What an awesome weekend! Nothing can relieve the stress of long hours at work like 3 whole days on the race track! Yes, doing the Nat's is pretty expensive. But it's like being in another world, and I feel like I've been on holiday for weeks!
Anyone thinking about doing the Nat's, especially your local round, next year, just go for it! My only regret is that I didn't go all the way, spend a bit more and use a new set of tyres for Friday/Saturday...practicing on rubber that's already seen 3 days' use before this weekend is just practicing going slow...which is not what it's all about, so note to self: stop being cheap!
So while Friday was fun, Saturday was a bit pointless and I ended up going over 2 seconds slower than my PB by qualifying.
Sunday's racing was a good laugh though, and once I got used to putting a bit more faith in my tyres I got within 0.2 seconds of my PB with a 1:03.5. By then old Biggles08 had buggered off big time though and I couldn't come close to reeling him in...well done fella! Interesting point in the race was breaking my exhaust at the 2-1 bit and possibly setting a new sound record on MNZ's db meter. Did nothing for power, but some said it sounded good!
I was pretty knackered by the time of the TT and thought that Biggles would atleast reel me in with superior fitness if not go and get quicker and take me from the start. Passed him in to Jennian (I think), and managed to stay ahead on the back straight so just put my head down. Pulled a bit of a gap which was lucky because by the end I was praying to see the white flag. Thought that I'd done enough for a 1:02 but turns out it was only a 1:03.4 and 13th place. A bit gutted and I think with a draft or just some more energy I coulda hit the 1:02's, but oh well.
Overall, good times with the usual good people. Still kicking myself for not using another set of tyres, but lesson learned.
Highlights for me would be following the top boys through Jennian and Castrol after they passed me on the front straight...and not really losing anything until the exit of Castrol...good to know that I'm doing at least some of it alright and where to focus attentions for next time.
Cheers to all and especially:
AMCC and all of the volunteers for an awesome meeting!
Mum and Dad for support in the pits
Forbes and Davies for the Metzeler tyres and Maxima oils. Both performed excellently and after 35 laps as hard as I could not a slide at either end...which just shows how much harder I need to twist!!!!
PS: CBR for sale - 03/04 with 05/06 engine, Ohlins rear, Racetech front, Arrow full system, PC3 custom mapped, Woodcraft crash bungs, F1 rearsets, spare rims, spare engine and alternator covers, full range of sprockets, heaps of other spares including master cylinders, clipons, all very useful! $6k
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Originally Posted by vtec
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