Wow where to start. Off the Bat what a weekend.
I took the last half of weds work off as I felt miserable and hadn’t slept much in about a week. Finally got sorted and packed late into the night and hoped for the best at racing. Got up about 5 the next morning and drove through the absolutely pooring rain and wind to the hill climb at bluff. For a while I doubted they would ever run it but the rain kinda buggered off and the sun kinda shone a bit so we were good to go. The familarization run up the hill climb was interesting to say the least. I dropped back a bit to have some speed round some corners and come round the one of the corners a bit quicker to discover a mighty big bump/jump in the road. Right I see how this is going to be.
First 2 runs up the course are spoilt by rain hitting the course a few people before my run up the hill. My first attempt I really took it slow as it was quite wet and I could feel the front slipping on the paint in the rain. The second run I gave it a bit more, but with slow corner speeds. This meant hard on the throttle out of corners which caused 2 huge tank slappers heading up to the corner before the straight and onto the straight. They got the rear starting to move so had to button off a bit to get it all back in a line. Along the straight its quite fast but bumpy and you really get kicked about. Man I wished that steering damper I found wasn’t bent about this moment.
The next run up the hill I decide to just go for it and start to find a rhythm and find some speed, and some decent lines to keep the wobbles and flicks to a minimum. Clocked a 61 which I thought was a bit slow so I gave it the beans on the next run up and clocked in a 58.15 despite trying to tip into the first corner with the front way up in the air, stupid street gearing. I was only about 3 or so tenths back from my mate sam who I have yet to beat at anything so I decide the final run had to be a bit scarier. Spent an age on the grid and finally got to the line. An ok start ensued but I got the throttle open right up through the second corner and had plenty of corner speed through much of the course. Hammering along the back straight click it through to 5th only to hear the motor start dying out, and immediately I know its staved for fuel, the biek coughing and spluttering round the last corner to record another 58. Sam got a 55 that run which I think may have been a bit quicker but not much more so I was quite gutted about it.
Friday Practice
Friday dawned looking good and got to the track early on. Bike started like the day before coughing and spluttering quite a bit, and a lot had said it sounded off at the hill climb and last round at ruapuna so figure it’s a good day to try some things to sort that, and finally dial in my rear shock right (after 5 or so months of having it). Run the first session as is but its struggling to hook top and go anywhere so decide to have a look at it. Change the plugs and that makes it worse so im fairly sure its not those. Come back in and hear sheriffs decided to have a nice jump off the end of the straight, sounded nasty, but he comes back to the garage with little more than a hobble which seems reasonable. Rain kicks in about now so start pulling apart the rear end to add some rear ride height. Finally get that done and take the exhaust off to seal it better as it sounds like its got a leak. Decide to change plugs back to and the front one comes out missing its head. Oh fuck, that’s a problem. Fairings and radiators and everything then comes off and steve performs his tap tap screwdriver magic and it comes out. Thank god. Put it back together and see puffs of smoke outta one of the rear headers then notice theres a screw missing, causing a leak at the header to the case joint. New bolt and the bike suddenly sounds 10 times better. Put the rest back on and head back to the rally for some beer. Crisis averted I think.
Sat Sprints.
A rough nights sleep lead to a windy but generally clear morning for racing. Bounced on my bike only to discover that my shock adjustment lead to the shock rubbing on the swingarm, so off came the exhaust and the shock was shortened fractionally again to clear the arm. Practice gets underway and I decide to take it slowly working my way into a rhythm. Come the second lap at the elbow I bend it in nicely and notice a bike on my inside going nearly perpendicular, stand it up and brace for impact. Smack, wobble wobble but hold it up. At this point its fair to say I was a bit pissed. 2 bikes go down, and unfortunately I think frank wood was an innocent in the whole lot got hurt and ended his weekend then and there. The white bike was James on his cbr400 and he got his braking all out of whack. Practice re runs and I get a 1.13 which aint too bad considering it was my first proper spin since my (several) big wrecks here.
Race one gets the go and I take it easy for a few laps. The winds really kicking the bike and the right hand part of the esses is really hard to get into. Start to find my pace round the loop though and it feels so much more planted and less understeery than ever on my bike. Take two 750 ducatis round the outside in the loop (oh yea, that’s fun) on a couple of laps and bring it home 14th with a 1.12.1 which I am happy with, as last time I went that quick I lost it coming out the loop
Race two and I get a good start and end up behind sam, figuring it’s a good idea to follow him for a bit and see what I can learn, try, keep up with. Then he has a bobble on cold tyres in the loop and I know its all over for him. He hits the ground hard and I have to take a bit of minor avoidance. I guess I wont do what he does after all. Settle down and just try to learn a few things, not pushing all lap like I have in the past. Can’t quite take paul on his ducati this race round the loop and the winds really howling so take it easy. Bring it home in 11th which i’m pleased about really. Leaving me 11th overall for the day
WYNDHAM (YEA!!!)
Up at the butt crack of dawn and out to wyndham. Its wet and windy again so im a bit dubious but happy that itll be an age till on track. Bang the wets on and hang out for a bit. Go catch Thomas on his RG in the first timers session, and to get a glimpse of the track. Still wet but come the third practice session its dry so switch back to slicks, man I hate changing discs. Practice comes round an immediately I remember the bumps at the first corner, the brake markers round the back and everything feels right. Clock a 46 something which in practice which is noticeably better than the 47 I achieved all day last year. Am amped to go racing. Qauly 9th on the grid which is just a bit annoying (1st on 3rd row)
After an age (crashes) the first race starts and I kinda dork the start and get hung up at the first corner. Just settle down and try to go forward, but Glen Agate has a big spill towards the front and goes into the hay bales hard. Luckily he gets up alright and nothings broken or bent on him. Come back and its lunch so more waiting. Eventually the race gets back underway and this time I nail the start. I tag on the back of marty lane, doug wood and paul fisher and try and keep up. Im moving heaps quicker now than before. Can’t quite catch those in front till the last corner when we catch 2 rg’s finishing the race. I scream around the outside of marty lane who is caught passing a rg up the inside. I drag him to the line, but for some reason the transponders say he got it. Bullshit I say and he agreed but whatever. To me I was 7th. Haha. Got a high 43 in there and as my aim was a 44 for the day i was wrapped and i still had 2 races to go.
Race 2 - the best race most funnest damn time i have ever had. Got a reasonable start and slotted in behind doug wood and paul fisher. Really going for it through the first couple of laps. Get good drive at the end of the second lap i think and pull alongside doug. Im kinda doozing as i head into the first corner looking at doug and suddenly see my brake marker and doug braking, while still at full throttle. Fuckkkkk!!!! brake brake brake, get it hauled up bend it in and im still upright. and i got the place. get my head down and arse up chasing paul. get nice and close through the following laps till he misses a gear for a fraction of a second and i have to take momentary avoidance. This gives doug behind just enough to come through. The rest of the race is a continual look for places to pass (its not easy round wyndham) and get great drive outta the last to pull alongside but alas its just not quite enough. See photo below. Pulled off the whole race in the low 43's and have knee down in most places which is just awesome.
race 3- Get the start a bit wrong and end up with a slight wheelie, enough that i have to roll off for a fraction of a second. Slot into the same spot (damn that poor qualifying effort now). The same boys are in front and i decide to push it to the limit. I tried all race but just couldn't pull anytime on the two in front. I rode as hard as i absolutly could (way harder than i have on the track for a while, if ever) and it was just soooo much fun. I ended up clocking a high 42, roughly around the same time as the two in front. That time would have had us in the lead in the third race last year according to mr mylaps. Saw paul and doug at the end and they confirmed they werent leaving much in reserve either. was just awesome
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Originally Posted by scorry
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