Prize money

[wharfy]

Well the weather was just as predicted – the crowd turned up – the racing was awesome and I didn't crash !!!

Xmas Day
Van packed ready to roll, had xmas brunch and pressie swap with the family (I got CROZ's book from the lovely Katie O'Donnell !!!)
Loads of traffic reduced to a crawl from Whenua Tapu cemetery to McKay's crossing
Arrived at pits in plenty of time scrutineered no problems, wandered the pits doing chatting with people, walked the track, seemed bumpier than last year but hard to tell really.

Katie and I slept in the van in the pits so we would be ready to go on boxing day.

Boxing Day

Quallifying
BEARS
57.514 = 16th on the grid out of 29 right beside Nick Prestige

F2/600
First session I managed to get ahead of Darrin for the first time since we were in clubmans, I hope he doesn't delete the video
Second session he was almost a second ahead

57.374 = 11th out of 14

The times took ages to come out I reckoned it was because they couldn't believe wharfy was in 11th spot so had to re-check them


Race 1 BEAR's

John Woodley was in the row ahead of me on the grid, I good a pretty good start somehow I managed to get ahead of John Woodly. It only lasted a lap and a half and he took me on the inside and Duncan Coutts and Bernard Ryan shot through the same gap right behind him. I could here a big V-twin right behind me for the rest of the race, I didn't know who or what it was until on the run to the line on the last lap Mark Elmers Buell got the drive coming off the over bridge and pipped me by 0.071 !

17th best time 58.140


Race 2 F2/600
Got a good start, but was quickly passed by everyone except Tupu Gregory who was gaining on me almost the whole race, even had a bit of a duel with Darrin who passed me down the hill from the bridge and I nearly didn't make turn one ! I only had one real moment when someone on a green bike (I assume a Kawasaki ) stuffed it up the inside on turn two and clipped my front with their rear as they bounced over the huge dip, I now have a nice new gouge in the bottom of my right fork leg. I got lapped by sketchy right on the line. My forks were bottoming out on the down-hill run to turn one and the bike was weaving around in quite and alarming manner (or so it seemed to me) I decided I should try a bit more pre-load on the front for the next race.

13th best time 58.226

Race 3 BEAR's
Once again my start was OK got ahead of John Woodley again and it took him 4 laps to catch me unfortunately Mark Elmers got past on the same lap and try as I might I couldn't catch him.
The lap time show I backed off a bit until lap 4 then after they passed me I picked up the pace again but not enough The little bit of pre-load I had added to the front seemed to make an improvement and I was tempted to add more but decided against it.

12th best time 57.341

8th for the series

Race 4 F2/600

Again a not bad start, but quickly ended up at the back of the field. I only managed to beat Bryce Meads and he must have had a moment on lap 5 to drop 6 places ! Again the bike felt a bit better under brakes into turn one than in the first two races


13th best time 57.373

16th for the series

I was a little disappointed that my best time was not as fast as last year (57.135) I was hoping to get into the 56's (or even lower) – but hey there is always next year

Big thanks to my crew – the lovely Katie O'Donnell
Great event thanks to all the volunteers that do the work behind the scenes – a real mission on public roads.

The after match function at the race course was pretty damn good as well not least because I managed to finish 8th in the series for BEAR's and got prize money !!
If you want to know how much – the scale is on the web site – but it only just covered the petrol for the weekend. It is however great to come into work and tell everyone you won prize-money !!!

I also got to say G'day to CROZ and Katie got to hold Stroudy's new baby


This meeting is a real buzz and a “must do” for all racers I reckon !

I better check the dates for Paeroa

[discodan]

So you get paid to race motorcycles...

Guess this makes you a professional racer now

[Deano]

A professional racer in an international field no less !

[wharfy]

So you get paid to race motorcycles...

Guess this makes you a professional racer now

A professional racer in an international field no less !

In a media release today a company spokesperson said that K2 Racing will make a substantial loss this financial year, the companies losses were attributed to difficulty of obtaining sponsorship in the current tight economic climate and poor performance by their rider. The spokesperson told the media that the K2 Race team would continue to try and attract sponsorship and stick with their current line up of rider and pit crew. The team will now concentrate on inproving the riders performance with more track time and massages. "We believe that despite poor performances to date our team's dedication and good looks will eventually bring the required results"
- ends

[Marknz]

Great rad. Good on you Wharfy, it's always good to see you smiling around the track

[Frenchy]

Nice work mate, didnt realize we were next to a pro

[Clivoris]

Nice work mate, didnt realize we were next to a pro

First time he's been paid for being the "rider" Frenchy.
Excellent write up Kev' and congrats on the money and staying upright. You did have a shit-eating grin whenever I saw you.