NinjaBoy
20th November 2007, 23:36
PMC Round 1, 18 Nov 07
After a first outing in early Oct and ˝ dozen track days to get familiar with and fine tune the newish GSXR600, I thought it was time to have another go at this racing thing.
Unevent drive down to Taupo on Saturday afternoon with Leong, dinner and early night in preparation for what was forecasted as a warm dry race day. Arrived at the track early to share a garage with Nicki, Jase, Leong and Mark. Usual routine of setting up, sign-in, scrutineering and waited for the riders briefing.
Signing up for Clubmans I noticed there was only 9 entries in the class.
Practice: Got out on the track mid pack and spent a couple of laps getting into the groove. I hadn’t ridden Taupo’s Track 2 in a while and was getting use to seeing the tyre wall at the end of the sweeping back straight. I then upp’ed my pace and cut through the field to see who my competition was. Spent most of practice following and dicing with someone on an R1 before we were both passed effortlessly by a green ZX600. Got back to the garage totally knackered wondering how I was going to get through a 10 lap race.
Race 1: After watching the first 5 races and the chaotic multi-class starts, they decided to take a lunch break before running the first Clubmans race. A briefing at lunchtime confirmed they were going to re-run the first two races at the end of the day. Finally we lined up for what was now an 8 lap race. Raced around the warmup lap to grid on the front row. Got a good start but the red VFR on my right got a better one. However it succumbed to the extra HP and looked like I might make it around turn 1 first. However the green ZX got me on the inside and I was forced to make some space, so 2nd around turn 1. I spent the rest of the race chasing the green machine, getting close on some corners but not quite close enough to pass. So after 8 laps I came in 2nd.
Race 2: After a ‘pep’ talk from Nicki about not giving way (this was not a trackday!) and getting to turn 1 first, set me up for what was now a 6 lap race. This time we lined up on the grid as per our last race result. Same position for me but now the R1 I was dicing with in practice, was on my right. We waited a long time for the Red flag to get off the track, then they held the Green up for ages (heart was now really pounding) then the drop. Nailed the start at full revs, but the two 1000cc bikes next to me were always going to win the drag race. So I got around turn 1 in 3rd with the R1 and a road going GSXR1000 (F1 rider who binned his Aprillia earlier) in front but the green ZX was behind me!
Followed the pair for couple of laps, until I gained the confidence to stuff it up the inside of the R1 in turn 4. Then realised this was the fastest and sharpest angle I ever taken Turn 4 ! Freaked out a little and went a bit wide almost forcing the R1 onto the grass, but sure enough the ZX took the opportunity to pass us both into turn 5. So I’m still 3rd, the R1 dropped 2 places and the ZX gained 2. Somewhere along the way the R1 got ahead of me. I managed to get past 2 more times but could not make it stick for more than a couple of corners. Somewhere the GSXR let us pass and I came in 3rd.
I was totally knackered but satisfied with the day’s results. Thanks has to go to Nicki, Jase, Leong and Mike for their advice and support. Special thanks goes to Leong for putting up with me over the last few months of ranting and driving me around during the weekend. And Nicki for the special advice for race 2. Also to Nicki’s parents for their general support and help during the day.
After a first outing in early Oct and ˝ dozen track days to get familiar with and fine tune the newish GSXR600, I thought it was time to have another go at this racing thing.
Unevent drive down to Taupo on Saturday afternoon with Leong, dinner and early night in preparation for what was forecasted as a warm dry race day. Arrived at the track early to share a garage with Nicki, Jase, Leong and Mark. Usual routine of setting up, sign-in, scrutineering and waited for the riders briefing.
Signing up for Clubmans I noticed there was only 9 entries in the class.
Practice: Got out on the track mid pack and spent a couple of laps getting into the groove. I hadn’t ridden Taupo’s Track 2 in a while and was getting use to seeing the tyre wall at the end of the sweeping back straight. I then upp’ed my pace and cut through the field to see who my competition was. Spent most of practice following and dicing with someone on an R1 before we were both passed effortlessly by a green ZX600. Got back to the garage totally knackered wondering how I was going to get through a 10 lap race.
Race 1: After watching the first 5 races and the chaotic multi-class starts, they decided to take a lunch break before running the first Clubmans race. A briefing at lunchtime confirmed they were going to re-run the first two races at the end of the day. Finally we lined up for what was now an 8 lap race. Raced around the warmup lap to grid on the front row. Got a good start but the red VFR on my right got a better one. However it succumbed to the extra HP and looked like I might make it around turn 1 first. However the green ZX got me on the inside and I was forced to make some space, so 2nd around turn 1. I spent the rest of the race chasing the green machine, getting close on some corners but not quite close enough to pass. So after 8 laps I came in 2nd.
Race 2: After a ‘pep’ talk from Nicki about not giving way (this was not a trackday!) and getting to turn 1 first, set me up for what was now a 6 lap race. This time we lined up on the grid as per our last race result. Same position for me but now the R1 I was dicing with in practice, was on my right. We waited a long time for the Red flag to get off the track, then they held the Green up for ages (heart was now really pounding) then the drop. Nailed the start at full revs, but the two 1000cc bikes next to me were always going to win the drag race. So I got around turn 1 in 3rd with the R1 and a road going GSXR1000 (F1 rider who binned his Aprillia earlier) in front but the green ZX was behind me!
Followed the pair for couple of laps, until I gained the confidence to stuff it up the inside of the R1 in turn 4. Then realised this was the fastest and sharpest angle I ever taken Turn 4 ! Freaked out a little and went a bit wide almost forcing the R1 onto the grass, but sure enough the ZX took the opportunity to pass us both into turn 5. So I’m still 3rd, the R1 dropped 2 places and the ZX gained 2. Somewhere along the way the R1 got ahead of me. I managed to get past 2 more times but could not make it stick for more than a couple of corners. Somewhere the GSXR let us pass and I came in 3rd.
I was totally knackered but satisfied with the day’s results. Thanks has to go to Nicki, Jase, Leong and Mike for their advice and support. Special thanks goes to Leong for putting up with me over the last few months of ranting and driving me around during the weekend. And Nicki for the special advice for race 2. Also to Nicki’s parents for their general support and help during the day.