FROSTY
3rd November 2007, 12:45
I had a nasty ol crash in May. Racing at Taupo track. I had a 5 minute nanna nap on the track mid race Busted my wrist up pretty bad and scrambled the few brain cells I still have.
Quite honestly ever since I've been pretty down -Trying to accept that I can't race a bike again due to the damage to the ol noggin -the wrist I figured I could work around.
After some fast talking by yours truely, the head doctors dealing with my head injury agreed that I should be fine to do a "couple" of laps -as long as I took it easy
I had to be on my own in case I hurt anyone else
Noone at The October KB trackday at Taupo (TD6) realised just how important that day was to me.
As lunch time-(my D day) aproached the nerves got worse and worse
Gearing up I was shaking like a leaf. It wasnt fear of crashing--I was shit scared I was physically or mentally not able to ride. (Actually to be honest thats an understatement --TERRIFIED is probably more apt.)
Black Ice (my sv650) was sitting ready for me all gassed up and tyre warmers on
Billy (the fairing meistro) had done a fantastic job of repairing the damage I'd done to Black Ice and the bike was back in its rightfull colours--BLACK
I got on -the shaking was so bad I had trouble putting the bike into gear.
Rolling out onto the track I had Codgyoldracer following me as a rolling marshal/mentor. He saw how nervous I was and said--"dont worry you'll be fine" --Yer right
The next 5 laps were a total nightmare- Riding scared just doesn't work and I stuffed up all the braking points and turn in points-- I even at one point went to peel onto a disused section of the old track at the midfield hairpin instead of A1GP turn. The Wrist Id smashed up was aching but holding up ok.
I rolled into the pits and made some adjustments to the bike --easing the clutch lever closer to the bar to reduce the strain on my wrist and a bit more front end preload.
I went back out on the track but slowed down HEAPS--(so slow Baby bikie on his 50 woulda been quicker than me.)
Getting a better feel for the bike I started to turn in propperly and my knee started to solidly plant on turn 1 and the sweeper.
the pace came up bit by bit to about 3/4 race pace -still slow but ok for now.Im starting to feel the rust and 6 months of no riding hinting at falling away.Still basicly wal;king the bike around turn 2/3 (where I crashed)but easing up in pace a bit there too
At that point some nasty little leprechaun climbed on my arm and began to stab my wrist with a sharp knife. Time to call it quits for now.
Rolling back to the pits I had tears rolling down my face. The relief is just HUGE ---yeeehaaa I CAN RIDE !!!!!!
Not fast, not smooth--but still Im on the track goin round and round again.
____________________________________________
End of the day and all the KBers are packing up.Codgy in an incredible act of generousity tossed his glove at me (kinda like tossing a roadbike key)and said --"Take mine for a ride frosty"
I hesitated for about oohh--a MICROSECOND.
His Sv is a total joy to ride. -its got the suspension sorted (ohlins rear YUMEEE) and the engine is fantastic.
1 slow lap to get a feel for the bike and I felt totally at home.
I had 10 minutes on the bike (Id happily have stayed out an hour to be honest)
I diddnt have timing gear but I could feel my flow coming back and I got smoother and faster as each lap rolled by.
Still nowhere near race pace but just focus on smoothing out the worst of the rough riding.
The leprechaun came back again as the 10 minutes were up stabbing his lil knife. Even so it was with a HUGE grin that I rolled into Codgys pits.
I feel as if a tonne weight has lifted off my shoulders.
I know Im not race fit and Ill have to adjust the bike even more to suit the weak arm but I CAN race again.
Quite honestly ever since I've been pretty down -Trying to accept that I can't race a bike again due to the damage to the ol noggin -the wrist I figured I could work around.
After some fast talking by yours truely, the head doctors dealing with my head injury agreed that I should be fine to do a "couple" of laps -as long as I took it easy
I had to be on my own in case I hurt anyone else
Noone at The October KB trackday at Taupo (TD6) realised just how important that day was to me.
As lunch time-(my D day) aproached the nerves got worse and worse
Gearing up I was shaking like a leaf. It wasnt fear of crashing--I was shit scared I was physically or mentally not able to ride. (Actually to be honest thats an understatement --TERRIFIED is probably more apt.)
Black Ice (my sv650) was sitting ready for me all gassed up and tyre warmers on
Billy (the fairing meistro) had done a fantastic job of repairing the damage I'd done to Black Ice and the bike was back in its rightfull colours--BLACK
I got on -the shaking was so bad I had trouble putting the bike into gear.
Rolling out onto the track I had Codgyoldracer following me as a rolling marshal/mentor. He saw how nervous I was and said--"dont worry you'll be fine" --Yer right
The next 5 laps were a total nightmare- Riding scared just doesn't work and I stuffed up all the braking points and turn in points-- I even at one point went to peel onto a disused section of the old track at the midfield hairpin instead of A1GP turn. The Wrist Id smashed up was aching but holding up ok.
I rolled into the pits and made some adjustments to the bike --easing the clutch lever closer to the bar to reduce the strain on my wrist and a bit more front end preload.
I went back out on the track but slowed down HEAPS--(so slow Baby bikie on his 50 woulda been quicker than me.)
Getting a better feel for the bike I started to turn in propperly and my knee started to solidly plant on turn 1 and the sweeper.
the pace came up bit by bit to about 3/4 race pace -still slow but ok for now.Im starting to feel the rust and 6 months of no riding hinting at falling away.Still basicly wal;king the bike around turn 2/3 (where I crashed)but easing up in pace a bit there too
At that point some nasty little leprechaun climbed on my arm and began to stab my wrist with a sharp knife. Time to call it quits for now.
Rolling back to the pits I had tears rolling down my face. The relief is just HUGE ---yeeehaaa I CAN RIDE !!!!!!
Not fast, not smooth--but still Im on the track goin round and round again.
____________________________________________
End of the day and all the KBers are packing up.Codgy in an incredible act of generousity tossed his glove at me (kinda like tossing a roadbike key)and said --"Take mine for a ride frosty"
I hesitated for about oohh--a MICROSECOND.
His Sv is a total joy to ride. -its got the suspension sorted (ohlins rear YUMEEE) and the engine is fantastic.
1 slow lap to get a feel for the bike and I felt totally at home.
I had 10 minutes on the bike (Id happily have stayed out an hour to be honest)
I diddnt have timing gear but I could feel my flow coming back and I got smoother and faster as each lap rolled by.
Still nowhere near race pace but just focus on smoothing out the worst of the rough riding.
The leprechaun came back again as the 10 minutes were up stabbing his lil knife. Even so it was with a HUGE grin that I rolled into Codgys pits.
I feel as if a tonne weight has lifted off my shoulders.
I know Im not race fit and Ill have to adjust the bike even more to suit the weak arm but I CAN race again.