VMCC Round 6
13th October 07
With the final round upon us, I had realised that my season’s goals had been blown out of the ballpark and I had been quickly resetting goals after each round. Secure in 3rd place, Goal for the last round was to finish and have fun. If the weather was wet, the goal was to challenge for first. From round 2 experiences, this was a realistic goal as I was only 24 points down and the leader didn’t show when it rained. Unfortunately I neglected to ask for rain and the sun shone brightly and Taupo was unusually warm, darn it!
Test day was wet and cold in the morning so Eddy and I set out to make Tweety pretty and yellow again. Lunch came and so did the sun, my first session I was sliding around every corner and not enjoying myself, every line seemed wrong and just as slippery. Denying my urge to come in 3 times the chequered flag finally came out, yay! 2nd session and the track was polar opposites, warm and every line stuck. My Taupo of old was back and I was happy to come in and save my tyres for race day.
Race Day:
Being the superstitious girl that I am, first session at Taupo is always slippery so I roll out for 2 laps of scrub in to ditch that worry. Qualifying and finding myself in a small group of slow bikes through the infield with Steve behind me, I cruise round a lap. We both get sick of them and I let Steve past (sorry, I didn’t want you following my lines too much) I put in one fast lap and manage a 1:56.3 putting me 21st on the grid on the inside
right behind Steve who was 1.6 seconds faster. There goes my only game plan of hitting the outside of T1.
Race 1:
Stuck on the inside behind Steve, I had no game plan for T1. Green flag is raised and half the field in front of us jump-start, flag drops and we’re off. Steve and I both take a slow guy on the inside but get stuck up the inside of T1, I watch him disappear as I’m stuck in slow traffic. First lap down and Simon catches me and takes me and a slow 600/650 I’m stuck behind. I take the slow bike but he takes me again on the straights, argh! Watching Simon, he’s fast round the A1GP corner but slower in the infield. White flag and my plan is to keep right behind him through the infield, keep up at the A1GP and take him on the straight. Plan worked, but it took me too long to draft and take him, I get him under breaking into the left, but he takes me on the right-hander, as I break a little too much. I power out of the last corner and catch up to his rear tyre at the line, well done Simon! Result: 11th place and a new PB of 1:56.5. I had found myself riding like a track day and my mind was a million miles away. Goal for next race: make a game plan and focus, focus, focus.
Race 2:
Plan is to find a way to the outside of T1. Flag is raised and more jump-starts, flag drops and I spy a gap in the middle, I head for it but can’t get to the outside. Stuck in the middle round T1, this is worse than the inside! I watched the whole field baring Wendy and a 150 go past. Then the 150 took me too! Argh! I pass him back and he takes me again. I’m thinking, stuff this, I’m better than that, take him again and take off over the A1GP to hunt Simon down at least. With the gap closing on Simon and Jason, but still too big, 4 laps just wasn’t enough. I resolved myself to riding smooth and finishing the race. Result: 10th place. Loosing 8 seconds on the first lap to Steve both races was a huge mistake when it can’t be made up in a 4 lap sprint, but well done dude, you did well on a track you don’t like! Way to haul ass Simon, we will have fun dicing next year for sure!
Placing 10th for the day, the top 3 stayed the same in the championship. Well done to Glenn Spencer coming 1st and Steven Gregg for 2nd. Placing 3rd for the championship totally blew away my season goal for a top 10 placing. It has been an awesome experience dicing with so many of the Clubman’s crew. Steve, Tom and Simon, thanks for the fun! I’m looking forward to continuing the 400cc battles into Post Classics and F3 next winter series!
I would like to pay a huge thanks to all that have made my Winter Series of racing possible.
Firstly Vic Club, amazing job, you run the best series by far. Thanks to the volunteers, from the flaggies, crash crew, to the ladies in the office, thank you.
Ripe Coffee for sponsoring the Clubman's Class (thanks for the ribbon and trophy sad it didnt come with any coffee
Bent Spanner Racing; Eddy and Jono. Dan and www.bikestore.co.nz
Logan for the hours you have put in on Tweety, you are the VFR guru dude!
To Paul and Dianne from Team CANBRACE, thank you for the opportunity you have given me to race the CANBRACE 400 next series, your faith in me, guidance and help this season is really appreciated, thank you.
To the crew of volunteers who have helped out in the pits, I owe you all.
To the KBer’s at the track, for all your words of encouragement, smiles and well wishes.
To Shaun, thank you for showing me round the track my first time last December and for your ongoing support and encouragement.
I have made some awesome friends this year, love you all and thank you for your support. I have learned so much from so many this year i'm sorry I cant list you all personally.
To Mum and Dad, thanks for supporting my racing even after the events of the last year.
Many thanks to Dave and Donna, from Kiwibike Motorcycle Insurance Brokers. www.kiwibike.co.nz for your ongoing support and encouragement this season. Without which my racing would not be possible, thank you.
Most importantly, thank you to Bruce for having the faith in me to ride your Gix at Pukekohe last year and challenging me to race this VMCC Winter Series. This was for you Hun xx
Roll on VMCC winter series next year!!
Post Classic Jnr’s on the CANBRACE 400 and F3 on Tweety thanks to Kiwibike!
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