Wanganui Races - Pics and stories

[Kickaha]

Sensei, I'm pretty sure Jasons Tigcraft uses a 450 Yamaha motor. Could be wrong but I'm not often......

No you're right again it is a YZF or at least it was a couple of years ago when theyran it in the nationals for the first time

Was that in a rs125 frame? Looked like a rs but definately didn't sound like one, looks pretty cool though.

No it's one of these things http://www.tigcraft.com/

[merv]

Yeah Jason's Tigcraft definitely has a Yamaha engine - I looked under the hood while it was in the pits.

I can't say I liked the way it handled going into the turn over the railway line - he kept skidding on the painted arrow on the road looking like he was going to highside - no-one else was doing it that way.

[Blakamin]

No it's one of these things http://www.tigcraft.com/

I WANT one.... they look like serious fun for short-arsed people like me!

[Atilgan]

Good to hear from you and I hope you enjoy it here.

You want more pics? I've got plenty as usual.

Post classics were classic. The old Honda (52) looked a bit like Jim Redman was back, but it wasn't quite at his pace. Richard Scott (65) was going well. Now remind me as I couldn't hear what the announcer said properly - you know the usual double echo and all that stuff, but does Richard still hold the lap record or did Craig Shirrifs beat it? 1986 Richard set a helluva record on the RS500 Honda triple (they called the production GP version an RS didn't they while the NS was the factory job?) after he'd been pipped by Craig Trinder he set about re-gearing the bike to suit the lower speed circuit (than GP circuits that is) and he tore around Wanganui like no one had before. He'd been king of Wanganui previously on a warmed over FZ750 but his ride on the Honda 500 was remarkable. Great to see he's still racing.

Also good on him for sponsoring a few Aussies to come out this year.

The Kwaka triple goes well too - they never handled like that back in the 70's they used to flex around the corners. The wonders of modern shocks.

Hi Merv,

Yes, i am interested to see more of your motorbike riding or racing pics. I have been riding motorbike since 1977. Starting to ride some bigger bike in 1980, it was BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha all of them were over 1000cc.
Anyway, i will be going to Tauranga tomorrow with my girl to check out the Rear seater and the cowl. Hopefully i can find it with the better price. It's hard to find my 1998 Yamaha rear seater in Auckland. I have rang all of the wreckers, dealers, newspaper and magazines. None of them have got the second hand parts here.

Anyway, thanks again for your pics in advance. This is a nice networking website. I enjoy it.

Cheers

Ati

[Sparky Bills]

Nice pics man.
Where are all the pics of me???! (No.55 Ducati 900ss)
Had a really good day! Never had a bike move underneath me soo much in my life!

Didnt rain the whole day! even had a Diablo corsa rear (road tyre) and that held up really good.
I only JUST missed that crash in B.E.A.R.S, Looked pretty nasty.
Managed to talk to a few KB's, but didnt see many others.
Good day had by all!

[Blakamin]

Nice pics man.
Where are all the pics of me???! (No.55 Ducati 900ss)
Had a really good day! Never had a bike move underneath me soo much in my life!

Didnt rain the whole day! even had a Diablo corsa rear (road tyre) and that held up really good.
I only JUST missed that crash in B.E.A.R.S, Looked pretty nasty.
Managed to talk to a few KB's, but didnt see many others.
Good day had by all!

I actually got you on video.... will avi it when i get 5 minutes (workin on other PC at the moment)

[Sparky Bills]

I actually got you on video.... will avi it when i get 5 minutes (workin on other PC at the moment)

SWEET!!
Wouldnt mind seeing it.
Let me know when its all done.
Thanx mate

[F5 Dave]

Great pics Merv and Jim.

The Plastic Fantastic is my favourite race bike ever. I remember watch Wanganui LIVE on TV when I was seven or eight when it was first raced there. My favourite racer from there was Robby Phillis. Watchig him wheelie those big bikes was phenominal.

Yeah I was lucky enough to be taken to Wanganui to watch that epic battle between Hiscock on the Plastic & Philis on a Kat I think? + Holden who was not able to challenge for the lead but far enough away from the rest of the field so he pulled wheelies.

Really made an impression on me & cemented motorcycles as a path to follow.

Hmm, that must have been 83 as the plastic wasn’t built until then (how the syndicate ever thought they would be able to post classic race it bugger only knows esp. with the no carbon rule).

These bikes were built for Dave to make an attempt of the F1 title & try get him a factory ride. Apparently the Aluminium one was nicer to ride. Turned up at a friend’s work one day a couple of year back & he was sitting on the ground with the Ally tank monocot section cleaning it up (in prep of that ride display). There’s bugger all to them. Steve Roberts really was well ahead of his time, (he said a few words over the Tanoy at Wangas this year).

[denill]

Yeah he is from chch i think. Seen him at levels and ruapuna every time i've been out there when racing was on. He seems to do pretty considering, don't think i could ride with only 1 arm very affectively.

Nigel Curtis is originally from Napier and is living in Chch at the moment.
He completely lost the use of his whole left arm in the early 80s when a spaced out on something rider took him out while riding on the local riverbed. Nigel was in a pretty bad way and I'm pretty sure the other guy died.

Subsequently Nigel rode MX on a CR500!! - not your pussy old time scrambles stuff either. He was a regular club MXer and regularly raced the Woodville GPs. He was up at the pointy end of his class on a bike that was built before powervalves and those things were bloody light switches. Neil Ritchie used to give him a huge rap. He gave way to no-one and no-one gave way to him.
As a matter of interest - I supported him a bit and got him a bit of sponsorship from Kawasaki on a proddy GPZ500 twin in the 80s.

The guy had to be the hero of the day. Few riders at Wanganui would match him with one arm lying uselessly in their lap. I don't know how is able to maintain balance????? Those Motards need to be muscled into a corner??????
(BTW don't get sucked into an arm wrestle with him as I reckon you will lose.)


But he proves that if you want it bad enough - you will do it..........

Cheers
Bill

[Blakamin]

The guy had to be the hero of the day. Few riders at Wanganui would match him with one arm lying uselessly in their lap. I don't know how is able to maintain balance????? Those Motards need to be muscled into a corner??????
(BTW don't get sucked into an arm wrestle with him as I reckon you will lose.)


But he proves that if you want it bad enough - you will do it..........

Cheers
Bill

That spun me out when i first got there... was watching the practice and he went passsed and i turned as he went into firestone corner and thought "farq, hes sliding the arse and doin the corner one-handed!!!!" bloody good skills!!!

[Mitch]

Merv, SPman and Racey thanks so very much for the photo's. It's great to have some photo proof hehe YA Wanganui ROCKS, It was an absolutely fantastic day and great to catch up with everyone. Sorry if I didn't take much time to chat!!!!! Would have to confess to being pretty nervous and couldn't really stand still for long.
I think i'll be back next year to do it all again.

Oh ya and SVS of course you got past us all at turn one!!! When you go sliding into a corner with your front wheel locked up chances are people will get out of your way LMAO

[James Deuce]

. Sorry if I didn't take much time to chat!!!!! Would have to confess to being pretty nervous and couldn't really stand still for long.

So you don't just behave like that around me then?

I thought you thought I was some sort of prevert.

[Mitch]

So you don't just behave like that around me then?

I thought you thought I was some sort of prevert.

Oops sorry I meant to put an exception in there refering to you:
SORRY FOR NOT CHATTING TO EVERYONE EXCEPT JIM2 THAT PERVY GUY.
LMAO

After I missed my first qualifier because I was to busy chatting away I decided I had better focus and get on with the job at hand.
Was a little dissappointed that there weren't any other ladies out there racing!!!!!!
BUT having said that the best chick out there was SLIM, man if there was ever a pit girl to be had she is it, tyre warmers on, tyre warmers off, bike off stand, she was there helping us every step of the way. Cheers chick, your one in a million!!!!!!!!!!!!

[svs]

Wanganui ROCKS

Yup, got to agree with that one...

When you go sliding into a corner with your front wheel locked up chances are people will get out of your way LMAO

Just cos you got tyre warmers and actually had some grip

[Slim]

Cheers chick, your one in a million!!!!!!!!!!!!

No problemo.

Hey, did you see the top shot of Gareth earlier in this thread? And my photos from Phillip Island are here: http://community.webshots.com/user/kiwicbr6