Jas's test day & VMCC Round 2 report...

**Meekey_Mouse** · 17th June 2007, 20:27

Ok, well I'm going to apologize in advance for the really bad English and I'm hoping this is going to be understandable

Got to the track on Friday nice and early, was really nervous about my first time on a new track

I have no idea of the guys name (sorry!) But some one offered to take Ken, Avalon and myself out in a van to show us the track... thank you SO much to who ever that was

It really helped me and also meant I could relax a bit more as I had seen the track before riding on it.

When they called bikes up I was pretty nervous but also excited! Kept telling myself to get out there, relax and enjoy it... hehe, easier said then done (the relax part)!

I was taking it really easy, trying to find the lines that avoided the bumps and ruts, got my peg down on the second lap around the hair pin through the ruts and had some MAJOR shakes. Never having ridden with bigger racing bikes on the same track time, having all the other bikes zooming past was really freaky!

I was a bit more relaxed by the second session but I really wasn't liking the track, was really stiff and just couldn't get the hang of it. Came back in a bit bummed out as things just weren't flowing at all, my gear shifts were shocking and it wasn't a lot of fun freaking out 90% of the track

I got back to the pits after the first session thinking something wasn't quite right with the bike but thought it must of been my riding (which it probably was)... but once I came in after the second session I noticed that I had some stuff in my overflow bottle. Not only that but it was green! Asked Keith what it was and he said it must of been from my radiator and I must of had glycol coolant in it

we couldn't figure out why it was overflowing though. We drained the radiator and replaced it with water. Didn't have time to put the bike back together before the next session so I skipped that one and thought about my riding and what I could do to improve on it whilst puttin the bike back together.

Went out in the next session and things were starting to flow

untill I ran off at the hair pin... oops! Came back in early to check the radiator and the water had dropped, but nothing was in the overflow >_<

Kept topping it up before I went out for the last one or two sessions and I was starting to almost enjoy the track... hehe, ok... well at least get the hang of it!

So the practice day went OK, now it was time too look forward to the race day

This may take a little while too type

**kickingzebra** · 17th June 2007, 21:07

Good on you Jas!!! Sorry, but every time I passed you, I had to fight the urge to wheelie like mad!! Except in the esses on friday!! LOL... The new skill of accident avoidance is coming along great, and all of my limbs that you could have run over but didn't thank you!

Next time I can sit in with you, do a few laps and comment if you'd like, and plenbty of people would also be happy to do the same. You are showing some great drive and committment, and it is awesome to watch yet another be financially drained, I mean bitten by the racing bug

Good stuff mate, and congrats!

**cowpoos** · 17th June 2007, 21:09

go girl...heard you improved alot!! seeya out there next time!!

**Rossi Gal** · 17th June 2007, 21:23

Hey Chick!! was awesome to see you out there!! so very cool! im glad things came together for you better on friday!

great racing too!!

**Meekey_Mouse** · 17th June 2007, 22:05

After a lot of laughs at the motel the night before, it was finally race morning

Got the bike out of the pit (thanks Andy for lettin me keep it there the night) checked all the oil, radiator, fuel etc... Keith bent the left peg bracket back to being straight... really helped for the left corners

Went out for the qualifying and really enjoyed it

things were flowing, I was relaxed and having a lot of fun =D Came back in afterwards on a huge high totally buzzing. Once back in the pits, checked everything (so I thought) with the RG and went over to Andy's pit garage to see how they all went.

First race came and I was in a bit of a rush as I had to fill the fuel (oops!) Got out on to the track and straight away heard (tink tink tink) against my helmet, so I was trying to think what the sound was, when I realized my helmet strap wasn't done up

pulled over on the second straight with my heart pounding as I have to take off at least one glove to do up my strap. Graeme stopped to make sure I was OK (thank you SO much for that) finally got the strap done up and couldn't get my sleeve done up properly. Decided to screw it, at least my head was safe... blasted it round to the grid just as the 125 guys were already coming into the S's before the hair pin, got to the back of the streetstock grid as I knew it would be impossible to find my grid line and was just about to stop and put my foot down to get over the rush getting there as the flag went down >_< put my foot back up and tried to get into the race (which never happened).

Had a really good toss with Kyle and Adrian, that was a lot of fun... thanks guys

Came back into the pits a bit bummed out to of had such a crud start and growling at my self for never getting my head into it, but still really enjoyed the race. Then I checked the bike over, the radiator had gone down again and the overflow bottle had some mucky stuff in it

so I stripped the bike down with Keith, Phil and Mum's help during lunch to get to the bottle and it had white oily stuff in it

Not being sure what that meant and only having a short time to put the bike back together I decided to keep going.

Had an OK warm up lap for the second race, found my grid position easier then I thought I would, had a pretty good start and really enjoyed the race. First time I've been relaxed and actually felt any where near flowing over the 2 days at Manfeild and also the few laps of racing at Taupo, but my bike felt like it was lacking acceleration.

Came into the pits with such a buzz, I had so much fun! Feeling like things were starting to come together =D

Hopped off my bike and checked the overflow, only to see that it had more water and mucky stuff in it... after asking a few people who had a lot more knowledge then me what it was it seemed that I had a blown head gasket... so I didn't ride in the last race

Here's hoping I can afford race 3!! But bring it on!! =D

Big thanks to Keith and Avalon for letting me borrow so much of your time, knowledge and tools
Graeme for all your help and stopping to make sure I was ok, can't tell ya how much I appreciate that
Phil for helping me to strip the bike and get it back together
Steevie and Tom for such a crack up of a time
Glen for passing with out clipping this time

Mum for your support, hot drinks and help
and every one else who I've more then likely forgotten to add (sorry!)

**quallman1234** · 17th June 2007, 22:10

Woo!!!, Go jas

.

Keep it up buddy ol pal, Was real fun dicing it with you in the first race

, i was quite surpised you didnt take me in the end but im pritty sure it was because of your mindset and not being relaxed.

See you next time

**Nasty** · 18th June 2007, 07:45

Jas

We put up the Check helmit strap for a reason ... it means check it on the grid ... and that will stop you having to stop in the middle again

... you did good out there ... see you next time

**Toast** · 18th June 2007, 11:23

Good stuff Jas.

Real shame that you had bike issues just as it was coming together. Hopefully you can make it next time and build on it. Seeing that Taupo vid and seeing you out there on the test day, I'm pretty confident that you can do well.

Huge thanks to you and your Mum for organising us hopeless boys, keeping us well fed and sheltered. You're legends!

**Billy** · 18th June 2007, 13:35

Way to go Jas,You went really well Considering it was your first time at Manfeild as its vastly more technical than Taupo with much higher corner speed.You did really well for your first time there and I know you will only get better with more tracktime.Re the helmetgate affair it was good to see you had the common sense to pull over and deal with it the moment you realised it was undone.Dont let the experts get to you re the CHECK HELMET STRAP board,That board should always be shown by whoever is controlling the pit gate.COMMONSENSE would tell you that its TOO LATE to show it only after the warm up lap.I will be taking the matter up with the Vic club executive and if I dont get any joy there then it will be straight on to Paul Stewart.Dont forget you can call me anytime you have a question re your bike or riding and I look forward to helping you and any other streetstock rider who wants help regarding bike setup or anything else.Cheers Billy

**Meekey_Mouse** · 18th June 2007, 14:22

Originally Posted by Billy

Way to go Jas,You went really well Considering it was your first time at Manfeild as its vastly more technical than Taupo with much higher corner speed.You did really well for your first time there and I know you will only get better with more tracktime.Re the helmetgate affair it was good to see you had the common sense to pull over and deal with it the moment you realised it was undone.Dont let the experts get to you re the CHECK HELMET STRAP board,That board should always be shown by whoever is controlling the pit gate.COMMONSENSE would tell you that its TOO LATE to show it only after the warm up lap.I will be taking the matter up with the Vic club executive and if I dont get any joy there then it will be straight on to Paul Stewart.Dont forget you can call me anytime you have a question re your bike or riding and I look forward to helping you and any other streetstock rider who wants help regarding bike setup or anything else.Cheers Billy

It was my own clumsy-ness as well for forgetting to do it up

but it would of helped if the board was there lol.

Thanks for the help

**Grub** · 18th June 2007, 16:29

Originally Posted by Billy

Dont let the experts get to you re the CHECK HELMET STRAP board,That board should always be shown by whoever is controlling the pit gate.COMMONSENSE would tell you that its TOO LATE to show it only after the warm up lap.I will be taking the matter up with the Vic club executive and if I dont get any joy there then it will be straight on to Paul Stewart.

I wouldn't go there Billy.

I don't have the MNZ RuleBook here at work so I can't wquote the Rule No. but it says ...

"A 'Check Helmet Strap' sign board shall be shown to all riders on the grid. The board shall be ?? x ??cm and shall be black lettering on a yellow background"

So complaining to the Steward could be *real* embarrasing

**Billy** · 18th June 2007, 19:55

Of course what the fuck was I thinking ,I mean if its not in the rule book but it makes perfect sense why the fuck would you do it ?and anyway youre not gonna crash on the warm up lap right !!!.Im surprised it has to be pointed out at all its that freaking obvious.Furthermore having been an MNZ steward and clerk of the course I would be only too glad to have something as important as that pointed out to me or maybe its better to keep quiet and let it be sorted out when someone gets killed.Yeah right

**Grub** · 18th June 2007, 20:07

Originally Posted by Billy

Of course what the fuck was I thinking ,I mean if its not in the rule book but it makes perfect sense why the fuck would you do it ?

That why the two officials were going through the bikes on the dummy grid and checking straps and back protectors you think? So they missed one? Not their fault dude, it may have looked done up ... rider's responsibility.

Profanity and abuse are no substitute for a reasoned discussion. Sorry you're embarrassed and having a bad day.

**Nasty** · 18th June 2007, 20:25

Ne need to turn a great learning thread into a profane abuse pit ... I think that Jas showed us what she has learnt and that is great ...

Good on ya babe. **Bling Bling**