Danger
24th August 2007, 09:11
I very nearly did not make the Dead Toad. Three weeks off the bike after the Trail Blazer due to ongoing headaches and the fitness was at an all time low. I managed to get out for a couple of rides in the weeks before and felt terrible until the ride at the begining of the week of the Dead Toad. I was still 50-50 and a heavy work load the week prior and by Friday night I was strung out!
Then my mate Steve starts texting me and tells me some old friends of mine were going to be competing and reckon they were "going to have me!"
So up early on Saturday, with a big work load in front of me. The bike was still dirty and needed some work. A wash, new tires, new chain and sprockets, over haul the linkage, repack the muffler, change the air filter and gear box oil, fix my broken roost protecter, sort out some goggles that I could see out of, it was all ahead of me. I was begining to remember why I retired from racing in the 80's! In the end I did it all except the chain and sprockets, thought they could last another few weeks with a new joining link.
Found out that laps were going to about an hour long. I was pleased with this because I had no quick fill and did not want to do extra pit stops than my mates on their KTM's.
I was pitting from the Chop pit area, he :motu: when I asked how his new trailbike was going! :devil2:
John Carson from Xtreme Wholesale said that he would pit for me. :sweatdrop
Shot gun start up on the Wightman farm. Did a practice start, 2nd gear and the bike started first kick. Sweet! Craig :2guns: and I drop my hands from my head and the damn bike doesn't fire the first kick!:doh: 2nd kick and I'm off but midpack! Keep it cool, there are a few guys slipping out on the farm. A log jam at the gate, a few guys pushing their way through and I loose a few more places. Then we are up the fence line over the whoops. Now I'm being held up. We get into the tight bush, its all one line and I try to relax and stay calm, but ready for the more open areas to try and get some passing in. The pace is slow and I'm getting frustrated. That poor start really was hurting now.
Finally we hit a few more open parts and guys are getting stuck on tree roots etc. I manage to go wide in a few places and miss alot of the carnage and get by 2 or 3 riders at a time. I'm not to confident in the new tyres yet, but they are hooking up. Its just the tree roots that they don't have too much feel on and I reflect that the stiff tire walls could have done with less pressure. Oh well, too late now.
We hit the first Toad option, which is shorter but harder, or you can take the Chicken option which is easier but longer. Of course I take the hard option, but there is a rider already sideways on his bike half way up. As long as the rider in front of me clears the open line I will be sweet. He doesn't and I pile into the back of him 3/4 of the way up and fall over.:slap:
Pick the bike up, and try to kick it while standing on the uphill side of the bike. The intention is to push it the rest of the way, but it wont start!:argh:
Bump it back down the hill as the riders are streaming by in the other direction. Take the Chicken option and try to recover. I feel terrible.
Rejoin the race and am even further back in the field.
Riding like a bunny now, and feel the presure from behind. Eventually I recover and start looking for passing opportunitys. A few wider trails enable me to pass a few, but the track is mostly tight.
About half way around I catch my friend Steve on his 300. I follow him for a bit and get soaked from his roost through a few big puddles. I'm soaking but I managed to duck my head and have about 50% visabillity. I pass him quickly and get by a few more riders before the pitstop.
Half a banana and a fuel top up and I'm off on lap two. My first lap was about 1 03. I feel better after the pitstop, but that soon changes. I get back into the tight stuff and there is no one in front or behind that I can hear. Where did everyone go?
I come to another Toad or Chicken option. The Wigtman clan are at the top watching, I sneak a peak over the top of the Toad option to see how steep it is but then I'm commited and there is no going back. Next thing the back is over taking the front and I'm flying in the air heading for a tree! I raise my arm to protect my head and hit the ground with my bike on top of me. I jump straight up unhurt except for some grazing and thankfully the bike is facing down hill. I pick it up, the Wightman kids are screaming at me, I bump it down the hill and I'm off. Didn't loose to much time, but I feel terrible.
Struggle for a time with no rythm, then come up on a small clay bank with my mate Steve who must have beat me through the pit stop with his quick fill stuck on the left. The only option for me is over a nasty tree root at the top of a rut. I hit it as hard as I have the energy for, but get stuck. Wrestle my bike back down the rut and Steve gets up the left side. Hit the left side myself at an angle and quickly slide out and fall over. Damn! The strength drains from my arms and my heart explodes and the lungs burn.
Pick the bike up, and I don't have any energy to kick it. Other riders are arriving now and get stuck on the tree root. I have to get moving. I think I see Steve over the top looking at his bike.
I back up the bike, finally get it going and launch up the hill. I make it but I'm feeling weak and ready to pull over and ly on the ground. But I see Steve and I get past him. His hands were cramping and he was riding as bad as I was.
It takes me a half lap to recover, and I struggle over the whoops. I'm riding like a pink ladies blouse and the bike is wallowing at these slow speeds.
I recover a bit on the first long gravel section but I notice some riders heading down a fire break and missing out some of the new trail that Chris Birch and his gang have cut. I follow the course as set out and almost get T boned by a plonker on a four stroke KTM who came up the fire trail at a rapid rate of knots and must have gaind a few minutes. Now I'm stuck behind him and angry.
I follow him for ages on the single track and eventually come to an area which is open and multi lined. I pull out the stops but I'm getting roosted big time up the gravel climb. I hold it pinned and get the inside line through the gate and brake check him through the ruts before we hit the single track and make the pass. I can't hear him and guess he either fell or stalled. Oh well, I don't hear from him again the rest of the race.
Thankfully I hit the long gravel road and hold it pinned. I'm crouched down behind the bars, the bike is screaming and I pass a few bikes, thanking myself that I didn't change out the 48 tooth rear for a 49.
Hit the single track and there is a guy on a KXF on my tail. I feel better, but not up to hammering all the whoops before the pit stop. I hammer the first set, then back of a little and the KXF flys by.
Into the pits and John and Craig from Wild West Honda are there to help. I'm too puffed to eat anything, and John is being carefull not to spill any fuel. Craig says I'm doing well which gives me strengh and I grap the fuel can of John and invert it until the fuel over flows. I'm off again and my bike stalls at the time check while I'm trying to get the transponder to read. 1.08, alot slower due to my incident on the clay climb.
I feel better again and dread the clay section. I try to get it out of my mind and stay calm. The cramp trys to take my left leg, so I try to stand a bit more. I used to stand all the time but its foreign to me now because of my crippled hand due to a bike crash and I have to sit most of the time for grip.
A few bikes are catching me up, I've slowed down and I'm struggling to flow through the tight stuff.
I reach the Toad option where I endoed and decide to take the Chicken trail, but man its long and I loose about 2 minutes! I over shoot a corner slightly and I stop and indicate to the two riders on my tail the correct direction. Little do I know that I've been leading my class and I just gave up the lead!
We reach the dreaded clay section but the track has been cut through the gorse. I tell myself I'll be ok now, I just need to get over the whoop section half way around.
I pretty much trail ride the rest of the race, the fight is gone, but I catch and pass the KXF rider. He pulls over for me and I guess he feels worse than I do. He is the first and only rider that pulls over the whole race for me. Thanks dude!
I put on a brave face at the finish and manage to hold the cramps off until I pass the finish line. Another 1.08, but about 45 seconds faster than my 2nd lap. I can't bend my arms to take of the transponder, the right arm is seized straight with cramp.
I finish 2nd in class by just over a minute, and 28th over all. Fitness levels were my downfall and I never felt fast. But Waitemata Motorcycle Club and Chris Birch put on a great event and I'll try and do some training before the next one.
Chop does not look too happy at the end of the race and doesn't want to talk.
I beat all my friends and everyone I wanted to, but for my friend AJ who wins his class. He does laps under an hour for the most part and blows his gearbox but still finishes.
Paul Whibley does consistant lap times of around 50-51 minutes and was the clear winner. What a machine!
Thanks to my pit crew, John and Craig. It would have been alot tougher having to pit for myself. Thanks guys.
I hope to be back for next year.
Then my mate Steve starts texting me and tells me some old friends of mine were going to be competing and reckon they were "going to have me!"
So up early on Saturday, with a big work load in front of me. The bike was still dirty and needed some work. A wash, new tires, new chain and sprockets, over haul the linkage, repack the muffler, change the air filter and gear box oil, fix my broken roost protecter, sort out some goggles that I could see out of, it was all ahead of me. I was begining to remember why I retired from racing in the 80's! In the end I did it all except the chain and sprockets, thought they could last another few weeks with a new joining link.
Found out that laps were going to about an hour long. I was pleased with this because I had no quick fill and did not want to do extra pit stops than my mates on their KTM's.
I was pitting from the Chop pit area, he :motu: when I asked how his new trailbike was going! :devil2:
John Carson from Xtreme Wholesale said that he would pit for me. :sweatdrop
Shot gun start up on the Wightman farm. Did a practice start, 2nd gear and the bike started first kick. Sweet! Craig :2guns: and I drop my hands from my head and the damn bike doesn't fire the first kick!:doh: 2nd kick and I'm off but midpack! Keep it cool, there are a few guys slipping out on the farm. A log jam at the gate, a few guys pushing their way through and I loose a few more places. Then we are up the fence line over the whoops. Now I'm being held up. We get into the tight bush, its all one line and I try to relax and stay calm, but ready for the more open areas to try and get some passing in. The pace is slow and I'm getting frustrated. That poor start really was hurting now.
Finally we hit a few more open parts and guys are getting stuck on tree roots etc. I manage to go wide in a few places and miss alot of the carnage and get by 2 or 3 riders at a time. I'm not to confident in the new tyres yet, but they are hooking up. Its just the tree roots that they don't have too much feel on and I reflect that the stiff tire walls could have done with less pressure. Oh well, too late now.
We hit the first Toad option, which is shorter but harder, or you can take the Chicken option which is easier but longer. Of course I take the hard option, but there is a rider already sideways on his bike half way up. As long as the rider in front of me clears the open line I will be sweet. He doesn't and I pile into the back of him 3/4 of the way up and fall over.:slap:
Pick the bike up, and try to kick it while standing on the uphill side of the bike. The intention is to push it the rest of the way, but it wont start!:argh:
Bump it back down the hill as the riders are streaming by in the other direction. Take the Chicken option and try to recover. I feel terrible.
Rejoin the race and am even further back in the field.
Riding like a bunny now, and feel the presure from behind. Eventually I recover and start looking for passing opportunitys. A few wider trails enable me to pass a few, but the track is mostly tight.
About half way around I catch my friend Steve on his 300. I follow him for a bit and get soaked from his roost through a few big puddles. I'm soaking but I managed to duck my head and have about 50% visabillity. I pass him quickly and get by a few more riders before the pitstop.
Half a banana and a fuel top up and I'm off on lap two. My first lap was about 1 03. I feel better after the pitstop, but that soon changes. I get back into the tight stuff and there is no one in front or behind that I can hear. Where did everyone go?
I come to another Toad or Chicken option. The Wigtman clan are at the top watching, I sneak a peak over the top of the Toad option to see how steep it is but then I'm commited and there is no going back. Next thing the back is over taking the front and I'm flying in the air heading for a tree! I raise my arm to protect my head and hit the ground with my bike on top of me. I jump straight up unhurt except for some grazing and thankfully the bike is facing down hill. I pick it up, the Wightman kids are screaming at me, I bump it down the hill and I'm off. Didn't loose to much time, but I feel terrible.
Struggle for a time with no rythm, then come up on a small clay bank with my mate Steve who must have beat me through the pit stop with his quick fill stuck on the left. The only option for me is over a nasty tree root at the top of a rut. I hit it as hard as I have the energy for, but get stuck. Wrestle my bike back down the rut and Steve gets up the left side. Hit the left side myself at an angle and quickly slide out and fall over. Damn! The strength drains from my arms and my heart explodes and the lungs burn.
Pick the bike up, and I don't have any energy to kick it. Other riders are arriving now and get stuck on the tree root. I have to get moving. I think I see Steve over the top looking at his bike.
I back up the bike, finally get it going and launch up the hill. I make it but I'm feeling weak and ready to pull over and ly on the ground. But I see Steve and I get past him. His hands were cramping and he was riding as bad as I was.
It takes me a half lap to recover, and I struggle over the whoops. I'm riding like a pink ladies blouse and the bike is wallowing at these slow speeds.
I recover a bit on the first long gravel section but I notice some riders heading down a fire break and missing out some of the new trail that Chris Birch and his gang have cut. I follow the course as set out and almost get T boned by a plonker on a four stroke KTM who came up the fire trail at a rapid rate of knots and must have gaind a few minutes. Now I'm stuck behind him and angry.
I follow him for ages on the single track and eventually come to an area which is open and multi lined. I pull out the stops but I'm getting roosted big time up the gravel climb. I hold it pinned and get the inside line through the gate and brake check him through the ruts before we hit the single track and make the pass. I can't hear him and guess he either fell or stalled. Oh well, I don't hear from him again the rest of the race.
Thankfully I hit the long gravel road and hold it pinned. I'm crouched down behind the bars, the bike is screaming and I pass a few bikes, thanking myself that I didn't change out the 48 tooth rear for a 49.
Hit the single track and there is a guy on a KXF on my tail. I feel better, but not up to hammering all the whoops before the pit stop. I hammer the first set, then back of a little and the KXF flys by.
Into the pits and John and Craig from Wild West Honda are there to help. I'm too puffed to eat anything, and John is being carefull not to spill any fuel. Craig says I'm doing well which gives me strengh and I grap the fuel can of John and invert it until the fuel over flows. I'm off again and my bike stalls at the time check while I'm trying to get the transponder to read. 1.08, alot slower due to my incident on the clay climb.
I feel better again and dread the clay section. I try to get it out of my mind and stay calm. The cramp trys to take my left leg, so I try to stand a bit more. I used to stand all the time but its foreign to me now because of my crippled hand due to a bike crash and I have to sit most of the time for grip.
A few bikes are catching me up, I've slowed down and I'm struggling to flow through the tight stuff.
I reach the Toad option where I endoed and decide to take the Chicken trail, but man its long and I loose about 2 minutes! I over shoot a corner slightly and I stop and indicate to the two riders on my tail the correct direction. Little do I know that I've been leading my class and I just gave up the lead!
We reach the dreaded clay section but the track has been cut through the gorse. I tell myself I'll be ok now, I just need to get over the whoop section half way around.
I pretty much trail ride the rest of the race, the fight is gone, but I catch and pass the KXF rider. He pulls over for me and I guess he feels worse than I do. He is the first and only rider that pulls over the whole race for me. Thanks dude!
I put on a brave face at the finish and manage to hold the cramps off until I pass the finish line. Another 1.08, but about 45 seconds faster than my 2nd lap. I can't bend my arms to take of the transponder, the right arm is seized straight with cramp.
I finish 2nd in class by just over a minute, and 28th over all. Fitness levels were my downfall and I never felt fast. But Waitemata Motorcycle Club and Chris Birch put on a great event and I'll try and do some training before the next one.
Chop does not look too happy at the end of the race and doesn't want to talk.
I beat all my friends and everyone I wanted to, but for my friend AJ who wins his class. He does laps under an hour for the most part and blows his gearbox but still finishes.
Paul Whibley does consistant lap times of around 50-51 minutes and was the clear winner. What a machine!
Thanks to my pit crew, John and Craig. It would have been alot tougher having to pit for myself. Thanks guys.
I hope to be back for next year.