Nicksta’s VMCC 08 Round 3
Due to work commitments we couldn’t make it to the test day. Frenchy and I rocked up Saturday morning to the track after an interesting night in Bulls, two words Dirty Sanches and Demon/Jagermeisters! My inside word had it raining before the first practice and was about right on the button. A wet race meet was declared as we were scrambling to put the wets on the bikes.
F3 Practice/Qualifying:
My goal was to qualify top 10 as one of my goals was to improve my qualifying positions on the last rounds. Knowing wets take around 2 laps to come to temp I took it easy and slowly picked up the pace. The difference between bikes with and without wets was immediately apparent as I comfortably passed a few. Crossing the checkered I was passed by Glen Williams, it then occurred to me that he was the first to pass me the whole practice. Happy with the way Tweety felt I rolled in to find I had qualified with a 1:29.8, which put me on the second row in 6th place, I was shocked and stoked!
Post Classic Jnr Practice/Qualifying:
Paul, being a great team manager had confirmed that if I qualified on the CBR, I could in fact race Tweety in Posty’s as she qualified as a pre 89 bike also. Under instructions to take it easy, I had barely done a few corners and it was crystal clear that the standard GPR A10’s were slippery and scary in the wet. It seemed the more cautious I was the more I slid. After 3 laps and some fairly big moments, I decided to pull in as I didn’t want to push fate too much today. Qualified with a 1:42.8 putting me 24th on the grid, way back on the 6th row, time to make up some places I thought, I love a challenge!
F3 Race 1, 12 laps:
Rolling out on to the track I did a quick-ish warm up lap to get some heat in the tyres. Lining up the row behind Glen Williams was pretty cool. I usually have to look through a whole field of bikes to the start line, I decided I like the view from the 2nd row! Lights go out and I nail it, one of my best starts yet, only a handful of SV’s and a VFR in front I’m confident into T1. I quickly settle into a rhythm and find myself dicing with an SV and Chris on his VFR. Chris gets a bit ahead and the SV finds another gear and catches him, I look up and see he has left Chris too. I spend the last few laps trying to catch Chris, but he had a 3 second lead. Worried what was behind me I maintain a smooth rhythm so I didn’t make a mistake and cross the line in 5th place. I’m stoked and totally buzzing after dicing with Chris and the SV, which turns out to be Deano. Well done mate, was harder each lap to keep you in check. Best time 1:24.7 only .7 seconds off my nationals PB, not bad for the wet.
Post Classic JNR Race 1, 12 laps:
With no grid markings, I knew I had to be on row 6 on the outside. Coming round I thought I had counted only 6 cones, turns out there were 8 and I lined myself up at the back 2, rows short of where I should be I find out later (oops!) Lights go out and I nail it. Tweety pinned her ears and ran the gauntlet squeezing through narrowing gaps between bikes flying towards T1, I counted at least half the field by the time I rounded T1 and nailed it between more bikes into splash, I see the front runners and I count only 5 in front now, Shit! I can’t remember much about the race, except Tweety was a bike possessed! Chris got a flying start and it sucked to see him sliding out of the hairpin. I’m dicing with a white bike, I figure it’s a 450cc as it had me beat on the straights but it was slow cornering, I kept it off for a lap but it came back, just behind it I try for a fast exit from Dunlop and have a huge moment over the painted lines narrowly missing the rumble on the outside, we drag to the line and he beats me by .3 if a second. I cross in third 3rd, totally buzzing from the race. Pull up next to it and I read 1000 on its fairing, wow! Result: 2nd place and a new wet PB of 1:24.5 and I’m totally loving the wet.
F3 Race 2, 10 laps:
Lights go out and I get another good start, there are a few more SV’s swarming as they get used to the wet tyres. The field spreads out quickly and I find myself trying to keep a visual on the front runners. I settle into my usual rhythm, clocking 1.26’s for 5 laps in a row. The track is a lot dryer and I’m finding the wets slipping, I start finding puddles to get more grip but am noticeably not as comfortable as when it was raining. Not sure of what was behind me, I put in a faster lap and see the white flag. I cross the line thinking I had not done as good as the first F3 race. Best time was lap 9 with a 1:25.7, a bit slower but I managed 3rd place with Chris close behind.
Post Classic JNR Race 2, 6 laps:
I was hoping for a sprint race, it was a sprint to the start as I was late out of the pits as the gate was closing. Last on to the track I flew round the track to catch up with the field. I go to grab the clutch and its not there, the screws have come loose and the lever is wiggling around my handlebar, doh. No time to pull in to get it tightened I decide it will be ok, its only 6 laps I tell myself. This time I had done my homework and knew it was the third cone just to the right of the Dunlop sign. There was something wrong with the lights and it seemed like an eternity before they started coming on. Lights finally go out and I don’t start as good. Mid pack round T1 I get stuck in slow traffic and have to fight my way through. Matt Rennie and Chris have disappeared and I start the mission to hunt them down. Conscious of the lack of grip, I’m glad to see the rain start falling again. I pick up the pace and focus attention on my clutch lever that’s lifting up in the wind on the straights, I get into a pattern of pushing it down just before braking and shifting down all the while hoping it was where I was reaching for. Must have looked funny as I crossed the finish line each lap to see me pushing my lever back into place, I hit a few false neutrals into T1 and rounded in 3rd gear more times than I would have liked. Little mistakes slowed me down and I crossed the line 20 seconds down on Chris and Matt. 3rd place and a fastest lap of 1.28.3. I’m happy and have enjoyed a great day of close racing.
Overall I finished Postys in 2nd place and F3 in 3rd. Totally overwhelmed with my 2 podiums, I had completely blown away my expectations for the day. I’m now 6th for the series in Postys and 8th for F3. Some huge progress towards my series goals.
Huge big thank you to the Vic Club members and workers running the show, you did an awesome job in the wet conditions, thank you for making it possible for us nutters to race!!
Big thank you to Paul, Dianne and Team Showerbuddy, Dave and Donna at Kiwibike Insurance, Dunlop Tyres, Bikestore.co.nz and Future Grafix. Was also very cool to have my mum and dad there watching, its their fault I have racing in my blood!
Frenchy, thank you so much for my latest addition to my bike family, Chickie, the mini-me who looks so cute! Your support and encouragement is awesome! Thanks also for braking the cycle of our crashing – no more now ay.
I do have a special thank you for this round, I was totally blown away with all the encouragement and support from all of you in the pits and crowd cheering us on. It means so much to us on the track to see your enjoyment watching our racing and it makes me especially pick up my game and be proud. I have been especially humbled by all the positive comments, thank you. Vicki and crew, thanks for staying for prize giving, was cool having you all there cheering and having some fun!
Round 4 is going to be interesting on the long track with no test day…. Can’t wait!
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but i must be honest as much as your wanting it to rain next round i'm wanting it to be fine! I ride like a girl in the rain..... hold on i guess i can't say that any more 
Wow!! 
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