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Thread: vtec loses his mind round 3 vmcc

  1. #1
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    28th September 2004 - 23:00
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    vtec loses his mind round 3 vmcc

    Well, coming back from my disastrous second round where I crashed into a tyre barrier and then highsided in the next race, I was looking forward to shaking history and having a much better meeting this time round. However, I'd had some upheavals in my personal life and had been quite depressed over the preceeding few days before this race meeting, and I hadn't been able to sleep more than about 5 hours a night.

    Race Day
    Woke at 1am mind whirring. I had come to the realisation that my dreams of motorcycle racing glory on an international level were not only extremely slim, they would come at a huge cost in terms of my own life and in a monetary sense, and it had the potential to cost me my life or at least my quality of life... I couldn't stop thinking and I didn't go back to sleep, so with about 3-4 hours sleep under my belt it was not the best preparation for racing.

    Supersport Practice
    First ever time on brand new tires, and first time on my new (to me) K5 GSXR600 race bike thanks to Peter, Mum and Dad. I had no clue how the suspension was set up, but wasn't expecting too much on a bike that was new to me, so I was quite happy to try it as it was.
    The track was still wet in places with puddles helpfully located around the circuit, I tootled around slip sliding all over the place, barely managed to up the pace as my new tyres slowly lost their slick coating, saw the white flag and began trying to put in a hot lap, and bugger me, before I got half way round, the red flag was out. Apparently Phil Snowden had been chasing me on that second to last lap and had come to grief quite spectacularly, sliding through puddles at pace. Was feeling really disappointed about not getting in a hot lap, but was very pleasantly surprised to see myself ahead of some very speedy characters such as Jay Lawrence, Nick Cole and Nick Odermatt on the grid. Johno qualified first, well ahead, his wet tyre gamble paid dividends, and Chris Sucich was flying in second on drys.

    Superbike Practice
    Went out feeling quite confident and stoked with the results from the supersport practice. Went out near the head of the field and only had the odd rider come through on me, till on the last lap a pack of about 6 superbikes carved me up. Bummed, qualified half way through the field in 17th. The track had been drying in a few places, and I had been too busy pussy footing around to take advantage of the dry patches. I really did not want to drop my new bike.

    Supersport Race One
    Two warm up laps and I formed up by the pit wall on the front row - yee ha. The green flag dropped and I got a pretty good launch, it was me and Jay Lawrence out front till we got on the brakes too early and Chris Sucich came through up the inside, as seems to be standard fare for him. Over the next lap I lost a couple more spots to guys like Nick Cole, Gordon Pullen and Johno still flying on his wets. Throughout the race I became more and more accustomed to my new bike and my new tyre profiles, and was fuguring out the pitfalls to avoid on the track. I started making good head way and caught back up to Nick Cole and Gordon Pullen and was right on their tales when I nearly highsided coming out of a corner on the power, I lost about 50 metres on them but started to regain it again but ran out of time as the chequered flag fell. Johno unfortunately endured his first ever high side crash which put me up to 5th postion.

    Superbike Race One
    Went out for the warm up, another two laps, got nailed past by a few bikes, gave me the craps. Came around a corner on to the midfield straight to see carnage all over the track. We all slowed down and as I cruised past avoiding debris one of the riders hobbled off the track as fast as he could, I was shocked to see one of the older racers with his visor and glasses broken and blood over his face lying spread-eagled. My emotional state already on tenter hooks, I just cried, I broke down right there while riding round and cried. I managed to get myself together by the time I got into the pits, but broke down again to my parents, this was the final straw. I have seen too much carnage in my year of racing. I had my first highside at the previous meeting and was concussed. I watched today as Glen Skachill hovered around after his crash with an agonisingly painful leg (worried about permanent damage), and sympathised with him over his badly damaged bike. I cried at Darryls funeral at the end of last year, and mourned Bruce. I was shocked by Shaun Harris' terrible accident at the Isle of Mann this year. I visited Paul in hospital with a broken back. I saw a man killed on a side car at the Puke Nationals just before my supersport race. For me it had finally become too much. I decided I would do only one more race. I didn't go back in the superbike restart after an extended lunch break. I would do the second supersport race and I would make it a good one.

    Supersport Race Two
    I wanted a podium from this race, and I wanted to do my family proud. We lined up on the grid. As the green flag dropped I got a good launch and was behind Jay Laurence into the first corner. Wasn't long before Chris Sucich came through followed by Nick Cole again. This time I couldn't quite stick with him though. Gordon Pullen and Kyle Key made a few attempts on me, and one of them got past. He made a small gap, but I hauled him in again. For some reason I was way better on brakes than him, and eventually outbroke him into the high speed entry to the sweeper. I was having a blast, I felt on top of the world but this was my last race, I was overcome with emotion and I was now riding harder and more passionately than I had ever ridden before, taking it to red line, I found myself screaming with the engine inside my helmet. I don't think I had ever lost control like that before, but it felt really good, a perfect outlet. I found myself doing this several more times on the final few laps. Near the end Kyle or Gordon managed to pull alongside me on one of the straights, I thought the K5 that I was on was fast, but some of those K6's were a lot faster. However in the state I was, he didn't have a chance of making it stick. I held onto 4th place to the line, physically screaming in my helmet. I had never ridden like that before, and I knew that I couldn't do it again. So I quit racing on a high, riding the best I had ever done. I made my parents proud and they were supportive of my decision to quit.

    I have found that I need a new direction in my life to be happy. I need to experience other things in life. I need to become more than just a motorbike racer, which is all I have become over this past year and a bit. I need more depth.
    I have loved my racing but it is time to move on. I'm also thankful I made it out the other side largely unscathed.
    Racing motorbikes was something I had to do to truly understand what it would take to be a top motorcycle racer. I didn't reach the dizzying heights, but I think taht I did bloody well considering that my first track experience was on a pukekohe open day on a CBR250 just over a year ago, and I've spent about the last 9 months on a not quite competitive CBR600.

    Some of you will be happy to know that I have decided that I have to race the last round of the vic series at Taupo, because I have finally got a competitive bike, and some new tyres, and it would be rude to not campaign them on my favourite track so that I'm not left forever wondering how good I could have been.

    Thanks to my parents, thanks to Peter and Ally (Carbines Engineering), thanks to Ian (Pinto Trailers), thanks to Daphne and Colin, thanks to Cynthia and Ross, thanks to Leong. You all know the reasons. Spent a lot more writing time in my draft devoted to thanking and reasons but will save that for my finale in a few months.

    Pics are from the previous round on my trusty old CBR600RR, Will have pics on the GSXR soon.


    Cheers

    Jason McCamish (#97, formerly #78)
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  2. #2
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    5th December 2006 - 18:22
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    That's a great write up. Not many people can analyse and rationalise like that, you have a talent.

    My fav bit ... screaming with the engine ... way cool

    Brett (the guy with the green flag)

  3. #3
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    28th July 2004 - 12:00
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    Hey J,

    Known you for a while and watched you rise. Shook hands with your Dad and saw the pride in his and your mum's eyes. This must have come at a huge cost to you. Never thought I'd see Bruce go, I fully expected someone to go with the way the rides were progressing but not him.

    Perfectly understand where you're coming from.

    I've thought about giving up bikes too. I think after this thou my next bike may be a long time away.

    I don't race or even ride fast but get up to really stupid things everytime the helmet goes on. I've done Royal Oak to Haldanes north shore in 7 minutes on a Saturday afternoon, done almost 5 times the speed limit on several occasions.

    1st I though cool, I did it and lived, I'm invincible... but the older you get, the more you see....

    Now the more I think about bikes and how they dominate every aspect of my life, I think maybe it's time to do other things, travel, martial arts, learn new things, date more women...

    There's more to life than motorcycles.....

    Sorry for hijacking your thread, you pretty much verbalised what was on my mind for several months.

  4. #4
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    2nd June 2005 - 12:23
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    Good write up Jase. Sorry to hear of your decision but I understand where you are coming from. Won't see you at the final round so good luck with the future and I hope bikes won't disappear completely out of your life.
    Exploring pastures anew...

  5. #5
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    28th September 2004 - 23:00
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    Haha yeah the screaming when I first pulled myself up for doing it, I was worried people would be able to hear as I flew past and would think I was insane. I suppose I was a little bit.

    Thanks JSG, I really appreciate your words. Thinking of travelling, maybe working holiday in Europe, starting saving now.

    And Jill, they won't be gone, I'll still happily play at track days, I'm thinking of racing my nxr125 commuter in buckets. But I don't want to use up my life and all my resources chasing dreams that will torment me cause the chances of reaching them are so slim. If I could make my motorcycle racing profitable for me to the point where I could quit my job I would still race, but so few people ever make more than they spend from it. I want there to be more to my life. Still it's been awesome, and I'll never forget it.

  6. #6
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    16th October 2004 - 14:46
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    We met briefly in the pits at VMCC Round 2... I was with Leong. After a less than successful end to the day and a few more scratches on the CBR... the News of a newer more competitve bike sounded like things were on the up..

    However, it sounds like you've seen a few more than most racing accidents and made a decision you're comfortable with.

    Great write up and good to hear you've finished on a high note ..

    Gah

  7. #7
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    31st August 2006 - 19:55
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    Jase....

    What can I say? Its been great seeing you progress...

    But even so, Fucking grouse that you have made a decision for you, that makes sence to you.

    Hope I will see you round, best wishes for the future.

    Jay Lawrence #37
    Jay Lawrence #37

  8. #8
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    2nd February 2005 - 13:41
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    Hey Jase.

    Sorry to see you go, but the decision is yours to make.

    I reckon your idea for an OE is a good one. I wouldn't be shocked to see you back in F1/F2 one day, but whatever happens, all the best with it.

    See ya at the last round mate
    ...

  9. #9
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    Damn shame but totally and fully understand where your head is at. But a wise head for someone so young.

    I remember the first day you decided to give this racing lark a go....poor you managed to pit at Taupo next to Frosty, Doogle and me with your parents (geez they were proud as punch!). You were having a ball even if you decided to lay the bike down. I have followed your racing and reports since that day even though I may not post.

    I am sure you will have a ball in whatever you decide to do and where ever you decide to go ....all the best young fella

  10. #10
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    17th January 2005 - 12:14
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    Hey Jason,


    Wow what to say,

    Its great seeing you progress, But you giving up its a perfect descision,You cant keep going if your not feeling right,

    I hope to see you again.

    Ive had some fun laughs with you and its cool

    Great you at least had a title to your name
    Blindspott are back as Blacklist check them out
    www.blacklistmusicnz.co.nz

  11. #11
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    28th September 2004 - 23:00
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    Thanks all for your support and encouraging words. I am still doing the last round of the vic series.

    Some of you won't be surprised to know that I'm still having an inner battle about quitting. But I'm determined to quit for now. Maybe in a few years I'll start up again, or I might do some slow racing like buckets.

  12. #12
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    we all have shit times dude and shit meetings...times we wish we could forget and times that are just dam well forget-able [some of them followed by a hangover of course]...but ya got to keep on trucking dude!! we'll catch up and have a yarn sometime!!
    Quote Originally Posted by Drew View Post
    Given the short comings of my riding style, it doesn't matter what I'm riding till I've got my shit in one sock.

  13. #13
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    5th September 2005 - 19:20
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    I always like reading your reports, and obviously have been waiting to read this one. Thought it a bit odd you saying you had an awesome day, yet were about to throw in the towel! Wish we'd made the effort to come down to this one now.......

    I guess life's all about having a balance, and you're right that the motorcycle racing shouldn't be the only thing in your life. Personally, I think you have a pretty balanced life, but obviously it's what you think that matters. You probably need to reassess why you race. I think it's also been great for you to have spent this time with your Mum and Dad.

    Will be good to see you at racing Taupo - definitely coming down for that one, and hopefully see you at a few trackdays in the future!

  14. #14
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    9th June 2006 - 22:34
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    dude, thats a shock to hear but appreciate your reasons. Hopefully we will still be seeing you around trackside in the future. You came A LONG WAY in a little over 12 months dude, it was a big step up from streetstock to be racing in f2 and f1 but you handled it well I think, with future improvement there for the picking as you increase your race time.

    ps. you still need a copy of the chronicle? can make a call and get a copy ezi

  15. #15
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    Nice writeup Jason - you show a maturity beyond your years. Sorry to hear you confirm that you are going to give up racing but I totally understand and respect your reasoning. I have enjoyed the privilege of meeting you and your parents a couple of times, they are really nice people and I am sure you appreciate how lucky you are to have their unconditional support. Good luck with whatever the future holds for you.
    All the best (Malcolm & Troy)
    pretentious moi?

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