Bucket Winter series Round 5 or how to root another motor

[Kickaha]

Buckets Rd 5

Saturday arvo and I putting the new Gn250 carb on the motor and changing the oil and I’m all set to go and after the good run I had at Levels I’m feeling quite confident of giving Dangerous the arse kicking he deserves, so with the bucket all set I head inside for a bit of R & R before race day

Sunday morning and I head around to Diesel Pig’s place to pick up the Club Slut as James is riding it, after the last meeting when he binned it I’m surprised he wanted to get back on it, head off to Dangerous place and meet up with him then head off out to the track

Sign in and scrutineering all over, although Stanko has to fix a couple of things on his bike to get through, but his FXR150/RZ250 hybrid is looking good, TonyB was up till midnight putting the finishing touches to his GP125, Cam is also debuting a new bike which is his GS125 put into a 97 RS125 frame with quite possibly the ugliest exhaust I have ever seen, Glen (of land speed sidecar fame) is making his first meeting for 8 months as well on Rod Hawes MB100/RS hybrid, Dangerous has the MT replica bucket out and is trying to fire it up after pushing it up and down a couple off times he realises it may start a bit easier if he removes the rag stuck in the carb intake, me and Cotton just about have heart attacks pushing Glen trying to fire his bike up but it finally stumbles into life

Practice
The GN is running good and I seem to be on the pace, but I’m a bit over geared, Cam passes me and tips in to the sweeper decks his ugly exhaust out and slides the rear in a shower of sparks, I’m steadily pulling away for Dangerous and TonyB and know as usual they’re not going to provide much competition, back into the pits and change the gearing and it’s all sweet, TonyB is saying he’s a bit tired after his midnight stint but really he’s just needs to harden up

Race one
22 Buckets line up for the race
There’s the usual scramble to get out and get a good grid position and I get up onto the front row, we launch into turn one and I’m in 7th with Cam right in front and Cotton and Glen leading the way, into the hairpin and there’s a bunch of us trying to swap position’s, down the short straight and I carry more speed into it than Cam and as I exit the bike dies and I coast off the edge of the track, ah well at least I made it past practice this time, Glen and Cotton are hard out and pulling a big gap over the next bunch with Glen Taking the win by less than a metre, with Diesel Pig the fastest of the Kber’s running in the top 5, Dangerous goes past on the slowdown lap and points to the Honda badge of the tank of his bike so I give him a friendly wave I get the bike back to the pits and rip the head off and find another bloody dropped valve

Race2
I have the offer of Dangerous MT replica but instead take out Tony Mac Honda single as I figure it is the lesser of two evils, I’m a bit slow getting out and only manage row 2 with Dangerous right in front, off the line and into turn 1 and trough the hairpin and I’m right behind him, we get past a couple of guys and Dangerous is slowly pulling a gap as I work out the best way to ride Tony Macs bike, it feels like it’s got a flat back tyre and no damping in the rear shocks but I find if I hammer it into the corner and load up the rear it settles it down a bit and doesn’t weave and pogo it’s way around, Dangerous runs in 7th and I finish 8th behind him and TonyB and Stanko are some where further down the field

Race3

Dangerous gets a good start on his MT replica while I’m still on Tony Macs bike I get off line and through turn one in 4th and up into 2nd around the hairpin only to have Cotton come flying past and a lap later Brent and then Diesel Pig, I try staying with them and get slowly dropped off, despite the fact Tony Mac can run at the front of the field on this bike it’s taking me to long to get used to it and I end up with a 5th and my best finish of the day, and finally get to give Dangerous arse the kicking it deserves

All in

Diesel Pig gives me his Husqvarna 360 to ride and on the warm up lap I’m thinking it may not have been a great idea to ride it, it doesn’t turn in very well and feels bloody weird riding a trail bike on the track, off the line and I’m short shifting to stop the front coming up and, James is in front of me and another guy on a X7? I get past James once I work out how to make the bastard to turn corners and round up the guy on the X7, Leigh slows the mighty GS1000 down to have a play for a few laps and I can hear him behind me, it doesn’t want to turn in under power so I brake early and coast a metre or two, tip it in and then get on the gas and then it hooks up and launches, but after 5-6 laps I’m ready to give it back (although I wouldn’t say no to another ride)

Another good day with the KB bucket crew out in force again, although it looks like I may miss Levels next week, ah well time to stop pissing about and do a proper engine build up

[froggyfrenchman]

sounds like fun mate! we had our waipawa buckets today as well. check out the thread in General biker ravings. think i called it what fun or such fun, sumfink like that

[TonyB]

As K has mentioned, I was up till just after midnight Saturday night. The problem was the rear brake lever, and getting it in the right posi for the new rearsets while still clearing the pipe. It wasn't easy, and the really annoying thing was knowing that I probably would use the fuggen thing any way (and I didn't) it was all for scutineering.

Sunday morning I wandered outside after maybe 5 hours sleep, took one look at the brake lever and said "What a fuck up" so I promptly chopped it and welded it AGAIN. Then comes the funny part- I go to put the tank on and the friggen mounting bracket on the bottom of the tank FALLS OFF. "Shit! What do I do now??" I thinks. In my dazed and desperate state I breifly entertained the idea of spot welding it ..... to a tank full of racing fuel .... ummmm ... no. So out comes some lacing wire.... Hey it passed scutineering!

Stanko came to pick me up again- this involves him driving quite a way in the wrong direction (ie away from the track), he arrived only to find me totally disorganised as usual, but patiently waited while I fluffed about and got ready. He even turned back when MrsB rang to say I'd left my fuel can behind. Top bloke, our Stanko.

Decided to rejet once we were there. Of course it worked faultlessly this time- cause no one was watching, and there were no evil women with cameras waiting for me to stuff up... eh Rashika

Practice went OK. I was having to deal with the old demons in the head after my bucket had tried to spit me off at least 5 times at the last round, and despite the fact that it was obviously much improved, it took untill race three to really relax. And SHIT I was knackered. Yes I do need to harden up K.

Umm, may have some of the event's muddle. I is tired.
Race one went pretty well. I was holding off Dangerous when I missed a gear on the first in feild righthander- had to stop and think which way to push the now reverse shift gear lever, and then D shot past and gained heaps of ground. He gained some more distance be fore the flag fell. Bugger! Passed a couple of guys (I think ) at the hairpin and after the kink.

Race two was better. My evil plan of jettisoning parts to eliminate those following failed- but the baffle very nearly did it's job, narrowly missing Stanko. Ooops. I wondered what the hell was happening- all of a sudden the bike would go to 9k instead of 8k and I swore there was some bugger on a rowdy twostroke trying to get by me at the hair pin. Again I passed a few guys in this race. Yay!

Race three was by far the most fun. I finally relaxed. We also managed to psych D out before the race- he tried out the new MB100, which was shod with the finest tyres money could buy..... in 1980. He didn't have much confidence in them, and I finally beat the old bugger! We'll ignore the fact that he is suffering from the Bubonic Plague.... or was it Chicken Pox?

Checked out Rashikas new ride, veeeeery nice. Talked shit, and generally had a great day

[diesel pig]

KBer,s finishing positions in the two points Bucket races
Race 1
diesel pig 4th
Dangerous 8th
TonyB 9th
Stanko 12th
kipper 15th

Race 2
diesel pig 4th
Dangerous 7th
Kickaha 8th
TonyB 11th
Stanko 14th
kipper 17th

Melvina only records the numbers for the lap scoring and I can only do the ones I can remember, so neady KBer's who want to know there positions tell me your number and I will post it for you

Oh yeah the first race had 22 buckets on the track FUCK YEAH!

[James Deuce]

Thanks for the write up guys. Always sounds like you had a ball, even when it all turns to crap, eh Kickaha?

[dangerous]

We also managed to psych D out before the race- he tried out the new MB100, which was shod with the finest tyres money could buy..... in 1980. He didn't have much confidence in them, and I finally beat the old bugger! We'll ignore the fact that he is suffering from the Bubonic Plague.... or was it Chicken Pox?

Yes well I do have the chicken pox, tell yas what at my age its fuking painfull but I doped up for the day (race legal med's) all the same and a 'big thanks' to all you guys for telling me I should get my sorry arse out to the track when in fact being contagious I should have been locked up at home.

I did the pratice, and points races 1&2 on my CB125T #68 with its flash new paint job straight out of a $3.99 spray can, it was all one colour at last.
Feeling rather like Kickaha looks, I wasn't up to speed but actually had a good day considering.

The last race was a non points race so I decided to take out my new MT125gp based bike with a worked MB100 motor in it #12..... well no other sucker was keen, as they too had heard the rumers about this bike with its 20yr old 18" tyres even tho the bike in the 80's won the National 125gp series with Steve ward riding it.

Very aware that this thing had balls in a straight line and me never really ridden a 2 stroker much was going to take it very easy..... but check me out will ya's, 1st to bolt and leading the pack wheelied the death trap in 1st then it tried its best to do the same in 2nd, hell I was packing myself.
But 1st corner I whimped out majorly and the pack passed me including Stanko, TonyB and.... hell every other KBer.
But I tell ya what I had a ball on the MT was easy to ride but soon learnt that not enough revs ment it would bog down and too much would mean it would die off.... I may have finished in the last bunch but I was grinning and still rubber side down

pic 1) Kickaha waving for help *my suzooky broke again*
pic 2) Kickahas bust Suzuki and his replacement a Honda 125s (must add that the last time K rooted his Suzuki he borrowed a Suzuki which he also rooted.... this time after rooting his Suzuki, he rode a Honda..... and it stood up to the Kickaha treatment very well, as you would expect a Honda would)
pic 3) dangerous leading Kick around *come on Kick keep up*
pic 4) start line up 3rd race on MT (green #12)
pic 5) weee heee..... look at me go (dangerous hanging on for dear life, there is now a permanent pinch mark in the MT seat)

[Joni]

Great day guys... :spudflip:

D was good to see you out there even tho you were not feeling 100%... that green machine of yours packs some great straight line speed - look forward to see what its capable of doing once you are used to it and have a set of decent tyres on it.

As always much respect to Diesel pig - great stuff Neil

Pity the GN's motor blew again - I would have enjoyed watching Kickaha kicking Dangerous' arse again...

Good luck for Levels next week guys - stay safe and have fun!

[Rashika]

now its time for the photographer to jump into the fray.

the usual antics accurred.

Seems like it was only a month ago i was looking at the pics of Kickahas busted motor...oh yeah it was...

so the obligatory pics of the busted motor...sorry kickaha, but better to get it over with quickly huh?

Pic 1: on the sideline....again
pic 2: busted engine pt 1
pic 3: busted engine pt 2
pic 4: Kickaha on the borrowed bike again and hanging on for dear life as it tries to launch itself from between his legs
pic 5: Kickaha on the borrowed bike and luving the Honda to bits
pic 6: Bunch of KB's admiring Glens Cagiva 125

[Rashika]

Now its TonyB's turn

pic 1: Tony lining up for scrutineering after the mammoth effort to get the bike together

pic 2: TonyB racing
Pic 3: racing again...but where are you looking TonyB??
pic 4: Doing some modifications to dangerous's "new" bucket...with the 20year old tyres...in order to psych out D
pic 5: TonyB showing exactly how much the rear wheel wobbles *man somethings a bit loose in there*

[Rashika]

Stankos turn (sorry pics keep changing the order after i've uploaded them)

pic 6: the new, revitalised FRX powered RZ
pic 5: Stanko doing a very cool passing manouver
pic 4: ...and cornering
pic 3: the whole group of Kb'rs: Dangerous leading Kickaha (7), then TonyB (offcamera) and then Stanko bringing up the rear
pic 2: more of pic 4...
pic 1: more of pic 4...

[Rashika]

Dangerous's turn

Pic 5: Dangerous will be Dangerous even in the pits ...I saw that wee wheelie
pic 4: Dangerous on the old bucket (68)
Pic 3: Dangerous on the new bucket (12)
pic 2: You know things are bad when the club slut beats ya!
pic 1: dangerous leading the bunch......into the pits

[Rashika]

and for the last lot Diesel Pig...and a couple of others

Pic 1: Diesel pig looking damn fine!
pic 2: and again...
pic 3: and again chasing down kickaha...note the similar riding styles
pic 4: flag drop from race 1
pic 5: a few spectators bikes....note the VERY cool Buell in the front SuziQ (R6) and 30UTD (K4)
pic 6: and a few spectators with their bikes: Manuboy, SuziQ (R6) and 30UTD (K4)

[stanko]

Thanks Rashika, god I love seeing photos, even better when Im in them.

First place goes to kickaha, for not loosing his rag even under the most tyring circumstances, I think I might have gone home under a grey cloud !

I tried my new bucket yesterday, not just round the block but around one of the best tracks in the country. Im still new to racing and while I like engineering it dosent actually help you ride so Im working on the riding right now. First practice didnt really have a clue what was wrong except I was at the back. Race one I figured the gearing was wrong, almost got that sorted out , oh and maybe the jetting was too rich, fixed that. Race two was better starting to get the hang of things. Didnt change anything for the third race, had wicked fun , finished somewhere in the middle.

Unfortunatly cant go to Levels, maybe I can do a bit more tinkering on the bike and be a bit better organised for October.

Thanks to the KB christchurch Bucket crew, Im having a great time (should have started 20 years ago)

[Kickaha]

pic 5: Stanko doing a very cool passing manouver

.

And he's passing Kber Nipper having his second race meeting in two days after an enforced lay off from a broken collarbone

Thanks for the write up guys. Always sounds like you had a ball, even when it all turns to crap, eh Kickaha?

First place goes to kickaha, for not loosing his rag even under the most tyring circumstances, I think I might have gone home under a grey cloud !
)

I'm a bit confused as to why the problem with dropped valves as the motor is in the lowest stae of tune it's been in for a couple of years, so it's yet another rebuild, although I'll probably give Timaru a miss untill I sort it out properly and I'm starting to run out of pistons

pic 2) Kickahas bust Suzuki and his replacement a Honda 125s (must add that the last time K rooted his Suzuki he borrowed a Suzuki which he also rooted.... this time after rooting his Suzuki, he rode a Honda..... and it stood up to the Kickaha treatment very well, as you would expect a Honda would)

I ride that bike at least once a year to remind myself just how bad the Honda's really handle, Tony Mac is the only guy who seems to be able to ride it at any speed and is normally up the front of the field, but to me it feels like the whole thing flexes just about in 1/2

[TonyB]

Oh yeah the first race had 22 buckets on the track FUCK YEAH!

Yeh, but sadly about 5 of them ended up parked on the side of the track