The week started with an idea, get my street bike race ready by the weekend and go racing.
So I took a copy of what I need to do, and proceeded to tick things off the list. Lights off, mirrors off, sump plug drilled, oil filter drilled etc.
On Saturday I stole the Van off the Apprentice (Jay), loaded the bike and tools into the back and went to sleep. Well I tried to sleep, the excitement was bigger than Christmas.
0530 Sunday. Got up, showered and had a big breakfast. Flatmate was supposed to drop me off before work, at my pit bitches(Andrew) house where the bike was in the van. Flatmate slept in. I ended up having to walk to meet Andrew at the servo at the end of his street, carrying my gear bag.
0700. Bike's flopping round in the back of the van, and I've got no cash. We stopped in at the ATM in town and I sent Andrew to get some cash out while I tied the bike down
0715. All set and ready to go "LETS GO RACING" was the catchcry, and we were on a mission: Get to Taupo, get the bike gassed up, and ready for entry by 0800. Taupo's an hour away.
Passed a Subaru wagon with a KRR150 on a trailer. Sweet, another race bike, the excitement grows.
0745. Pulled into the BP station at Taupo, fuelled the bike up next to a guy with a big Kawasaki in the back of his van, the excitement grows.
Sent Bugjuice a text, "Where are you guys?" Pulled into the park next to BJ, MR, and TS. Set up shop and introduced ourselves to MRand TS who I hadn't properly met before
0900. All registered, joined PMCC, bike scrutineered and numbers on. ready to go racing. Attend riders breifing and got very nervous at the mention of a slippery surface at the end of the main straight.
1200. Had met up with slickd, r4q2, Frosty, Quasievil and a few others by this stage. Also had two practice sessions by this stage and was buzzing quite nicely ready to get back out on the track.
First Race. Got onto the front row of the grid, revs up, heart pumping. This is it, my first ever motorcycle race.
Green flag drops and I dump the clutch, front comes up, and engine bogs down. Watched feeling helpless as bikes flew past me on either side. took it easy for the first few laps, advice of Bugjuice and Motoracer coursing through my head, then I put my head down and went for it. Toes, knees, and pegs scraping. Tacho needle sitting on the right hand side of the dial. Adrenaline pumping, bike feeling great.
Had such a good time that you couldn't have taken the grin off my face with a 4x2. Pulled into the pits and saw Bugjuice, and the rest of the crew all giving thumbs up, and smiling almost as wide as me.
Got my helmet off, and was wrapt to recieve a whole bunch of congratulations, when's the next race?
Saw MSTRS, Yungatart, and hXc standing by the pit wall, so I went and introduced myself to them. Good to meet you guys, you're good people.
Race two. I don't remember much about race two, except that I went hard from lap two and anyone who passed me (very few) I returned the favour within a few corners. Had pegs knees and toes scraping most of the race and it was probably the best race for me of the day.
By this time r4q2 and slickd had gone home, but my pit bitches were happy to see me back in safe
Race three. Before we even got out onto the track it'd stated to spit. That was fine by me though as the track was still quite dry. Got my best start of the dayand went on the charge from the third row of the grid. Had a few moments early in the race when the psychological rain got to me, and I started sliding around on the track. When I got over that though and started taking a little more caution on the bumpy parts of the track I started making ground, and catching more people.
As I rounded the sweeper on the last lap I was a little sad that the day was effectively over, and a little relieved that I'd made it through the day unscathed
1600. Packed the bike, and tools into the van, climbed in with them and came home. Tired, sore, and thoroughly satisfied
1700. Got home, left the bike and tools in the van for unpacking at work tomorrow. Got a text when Andrew and Jay got home, "have you got a spare windscreen?" oh shit. The bike had fallen over in the van, and broke the windscreen 200m from their home, all that way, and it happened then. Oh well, I had a spare which I was supposed to send to Sniper (sorry bro)
My word that was a fun day. If you're thinking about going racing, don't just think about it, do it. You'll enjoy yourself beyond belief, and it's not as expensive as you'd think
To all those who I met yesterday, I'm glad to meet you, and I didn't meet a person I didn't like
MR, that's a cool little bike, high maintenance though. Thanks for the pointers
TS, my pit bitches were both impressed with your speed on the 400, keep it up
Frosty, sorry bout your day mate, hope you get it sorted
Bugjuice, Thanks for the loan of the Leathers, I didn't soil them too badly did I? I feel bad about the knees sliders they were shiny in the morning and scraped in the afternoon
Quasi, Thanks for the Back protector
R4Q2, Thanks for posting that pic yesterday, I hope there's more to come
Originally Posted by Dean
, I too kinda have a curvy figure which makes it worse beacuse im a guy. Well the waist kinda goes in and the bum pushes out. When I was in college the girls in my year would slap me on the arse and squeeze because apparently it is firm, tight...
I wear jeans
Reply With Quote
Nice of you to say so too. Was good to meet/chat. You did well on the track - and the write-up.
.........."My word that was a fun day. ".......& that is exactly what m/bikes is about gotta love doing what ya doing
Bookmarks