I Have A Dream!

**Racey Rider** · 22nd November 2005, 13:13

So I've just been inspired by the Burt Munro - Fastest Indian movie.
Inspired to write down my own Dream. My Goal for 2006.

Like Burt, I consider myself the underdog.
The old guy on the old cheap bike, doing whatever it takes on a tighter than tight budget.

But I Have A Dream!

and in my dream I have competed in Streetstocks, in the 06 Vic club Winter series at Manfield.
Competed on this old KR150 that has given me so much trouble.
And in the last race of the last round, I risk what ever it takes to secure those final points needed to win the championship.
Then at the end of the race, I will pull up in front of a photographer, and rip off the # 4 from my bike # 41, to leave just the # 1 ! Then back on the bike to do a smokin burnout while holding the # 1 finger in the air as the photo is taken and the commentator rattles off something profound like, " Yes Folks,, This is what racing is all about!"
Yes my Friends,, I have a Dream!

I hope you will be there and have your cameras ready people, to help me record and celebrate this moment in History!

Racey.

**Racey Rider** · 22nd November 2005, 16:33

So having a dream is all well and good, but how do I expect that to happen I hear you say!

Well,, Lets make a plan.
What do I need to make this Dream a Reality?

Motivation.
Time
Money
Support

Motivation:
I already have a keen competitive nature, and love to take risks, and push things to the limit. So what else should I do to keep me motivated. How about tell the world about my dream so I look silly if I don't follow it through with all I've got! - DONE -
Get more Track practice in so I feel like I could be a winner. Pledge $100 to anyone who bets me in the series next year. err,, maybe not!

Time:
Put time into training at the track. To learn to push the bike to it's limits.
I have no unbreakable work commitments at the moment, so have time to get to Track testdays at Manfield between December and April. I feel I haven't yet gone as fast as I can go round the track, and only more time in the seat will give me the confidence I need to constantly lay down the times I will need to win a series. Also take up whatever test days are scheduled before each race day through the winter.

Money:
I have to find the money to pay for all this form outside the Family budget.
I have one sponsor onboard from this season, and will start a search Mid January for another one or two. I will soon have a complete spare set of flarings, and could offer a different Major sponsor this space to race in F3 on the same day. Or could add a number of smaller sponsors. The fact that I really need them, will motivate me to really find them. And now that I have my first sponsor reference will hopefully make what I have to offer more secure for them.
What money will I need:
Lets do some sums.
Entry fees 6* race days, two events each day,- $325
1 practice day before each race day, $50 * 6 - $300
1 practice day a month Jan- April, $50 * 4 - $200
Fuel/oil for bike, - approx $20/day * 15days - $320
Fuel for travel to track, $50 * 10days $500
Accommodation before race days, $20 * 6 $120
Extra bits, New front tyre for bike @ cost $160
Bread, & water $100
Total $2025

Support:
From my Family will be forthcoming as long as I can find the sponsorship to pay Half the cost.
Support from the KB community by way of helping out at the track. Using your network of contacts to help me if there's something I need on the day.

O, and a Photographer at the end of the series!

So,, I Have A Dream,,
and now I Have A Plan!
It's just a matter of time boys and girls,, just a matter of time......

What else do I need to think about?
Racey

**Racey Rider** · 19th December 2005, 16:51

Since setting out my goal, I have been to two track days to test my motor.

Though at Manfield, I still had problems losing water, a new head gasket I put in last week had the issue fixed for Taupo.

So coming to the Taupo KB track day I had three main objectives:
1. Test for the right jetting of the bike for the altitude of Taupo.
2. Push the motor hard, to see if it was going to be reliable.
3. Get in a first ride on the Taupo track before my first race day there in April.

As I had to go from NP, through the back roads to Turangi first to pick up a item, the idea of towing a trailor, and using extra fuel to do that over the winding, gravel, hilly roads, didn't appeal. So using my 'Budget Racer' ingenuity, decided to pop the bike IN the car (as ya do!).
I have the bike apart often, so it was nothing to just remove flarings, drop out the forks, and fold back the clip-ons. Removed back seat, and with a little nudge she was in. (I think someone will have a photo).

Very wet day to get to Taupo, but I'm sure some of the Bike riders will tell you that better than me. Headed of to meet a few folk at the main Motel with the idea of pitching a tent for the night. But as the rain continued to fall, once again a kind KB’er came through for me and let me but up me camp stretcher in their room. Thanks Gazzer!

The idea of sleeping indoors would have been a good one had it not been for a noisy bunch of KB'ers drinking the night away right outside our rooms till I politely asked them to call it a night at 2am!

Taupo Track Day

But Track day dawn had a little bit of sunshine in it. And by the time we got to the track the day was looking quite promising. Bike was dragged out of the car (literally), and in half an hour was back together and looking like a GP racer. Why Turd (sorry,, Mudboy) kept telling me all day to 'Get a real Bike' I don't know. (one of you Mod change Mudboys name to Turd for me will ya!).:eyepoke:
Through Scrutineering, then the usually wait while Frosty gets his act together

(P/T) (I'm sure he was doing SOMETHING.) before getting into a slow procession for four laps round the track to check it out.
The sweeper was certainly in a mess. A brand new corner apparently 40m closer than the last one. But covered in dirt, even after a sweeper truck had gone over it.

I went out in the Medium group as I was used to bigger bikes flying past me, but didn't want to be held back by to many passing restrictions. The first session was careful for me, sussing the corners, but pushing it hard down the back straight for four laps before coming in the do a plug chop. I was surprised to find the jetting setup I had guess at proved to be spot on for the altitude of Taupo. A bit more time out there in that session had me feeling quite comfortable with 9/10ths of the track and on coming in again checked my tyre pressers to find them heating up well to provide good grip.
The second session was in just enough rain to wet the track. This certainly slowed things down, especially in the new sweeper, as the wetness made the dirt very hard to see. The whole thing just Looked Slippery. Having said that, I never had a slide there all day. ( I'm not aware of Anyone coming off in the sweeper at all.)
By the third session, the sun had come out again and the track was steaming dry. I really enjoyed this run. I felt I was pushing the bike well through the corners, and there were plenty of times I back off in corners to protect Cibbys job rather that under take the big bikes when I could have.
BRING ON A RACE DAY!!!

The last session was interesting in that it started out fine and we where all pushing it well. I felt I was keeping up with the bigger bikes everywhere but the back straight. I loved going through those S's under full power, changing up gears, climbing all over the bike, picking up speed. It was a beautiful thing. (I probably looked pathetic, but I enjoyed it!). But after 5 or more laps, Down came the rain! I knew I was out there on warm tyres so as half the field peeled off back into the pits, I took the opportunity to get some wet weather racing practice in. I still felt confidant in the grip of my tyres, and felt I was going reasonable fast still for the conditions. As I entered down towards the hairpin one time a big flash of fork lightning touched down right in front of me. (Well,, 10 miles in front off me, but still,, quite a highlight,,,if you know what I mean

) Soon after that, the heavens just OPENED UP, with the heaviest rain I've ever ridden in. The track was a sea of water. I told myself not to be a pussy and keep pushing your limits. I got another lap'n'a'half in before I think the Marshals got scared and pulled us in.

So a great day was had with some real extremes in the weather. I achieved my goals for the day, and things seem ontrack for my assault on the winter champs next year.

Thanks to Frosty. (and Allen for showing us the way round that first time)

Thanks to ALL the helpers that made the day a success.
BRING ON THE NEW TRACK!!

Racey.

**crashe** · 19th December 2005, 17:16

A great write up Racey.....

Good luck in getting some more sponsers.

Sorry I didnt get down to Taupo to meet you as I said I would...
With the marmite sandwiches......

but the heavens opened up on me on the way down... and I turned back...

**Wellyman** · 19th December 2005, 17:18

Very good RR. great article. I hope that you will have good luck this season and "follow your dreams". start hasseling your local bike shops and other stores for sponsorship.
WM

**RiderInBlack** · 19th December 2005, 17:21

Good write up RR.

Did "Roxanne's" (Old CBR1000F, black butt with packrack, red/white/and blue side and front planels) fat arse get in your way much?

**Racey Rider** · 19th December 2005, 17:31

Not sure which bike it was, but had a good game of trying to grab their pillon bar as we exited the sweeper on a number of occasions. Would have been good to get a tow down the straight!

Originally Posted by crashe

Sorry I didnt get down to Taupo to meet you as I said I would...
With the marmite sandwiches......

but the heavens opened up on me on the way down... and I turned back...

Yeah Thanks for giving it a go. I read your Mission report. Good effort on your own!
Catch you next time.
Racey.

**Racey Rider** · 18th January 2006, 21:23

I had planed to do a test day at Manfield this month, but the opportunity to do a race day at Taupo was to good to miss after getting a taste for the track there in December. So decided to go to my first Pacific Club race day.

Unfortunately I had two really bad nights sleep before race day, and a hard days work

, so waking up at 4am on Race day for the three and a half hour drive to Taupo from NP, didn’t really give me the edge one hopes for on a race day.

Getting to the track, I see a good number of bikers set up really for a sunny, breezy day at the track. There were about 9 of us streetstock riders and we were bundled in with the Classics, with them starting ahead of us on the same green flag.

My goal for the day was to, once again test the reliability of the bike, and to learn the track layout, as this was just my second time on the Taupo track.

PMCC run two six minute practice’s, and three 6 lap races in the day. I felt the 6 lap races were over too quick on such a small track. Maybe dropping to one practice, and making the races longer would be a better option?

In the first practice I was getting around ok for a few laps, when the bike just died coming through the s’s. It felt like it ran out of fuel. After pulling off the track and a dozen kicks it fired up again, and I got one more lap in before the end of the session. I did all the usual checks and found no problem. Fuel flow was good, so I can only guess a bit of tank rust may have blocked the flow temporally. For the rest of the day the bike run perfectly, so will look at cleaning out this ruff old fuel tank I was using on the day.

Coming to the first Streetstock race, I was still feeling in ‘Practice’ mode. A lot of the 150 riders knew that if they entered F3 as well, their F3 run would be right before the 150 race. This meant they would have just been round the track at race pace and heated their tyres right before lining up for there streetstock race. Quite an advantage. I knew I wouldn’t be able to push as hard as them into the first corners on my cold tyres, and as some of they have been to the first PMCC round and got points towards there championship, I let them take the front line positions at the start, and settled into the second row.
Having no qualifying grid position with PMCC rounds is quite unusual after racing with VIC club. It’s first in first served for the start positions.

Race 1 was a tame affair. I got a ok start, but with all the classics starting just ahead of us, got held up heaps through the first corners. Mid race I settled into a dice with a classic bike, a 4 stroke Twin 500? I think. I had slightly more speed down the straight than he, and knew I would always outbrake him into the first left hander. He had more tuque out of the corners but I ended up beating him to the flag, and took a 5th place in Streetstocks

Race two, I again took second row on the grid. Made a great start down the inside line of the track passing heaps of bikes, but had a bad angle on the corner, and had to wait for space to get round. The same classic had another battle with me in this race. at one stage I went to pass him down the straight, only to have him pull over into my line, (he didn’t know I was there yet), giving me only half a meter of track to make my move. But rather then back off, I decided that that narrow half metre of track was mine and I made the pass stick. But on the last lap I must of not got my line right in the s’s or something, as he got passed me there. I had one chance left, to take him on the inside exiting the sweeper. I lined him up in the sweeper,, got on the power before him,, on the exit, had my wheel noseing past his back wheel on the inside,,, but then I though, If I don’t button off I’m gunna hit his wheel any second, so backed off the pass, and he was Away! 1 All!

Come race three I thought, right, Time to give this a real go. So made sure I got on the first row of the streetstock start so I could get past some of this traffic into the first corners and let the Mo-jo free!
Got a so-so start, and had the leaders in sight all race, so set about getting into a rhythm to catch them. The trouble with just 6 laps at Taupo is if you don’t get the start perfect, you don’t have much time to catch anyone that did. But I was slowly catching up with late braking and good flow in the corners, and was pleased to get by Neil and his RG to take third spot. I almost lost this position though by coming through the last corner before the checkered flag a gear to high, and it caused me to run wide, right off the track! I had to do a bit of motocrossing, and recovered with as much poise as someone who obviously just stuffed up can muster. I expected to see Neil fly past to the flag before me, but looking back, I saw he had given up the fight to someone who was obviously a far better rider, so I was able to hold my first third place at the line.

I was pleased with that 3rd place on a track I didn’t know well. next time I go there I’ll remember to go out and bug the F3 boys as well so I can have hot tyres, and hit that first corner at full tilt in Streetstocks.

Racey.

**crashe** · 18th January 2006, 21:31

Another great write up Racey Rider... well done mate...

Looking forward to hearing about your next race day...

**Racey Rider** · 24th March 2006, 16:57

Went to a Manfield test day again yesterday as part of my buildup to the Winter seires. My first session out was on a dry track. I felt I got into the groove quite quickly, and when the rain came in the last few laps of that session I was feeling good, on warm tyres, and ready to push the limits on the wetning track. Got round a few times with out drama, but on the last lap I had just passed someguy on a 250 down the middle straight, pulled it down into Higgins? and promtly lost the front end.

I remember laughing to myself as bike and I slid across the track. No real damage to me or bike, as my 'Sparkling grape juice bottle cork' crash bungs did the job. I wasn't suprized by the front wheel wash out in one way, as it still had a OLD badly shaped BT39ss on it, which wasn't up to the job in wet weather. I had a spare wheel with me with a old TT900 on it so swaped that onto the bike and was sweet for the rest of the days riding in the rain.

I played around with the jetting a bit on the day to try and get closer to an optimal setting. Still haven't got just the right jet, but learning more all the time.
The best news I came away with was, in the last session I was timed at a best lap of 1:43 in the rain. Though this was more than 10 seconds down on my best dry track time from last year, When I check it against qualifying times set by last years 150 racers on a wet day, that 1:43 would have put me on Pole on the start grid !
And I know I can go faster.
Whaahoo,,, Bring it ON!!!

**crashe** · 24th March 2006, 17:06

Well done mate....

Another great write up, of your day at the track.

Great news also re: your times around the track.

Shame about the slide across the track... but the main thing is that you are ok after your wee off and the bike was repairable by putting on another wheel.

Look forward to reading about your next race on track day.

I hope to be all better soon and will make it to the next track day....
So long as it aint pissing down again...

**Coyote** · 24th March 2006, 17:13

Oh dear, I don't stand a chance. I'm entering a RG in desperate need of a piston and ring and it currently has a IRC tyre on the rear

**Racey Rider** · 24th March 2006, 17:15

Mark your Diary Crashe. Taupo - October 14th.
Thanks the day I plan to be lifting the streetstock trophy above my head

, and sending that email to Rossi.

Dear Rossi,,
I'm on my way!
Racey

(Gotta dream high)

**Racey Rider** · 24th March 2006, 17:19

Originally Posted by alarumba

...and it currently has a IRC tyre on the rear

I can Give you a half worn TT900 for the back of your RG if you want it.
I'ld still use it myself, but it's 17" and my KR is 18"

My bikes in need of Piston, Rings And Barrel,
But it's finaily running well and not giving any problems, so I daren't touch it.