Well, the day dawned overcast and drizzly but this didn't detur us. We arrived out at the track as the cloud was lifting. The track was completly soaked but dried out by the time the first session started.
Three kber's were out at the track today, Diesel Pig was riding his RS125 in F3 and his CBX550 in clubmans. Kickaha was riding his 400 ducati in clubmans and I was on Diesel Pigs RS125 in clubmans.
The first practice came round. A light shower was passing over the track, not enough to make the track really greasy but enough to make you hesitant. Considering this was my first time on the 125 and also my first time at ruapuna I was fairly nervous and taking it very easy. Although it was a bit of a struggle making it out in the first practice for clubmans. On the dummy grid in pit lane I was sitting there revving the bike waiting for us to get the ok to go out to the track, when suddenly it just died. I tried to crash start it a few times but no success. By now I had given up and decided that I would have to sit it out. I had a quick look at the fuel tap and, diesel pig had turned it off when he had come back from F3. I managed to get it going and tore out of the pits. Man are these 125's hard to launch, you have to ride the clutch for about half of the straight and then they still sometimes bogg down. Well after 4 laps the checkered flag came out and my first session was over. Managed to work out parts of the track and had some fun, but most importantly didn't bin it.
Around an hour later it was time for my first race. Remembered to turn the fuel on this time, so all was well. After lining up at the back of the grid the lights went red, then they went off. After the worst start in history and bogging the RS down about 3 times I was last into the first corner. Managed to pass a guy coming out of it though. A few corners later a guy went down, quite far ahead of me, but left a nice trail of oil across the width of the track. Had to go easy for that bit, but I managed to pick a few guys off as I was gradually getting used to the track. Towards the end kickaha slowed down a bit to let me catch up to him so he could show me how a "real" racer does it. I managed to use my bikes superior power and pass him coming out of the last corner on the last lap and took the chequered flag probably about 4 or 5 bike lengths ahead of him. Just remember that he "let" me pass him, so he is still betterI got a mate to do a bit of timing and my best lap was a 2:04, not too great, around 10 secs slower than diesel pig out in F3, but there was lots of room for improvement.
Along came race 2 and I was starting to feel alot more confident now, aiming for a sub 2 min lap. I still was loosing alot of time on the slower corners as I hadn't quite got the clutch slipping down to a fine art yet. I had a great start off the last row of the grid again (pretty sure the front came up for a sec even) and I was "only" 3rd to last going into the first corner. After another few passing manouvres I found myself about 100-200m behind kickaha going into the last lap. Again he slowed to let me catch up as he didn't have anyone to duel with. Again using my superior straight line speed I went past him (shown in the pic below from dangerous) and managed to beat him to the line. Think I came in about 6 or 7 from last again, out of a field of 15 to 20. Again I managed to get my lap times down to 2:02, but not good enough in my opinion. Still looking for that sub 2 min one.
In race 3 I didn't get quite so good a start but managed to be around 4th to last out of the first corner. I could see kickaha ahead of me and I made sure I could stay with him. I passed him under braking going into the hairpin and he passed me back on the inside as I ran it slightly wide. Again I passed him on the short straight a few corners later, then he passed me back on the inside on the final sweeper as I ran slightly wide. I managed to come up along side him coming out of it and passed him again on the straight. I managed to pull a 5 or so bike length lead on him and was going to legitimately beat him when on the 2nd to last lap the RS gave up the ghost. As my luck would have it, it was at the furthest point away from the pits possible. After about a 10 min push I was eventually back at the pits. We couldn't work out the problem, the piston was fine and there was plenty of petrol left in it. We think the spark plug got fouled, so that was the end of my day. Managed to get my times down to 2:01 consistently. I'm pretty sure I could get under 2 mins it was just hard to string a whole lap together, think I managed to go fast in some sections and then slower in others. Oh well, there is always next time.
Big big thanks to kickaha for taking me out to the track and diesel pig for letting me ride his RS, you are both legends
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) then the other 2 are of course K14 and Kickaha.
Originally Posted by Two Smoker
,I don't think K14 was convinced I'd slowed to let him catch up so I pulled a gap in the 2nd race and then slowed to let him pull me in again 
Hmmm..
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