OS racing (chapter 1.5)

**SWERVE** · 21st September 2009, 06:53

With me as chief "pit bitch" this weekend we headed of to Levels for KOL Rd3.
Pete SV650 (clubmans)
We have decided to build petes sv as a pro twin bike so as metzeler dont do a 160 racetec we decided to make the switch to dunlop gp,s. Knowing how difficult they can be to set up we were expecting to be fiddling all weekend.
Practice went ok pete liked the feel of dunlops......... qualified with a 1;20 which put him 9th on third row. There were some very quick bikes in clubmans this weekend a few in the 1:14 and a pole sitter of 1:13 ( these guys should be in Senior/600 they would be around the middle to back half of the pack and would have some great racing and learn a lot more than being miles ahead at the front in clubmans) personally think there should be a cut off time for clubbies (like vic club has) i think 1:18 would be near the mark.
Race 1. An ok start. once the pack had split it was a whole race battle between pete / nick george (ktm super duke) and brendon booth (yamaha rd) It was cat and mouse the ktm had the legs on the straight (just) and then pete and brendon would pass him stright into the in field and battle untill the straight again. Finished 9th.
Race 2 Almost a carbon copy of race 1 ...lap times dropped to 1;18.5.Finished 9th.
Pete said to me that he was getting "head shake" exiting turn 1 and onto the straight. So a quick word to Jay Lawrance who was pitted next to us (good to see ya again Jay) saw us dropping the forks slightly and tweaking rear preload.
Race 3. Same battle again another 9th finish. But the "head shake problem had gone and pete said the bike/tyres felt awesome.Thanks Jay. haven,t seen lap times for final race but would not be surprised if he had dipped into the 1:17,s just. We will see soon enough.
So finishing a little bit further back than usual but still picking up points for the championship. pete has decided to X enter at next round at ruapuna to see how he goes against the other sv,s in pro-twin.

Ants Rg150 (streetstock)
Qualifying saw Ants do a best of 1:29....... he always take a while to get settled in at a meeting. We will have to work on this as qualifying (especially in this class) is sooo important. 7th on grid - second row
Race 1. Ok start dropped a couple of places then got then straight back another battle of four bikes with lots of position swapping on every lap. while this is good for race craft it does slow them up and it allowed some hard chargers from the back to catch them (and pass i think) Finished 6th which was good but could have been beter.
race 2. Another ok start. Again a big battle between a large group of bikes.... allowing the leaders and a couple of individuals the chance to pull clear. Bike developed a "splutter" down the straight and in some corners........ It did a big "cough" going into turn 1 on the last lap and relegated ants to the back of pack and a 10th finish. He was not happy.we sat down/calmed down had a chat and put that one down to experience. We found a possible fuel blockage so sorted that out too.
race 3 A brilliant start..... 4th into turn one. Picked off one for 3rd down the straight and put his head down.......im sure he would have had both Micheal Woodley & Harvay Brouard breathing down his neck but they had a incident at the hairpin. He got the gap and held it for his first top 3 finish 3rd he was HAPPY with a capital H. A late charge from Harvay saw the gap get smaller but not quite enough..... next time boys.
So a great weekend for all Pete likes the dunlops and Ants knows how important qualifying and good starts are. so next round is at Ruapuna..pete will have a try out with the pro0twin boys and Ants is going to take my 675 out in clubmans
We have not mech probs so its a cruzy bike prep week for me before we all go to MANFIELD next weekend.

We are all looking forward to it should be an awesome weekend

**kiwi cowboy** · 21st September 2009, 12:50

Originally Posted by SWERVE

With me as chief "pit bitch" this weekend we headed of to Levels for KOL Rd3.
Pete SV650 (clubmans)
We have decided to build petes sv as a pro twin bike so as metzeler dont do a 160 racetec we decided to make the switch to dunlop gp,s. Knowing how difficult they can be to set up we were expecting to be fiddling all weekend.
Practice went ok pete liked the feel of dunlops......... qualified with a 1;20 which put him 9th on third row. There were some very quick bikes in clubmans this weekend a few in the 1:14 and a pole sitter of 1:13 ( these guys should be in Senior/600 they would be around the middle to back half of the pack and would have some great racing and learn a lot more than being miles ahead at the front in clubmans) personally think there should be a cut off time for clubbies (like vic club has) i think 1:18 would be near the mark.
Race 1. An ok start. once the pack had split it was a whole race battle between pete / nick george (ktm super duke) and brendon booth (yamaha rd) It was cat and mouse the ktm had the legs on the straight (just) and then pete and brendon would pass him stright into the in field and battle untill the straight again. Finished 9th.
Race 2 Almost a carbon copy of race 1 ...lap times dropped to 1;18.5.Finished 9th.
Pete said to me that he was getting "head shake" exiting turn 1 and onto the straight. So a quick word to Jay Lawrance who was pitted next to us (good to see ya again Jay) saw us dropping the forks slightly and tweaking rear preload.
Race 3. Same battle again another 9th finish. But the "head shake problem had gone and pete said the bike/tyres felt awesome.Thanks Jay. haven,t seen lap times for final race but would not be surprised if he had dipped into the 1:17,s just. We will see soon enough.
So finishing a little bit further back than usual but still picking up points for the championship. pete has decided to X enter at next round at ruapuna to see how he goes against the other sv,s in pro-twin.

Ants Rg150 (streetstock)
Qualifying saw Ants do a best of 1:29....... he always take a while to get settled in at a meeting. We will have to work on this as qualifying (especially in this class) is sooo important. 7th on grid - second row
Race 1. Ok start dropped a couple of places then got then straight back another battle of four bikes with lots of position swapping on every lap. while this is good for race craft it does slow them up and it allowed some hard chargers from the back to catch them (and pass i think) Finished 6th which was good but could have been beter.
race 2. Another ok start. Again a big battle between a large group of bikes.... allowing the leaders and a couple of individuals the chance to pull clear. Bike developed a "splutter" down the straight and in some corners........ It did a big "cough" going into turn 1 on the last lap and relegated ants to the back of pack and a 10th finish. He was not happy.we sat down/calmed down had a chat and put that one down to experience. We found a possible fuel blockage so sorted that out too.
race 3 A brilliant start..... 4th into turn one. Picked off one for 3rd down the straight and put his head down.......im sure he would have had both Micheal Woodley & Harvay Brouard breathing down his neck but they had a incident at the hairpin. He got the gap and held it for his first top 3 finish 3rd he was HAPPY with a capital H. A late charge from Harvay saw the gap get smaller but not quite enough..... next time boys.
So a great weekend for all Pete likes the dunlops and Ants knows how important qualifying and good starts are. so next round is at Ruapuna..pete will have a try out with the pro0twin boys and Ants is going to take my 675 out in clubmans
We have not mech probs so its a cruzy bike prep week for me before we all go to MANFIELD next weekend.

We are all looking forward to it should be an awesome weekend

hey swerve was pete on the sv that was parked under the tarp beside the blak truck? if so i probly talked to one of you as i was on the blue gsxr400 across from that truck and was in clubans too-jees it gets conjested in the first corner though A lol

**scorry** · 21st September 2009, 13:46

Good effort guys, i fully agree on the whole cut off time for clubmans.
we were watching the second race and thought that if you finish in the top 3 for the day overall then next time you should have to move into your race class.
that guy on the 916 was really quick, he would have done alright in F1 and would have learnt more as you said, if you ride with faster guys eventually you will be as fast
must have been a quick day up there tho cos i dropped 1/2 a second off my pb in practise, then another second in race 1
now 1.15.0, not bad for a motard ay

oh and metzeler do a racetac drift in a 160, thats what im using, reccommend the K2 compound tho, i destroyed my K1 lol

**SWERVE** · 21st September 2009, 18:34

Hi kiwi cowboy........... pete was the orange /black Sv we were at the blue ezy-up ...first pit space on left inside the entrance gate.

Hey Scorry......... yeh it was a quick day lots of people doing PB,s and general race pace was very high. Yeh some of you motard guys are bloody quick its a shame that the long straights spread you all a bit thin sometimes.......... pity you cant turn left at startline and join straight there eh. Looking forward to seeing you guys at greymouth (mega-entertainment) trying to convince a mate to let me use his road motard (as i really fancy a go on one) cos i love all the close/shoulder to shoulder stuff but he afraid i will bend it (AS IF

I can see this class really taling off over next 18 months or so.

Did you see the "muppet' on the Mv augusta crashed and took someone else out AGAIN.....he is a bloody liability (hope he is not your mate)
Keep up the good work bud

**SWERVE** · 21st September 2009, 18:38

Yeh i know metzeler do a 160 "drift" but pro twin dictates that it has to be treaded "DOT" approved.

Nevermind the Dunlops are a superior tyre although more expensive and notoriously hard to set up.

I rode on Dunlops last year on my 675 and the grip/feedback is soooooooooooo good

**Wingnut** · 21st September 2009, 19:21

Originally Posted by SWERVE

There were some very quick bikes in clubmans this weekend a few in the 1:14 and a pole sitter of 1:13 ( these guys should be in Senior/600 they would be around the middle to back half of the pack and would have some great racing and learn a lot more than being miles ahead at the front in clubmans) personally think there should be a cut off time for clubbies (like vic club has) i think 1:18 would be near the mark.

I think your dead right there Merv. I came second in both race 1 & 2, but in my defence, that is only the third and forth races I have done on my new bike and the 5th and 6th races I have ever done. Forgive me if I was a bit shy in entering the Seniors races as I'm still trying to find my footing out there. The decision to run in Clubmans wasn't a matter of wanting to be at the front, as now that I am feeling a bit more confident, I am keen to get out in the seniors and hopefully get dragged along by you guys - I still have 4 seconds to loose (at levels) to get to my goal time (being the 1.10).

Great day out there all the same.

**Wingnut** · 21st September 2009, 19:28

Originally Posted by SWERVE

Did you see the "muppet' on the Mv augusta crashed and took someone else out AGAIN.....he is a bloody liability (hope he is not your mate)
Keep up the good work bud

Aparently that happened right behind me but I didn't realise he took some else out as well. He should invest in a cheaper bike to race I think.

**300weatherby** · 21st September 2009, 21:31

Hiya,just joined kb,still figuring out how this place works,gotta say, there is more to racing than the laptimes,I had my first race in Sound of Thunder this year and am learnin how it works,sometimes I'm quick,and some times not,stayin in clubmans (except for Bears!) till I get at least most of the skillsets sorted (like getting past slower guys that are cleverly obstructive!) and am consistant,consider this:

You are 4th gear flat out going into pothole,someone is having a "moment" exiting pothole and has a guy out of clubmans behind him who is indecisive because he doesn't know what to do.........

I get where people are coming from,and don't have the answer,but if you are wheel to wheel,I wanna know the other guy has a clue! (best he aint a particular MV!)

Pleased you had a good weekend at Levels bein Pit Boss,I sucked that day,yet was on it the week before (B track) :inconsistant!!

Anyhow sayin hi, from the black 675,no 147 (is there a rule about names around here?)

**kiwi cowboy** · 21st September 2009, 21:47

Originally Posted by SWERVE

Hi kiwi cowboy........... pete was the orange /black Sv we were at the blue ezy-up ...first pit space on left inside the entrance gate.

Hey Scorry......... yeh it was a quick day lots of people doing PB,s and general race pace was very high. Yeh some of you motard guys are bloody quick its a shame that the long straights spread you all a bit thin sometimes.......... pity you cant turn left at startline and join straight there eh. Looking forward to seeing you guys at greymouth (mega-entertainment) trying to convince a mate to let me use his road motard (as i really fancy a go on one) cos i love all the close/shoulder to shoulder stuff but he afraid i will bend it (AS IF

I can see this class really taling off over next 18 months or so.

Did you see the "muppet' on the Mv augusta crashed and took someone else out AGAIN.....he is a bloody liability (hope he is not your mate)
Keep up the good work bud

That muppet crashed just in front of me and a buell and we got through ok so not sure he did take someone else out.
I did hear obout the time before he took someone out and blamed the other guy for it

**kiwi cowboy** · 21st September 2009, 21:51

Originally Posted by 300weatherby

Hiya,just joined kb,still figuring out how this place works,gotta say, there is more to racing than the laptimes,I had my first race in Sound of Thunder this year and am learnin how it works,sometimes I'm quick,and some times not,stayin in clubmans (except for Bears!) till I get at least most of the skillsets sorted (like getting past slower guys that are cleverly obstructive!) and am consistant,consider this:

You are 4th gear flat out going into pothole,someone is having a "moment" exiting pothole and has a guy out of clubmans behind him who is indecisive because he doesn't know what to do.........

I get where people are coming from,and don't have the answer,but if you are wheel to wheel,I wanna know the other guy has a clue! (best he aint a particular MV!)

Pleased you had a good weekend at Levels bein Pit Boss,I sucked that day,yet was on it the week before (B track) :inconsistant!!

Anyhow sayin hi, from the black 675,no 147 (is there a rule about names around here?)

Hey mate welcome to the nuthouse and on the names bit well just piss someone off and the names will come

.

**SWERVE** · 22nd September 2009, 06:22

Hi wingnut.. get where you are coming from with being new to it all

. It may seem a daunting thought to jump into seniors so early but if you can lap at 1;14 pace consistantly you are ready

and you will soon pick up a couple of those seconds just by following lines and being in the mix

(the next 2 secs wont be so easy though

Its always a difficult call in clubmans with so much difference in speed/ability and bikes entered. The vic club has 2 clubbie class.entry level with a certain cut-off time then second class with min and max cut off times which arent very far apart so i bet that makes for some close racing and gets people comfortable with moving up (will find out when we are at manfield this weekend)
Kiwi cowboy....... that would have been Robin Struthers on the Buell only told that he took another rider down (guess you guys got a birds eye view) I was right behind him at first levels round when he hit Brendon Booth 675 going into turn 1...... using a faster rider as a brake marker not a good idea (especially when faster rider said he braked too late on the particular corner/lap) OOOPPPS
300weatherby..Hi Andy. Guess sat was one of those days (did you find out tyre pressure problem/reason) Cos the previous weekend at Ruapuna you were "on fire" You will find that although pace is a lot swifter in the senior class you feel a lot safer with the people around you. Hey and anyone who looks like "Colin Edwards" when they are riding must be OK

**Nonbeliever** · 22nd September 2009, 14:40

If the guy(mv) you guys speak of is the same guy Ive come accross in the past........yeah he doesnt have a clue ...

and he's a dreamer.

**300weatherby** · 22nd September 2009, 22:48

The "nuthouse" huh, guess I'll fit right in then....

Swerve: I let the tyre down and pumped it back up and no more dramas- sept for the last (all in) race of the day......went round to the gate and it was shut,every one on the starting grid- talk about slow! They let me start from the dummy grid after the last bike was in the sweeper,4 laps later and in 5th pos,goin like a train,at last! I got it back again! - then I got stuck for the last 2 laps chewing on my bars in frustration behind someone I couldn't get past, while the leaders pissed off into the distance!

, then he forgot to turn right at turn 1, had to stand it up real quick and practice a little motorcross........gave him a friendly wave though, cause I like sudden moto practice.......

Hey keep track notes from Manfield cause I'm thinkin about doin the 600's for the 2 Nth Isl rounds of the Nats (Clubmans for the 3 Sth Isl rounds) if I'm goin ok by the start of next year

**Wingnut** · 23rd September 2009, 06:04

Were you on the Black 675 300weatherby?

**brads** · 23rd September 2009, 13:43

Originally Posted by Wingnut

I think your dead right there Merv. I came second in both race 1 & 2, but in my defence, that is only the third and forth races I have done on my new bike and the 5th and 6th races I have ever done. Forgive me if I was a bit shy in entering the Seniors races as I'm still trying to find my footing out there. The decision to run in Clubmans wasn't a matter of wanting to be at the front, as now that I am feeling a bit more confident, I am keen to get out in the seniors and hopefully get dragged along by you guys - I still have 4 seconds to loose (at levels) to get to my goal time (being the 1.10).

Great day out there all the same.

Leave it to me Wingers,have ya popping out 1.10s in no time