VMC Clubmans newbie report RND5

[Two Smoker]

Mmm, best I go find some humble pie then. How heavy are you Ivan?

Nick Cole is (or was) around 100kgs... and he knew how to make his 125GP move quick...

[k14]

Yep guy in chch would be atleast 100kg and he smokes it up on his 125. If you know what you are doing then weight on an rs125 isn't a problem, although of course you are never going to be able to hang with the 50kg or less guys. I think that height is more of a disadvantage on an rs than weight, im 6 foot and my legs are still sore from racing on sat, lol.

[Racey Rider]

Thanks for the support guys.
I feel sorry for the problems you have been having Alex hope fortunes with your engine change for the last round.

Thanks Garry. Here's my run down of my day.

We had another lovely day at Manfield on Saturday with some great racing.
It was also a nice thought to have small # 34 stickers provided to us all, to place on our bikes in memory of Owen Brunton, who died at the last round.

Unfortunately, once again, I only got one lap of practice in before seizing my motor.
(4 motor stuff ups in 5 rounds. Which I hope puts me in the running for the 'Worst Luck of the Series' Award! )

It happened for a different reason this time, as I fixed the Detonation problem by using 98 octane fuel.
I had been waiting on Gaskets to arrive from Thailand, which never turned up. So after putting new piston and rings in the motor for this round, I had to use old gaskets again, before giving the bike 50 kms of test running here in NP.

Things seemed to be ok, but after warming it up, the first hard charge down the front straight had the motor lock up with a partial seizure at the end of it. Very frustrating!
On pulling the motor apart, there had been no detonation happening, but I think the cause was my dodgy cylinder barrel.
The barrel had been damaged in the past by a sparkplug insulator falling on top of a high reviving piston. This scratched the barrel badly. I had been sanding the scratches down, and it had been working ok still till this last time, when I must of sanded one spot too much, creating an uneven spot which allowed too much blow-by past the rings. It seems this is what caused the problem.

So I have to face the fact now that this barrel is stuffed.
Options are to: Send this barrel overseas to get it replated. Just over $400 (Cannot rebore or re-sleeve these ones)
Buy another 16 000km motor from a wrecker in Nelson $500 + freight
Wait around and see if another cheap motor/ wrecked bike comes available closer to home.

As I'm unemployed at the moment, it would put my family in a hard spot to spend this money right now. Rather sad, when I think I have the riding potential to be in the top 3 with some decent praitice time . So may not be at the last round.

I have been learning a lot about my motor this year. Mistakes that hopfully won't be made again!

If you don't see me at next round,,, I will be back,, at some stage.
Will continue in streetstock class till I am good enough to win a race, (yes! it May happen one day!)
Then if money allowed, would look into 125's or F3.
Would like to put a KX500 motor in the KR frame for some F3 fun.

Cheers
Racey.

[FROSTY:Me]

Mmm, best I go find some humble pie then. How heavy are you Ivan?

keep in mind ol son --1 piston -1 set of rings 4 head studs
and most of the 125's will come with a shit load of spares.
You've seen the hassles with having a highly strung F3 bike. AKA-Mella Yella.
If you are semi serious about going raciing--snap up the VFR400 thats for sale in here throw a set of tyres at it and go have fun.
At the price its at you'll sell it easily if you move on to other types of racing.
-If ya wanna taste of F gimme a yell and Ill bring mella yella along on the 4th

[Kickaha]

Thanks for the tips TS and Frosty.


4. Wha? 125GPs are not even remotely cheap to run, especially when it comes to rebuilds after most meetings (and when you're an engineering numpty like me, but then I guess I'd learn over time). My 150 bucket racer was about 40% again the weight of a 125GP bike, and with my 90 something kg's onboard it's unlikely to be a very good ride. The suspension on those things is just not made for riders my size.
But your input is appreciated.
Cheers

125GP is nowhere as expensive as most people think at a club level, they don't need a rebuild after each meeting and it's not uncommon to do several club meetings without touching them

Running at the Nationals and wanting to be competitive is a whole different story though, although most 125 riders I knew spent more on tyres than rebuilds