Last round, I was really looking forward too it.
I was feeling mighty chipper on Saturday morning. As Deano and myself made our way to the track I was looking at the dry road and smiling. I wasn't so happy when Deano pointed out just how long that back straight is. Going only the public road at 90km/h only seemed to make it appear to be endless. The RVF is down on power and the pilot is up on weight. I've only ever done the old (old) short track (when it had a wiggle along the old pit straight), so I knew I'd have to make an effort through the in-field or I'd be finishing lastish.
Qualifying went okay, though I knew I was pretty much all over the place because I couldn't quite decide on gear selection or just how fast I could go into corners. At Mine Field I know what gear I need to be in and where I want to be on the track, but at Taupo.. I have no clue. I nearly went off after turn 4 by going faster than my brain could handle that early in the morning. Whoops.
My best lap in Q was 1:56.497, which put me 9/14 in Clubmans B. If I was in F3, I'd have been 19/31. Right next to Nicksta on the grid, she was in 8th.
I had a bit of time to think between Q and the race. I remembered a suggestion from a friend way back from my first race: Work on one problem at a time, you can't fix them all at once. Thanks Nick. I had a think about where I was loosing time, and I figured the easiest place to fix was turn 15, the one at the end of the big straight. I figured I could brake later and carry more speed through the corner and brake and stamp on the gear lever between it and turn 16. Strangely enough listening to others later they thought the same thing and suggested exactly that. Pro racer I will be yet.
First race, I got a shit start. But it didn't really matter because everyone was going so slow around the first corner. It's slower than Mine Field in the respect that at least there the bigger bikes get to run away a little and the pack has spread out a little. The plan was to go around the outside, but I found myself right against the grass on the inside looking at Nicki's back tyre. We were going so slow I could see the individual spokes on her wheel and I contemplated the aesthetic pleasantries of the Honda Pro Arm and associated wheel. Not where I wanted to be. After the first corner I didn't have the balls to really past anyone, I made a few stabs, but aborted most of them. Poo.
On (Probably) lap two I managed to get past Nicki between turn 8 and 9. After that I tried to get past this guy who was riding like a total clown/fucktard. I'd never seen such crappy riding in my life. I have this interesting habit of making gestures while riding. He must have ESP or something, this guy looked back at me while I was doing the old head-tapping 'your fucking crazy' gesture. He looked back again, probably in disbelief. I was too scared to pass him on the outside because of the violent corrections he was making midcorner and I was worried he'd lowside into me. I couldn't pass on the inside because that'd where his violent corrections were headed. Gah.
Last lap, into turn 15 and Jason (On that totally fucking cool GSXR1214 in a Harris frame) AND Nicki pass me down the back straight. "Fuck n000000000!!!" I shout. Nicki follows Jason through the corner, but I decide I can get around her.... And I do!! I beat her across the finish line by sweet fuck all of a second! W00T!
Second race I got a better start, and went around the outside of turn 1. Got some places, came up to the clown from the last race and thought I better grow some balls and just pass him somewhere, safer infront of him. But, turns out I didn't have to, because he ran off at the back sweeper into the dirt at about 5km/h.
I tried to get past a GSX750, but I just couldn't quite do it, he had the legs on me down the straight and I couldn't make it up into time to pass him.
So came across the line in 8/14. W00t. Goal acheived.
The bike was running really well. The 'muffler' made up by Drew seemed to have loosened up the top end a little. And it sounds sooo good when I blip the throttle in a down shift. There is a pop on one cylinder on the overrun too, which is also quite sexy. My gearing change a few races back worked a treat at Taupo too, I was about 1000rpm short of the redline down the back straight in top before I started braking. Couldn't be better.
What a great day. And it all went so smoothly too! Well done Vic Club!
Thanks people. You know who you are. Especially Deano as usual, I owe you big time.
I'm kinda sad that it is all over really.
Good thing the season ended when it did however. When I put the bike back in the kitchen on Sunday evening I noticed a couple of oily smears on the floor. A fork seal had given up in a very major way and dumped fork oil all over the wheel and down the tyre. Nice.
Oh.. And I think I've sorted next years bike already. Watch out F3.
[YOUTUBE]a1Y73sPHKxw[/YOUTUBE]
Cartoon stolen from: http://pbfcomics.com/
Wow, that's way too much writing!!
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Originally Posted by Nicksta
... Know him before you judge me.
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