Vicki's Sound Of Thunder

[flame]

RUAPUNA ROCKS!!!!!!

This report will be long.....the weekend had so much to offer...


I arrived home at near midnight last night after my favorite meeting of the year. Huge fields of thundering bikes all over the show and a buzz buzzing in the air like I couldn't believe. 'Twin city' for sure and the people at this event are just tops! Some amazing machines to veiw as well. Even some Auzzies turned up to give us Kiwi's some battles.
I had been looking forward to this event since I left the last one a year ago. For us (KTL/Anglo American Team) this is our highlight of the year. Getting back on Ruapuna track at the test day (Friday)I found I had to re-learn it all over. But I love that track!
The racing took place over two days.

SATURDAY.....
started for me with 'Best of Italian" race, over 40 bikes lined up and the flag dropped. I was still taking the track with caution and came in 13th, I wasn't into the flow out there,but I knew that would come. With my team mate NickO finishing in the top 3 it was a great start to the weekend.

Chris Mullen (MV Nut) arrived at the track with the sexytime MV Tamburini, she's now all set for our next Speed Record attempt with shiney new bling. An amazing looking/sounding Titanuim race exhaust which everyone wanted to see and hear, meant a lunchtime demo session was organized. Awesome I thought! till I realised it was ME that was to take her out to the tarmac:sweatdrop.
I think I was more nervous about this than my actual races! that bike is a work of art, what if I dropped her out there...I'd hate to think! I took off with thousands of eyes watching, listening, and rode her like she was made of gold. Each corner braking well before my brake markers as on entry I just kept having visions of $$ signs bouncing up inside my visor:baby: Though she was BEGGING for me to open the throttle, cornering felt so effortless, I thought it safest to open the tap down the straights, opening her up and feeling the power of now over 150BHP, hearing the induction roar was just phenomenal. Thanks Chris.....that was a highlight of my weekend! I never thought I'd get to ride a bike like that round a racetrack!!!

Then my 1st Formula One race and the heavens opened, the team switched 99 onto wets and we went out puddle jumping for a bit. I was Sloooooooow :), knowing the forcast for Sundays big races was meant to be fine so I just kept 99 shiney side up in the hope that Sunday would have the sun shining and I'd have the chance to lay some rubber on my favorite track for sure.

SUNDAY......
Race one: sun shining, 'B' Bracket grid position 10 and off I went. Over 50 of us thundered into turn one with me up into 5th/6th pos. I put my head down and just went for it. I found the groove from somewhere, and it just all felt so much easier (Passing each bike in front of me one by one as the opportunity arose through the infield, not entirely sure how I pulled them off, but somehow it just happened. By the forth lap I was in 2nd place behind the 'FLAME' Buell racer, a 1340cc Buell Factory race bike I was told. He had some power down the straights for sure, drafting him wasn't an option,but I waited till my moment to take the tight line inside him around sweeper on the 4th lap to take the lead, then it was go for gold! I knew the team would be cheering hard out for me by now (apparently if you were standing near Rob you could no longer even hear the bikes!!!) so I just rode hard as I could to keep the lead for us. Last turn on to the front straight and I knew I had it, the Buell had dropped back a little and the Chequer flag was mine :first:
That was something I NEVER expected this weekend. Returning to the pits with the whole team waiting, cheering and my tummy doing flips :woohoo:was an amazing feeling of which I really hope I can experience again.

I went on to finish 3rd in my next race , and then 6th in the Finale race (North vs South) to which Dobsy on his 675 Triumph bought the Cup home to the North Island for us. ONYA DOBSY!!!!

Prizegiving saw many prizes for our team (mostly Nick's...who rode so blardy awsome! congrats on fantastic riding matie....and I WILL get you back for that video:bleh::msn-wink:) but a great weekend for our team.

Thank you's are never ending this weekend. Thanks to all my sponsors once again.Big up's to the organizers and marshalls for putting on and running a tremendous event!

Thanks for reading all that.

Is it Sound of Thunder 2010 yet???????

[wharfy]

That was an outstanding start you got, I watched you disappear through the crowd heading for turn one and never saw you again during the race, good stuff !!

[Toast]

Awesome report Vicki. I can feel the elation of that FIRST RACE WIN just reading about it now! :D

Congrats!

[sharky]

Awesome. Congratulations on the win.

[DUCATI*HARD]

Way to go Flame:first::niceone:

[Mom]

Well done babe! Fantastic report.

[Kickaha]

RUAPUNA ROCKS!!!!!!

Of course it does not like those poofy North island tracks

Well done on your results, very good overall considering the size of the fields

[Sensei]

" SPEIGHTS " Good on ya Mate !!! :niceone:

[Clivoris]

Superior write up and outstanding results Chick. Bring on Mothers Day :woohoo:

[MadDuck]

Awesome write up Chick. Well done on your first place and what an experience it must have been to take the Tambi out!

[merv]

Good on ya Flame, great achievement :msn-wink:

[Marknz]

great report, and well done Flame :apint:

[Number One]

You really are my HEROIN :blip: Great stuff and congrats on that win you hot hot thing :niceone:

[Pussy]

It's quite simple, really..... YOU ROCK, VICKI! :niceone:

[MIXONE]

Shit hot!:niceone:
My favourite meeting but alas now stuck in the norf isle.
Well done that girl.:first:

[chanceyy]

blardy wicked race report Flame .. congrats on the chequer girl :clap: .. fantastttttttticccccccccccccccc :yes: :hug:

[Rob Taylor]

Quote"apparently if you were standing near Rob you could no longer even hear the bikes!!!) "Quote

Well ,hell,you were riding so bloody fast,overtaking like a mad women...I nearly tripped over Jarrod a couple of times & fell over the railing with excitement.:clap:....I still have a big smile on my dial..:banana::clap:..Vicki thankyou very much from Cherry & i for just being you...We love you girl..:headbang:

[MVnut]

Well your win was certainly the highlight of my weekend:woohoo::rockon: I knew from the third lap you were gonna take it. Brilliant !!!!! You have a great team who put in a lot of work and support and you (and Nick O) reward them with such high commitment, credit all round. Also thanks very much to Dr Robert Taylor for having a look over the MV, much appreciated and will stay in touch, invaluable. Was good to see and hear the MV out there Vicki and we have a bit extra time to fit the ram-air and big airbox for the speed trials, the colour is coming into the titanium nicely. Has anyone got any pics of Vicki on theTamburini, I forgot (Doh!) Good luck at 'Mothers' :Punk:

[dangerous]

and rode her like she was made of gold
ummm... 'she' is, 22kt actually


power of now over 180BHP
wait till his 220hp engine arives


By the forth lap I was in 2nd place behind the 'FLAME' Buell racer, a 1340cc Buell Factory race bike I was told.
you were told correct, riden and owned by a Aussie, with custom paint that being his 3rd time here, BTW its all carbon fibre to (see pics)
That was a awesome race to watch in front of you was the 1340RR Buell behind the new 1125 rotax Buell, and then a 1200R Buell, you could see the smooth deteranation, you earnt that one all the way, a privlage to watch.


if you were standing near Rob you could no longer even hear the bikes!!!) ummm correct


Is it Sound of Thunder 2010 yet??????? no... but how bout the BEARs winter series?

[MsKABC]

Congratulations chick, great write-up too :D

[NinjaBoy]

Awesome result Vicki and I could feel the excitement in your writeup. You're becoming a bit of a celebrity with guest demonstration rides around the track :first:

Catch you at the next race meet !

[Biggles08]

Vicki...I'm speechless....GREAT effort chick! I was getting excited for you reading that report! May you have many more wins from here on! Congratulations.....Flame on!

[sinfull]

What a cool read !!! What a bloody good effort !!!! Shit hot Vicky, am totally wrapped for ya, ya deserved that one and took it !!

[SDU]

:rockon:Great write up Flame. Awesome win from what I hear:2thumbsup

Sadly I was working this weekend & didn't get to the track to see the fun & drown in twin haven see you next thunder -it's addictive!

[johan]

Awesome riding Vicki! :Punk:

[Her_C4]

Great write up V, sounds like the weekend and the meeting were an absolute BLAST! CONGRATULATIONS - fantastic news. So much for 'just chipping away' huh?? :rockon:

See the book has now been published by Maureen Bell (NZ MOTORCYCLING HERITAGE BOOK) and you are there in flaming colour on the MV (well on one wheel anyway!!) and a tidy write up as well. :woohoo:

Can I have your autograph??

[KS34]

Well done Vicki, great read!

[flame]

Hey cheers heaps peeps, hope I can repeat that weekend some day soon. It was sure a team effort, what an amazing group of people they are, and of course the fantabulous #99, hope I can keep learning from her :) . She sure is a forgiving and confidence inspiring piece of kit. I LOVE that bike:hug:

Now what can we do to get a BEAR's event like that up here in the North???