PMCC Round 1
18th November 07
After the long Vic Club series I had a rest from track days and fitness training and spent a lot more time riding my Gixxer on the roads. PMCC is my first attempt at F3 and a build up for Vic Club next year to gain some experience at the next level up from Clubmans. With little to no preparation, my major goal for this round was to go out and see what the F3 field feels like and get a taste of the pace and different class of bikes with little or no pressure on myself to perform. Biggest goal was to go out and have the most fun I can on my home track with beautiful weather and super sticky track.
With fun as my main goal, had a laid back trip down with Jason and my parents. Went to bed early after watching the netball, no comment there. Rocked up to the track on Sunday and met up with Leong, Gah and Mark. We set up, signed in, scruitineered, and waited, waited and waited till briefing, PMCC are back to their old tricks!
Practice:
Rolled out to warm up and check out the track, with a few ideas to try out to find some extra pace on the short track. Super sticky as usual, I was loving just being out there, a little different with SV’s all around and their distinctive rumbling V Twins. Came in feeling good about my lines and confident in the plans for different gear selection round the track. With a first in first served grid, I planned with the boys to front up 3rd row just behind the fast SV boys.
Race 1: 10 Laps.
Sat on the dummy grid longer than I would have liked, my contacts dried out totally and I ended up blinking like a mad man round to the grid to moisten them up. Lined up last row on the grid on the outside. Game plan ready to go, flag dropped, and Tweety took off. With a mint start I split through half the field to the outside of T1. Round the outside I headed to the inside of T2 and made up even more places, looked around and I was surrounded by the fast boys, wholly cow! Spent the next 2 laps getting picked off by the faster bikes. Lap 7 and I hit the wall, my lack of training my downfall, unable to keep up the pace, I slowed and was happy to circulate and finish. Result: 15th out of 20. Not bad for my first F3 race and I had so much fun in the thick of it with the SV’s, totally different race to Clubmans!
Race 2: 8 Laps.
Shortened race, I’m a happy camper. Rolling up to the grid, only decent spot was in the middle. Flag drops and I get another mint start, find myself to the left of Dave on his yellow SV in the middle of the pack coming to T1. Don’t think he knew it, but I was ready to play chicken and wanted the outside round T1. Braking late I get in front of him and head wide. Sweet, he was behind me. Few more bikes in front than last time, I managed to pick off a few in T2 and settled into a rhythm. Back to my old racing, hunting down bikes, I loved every second of it, hearing Dave behind me I knew I had to keep up the pace. My fitness killed me again and I slowed in about lap 6, Dave finally taking me clean around the outside of T3. I hung on for a lap but couldn’t keep the pace. Not wanting to risk it and make a mistake, I slowed my pace and finished the race behind Dave in 12th place out of 24.
So end of Round one and I’m in 14th place. Not too bad for my first F3 race meet. Had a total blast and remembered how much fun racing is! Thanks to Jason, Leong, Gah and Mark, it was cool hanging in the pits and was a way fun relaxing day. Mum and Dad for coming and helping out. Steve and Tom, always fun to dice with you guys. Dave – was a total blast dicing with you in the second race!
Big ups to Kiwibike Motorcycle Insurance Brokers for your support for the Summer Series… thank you!
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Drew
you old dog you. 
(i'm kinda relieved, no running for a day till i get some shoes!)
Bookmarks