Benk
24th February 2009, 11:20
Well, firstly, a big thanks to the organisers of the event, it was bloody awesome! Ill be back next year for sure.
Preamble:
Had Iron Maiden on the Friday night, so I braved the trip up on the 250 in the rain, for what was possibly the greatest show of all time, 18000 sweaty boguns showed up, awesome atmosphere and a great show. Maiden were total professionals.
Headed back to Tauranga early(ish) Saturday, to do the final organise and load up the bike and head up to Paeroa for scrutineering and sign on. Bike cruised through, although I was told off for a couple of little things. Nothing important though.
One problem, I had overlooked (as had the leather repair lady) a couple of holes in my leathers so they failed me on that, and I had to do a quick sew job (4.5hrs and 6 beers later), which saw them sail through the following morning. I even got complemented on my stitching (although I have a sneaking suspicion they were humoring me, they may have thought I was a bit IHC or something).
Sunday:
Goals for the day, don’t crash, don’t come last, don’t get lapped, and have fun!
Well, awoke to a cold shitty looking morning with a meanly stiff neck (sleeping on a cardboard bed - hobo style, and severe moshing at Maiden made sure of that), but proceeded over to pit lane, and set up my bits, and bobs. Totally pumped for my first street race (Finished my 3rd required a few weeks before, so just squeaked in).
Headed over to riders briefing and went over everything, practice was held up a little while due to the rain. Track dried off the and day kicked off.
Practices:
First practice felt fun, didn’t really notice too many bumps, infact the only bump I noticed the whole day was coming down the hill into the esses, cant have been going fast enough. Started to get a couple of braking markers sorted, had a nice little front end slip on the stop paint coming into the esses to remind me that the paint was slippery. Holy crap its a fun track!
Second practice was much the same, got some more RPs round the track, and started getting into the swing of things a bit more.
Race 1:
Got my first ever good start, even managed a wheelie! Made a couple of places up the inside of turn 1, pretty heavy traffic, so I just wanted to settle things down and not do anything stupid. Made up a place or two down the back straight and had a good drag race with Abby down the back straight, outbraked her into the back kink. Coming into turn one on the next lap vtec tried outbraking me, but overshot pretty meanly, our wheels were pretty close, so that got the adrenaline pumping, didn’t touch though, so it was a lucky one. Got past Anthony (#54) coming into turn 1 at some stage, hard under brakes, a duke came flying on the inside of me, and took out some poor sod on a kwaka. Dont know either of their names. Fairly ambitious braking I must say. Anthony had a look up the inside a couple of laps later coming into the esses, but went down a gear too many, and I kept the position. Finished the race in 21st I think. Totally stoked with that! So much damn fun!
Race 2:
Lined up at the grid, convinced I couldn’t fluke another good start, and sure enough, bog city. Got smoked by all off the line, but made some places into turn 1. Then the cramping started. Legs, arms, hands. Not too cool, was pretty hard to concentrate. Lost a couple of places I wouldn’t have otherwise (if you need an excuse any will do, haha), and felt pretty slow overall, even though I still managed my fastest lap of the day. Finished in 25th. Not complaining though, was still a fun as race. Although there will be more stretching at the gym, and I shall devise a cunning rehydration plan for next time.
What a bloody awesome day! Achieved my goals, felt steadily faster throughout the day, and am now hanging out till next year!!!!
Thanks to everyone that made the day possible, and those that I scored photos off!
:wari:
Preamble:
Had Iron Maiden on the Friday night, so I braved the trip up on the 250 in the rain, for what was possibly the greatest show of all time, 18000 sweaty boguns showed up, awesome atmosphere and a great show. Maiden were total professionals.
Headed back to Tauranga early(ish) Saturday, to do the final organise and load up the bike and head up to Paeroa for scrutineering and sign on. Bike cruised through, although I was told off for a couple of little things. Nothing important though.
One problem, I had overlooked (as had the leather repair lady) a couple of holes in my leathers so they failed me on that, and I had to do a quick sew job (4.5hrs and 6 beers later), which saw them sail through the following morning. I even got complemented on my stitching (although I have a sneaking suspicion they were humoring me, they may have thought I was a bit IHC or something).
Sunday:
Goals for the day, don’t crash, don’t come last, don’t get lapped, and have fun!
Well, awoke to a cold shitty looking morning with a meanly stiff neck (sleeping on a cardboard bed - hobo style, and severe moshing at Maiden made sure of that), but proceeded over to pit lane, and set up my bits, and bobs. Totally pumped for my first street race (Finished my 3rd required a few weeks before, so just squeaked in).
Headed over to riders briefing and went over everything, practice was held up a little while due to the rain. Track dried off the and day kicked off.
Practices:
First practice felt fun, didn’t really notice too many bumps, infact the only bump I noticed the whole day was coming down the hill into the esses, cant have been going fast enough. Started to get a couple of braking markers sorted, had a nice little front end slip on the stop paint coming into the esses to remind me that the paint was slippery. Holy crap its a fun track!
Second practice was much the same, got some more RPs round the track, and started getting into the swing of things a bit more.
Race 1:
Got my first ever good start, even managed a wheelie! Made a couple of places up the inside of turn 1, pretty heavy traffic, so I just wanted to settle things down and not do anything stupid. Made up a place or two down the back straight and had a good drag race with Abby down the back straight, outbraked her into the back kink. Coming into turn one on the next lap vtec tried outbraking me, but overshot pretty meanly, our wheels were pretty close, so that got the adrenaline pumping, didn’t touch though, so it was a lucky one. Got past Anthony (#54) coming into turn 1 at some stage, hard under brakes, a duke came flying on the inside of me, and took out some poor sod on a kwaka. Dont know either of their names. Fairly ambitious braking I must say. Anthony had a look up the inside a couple of laps later coming into the esses, but went down a gear too many, and I kept the position. Finished the race in 21st I think. Totally stoked with that! So much damn fun!
Race 2:
Lined up at the grid, convinced I couldn’t fluke another good start, and sure enough, bog city. Got smoked by all off the line, but made some places into turn 1. Then the cramping started. Legs, arms, hands. Not too cool, was pretty hard to concentrate. Lost a couple of places I wouldn’t have otherwise (if you need an excuse any will do, haha), and felt pretty slow overall, even though I still managed my fastest lap of the day. Finished in 25th. Not complaining though, was still a fun as race. Although there will be more stretching at the gym, and I shall devise a cunning rehydration plan for next time.
What a bloody awesome day! Achieved my goals, felt steadily faster throughout the day, and am now hanging out till next year!!!!
Thanks to everyone that made the day possible, and those that I scored photos off!
:wari: