I went to Taupo raceway with very low expectations of both myself and mello yello my zxr400 .4 all nighters in a row getting her set up had left me drained and reliability was still a big question.
I'd entered F3 and pre89 racing but I'd pretty well decided that if my lap times were in the mobile chicane range I'd relegate myself to clubmans and stay out of everybodys way.
Race day started out wet and windy so my heart sank. The track was damp with patches of standing water .The new tyres still had their shiney sheen on em so I was a touch worried.
First practice second corner and although riding like a nanna in a zimmer frame I still had a huge back end slide.-That gravitronic efect of new paint sure was working there.I'm pretty sure I was if not the slowest novice rider out there I wasn't far off.Practice was called short when MR had what turned out to be a minor crash.
At this point I was wondering if I could still race at all let alone in F3.
Second practice and the tyres were starting to get sticky.My confidence started to come up a bit and I upped the pace. With an ever drying track the lack of suspension /tyre setup shone through ,with huge amounts of chattering from the back end. Something to work on as soon as I get in the pits. Im thinking now well maybee in clubmans class (novice racers) I might only come last by about half a lap.
Tyre pressures dropped to track pressures and thanks to a magic tool of KK's I got the back end preload dropped right down.
Doug Mcleoud my minder for the day and an ex racer told me I was getting the sweeper totally wrong and to focus on that. Next time out I focussed on it so well I decided that the fastest way down the back straight must be on the grass alongside it.
I stayed upright and noone saw my little oops.
The good news in this session was that it was clubmans practice and I was catching and passing the clubbie riders.
Low point was a little um "comeing together" with HO Hoon on turn one. Sorry dude I was sure I was well past ya .j
At this point I'd decided that stuff the ego I was too slow for the big boys this time and went to change class to clubmans racing.
I was told by clerk of course in no uncertain terms I wasn't changing class -Unless my ego was so tiny it needed that kinda boost.
First race and I hadn't even come to a full stop on the grid and the flag dropped.
I quickly found the feild disapearing into the distance. Bum up and head down I had a battle with a guy on an 1100 katana for most of the race.
I finally got him on turn one by outbraking him and tucking underneath.
I could hear a very angry gsx1100 fair howling up my rear for the rest of the race but he couldn't get past.
Pulling out on the track in f3 and right away a rider went down. -gee the race hadn't even started.
I got a much better start in this one launching my way into midfeild before turn one. I did my best to hang on to the pack but I just wasn't fast enough or good enough. On a positive note I was getting drive much sooner on the sweeper.
I spent half the race riding alone watching the pack dissapear into the distance. I diddn't end up last and I knew I could improve heaps with more confidence and track time.
Aparently I diddn't seem to have my "race face" on -not even tucking down on the straight -which was news to me because I thought I was giving it death.
Second race in pre 89 and again I got a good start -I realised I need to get more agressive in passing when an oppertunity to take 4 guys evaporated in front of me. - That said I quickly reeled in mr katana and gave chase to the pack.Another lonely race with the feild out in front of me.but still not last
By the last race of the day I was totally knackered . I still got a good start and again lost it into turn one. Brain fade saw me 4 laps into the race end up in the sand trap on lap 4 - not so deep that i diddnt rejoin the race but in last place.--BUGGER
At the end of the day I had a really great time and know where I need to improve myself and the bike.As soon as i got home I checked my old race logs and sure enough Im 5 seconds slower than I was 8 years ago when I last raced at Taupo so lots of work to do
The zxr did a great job all day and covered over a lot of my deficiencies.
Will I be back out there --bloody oats mate.
Immediate plans are to work on my fitness and sort out the rear shock on the bike.
Im real happy with how I went given that Ive never ridden a zxr400 before let alone raced one and on checking my old log books its been 7 years since I last raced.
Hey guys I diddnt win anything but I bet I had the most fun out there and after all thats what its all about.
I wouldn't have made it there without 3 very special people.
First Baby B -Karen that was a HUGE risk you took letting me ride your bikes at pukie on 23 of april Thank you
Doug-my best mate -2 nights in a row working tiill 3 am for me --and then
organising and advising me all day I'll never forget it mate
Alex (the mechanic from spanner night) you dropped everything when I needed my motor sorted.You are a legend
I've got to say thanks a million to Hoon,Madduck,KK and his dad and all the others who made the pits fun and wound down my tension levels.Thanks too to Motoracer dude you took a risk letting me speak up for ya
Sorry to those KB members who I diddn't have time to talk to Im sure all the KB racers apreciate the support you guys gave us during the day as much as i did.
oh and god only knows how but in pre89 I ended up getting a third place -I have no clue how that happened.
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