Trackday on the Saturday
Left Tauranga at 1.30 Friday morning after a couple of hours sleep for the drive down to Manfield, with the help of nodoze (which actually works, BTW), got the McDonalds in Palmy by about 7, so had some time to kick back, and have a nice greasy breakfast. Just what the doctor ordered.
Got to the track a little while later. Was sharing a garage with Anthony (monsta54) so we unpacked all of our junk and 'ghey' hondas and went for the riders briefing.
Took the FZR750 streetfighter our for the first session, but she needs some work before it will see the track about (brakes, suspension, handlebars and jetting) so came in early.
Took the vfr out for the next session in medium, and the bike (and me) felt really average for the whole time. Wasnt having much fun out there. No feeling in the front end. Came back in and dropped the bike in the garage and broke a clutch lever, sigh, raced into town and picked up a spare though, so that was all good.
Backed off some preload on the front and rear from my Taupo settings and it was handling much better. Like riding a different bike, couldnt believe it. Scratcha showed me some lines for a few laps and gave me some really valuable pointers, thanks again!
Racing the next day...
Qualifying, Pre89
Felt OK in qualifying. Got a couple of clean laps in and ended up with a 1:25.2, which put me in 11th.
Qualifying, F3
Felt better in this one than the previous, but I think that was due to being caught in a little more traffic. Only managed a 1:26.6, putting me way back in 19th.
Pre 89 Race 1
Terrible start as per, must have been last coming into turn 1. Had a mean battle with Vince on his sweet sweet Guzzi. Lined him up coming out of Dunlop on the last corner of the last race, we were neck and neck, but the bugger got over the line 0.033 seconds infront, about 6 inches I reckon haha. Finished 10th. Best lap was a 1:25.6
F3 Race 1
Terrible start again (I thought consistency was the key?) raced around and had a good scrap with Gavin Pelham on an SV. But he beat me to the line. Starting to get a bit more feeling for Manfield though by this point though. Finished 14th. Best lap was a 1:26.6
Pre 89 Race 2
You know the drill, shit start, pushed my way up a place or two into turn one, and passed Vince on the Guzzi after a lap or two, cant remeber which, and the rest was reasonably lonely. I was able to keep Anthony wqithin sights for the race though, so I was pleased with that. Felt faster overall. Finished 9th, with a best of 1:24.1. Feeling good.
F3 Race 2
Easily the best race I have ever had.
It seamed to have everything (except maybe another lap or two) crashing, chasing, dicing. Good fun. Bad start and worked away at pulling Scott Findley on his ZXR in (who had been thrashing me all day goddammit).
The loose Aprilia had an off so that put Anthony on his NC35 right there with Scott and I. Scott got past Anthony for a while, and there was some fairly hard pushing going on from all 3 of us.
I pushed my way past Scott into Coke and parked mid corner, but blocked him out, so was pleased to make it stick, then had a look up the inside of Anthony through the flip flops, but no room, but made a move around the outside of the sweeper. Im sure he let me past, as when the bugger came flying by, he was kind enough to pat me on the back to console me. Cheers man, haha. Scott also came blasting past on the draft, gave a wry grin and tried to brake late into Higgins but chickened out and I couldnt do much after that.
Real tight finish between the three of us. Awesome racing. Placed 13th with a new PB of 1:22.57. Stoked!
Photos courtesy of Sinful (cheers mate).
Shit, that was a long report. Oh well, bring on Paeroa
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Originally Posted by Benk
Let the battle resume at Taupo.
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