Speed63's Endurance Race - long time round

**speed63** · 30th December 2008, 10:18

Firstly big thanks to Scrivy and Chris for having the foresight, knowledge and courage to run this event. Endurance racing is great fun.

This, my first race since crashing in the first round of the Vic series. The bike has been sitting in the shed for the winter. Thanks to Kawa10 , Billy and Choppa for helping out big time to get the bike back on the track.

In a weak moment I decided to enter the superman event but hey its one of things you have to do, right?

Arrived at the MotoTT pit 32 yesterday morning and Jrandom, Kiwifruit and Biggles were all set up and not long after Matt Bleck arrived. Great crew and nice to meet you all.

First practise - dry - Went out for three laps and scrubbed in new Metzeler Racetecs and pads. Thought I would go for it in the next qualifying session. Bad decision.

The rain came!

The weather was looking to set in wet so the pits were a hive of industry with wheels off, compressors running and tyres strewn everywhere. I didnt have spare wheels so got the guy changing tyres at the Chris Mitchell truck, to change to wets, thanks man. Fitted the wheels but missed the next qual session(My pit crew were late!). Start at number 14.

Set off Le Mans start and got down to business just trying to get into a rythm and suss out the wets and set up changes I had made. All felt okay. Standing water and planing going into the Sweeper was fun, ahem. Did one stop for fuel as had no idea how much we would use.

At about the 2 hour mark I clipped the white line going into the chicane a little hot off the main straight and went down, bugger. Bike was okay so with a few repairs got out again. Riding a little conservatively until my crew said get racing! The next challenge was to see if the wets would last. Kept off the racing lines to run in the wet section to keep tyres cool as could feel them going off. Last 15 minutes felt good and picked up pace a little. In what seemed a relatively short time the White flag came out and I had finished. Big congrats to the winners. Thanks to my crew and supporters.
How did some guys ride 30 minutes with one foot peg?

Thanks to Metzeler for the great tyres.

**kiwifruit** · 30th December 2008, 11:07

Great effort Mark, well done!

**speed63** · 30th December 2008, 11:36

Thanks Allan. Mate you did the business, road tyres and the mighty FZR. well done

**Billy** · 30th December 2008, 11:41

Well done Mark.Good to see you back out there again

**racerhead** · 30th December 2008, 12:12

Good going getting to the finish after the spill

Hell good going getting to finish either way 3 hrs is a long time to keep race pace

**emaN** · 30th December 2008, 12:14

sucked to see you go down man, but stoked you were able to get back on 'n finish! well done!!!

**prettybillie** · 30th December 2008, 14:12

Good on you for getting back out there after the fall. I heard a number of riders saying they had a whoopsie moment in the same place.

**speed63** · 30th December 2008, 15:48

Originally Posted by Billy

Well done Mark.Good to see you back out there again

Thanks Billy for the awesome job you did mate.

Originally Posted by racerhead

Good going getting to the finish after the spill

Hell good going getting to finish either way 3 hrs is a long time to keep race pace

Cheers...bit of luck in not too many broken bits

Originally Posted by emaN

sucked to see you go down man, but stoked you were able to get back on 'n finish! well done!!!

Thanks Eman..appreciate it

Originally Posted by prettybillie

Good on you for getting back out there after the fall. I heard a number of riders saying they had a whoopsie moment in the same place.

ye I heard a few riders had moments there, I knew it too but me thinks maybe bit tired after 2 hours!!

**icekiwi** · 30th December 2008, 15:50

Mate I've got to take my hat off to you...
Took my kids and watched the race....shithouse bloody weather,but 3 hrs of it!!..saw heaps of slides only one of the offs took some guts thats foresure..
Awesome effort in those conditions

**Sue VFR** · 30th December 2008, 16:58

Well done Mark. I only crewed and I was absolutely knackered last night! Can only imagine how you Supermen felt! Great event

**jrandom** · 30th December 2008, 19:15

Originally Posted by speed63

At about the 2 hour mark I clipped the white line going into the chicane a little hot off the main straight and went down, bugger.

I was just behind you at that point. That 'scritchscritch' binning noise always gives me the shits!

Finishing that race alone was a job and a half for sure. Respect.

**vtec** · 31st December 2008, 09:34

Binned nooooo. I also hit my fair share of white lines, but was lucky enough to not stay on them for long, they are lethal even in the dry. Can't they get grippy road paint like you see on the GP circuits?

**speed63** · 2nd January 2009, 10:26

Originally Posted by icekiwi

Mate I've got to take my hat off to you...
Took my kids and watched the race....shithouse bloody weather,but 3 hrs of it!!..saw heaps of slides only one of the offs took some guts thats foresure..
Awesome effort in those conditions

See you in next years event aye!

Originally Posted by Sue VFR

Well done Mark. I only crewed and I was absolutely knackered last night! Can only imagine how you Supermen felt! Great event

Thanks Sue, great pitting with the MotoTT crew. IMO the riding was easier than crewing or marshalling. Tough day.

**speed63** · 2nd January 2009, 10:29

Originally Posted by vtec

Binned nooooo. I also hit my fair share of white lines, but was lucky enough to not stay on them for long, they are lethal even in the dry. Can't they get grippy road paint like you see on the GP circuits?

You did Blardy well VTEC, congratulations.

I think Taupo has just used road paint.

**speed63** · 2nd January 2009, 10:33

Originally Posted by jrandom

I was just behind you at that point. That 'scritchscritch' binning noise always gives me the shits!

Finishing that race alone was a job and a half for sure. Respect.

haha..you think it gave YOU the shits, I had to pit LOL.

Big respect to you Dan, a lot of bike on road tyres to punt around...well done