What an outstanding weekend, unfortunately dampened by the accidents resulting in injury. I hope the healing goes well. It was also cool to have my wife there for the weekend so she could share my racing buzz first hand.
I was so sure that racing in two classes was going leave me a sore boy that I took Monday off work. A wise move cause my middleaged muscles have been giving me shite all day. In the end the track time paid dividends for my consistency.
Qualifying
F3 qualifying saw me 13th in class and 23rd on the grid. Post classics saw me 6th in class and 11th on the grid. Much to my pleasure I was already matching my best dry times from last season of 1:25.
F3 Race 1
After the bomb that went off at the start of the Superbike race, I was sensitised to startline danger. Stuffing up my dodgy starts even more. It's always good to have stuff to work on though.
Heaps of bikes blew by and then I stuffed even more in turn 1. I settled down and worked on using the 15 laps to claw back some places from geezers like Scracha. The best thing was getting myself within sight of Eamon and Nicki, and bringing my lap time down 1:22. Historic. Finished 14th in class.
Posties Race 1
Not too different to my F3 start. The smart money seems to be on staying wide on turn 1 and being aggressive at the apex due to the greater speed you can carry from wide out. Finished 8th in class and stoked to be chasing Eamon as hard as I could. Stayed with the 1:22 lap time.
F3 Race 2
The big 20 lapper and the pattern for my weekend solidified. Get a slow and polite start then spend the rest of the race clawing back places but not being able to quite catch the pack of 400s of Nicki, Ashley, Eamon, Paul and Chris. Close and yet so far. Not suprising really as their lap times are slightly quicker and more consistent. I dropped down to 1:23.
Posties Race 2
No major changes really. My laptimes back into 1:22 and I'm having a ball. Making some good passes in the second half of the race. Ridiculously pleased to make a pass on Scracha stick and stay ahead of Nicki. Eamon and Chris will have to wait for another day.
F3 Race 3
Happiness is a tired bugger who is told that the race has been cut to 8 laps. My wife said I was looking tired out there and my bike just didn't seem to be pulling out of the corners like it had been. Still, a chisel wouldn't have taken the smile off my face. Lap times in the 1:23s again.
Posties Race 3
I'm a very tired boy now but figure I can hold it together for 6 laps. My trusty mule had different ideas and just after getting the white flag somthing goes bang, clunk, rattle and the oil light comes on. You know, the same sound money makes circling the plug hole.
I've yet to diagnose the problem and will need to make an effort this week as work and family allow. At the moment, Round 6 is looking shakey for me. Still, it was an awesome weekend of motorcycling. Maybe it's time to go shopping for a pro-twin stallion?
As usual the volunteers all did a great job and the camraderie at the track made the meeting something special. We just might be part of the beginning of a new golden age in motorcyle racing.
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Bikes that colour shouldn't be trailered. Are you trying to keep Drew's trailer-space warm for him? 
Originally Posted by Duke girl
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