VTEC vmcc round 6 report

[vtec]

Me again. I just had another crazy weekend of racing. This was the final round of the Victoria Motorcycle Club Series, and it was held on the full Taupo Circuit 3.5 k's around, including a lot of corners.

Before this weekend I was comfortably ahead on points in the Streetstock racing Series, but I could still blow my lead if I crashed out or had engine failure, and I was fairly concerned about how the running characteristics of the CBR250 had changed. I had tried checking the valve clearances and rebuilding the carbs, but it didn't fix the problem of it missing at low revs. I've put it down to either electrical problems or loss of compression, either way the bike was still running quite well at high revs which is where it counts.

The CBR600 I didn't bother doing anything to, as I'm still only treating Supersport as a learning experience at the moment, and to be quite honest I don't really know anything about setting up a bike. I'll do the oil changes and put on a suitable sprocket.

Anyway better get to the racing before I lose my audience (that's you). This time I couldn't find anything out about a practice day, so that meant I could work friday and make a bit more moolah. Got down to Taupo by about 10pm Friday evening, and was quite excited about getting out on the full Taupo circuit for the first time. But I was plenty tired enough to get to sleep rather easily.

Got to the track by about 8am. Setup our fancy new ezy-up, thanks again dad. Unloaded the bikes and tools and signed in, luckily just beat the hordes to the queue by about 2 minutes. Gavin turned up with his apprentice and pit bitch Jay who is just getting into bikes and will be joining us racers soon, and they joined us under our ezy-up. Dad took off in the truck to get mum and sis, and fill up the petrol containers. He didn't get back in time for me to fill up the 250, so I just had to do scrub in and practice with the fuel that was left in from the previous meeting.

I had a new GPR70 on the front of the CBR250, and I was chomping at the bit to get out there and break it in. I had never raced on a new front tyre before, and I was pretty sure that the degradation of the old front had hampered my cornering ability, despite my wins in the previous rounds. I went out in the Scrub in rounds behind the pace car with about 100 other bikes, I think the pace car on scrub-in was ingenious, prevents the fast guys from endangering the slower bikes by treating it as time to get some extra hot laps in. Slowly worked to the edge of the front tyre by tipping the bike in while leaning my body out, as you couldn't really get enough speed to get the bike right down, plus it was safer that way because the bike was much less likely to lose traction on the edge of the tyre with my weight pressing down as opposed to sideways. After about 2 or 3 laps, I felt that the tyre was ready for a good thrashing. Came into the pits, and went straight out again for the Streetstock practice. I was riding well within myself while getting adjusted to the track, but was keeping up with the fastest of the streetstock guys and a fair few of the 125's while just behaving myself, and the new tyre just gave me heaps more confidence in the handling of the bike. After a lap or two, I noticed something sticking out the side of Glens bike just up ahead, as I had been following him round to see how he was doing. His fairing was peeling off his bike into the wind, and he had to shoot back into the pits to rectify the situation. I thought he had buggered up his chances of getting second in the series, as it was to come down to the last race to decide 2nd and 3rd place getters. If he hadn't managed to get a reasonable qualifying time, he'd never be able to fight through the whole field to battle Neil.

At the end of the Streetstock practice I came into the pits in a hurry, and had to jump straight on the 600. Damn every time I get on this bike I find myself feeling so damn foreign, it takes quite some time for me to get comfortable on it. Straight out in the 600 practice, and just warming up the tyres for about the first lap and a half. Then I get sick of people shooting past me, and I take up the chase on a few guys. Can't remember much else from the practice session, apart from having to work really hard with my arms to get the bastard to turn into corners. Cruise back into the pits feeling a little bit nervous about the impending F2 race, wasn't able to get comfortable with the handling in that time.

In the Streetstock class the new front tyre really showed its worth. I qualified just under 5 seconds ahead of second placed Neil with a 2:01.621. In F2 I qualified 21'st out of 32, which was actually an improvement over my previous (and first) F2 race meeting at Manfeild, with a mediocre 1:53.464 I was definitely cornering better on the 250 than on the 600, and the 600 is about 13 years newer, and has WAY better suspension and tyres. I'm just so damn used to the CBR250.

Cutting to the chase... The first Streetstock race. They again let the 125's go about 30 seconds ahead of us, which is a good idea, seeing as most of them are really crap off the mark when they bog down too low in that freakish 125 gp power curve. The guy with the green flag waves his hand signalling us to lift our revs, I lift them a bit, and then spike them when the flag drops. Got a reasonable launch, held first place, took a really defensive line to the first corner, and braked hard and late to keep the guys from having an 'around the outside' opportunity. Then peeled it out of the first corner, and just got straight into taking fast lines, as opposed to defensive ones. Looked back to see Glen comfortably behind me at the end of the first lap, so I could just settle in and play my own game... First goal for the weekend was to secure the championship, and I was pretty sure that meant that I couldn't afford to crash out at all, so I still had to leave plenty of safety room with my riding, but I was feeling pretty flash on that new front tyre. Going into the last lap, I noticed that there was a few 125's not too far ahead. Made good ground around the first part of the track, but they left me behind down the big straight before the chicane just before the last corner and the finish straight. I made up about 100 metres on the brakes, and then I was right on him entering the chicane and got past in the chicane, which left me the last left hander to make enough ground so he couldn't repass me before the line, I think I just managed it. Was pretty happy with a 20 second lead, and with a 1:59.244 I was 3 seconds a lap quicker than Glen in Second. Nice, now I could just about relax. That was until I got into the pits, and had to jump straight onto the bucking bronco that is the CBR600 of mine. Sweat was already pouring off me, and I didn't get any break.

[vtec]

We cruised out of the pits, and the bike was giving me nervous twitches as we exited the pits through the left hander, and it felt very unstable on those cold tyres. Got busy warming them up. And lined up on the grid, I was in grid position number 21 which was well back, but it meant I had an inside line into the first lefthand hairpin if I could get a good launch... And a good launch was exactly what I got. After the flag had dropped, I had shot up about 8 places, and I did my best with the angry mob that is the F2 field to hold my ground and keep the other riders on my outside around that first corner, with a couple of them leaning on me (mentally) through that. Pack racing is definitely still a major weakness for me, so this start was a huge confidence boost. I think I lost a couple of positions back to riders who were just faster, and on about the second lap, Aaron (Texmo) came through aswell. Another rider came through that I managed to stick on the back of for a while, and a lap later I saw Aaron not far ahead of me going hard over that bumpy right hander on the old circuit at full tit, and he definitely hit the bumpy part, and lowsided at a rather large speed, sparks flying, followed closely by the classic Taupo dustcloud. This shook me up a little, and I never really put in a good effort over that corner for the rest of the day, even though I knew there was a fast less bumpy way through that corner, I just wasn't certain enough of it's whereabouts to go fast through there. I stayed on the back of the same guy for a couple of laps, until the second to last lap, on the old circuit at the sweeper, I stuffed it up, pulled it in tight too early, and ran too wide on the exit, had to straight up the bike as I went on the ripple strip, so I had difficulty pulling it back on the track, and I went on the dirt, and I lost about 100-200 metres on the guy that I was following, and another guy got through on me on a white bike. I finished the race in that position and was relatively happy, as I could feel myself getting faster on the bike through the corners. I finished in what I felt was a well improved 16th out of 27 finishers and 32 entrants with a 1:50.072, a good improvement from my first supersport race meeting.

Second Streetstock race, and as we lined up on the grid, waiting for the 125's to take their leave, and Neil wheeled his bike over to me, and said "Good on you man, you've done extremely well" or something to that effect. I hadn't realised it at the time, but I had already secured the title in this class. Still it's not the title that matters, so much as the actions that are taken to win it, so if I had known that I had the title in the bag, I would still have been racing at full tit, plus it's fun to feel the ragged edge. As the green flagged dropped for us, I thought I got a reasonable launch, but I saw Glenn's bike edge out in front of me, apparently he had jumped, but hey who cares, it's all on. Went quite late on the brakes into the hairpin, but held it together kept the defensive line, and settled into fast non-defensive cornering as per the first race. After one lap I still hadn't properly shaken Glen, but I felt myself settling in to some real form on the 250 after a couple more laps, and looked back to see plenty of clear ground behind me. Was touching the pegs on the ground and had my weight right over and the knee sliding in many of the corners, the surface was so good, and the new front tyre was brilliant too. I definitely found some extra pace in this race. Coming into the last lap, I had caught up a lot of ground on the last 125 again, but it was going to be tough to get him... again I made up heaps of ground before the chicane, but he still had about 30 metres on me, I closed that right up through the chicane but didn't want to force anything cause we were just playing, so I left it to the last corner onto the straight, and went wide then pulled back for a good fast inside run onto the back straight, I got ahead going onto the straight, but didn't have enough lead to hold on for the line, so he got me back as we went over the line, I was bouncing up and down on the handlebars jokingly trying to get more pace out of the 250, but he just got me back. Still it was good fun, and I had managed to drop my lap time down to 1:58.657

Second Supersport race, was a bit more relaxed knowing that the Streetstock title was all sewn up. And went out there determined to get another good start ala the first race. I got a reasonable start, gained about 4 places this time, but was still happy, defended my position into the first corner, but we had all squished up and I was boxed in on the inside and not going all that fast. I lost a couple of the spots back during the course of the race, and I felt myself really tiring in this race, with just over a lap to go, I had tried to turn the bike through the chicane, and my arms just packed up, and I made a mess of it. I just couldn't find the strength to muscle the 600 around any more. I don't know why it's so hard to turn, could be setup, as the screw settings on the forks are all guesses, and the bike was setup for a dude that weighed nearly 40kg's more than me. Or it could be the fact that I'm using very well used tyres. Or it could be that I just need to get more relaxed while riding the 600. I just don't know. But I had a look back, and I could see Kicking Zebra gaining on me. I was determined to hold him out, but I could just feel myself fading with every corner, and was running wide on many of them on the last lap. On the big long drag strip straight, I saw KZ pull alongside me with the inside running to the chicane... bastard. A braking duel it would be then. I kept the power on until I saw KZ brake, but my arms nearly collapsed as I tried to steer it into the chicane, so I urgently looked for a way not to crash, and found myself looking at the grass. Straightened the bike right up, and shot off the track at about 100k/hr, (if you get the chicane right, you can go into it bloody fast). Was just waiting for it to throw me off, but with the help of the steering damper, and the fact that the drop off on the grass back towards the track is nice and level, it hadn't even been a particularly wild ride. Checked over my left shoulder as I rejoined to see KZ still behind me, looked back towards the finish, and gunned it, just held him off I think. I bonked myself on my helmet to show my stupidity. But hey, it worked out pretty good in the end. Was a bit slower in this race due to the fact that I just couldn't turn the bike any more, with merely a 1:51.878 that wasn't even 7 seconds a lap quicker than me on the 250 with 1/3 the power :P

Said goodbye to all my friends and family that came along to support. That evening was the prize giving for the whole series, and I didn't know it but I had to do a short speech, mine was pretty lame, and ever since then I've been thinking up all sorts of great things that I could have said, but none of it occurred to me when the pressure was on. Public speaking is definitely not for me. Was great to see all the top racers there. It's a pity because after a day like that I find myself coming down from an emotional high, and I'm just not up for the party that was supposed to happen afterwards. Instead I found myself really looking forward to going to sleep. I really wish I could have been more sociable, because I really admire and appreciate a lot of the characters that come along to all the race meetings, and I would love to spend some quality time with you all, but I just couldn't get in the mood to socialise... too shy when I'm tired.

Mad props have to go to all the streetstockers, but most especially Glen, Neil, Aemon and Alex, as these are the guys that I had the most dealings with during the season. You guys are what makes the racing great... not just bikes whizzing around the track, but the personalities behind it all.

Thanks to the guys and gals behind the Victoria Motorcycle racing series, you put in heaps of effort to make what, as far as I know, is the be club racing series in New Zealand. With plenty of foresight to what is best for the racers. Legends.

Thanks to mum and dad for getting behind me from the beginning, as soon as you saw I wasn't all talk.

Thanks to Peter for coming to watch me at every single race meeting I have done so far. Makes me more determined to put in good performances.

And thanks with sadness go to my lovely little CBR250RR that I have had for nearly 3 years now, you have taught me nearly everything I know, and I am really quite sad that I will never again race on the only bike that I have so far completely mastered. I loved riding you and I don't know if I'll ever have the same kind of love for another bike. I will be selling up soon once I have reattached all the road gear and tidied her up a bit.

Thanks to members of my extended family who have helped out by buying expensive extras such as replacement tyres and gloves and coming along to watch.

Cheers all, it's been a blast. Now to learn how to ride supersport. :Z

[texmo]

Congrats on the win bro look foward to kicking it with you in the pacific rounds where you wont be riding your 250 and getting out of the dirty 250 habbits.

[Racey Rider]

Supersport ..... I finished in what I felt was a well improved 16th out of 27 finishers and 32 entrants with a 1:50.072, a good improvement from my first supersport race meeting.

Wow! You ARE Superman!

Well done Champ! You've been a great competitor in SS. Never rubbing it in that our faces that you win so easily. Really sad I couldn't have been there to enjoy the occasion with you. If I get to ride in Streetstocks again next year, I'll be bringing your time sheets to see how close I can get to them.

Good luck with the 600. Sounds like with a bit of setup and practice you'll be hitting the top ten in the club seine before long.

Big Thanks to your Dad for being So supportive and helping you get this far.



Racey

[kickingzebra]

Good stuff bud!!
Was awesome chasing you... Next time I'll be in a better frame of mind I'm sure, and you'll be chasing me!

Real glad you didn't crash on that last corner!!

I couldn't begrudge you that one, well deserved!!

[vtec]

Hey cheers Racey, I've still got a lot of learning to do before I'll be competitive on the 600, I think I've got the means to do it now aswell You were one of the guys who inspired me to "chase the dream", and I'm pretty happy that I've successfully completed stage one, and everything is still on course. Great to see that you are keen as ever for next year despite the hardship that you have to go through to get out there. Keep doing it for the love man.

Yep, Texmo, definitely looking forward to the PMCC rounds, if I don't see you before, I'll see you then... have you entered?

Hehe Zebra man, I really didn't deserve to beat you in that last race, you were lapping much better than me... just got a bit lucky. All that grass tracking it in Gran Turismo taught me a lot.

[texmo]

Yep, Texmo, definitely looking forward to the PMCC rounds, if I don't see you before, I'll see you then... have you entered?

Yeah I have entered. I just did an oil and filter change on my bike (a first for me) and pulled off my front brakes as they werent working after the qualifying. I just cant figure out how to get the fucking rear shock out of my bike... I hate being a muppet.
Wait till you see my new van bro. Its a minta

[vtec]

Good to hear you are getting into some of the maintenance of the bike... the oil change is a good place to start when learning to work on them.

The way you talk about your van it must be pretty sexy.

Rear shock is tricky, talk to the experts... ie. Gav (HDTBoy), or Sudeep (Motoracer) or Chris (TwoStroker)... the way me and gav did it with advice from Gary Pendleton, we had to use a bottle jack on the top of the rear tyre lifting up the tail piece of the bike to take the weight off the shock, and then you can unbolt it, or you can hang the bike from the ceiling.

[texmo]

Good to hear you are getting into some of the maintenance of the bike... the oil change is a good place to start when learning to work on them.

The way you talk about your van it must be pretty sexy.

Rear shock is tricky, talk to the experts... ie. Gav (HDTBoy), or Sudeep (Motoracer) or Chris (TwoStroker)... the way me and gav did it with advice from Gary Pendleton, we had to use a bottle jack on the top of the rear tyre lifting up the tail piece of the bike to take the weight off the shock, and then you can unbolt it, or you can hang the bike from the ceiling.

lol gav, sudeep and chirs experts bahahaha. fuck your funny man. But will be asking sudeep or chirs for help as they cant be any worse than I am. the shock is undone the bike is hanging but i cant get the shock out of its little possie just cant seem to wriggle it out.
My van sexy? hmm nah its got charm, the same way gavin has charm

[erik]

great writeup.

[HDTboy]

talk to the experts... ie. Gav (HDTBoy)

gavin has charm

You boys luff me.
I'm gonna whip both your arses on the short track

[Keystone19]

I'm gonna whip both your arses on the short track

Oooh, does that include me too? I'm looking forward to having my arse whipped by you Gav...

[cowpoos]

good shit bro....getting used to that bike priddy fast eh!

[kickingzebra]

Family show!! Sheesh! LOL.

[Rossi Gal]

Wow Vtec!!! bloody awesome racing!! you're doing so well!! keep it up, you'll be just fine on the 600 once you get used to throwing round that bigger bike!!


Nah Jill...we should be the ones doing the whipping!! haha