VicClub Rd6

**svs** · 25th September 2005, 08:47

The last round of the VicClub winter series was held yesterday at Manfeild. Without the Karts there the pits seemed a bit empty, but at least I got a good space with a power point to try out my new tyre warmers.

The race format was 1x6lap race, and 1 30 minute race. I have usually been entering F2 as well as F3, but since I'm an unfit wuss, then I dropped out of F2 for this round. We were supposed to be running long circuit, but due to a lack of marshalls we had to run the normal short circuit.

I thought I had a good run in qualifying, but ended up 9th with a 1:23 lap, but 3rd - 12th were all really close, so a lot would depend upon the start. Didn't get such a bad start in the first race and made up a couple of places through coke - I decided to see how well the tyre warmers worked by riding round the outside of all the people jossling for the inside line. Didn't really seem to get into the swing of things and don't think I got the line right through higgins on any of the laps, but made up another place going into the esses - the SV is fast through the infeild. Had a good scrap with Gavin McKay and Craig Seargent for the last 3 laps, but managed to come out on top amd finished 6th.

There was a long race after lunch for the 30 minute race. F3 wasn't off till about 4. Gavin was out of the last race - his FZR threw a rod in the F2 race, causing it to be red flagged while they cleared up the oil. Got a resonable start and manged to pick up a couple of places through the infeild again. Was running 4th, till Andre ran wide at Coke, letting me through. I was then in 3rd place for about 6-8 laps, just taking it steady till andre can back past me. After another 6 or so laps I was getting really tired, the visor was fogging up, I was making a lot of mistakes and was caught by Craig Seargent. After a big slide in the hairpin, he got past me and then we kept swapping places for a while. Another mistake let him past again, and I thought I'd pick him off through the infeild. However that was the time they decided to show the white flag. Bugger. 1 lap to get back past. Ran too hot into coke and stuffed up my chances of catching through the infeild. By this time I was so tired it was lucky I hadn't crashed so I thought I'd settle for 5th. However coming round the sweeper I saw Craig had slowed drastically, so I nailed It and just got ahed of him to retake 4th. He'd run out of gas

23 laps of Manfeild is a long way and I definitely need to be fitter to keep riding fast.

Good news is that I did the entire series without crashing and finished 5th overall in the championship. Quite a few people stayed round for the free food and beer and the prizegiving. Apart from the race and series winners, we gave away a number of trophies. These were:
Presidents Award - Clive Banks
Rookie of the Year - Jane Keats
Best Presented - Team Naki Racing
Hard Luck Trophy - Bob Knight
Max Points (Vicclub member) - Mark Hay
Grant Russell Memorial - Brian Gopperth

Hopefully net year will be bigger and better. Lets hope that half the riders who have been supporting the club series can get out and make the nationals a bigger and better series this year.

**GSVR** · 25th September 2005, 15:02

Those half hour races were good fun and good to watch as well with battles going on through the field.

I screwed up my start with my bike in second gear and making it last into turn turn one. Thought I be tired but my lap times just got faster towards the end of the race and would have liked a few more laps for the Motard guy I race against to run out of gas a well

Really looking forward to next year and doing a whole series in F3.

**FROSTY:Me** · 25th September 2005, 15:29

Wish I coulda been there with ya guys sounds like a really good day was had by all.
Onya phil for your 5th overall finish--concidering thats of a feild of 45 at seasons start thats pretty darn good going.

**Two Smoker** · 25th September 2005, 16:56

Well done Phil!!! Gutted i couldnt make the last three rounds, and you beat me too!!! Im happy with 6th place overall though...

Will be down next year on the 600

**Ivan** · 25th September 2005, 21:08

Im gutted and so is dad the RS125 seized in the first 6 laps of the half hour I was cutting up some good times as well it pissed me off but I still got 3rd in the 125 title by 11 points, What fun that was then to top it all off Craig Sherrifs hope I spelt his name right gave me his CL14 HJC Helmet he won I just have to go get my head fitted at TSS Motorcycles this week. Now that was awsome stuff.

**bluninja** · 25th September 2005, 21:10

Congrats Phil, wish I was there still

LB · 26th September 2005, 04:25

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It was a really good day - good weather and great racing.

The Superbike 30-min race was so close between Nick Cole on Shaun Harris's GSXR1000 and Mike Smith on his R1.
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**bungbung** · 26th September 2005, 08:28

Good on ya Phil, that's awesome.

**svs** · 26th September 2005, 10:09

two smoker - it's a shame you weren't there. No doubt you would have finished ahead of me, but I would have done my best to keep with ya.

I think Nick Cole was riding a 750 - OK it was kind of hotted up, but it was impressive how it kept with the R1 down the straights.

Need to get the engine in the SV a bit more sorted now. Trying to work on get some more leave so I can do the nationals.