Redline Crash day Taupo

**scracha** · 18th December 2009, 14:09

Originally Posted by sharky

Stink one Stevie McScratcha. Sounds like an eventful day. Are you partnering Johan in the endurance or something?

Yep. We'd just got the bike all sorted handling wise (If I'm being pedantic then still strange mid-corner vibration and brakes not yet perfect) and everything was peachy. Unless I've damaged engine / electrics then Johan should have it up and running again for the endurance race as I had replacements for most of the broken bits in Clive's shed (all the race bits from my old 748r). I'm very sore and bruised today.

UPDATE:
A very sore and pissed off R6 rider at the Mansfield test day has just texted me to say he's totally trumped my "highside a 998" effort. If he can type I'm sure he will be posting soon.

**Peter Smith** · 18th December 2009, 15:57

You binned the 998!!

Johan's baby was beautiful, I gonna go and have a cry.

Your a naughty weee man.

**scracha** · 18th December 2009, 18:58

Originally Posted by Peter Smith

You binned the 998!!

Johan's baby was beautiful, I gonna go and have a cry.

Your a naughty weee man.

Johan still had all the scrawped/taped fairings from his previous bin so it wasn't as bad as it seems.

**Kornholio** · 18th December 2009, 19:24

Whoa, bummer man... when did I see you? Monday I think... Sounded like a hell of a track day lol.... Lol Jimmy... handbags at dawn

**scuzeme** · 19th December 2009, 19:52

Just a couple of things:

Firstly: Stevie you were going great guns out there on Thursday on that 600 all good mate.

Secondly: I was not involved in any near punch ups because i was out cold and then on my way to Rotorua hospital for the nite

Thirdly: Before anyone starts putting the boot into the Redline track days format just remember that accidents can happen anywhere, most of the good riders are good because they are aggressive and have an ego, ego is only a problem when you think your fast when your actually a twat getting in the way of riders who are actually fast.

I dont blame anyone for the crash on Thursday, the Redline format is by far the best no nonsense way for a racer to get good track time outside of racing it is aimed at the racer/fast rider everyone else should stay home.

OK that was three things

**CHOPPA** · 20th December 2009, 07:50

Redline track days sound good and having the ambo there is good for obvious reason but have you guys ever considered just going to a test day? No one on the track do what you like....

**scracha** · 20th December 2009, 08:18

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

Redline track days sound good and having the ambo there is good for obvious reason but have you guys ever considered just going to a test day? No one on the track do what you like....

<40 bikes for the whole day means there isn't a hell of a lot of traffic. I suspect Redline will reassess their instructions for the "race starts" practise. Other than that it's a good format.

Johan just emailed me to say I'd also killed the rear wheel and the electrics are playing up. No endurance race :-(

Stink stink stink.

**slowpoke** · 20th December 2009, 10:56

Originally Posted by scuzeme

......most of the good riders are good because they are aggressive and have an ego, ego is only a problem when you think your fast when your actually a twat getting in the way of riders who are actually fast.

Glad to hear you're OK mate and hopefully the bike isn't too banged up.

Dunno about your statement above though. Aggressive and egotistical doesn't sound like too good a combo to me, at any level. Speed is relative after all: a fast road rider is probably a slow track rider, a fast trackday rider might be mid-pack in a race, a fast club racer mightn't be that fast at the National level, Stroudy would be "slow" in MotoGP company etc etc. At what point is it OK to be stroppy and up yourself?

I reckon the good guys are fast 'cos they are skilled, smart, methodical, analytical, adaptable, resilient, able to keep learning, have faith in their abilities/machine etc.....oh yeah, and they're freaks. Check out Dennis Charlett, Glen Williams, James Smith, Andrew Stroud, Craig Shirriffs, Gareth Jones and co at a track or race day: there's no FIGJAM attitude or histrionics. You could walk straight past 'em in the pits, or stop for a chat, and it's only when you see 'em doing amazing things on the track that you realise they are a different species.

That's my 2cent sermon anyway.

**scuzeme** · 20th December 2009, 13:17

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Glad to hear you're OK mate and hopefully the bike isn't too banged up.

Dunno about your statement above though. Aggressive and egotistical doesn't sound like too good a combo to me, at any level. Speed is relative after all: a fast road rider is probably a slow track rider, a fast trackday rider might be mid-pack in a race, a fast club racer mightn't be that fast at the National level, Stroudy would be "slow" in MotoGP company etc etc. At what point is it OK to be stroppy and up yourself?

I reckon the good guys are fast 'cos they are skilled, smart, methodical, analytical, adaptable, resilient, able to keep learning, have faith in their abilities/machine etc.....oh yeah, and they're freaks. Check out Dennis Charlett, Glen Williams, James Smith, Andrew Stroud, Craig Shirriffs, Gareth Jones and co at a track or race day: there's no FIGJAM attitude or histrionics. You could walk straight past 'em in the pits, or stop for a chat, and it's only when you see 'em doing amazing things on the track that you realise they are a different species.

That's my 2cent sermon anyway.

Let me clear up what i mean about being aggressive and having an ego.
By being aggressive i mean having a bit of the mongrel in you, your never ever going to be at the sharp end of the sharp end without taking some calculated risks, when two riders are neck and neck its the aggressive one, the one who wont break first or change their line that is going to get in the front, nice guys go nowhere, if you want to be polite and open the door for me then im going to be infront of you until you out HP me on the straights.

As for ego we all have one ego equals confidence you can have a big ego without coming across like a up your self look down your nose type of person, if you dont believe in your self (have some ego) then how can you ever compete let alone beat your adversaries.

I said aggressiveness and ego the negative side of these traits is "stroppy and up yourself" but you need to employ the positive side of these traits if you want to stand out from amongst the masses.
I agree with your comments about being "skilled, smart, methodical, analytical, adaptable, resilient, able to keep learning, have faith in their abilities/machine" read my blog i preach that stuff! the point im trying make make is what happened on Thursday was not anyones fault and i dont blame anyone for what happened, i didnt start to improve in my racing until i started to believe i could beat certain people and push through the pack.

As for the freaks of nature you mentioned i agree, i find them unassuming and even quiet in the pits but they do have egos and they are aggressive no doubt otherwise they wouldnt be where they are today right?

Cheers.

**slowpoke** · 20th December 2009, 17:18

I kinda hear what you are saying but we'll have to disagree on some of your points. We're coming at the whole racing thing from different perspectives, which is cool, we're all different.

For me racing is a bit like golf, in that you almost have to forget about who you are playing with and just concentrate on playing the course. I'm just trying to improve and find a bit more speed everytime I go out. I figure if I'm fast (for me) then the placing will look after itself.

I also figure that it's taken me a lotta years to reach the point where I can finally afford to race, and I'm not about to jeopardise continuing to race, or my families income, doing something stupid whilst battling for 17th place at a club meeting at the arse end of the world. I'll just concentrate on learning to go faster and racing another day.

Let's face it mate, we aren't 0.5 or even 2 seconds off the pace, we're fuggin' miles away. I'm just determined to find some of those seconds.

**scracha** · 20th December 2009, 17:47

Originally Posted by slowpoke

I kinda hear what you are saying but we'll have to disagree on some of your points.

You pair gonna kiss and make up?

**roadracingoldfart** · 20th December 2009, 17:52

Originally Posted by scracha

Johan just emailed me to say I'd also killed the rear wheel and the electrics are playing up. No endurance race :-(

Stink stink stink.

Ohhh dear , need a hand ???

**slowpoke** · 20th December 2009, 18:23

Originally Posted by scracha

You pair gonna kiss and make up?

We wuvs each uvver weewy!!!!

I've race with Darrin in close company and enjoyed every minute of it, so no animosity is intended.......stay out of our lil' luv fest ya durty ducati dicker!

Nah, sorry for the hijack mate, sorry the duke gig ended in tears woulda been a lota fun. Fingees and toseys crossed for a miraculous resurrection.

**wharfy** · 21st December 2009, 14:54

Originally Posted by scuzeme

Just a couple of things:

Firstly: Stevie you were going great guns out there on Thursday on that 600 all good mate.

Secondly: I was not involved in any near punch ups because i was out cold and then on my way to Rotorua hospital for the nite

Thirdly: Before anyone starts putting the boot into the Redline track days format just remember that accidents can happen anywhere, most of the good riders are good because they are aggressive and have an ego, ego is only a problem when you think your fast when your actually a twat getting in the way of riders who are actually fast.

I dont blame anyone for the crash on Thursday, the Redline format is by far the best no nonsense way for a racer to get good track time outside of racing it is aimed at the racer/fast rider everyone else should stay home.

OK that was three things

Onya mate,