Yeha... It's really long
Race Report Manfeild Vic Club Round 5 Sept 27th & 28th 2008
Got to the raceway court motel on Awahuri Road in Fielding just after 7 pm. turned out nice has plenty of room for gear, couch turned down as bed, also single bed in lounge and a big double bed in attached room. Nice clean rooms. Etc...... Only one down side got first room right by road and the locals kept zooming past. But all in all good friendly staff, clean facilities, happy atmosphere.
A big weekend for all as the South Island 150 bikes had come up to show us how to do it.
The Doohan Family, less Steve as he didn’t make it to the track on Friday or Saturday due to work, woke up at motel at 0600 then left 0645 in about 5 or less minutes, got to track found our usual spot free and took it, set up the Suzuki pergola and the other pergola and got everything set up with ease. Found out practice and qualifying is together in a 20 minute run and the first race is a 15 lapper. Practice/qualify went well Patrick run the time of 1:32.960. The day was damp and showery but the track was dry by the time they went out. Patrick qualified third. Beaten in to second place by Eric on another RG150 from Christchurch and the top qualifier was Billy on a CBR250rr.
Once in pits spark plug and tyres were checked. Spark plug, came out nice and brown, Tyres came in with perfect heat for a cold track. Streetstock was last race of the day.
So it was time to head for the grid for the only race of the day for the 150 Street boys and girls. The light went out and they were off. There was some biffo on the grid as the bikes headed down the track. It soon became obvious that this was going to be a hard fought race and the concentration was intense. The bike had not been spared the whip and the pace was hot.
On lap three Patrick pulled off the track at marshalling point two. As usual the pit crew had started to work on the problem long before they had the bike in their hands, but were pleased to note it was a fuelling problem. The same problem we had encountered in tests only 3 days earlier. As this was not a major and could be fixed. The bike went in the van with all the gear and headed back to the motel for the night. The resulting DNF was disappointing for all after one of the longest testing and set up periods since we started this campaign. Welcome to motor sport. Zane ran in second to Eric. Boosting his points in the championship.
Patrick was busy helping Glen (Sketchy Racer) who had come to grief earlier in the day and needed help to get from the hospital back to the motel as he had a broken arm and foot bones. Every one settled in for the night and sleep was welcome.
Wasn’t till 7.30 that the day started for the Doohan family in Fielding. As I wasn’t at the track I started at dawn and got my work done. Headed for the track at 8.30 on the old trusty GSX-R and arrived two hours to the minute at our pit. What a great ride but man it was cold.
Work started on the carburettor at 8. It appeared we had fuel filter problems again. A new inline filter was installed to replace the fuel tank one which was removed. Test run and the job seemed to be looking good. First race for the second day was set for 20 laps, at 12.45am, so set about getting ready for it, fuelling up, etc. All the team was talking about how the other bikes were going and we concluded we needed to change our gearing. How ever as the race was only 30 minutes away I decided not to change the bike set-up for fear of something going wrong. Due to a delay on the track from a previous race lunch was called early so we launched in to the sprocket change. The bike was sorted and we all felt nervous.
Time to run the race. Out went Patrick with the rest of the field. Round to the start grid. Lights out and he had a great leap off the line but dropped back a few places. This was set as a 20 lap race and we had set the bike for distance. Patrick soon closed the gap on the front bikes and by lap three had opened a gap equal to half the pit straight on Zane. I indicated the gap to Patrick as he went passed the next time. He was hot on the rear of the lead bike and was not sparing the rod. As they came around the track on the next lap Zane had disappeared so we indicated a big gap and Patrick gave us the thumbs up. Zane did not come past again so as long as Patrick finished close to the front we could redeem our points. Not content to do that Patrick took the lead and set a great pace out the front. His riding was spectacular and he was well in to the groove. We indicated the half way mark in the race to Patrick and after four more laps the white flag came out. Total shock to us and Patrick pointed back over his shoulder to show us we had it wrong and sure enough the white flag was out. (Mid race they decided to change to a 15 lap race due to time constraints). Last lap. He kept the pace up and took our first win since Round 2. Beating Eric and gaining maximum points for the championship. And the bike was running like a race bike should. So nice to have it win and come in and have the rider happy. A great deal of jubilation from the pit and team on pit wall as Patrick passed the line. Now that’s why we race.
With the bike running so well we only did basic set-up for the second race. This race was only a 6 laps so the bike was fuelled for an eight lap race in case things changed. We had a few visitors to our pit and we managed to meet some of the South Island support crews and helpers. Some of the public dropped in and had a chat and one young fella even wanted a Suzuki poster. Alas we didn’t have one so we sent him off with a Promo sticker for Wanganui. Next door Zane had loaded his bike on the ute. His day was run. A piston and ring seize had lead to some engine damage. Some work to get that bike back on the track for next month. The water in the cylinder indicated more than a nip-up. But we all know he will return.
The call went out for the final race and Patrick headed off to the track again. I was supposed to be home to feed the cows by 4 but I was along pit wall to watch this last race. The first race of the day was run a tremendous pace for the 150 and to have it running so well was a treat not to be missed. The lights went out and the bikes hit their straps instantly. A race down to the first corner saw Patrick and two south Island bikes hit the corner in a tight group. Looked as if it could get messy but with good race lines and great riding the bikes pressed on. The three front bikes set a great pace and swapped the lead a number of times. I need to praise Patrick for his clear thinking. Even as this battle raged he realised he needed to finish and not DNF. The championship points were more important than a one off win. As the three bikes circulated they were very close in power and riding skill. Patrick backed off from the two front riders, a bike length as things were getting intense in the corners as they battled for position. So it was he finished third. Well done that man. It is hard to make that call but we are after a bigger prize than the one off win. So it was, the weekend was finished.
A mixed weekend but a very successful one for us as a team. We finally have a bike that is running well under punishing conditions. This is due to a massive amount of in-put from Warrick (Wasp 27). He has dedicated a lot of time to the bike in the last month. It is true that if he had not, the bike would have never made it past the start line on Saturday. Thank you Warrick. A massive thanks to Gary for your help in the pits on the spanner and being Patrick’s mentor. You are a power that we need on our team mate. You are great. And to Martin. You work in the back ground with the record keeping and fuel and oil, and are there to help Gary and Warrick at all times. You have proved your worth on this team. Your ability to note things that have not or need to be finished is vital for the continued running of this bike. Thanks for all you have done all season but especially this weekend just gone. Also to the dedicated man that has spent a lot of spare time and money on this race bike. Thanks Steve we have taken note of what you have accomplished throughout the events to keep everything going strong.
And to Five Star. You have given us the use of the pagoda that has made it possible for us to work on the bike in the wet and have a pit area that works. For your advice and parts support that keeps us going. Five Star clients also have somewhere to visit. Thank you Five Star. You are a great business and we are proud to have you behind us.
And to Patrick (speights_bud). A young man that thinks about the strategy. You made a good call on the day and if we win the championship it is because you kept your head and rode with passion. You are a credit to what young people can do and we look forward to next months racing. Well done Patrick and with your ability to ride and think on the run you have a great future ahead of you.
Thanks to everyone. A mention to Mary, Donna and Anna. You are a great support crew and you keep us fed and watered, help with the setting up and packing down of the gear and filling the gaps where needed during the day. A good balance for us all. Thanks for all you have done.
We look forward to next month’s grand finale. But remember it is motor sport!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hopped on the Gixxer and headed for home with a grin from ear to ear. What a weekend. What a ride. What a great event to be part of.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by quallman1234
just edited for KB purposes
: )
, a shame he's now out for the rest of the season 
He was doing bloody well.
ohh damn
, luckily the RG just stepped out wide and i could carry on while he ran wide to the outside of the corner, nearly a T-Bone 
Bookmarks