Koba Funtime on the Cliffhanger

**koba** · 19th March 2008, 06:39

I intended entering the hillclimb on the Rg onefiddy but due to it currently being in quite a state of disrepair I had to use another bike.

Ahh, the daily rider roadbike it had to be...

After getting some bits and pieces off rudolph and bungbung sussing out his brother bringing them down for free, (I know, top blokes aye! - Cheers again guys!) I knew I would have alot more mental confidence to push myself harder.

Then finding out Str8jacket was entering too I was very happy for her but kinda nervous too, although I know she has become a very sensible rider and is capable of alot more than she, or some others giver her credit for I couldn't help but feel a wee bit edgy about her hurtling up that road on a 750!

The business of preparing myself sure calmed the nerves and I managed to get the bike all uglied up with fairings formerly belonging to Skidmark himself.
I was a wee bit gutted that I couldn't see thu the screen because I'm a real croucher (streetstock!) but I considered it worth leaving on to save my minty original.

Got there. Got sorted.
2 familiarisation runs had me thinking. "tighter than I thought, shouldn't be too hard really quite straighfoward.."

Wrong!

First timed run thoughts: FAAAAAAARK! THIS IS MENTAL!
I really was surprised by how scary the thing was!
Time came out at 3:28, but I didn't know that untill I got the times for my 1st two runs together, second was around 3 flat.
I was a bit miffed because both runs were sooo fast for my mid to back of pack streetstock brain!

2 more runs on the 1st day got me down to a 2:54 (I think, needs to be confirmed) The main competion was once again the lads on the 400's Limbimtimwim and Clivoris. Al three of us were damn close but Clivoris was having a bit of trouble getting the track memorised ok which seems to be the single biggest obstacle to going faster.

After the rapa rumble (Another story) we got set for the next day that totaled 6 runs, was much cooler and although the clouds had a tiny spit it was otherwise fine.

Limbimtimwim didn't muck about setting down some blistering (for us) times on day two. He pushed the time to beat up to 2:54ish straight away and then just seemed to get faster and faster.
Meanwhile Clivoris And I were lagging behind a fair bit.
I Managed to creep up a wee bit in the times but as it started to spit It looked like the 400 times may have been set.

As the raindrops started I was coming down from the top and was one of the last. I knew it wasn't looking great when I saw Drew (Who's time had just been pipped by Jay) at the front of the queue waving FRANTIClY for us to hurry up so he could get a decent run in before it got too wet!

Limbim and I both decided not to go out if it stayed as wet as it was getting.
It stopped!
Up we went!
Still didn't quite beat him as he was siting on 2;51's and I was only pulling 2:52's

I decided I was happy with that after my first of two 2:52 runs of the day, It felt great and I was happy with my personal performance!
Especially getting the cliffhanger corner right as I really struggled getting it tidy enough to give good exit speed and drive up the steep bit after it.

Then I had a pretty good run but got to the top thinking I had muzzed It up a wee bit but would getting the bottom section good make up for it...?
2:50!

YEEEHAAA I was elated, but as some of us will know kinda gutted that I wasn't chasing the lead (of the 400's) anymore..
The next, and last, run was MINT but I hit a blardy false neutral half way up. time still came in just into 2:50.

Limbimtimwim came in around . 3 of a second behind me with clivoris only a second or so behind that. The event was MINT with racing that close all over the show! It certainly makes I much more exciting and fun when there is a bunch of blardy good fullas to battle with. Good shit guys and I look foward to more of it next year!

Thanks HEAPS to pretty much everyone there.
The Cliffhanger is such an awesome event mainly because of the people that make it happen an the people that get involved and participate.
If anyone reading this wasn't there I reccomend going next year coz you won't regret it!
Thanks even more to hells for stopping my worries about you by just getting out there and showing us all you can do it and do it well, I already knew that but still couldn't help being nervous.
I am normally quite nervous at any racing untill I have had a few laps anyway.

Thanks also to Skidmark, rudoph, BungBung and bungbungs brother for passing on the fairings and spare parts!

Dave, You are a legend. It's real a bummer you fell off but your attitude about the whole incident is an example for all of us!

And of course Simon and Clive, you guys rock! maybe next year aye!

**Str8 Jacket** · 19th March 2008, 07:15

You did really well - once you stopped worrying about me! Your bike loked like pooh but you looked great!

Im stoked that you did so well and it was fun to watch you 400 boy's battling it out. Sorry I blew up your RG, you could have taken both out otherwise, that would've been awesome fun!

**merv** · 19th March 2008, 07:18

Good on ya mate -previously the fastest 400 in a straight line and now the man on the curves and the hills too

. Not bad given the age of that bike huh!

**Deano** · 19th March 2008, 07:26

Ain't work a bitch - looking forward to part 2....

**RantyDave** · 19th March 2008, 08:01

Originally Posted by koba

The main competion was once again the lads on the 400's Limbimtimwim and Clivoris.

I'm going to need to score a 400, eh? This sounds outstanding...

Dave

**Trudes** · 19th March 2008, 08:08

You did great Mr., never saw more of you than when you were sitting at the start line reving and taking off like a wee rocket out of a bottle, but the continuing dropping times said it all, good going mate!!

(sorry for keeping you awake, and thanks for helping with our tent!

)

**Clivoris** · 19th March 2008, 09:06

Love your work Koba. We have a way to go before the SV pilots will be getting worried but weather permitting we have no excuse for not dropping into the 2.40's next year. I am hopeful that a season "practicing going slow" in the winter series will help.

**koba** · 19th March 2008, 09:28

Originally Posted by Mrs Kendog

You did great Mr., never saw more of you than when you were sitting at the start line reving and taking off like a wee rocket out of a bottle, but the continuing dropping times said it all, good going mate!!

(sorry for keeping you awake, and thanks for helping with our tent!

)

Hey, Im sorry for being a bit of a grump.
Although I'm all for a bit of noise and all I found it a bit much right outside the tent!
Perhaps next time we could work out some sort of division of space between those that wanna nanna out and those that wanna go hard all night..
Eitherway, we all had a good time in the end so no worries here.

**koba** · 19th March 2008, 09:30

Originally Posted by Clivoris

Love your work Koba. We have a way to go before the SV pilots will be getting worried but weather permitting we have no excuse for not dropping into the 2.40's next year. I am hopeful that a season "practicing going slow" in the winter series will help.

I can't believe how much faster they are...
Im definatley out to improve on my own times at least, even if 400s are going to get munched by the SV's.

**Lissa** · 19th March 2008, 10:12

Awesome Malcolm. Dont worry about the noise, next time I will be just as drunk and loud as them so it wont bother me... hope that helps!!

Na... great you had a good time!!

**Sully60** · 19th March 2008, 10:21

Cool report dude.

I loved hearing your bike launch from the start, there's just something about the sound of a high revving V-Four.

Bring on next year eh?
If I'm given the use of an Italian stallion there may be a spare seat on an SV. Paid it forward I reckon.

Big respect for giving the scotsman his marching orders on Saturday night too, that's the kind of bravery that will see you right next time you tackle that hill