Matt Bleck
22nd June 2008, 19:50
So we arrive at the track at about 7.15, claim a spot in the free sheltered pit/horse stables and start unpacking our gear. I got the bike on the stands and put on the tyre warmers. Time to get my day licence. So I stroll over get my licence and transponder, sweet!
Once I got the transponder on I thought I'd go have a wee look see at the track seeing as I've never ride on it before. On the way back I see Jimmy walking around with a baby stroller and decide to go give him shit, I mentioned I'd never been on the track before and he so kindly offered to show me some lines in the first couple of laps in qualifing as he had a new front tyre to scrubb in, sweet!
Next was riders briefing, where I found out I'd be able to get a few laps in the scrubb in session. So I went out to get some laps in and start learning the track. It went well but i found the front chattering into turn 1 & turn 6 as well as that a couple of times I got the rear chattering from going down one gear to many, all part of the learning process I guess.
Format for the day meant that Superbike was second to last for qual so I thought I might see if i could pick up any thing from the Super Sport guys, at least see where people where braking off the pit straight. Caught up with Eddie and ArcherWC at the pit wall, both of them happy to give me some good pointers, my favorite was don't think about falling off!
Qualifying: We head out and three corners in it's obivous Jimmy's got a problem, so after the hair pin he was gone. I just did laps, trying string it all together, braking markers, turn in points, looking for any mark on the track to help remember. Managed to get 8 laps in doing a 1.14.716, which put me 13th on the grid, ahead of Eddie, Archer and...... Mr White Trash! I could of gone home right then in there, surely these guys are quacking!?
Race 1:I managed to start alright but got on the brakes to early with Jimmy shooting up the inside, doh! The first corner is insane, I've never had so many bikes going that fast so close to me. Second corner is just as bad with a few people going around the outside and then shutting the door on me. I have to be more agressive, it was hard to brake the trackday mentality and stick it up the inside. Eddie get's past going into turn 6, he was quacking it up! I tried to hang on, but it would appear that he is faster than I. So 6 laps later and I cross the line in 15th place. Oh well, I managed to beat about 19 others.
Race 2: Start was a balls up, but I did brake later going into turn 1, trying to hold my spot. Archer passed me I think at the entrance to Dunlop, doh, it took me 3 laps to get past him again, but after that I was away, things were starting to come together and passing people seemed to get a bit easier. About half way through the race I notice Jimmy on the side of the track, sweet, thats gunna help! Gave him toot as i went past. :D I finished this one in 11th! Setting my fastest time of the day in lap 7 with a 1.14.087! Stoked! But the the best bit was I didn't bin it.
I'm wrapped, I set myself 2 goals for my first ever road race meet, the first, not to crash, check! The second I thought was a bit unrealistic, 10th over all on the day, well I managed 12th. Granted there was a bit of luck with some of the quick guys getting DNF's, but as they say, To finish first, first you must finish!
Ok now the kudos! Thanks to Steve and Gigabyte Solutionz, it simply would not of happened with out this guy! Expand a sign for the trailer and gazebo. MotoTT Trackdays for the frame sliders (thanks Kev!) and all the track time. To the famliy for putting up with Dad being out in the shed every night for the last 3 weeks. And last but not least a huge thank you to all the people who have kept telling me "you should go racing". Good on ya mate! ;)
Pics:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/album.php?albumid=416&pictureid=4237
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/album.php?albumid=416&pictureid=4236
http://www.racepics.net.nz/main.php?g2_itemId=74800
http://www.speedsport.net.nz/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=6180
http://www.speedsport.net.nz/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8376
See you at Round 3!
Once I got the transponder on I thought I'd go have a wee look see at the track seeing as I've never ride on it before. On the way back I see Jimmy walking around with a baby stroller and decide to go give him shit, I mentioned I'd never been on the track before and he so kindly offered to show me some lines in the first couple of laps in qualifing as he had a new front tyre to scrubb in, sweet!
Next was riders briefing, where I found out I'd be able to get a few laps in the scrubb in session. So I went out to get some laps in and start learning the track. It went well but i found the front chattering into turn 1 & turn 6 as well as that a couple of times I got the rear chattering from going down one gear to many, all part of the learning process I guess.
Format for the day meant that Superbike was second to last for qual so I thought I might see if i could pick up any thing from the Super Sport guys, at least see where people where braking off the pit straight. Caught up with Eddie and ArcherWC at the pit wall, both of them happy to give me some good pointers, my favorite was don't think about falling off!
Qualifying: We head out and three corners in it's obivous Jimmy's got a problem, so after the hair pin he was gone. I just did laps, trying string it all together, braking markers, turn in points, looking for any mark on the track to help remember. Managed to get 8 laps in doing a 1.14.716, which put me 13th on the grid, ahead of Eddie, Archer and...... Mr White Trash! I could of gone home right then in there, surely these guys are quacking!?
Race 1:I managed to start alright but got on the brakes to early with Jimmy shooting up the inside, doh! The first corner is insane, I've never had so many bikes going that fast so close to me. Second corner is just as bad with a few people going around the outside and then shutting the door on me. I have to be more agressive, it was hard to brake the trackday mentality and stick it up the inside. Eddie get's past going into turn 6, he was quacking it up! I tried to hang on, but it would appear that he is faster than I. So 6 laps later and I cross the line in 15th place. Oh well, I managed to beat about 19 others.
Race 2: Start was a balls up, but I did brake later going into turn 1, trying to hold my spot. Archer passed me I think at the entrance to Dunlop, doh, it took me 3 laps to get past him again, but after that I was away, things were starting to come together and passing people seemed to get a bit easier. About half way through the race I notice Jimmy on the side of the track, sweet, thats gunna help! Gave him toot as i went past. :D I finished this one in 11th! Setting my fastest time of the day in lap 7 with a 1.14.087! Stoked! But the the best bit was I didn't bin it.
I'm wrapped, I set myself 2 goals for my first ever road race meet, the first, not to crash, check! The second I thought was a bit unrealistic, 10th over all on the day, well I managed 12th. Granted there was a bit of luck with some of the quick guys getting DNF's, but as they say, To finish first, first you must finish!
Ok now the kudos! Thanks to Steve and Gigabyte Solutionz, it simply would not of happened with out this guy! Expand a sign for the trailer and gazebo. MotoTT Trackdays for the frame sliders (thanks Kev!) and all the track time. To the famliy for putting up with Dad being out in the shed every night for the last 3 weeks. And last but not least a huge thank you to all the people who have kept telling me "you should go racing". Good on ya mate! ;)
Pics:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/album.php?albumid=416&pictureid=4237
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/album.php?albumid=416&pictureid=4236
http://www.racepics.net.nz/main.php?g2_itemId=74800
http://www.speedsport.net.nz/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=6180
http://www.speedsport.net.nz/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8376
See you at Round 3!