash).
Many thanks to Dave from Kiwibike Insurance, for your ongoing support and encouragement, without which, my racing wouldn’t be possible. Thank you.
Roll on the Long track at round 4 and Bent Spanner Racing coming out in force!