Friday – Practice day.
Couldn't make it – DAMN
Saturday
Arrived in plenty of time to set up in the pit with the usual suspects, Darrin, Marcus, Dave, Phill and in the place usually occupied by Gha Sloan Frost (aka chopper).
The bike was quickly unloaded and tyre warmers fitted, fuel topped up, signed in and ready for the riders briefing. The lads were busy setting up displays for their sponsors, so in order to keep my main sponsor happy I made myself a nice cup of tea.
Qualifying:
F2 - Bike felt OK track seemed OK the new bits around splash were a bit of a pain as I usually take turn two close to the white line but wasn't game to test the new seal. (latter in a race I did use it and nothing bad happened). Managed 1:18.534 which I thought was a bit slow but that got me 23rd on the grid so wasn't to unhappy.
F1 – pretty much the same as F2 all seemed OK no surprises managed a 1:18.053 slightly better than F2 but only just scrapped in to get the last place on the grid.
Race 1 F2
Got a pretty average start managed to get ahead of Aria and stay ahead until lap 8 when she managed to go 2 second faster and got ahead and stayed there, Clive was well ahead, I was a bit disappointed that my lap times were so inconsistent but I did manage a 1:17. The bike seemed to be going well I just couldn't get my groove on and finished 24th one place down from my start position.
Race 2 F1
Starting from last on the grid I managed to get a not to bad start, went round the traffic jam at turn one and managed to gain quite a few places and began the usual tussle with Nick and Aria and somehow Mark Bennett ended up amongst us I finished 24th , but still last across the line as a number of DNF's were recorded. Still I'll take the 0.052 points
My times were a bit more consistent but still not as good as I'd hoped the last lap was the best 1:17.164
Saturday night was a great night at the pub to give Mel a bit of a send off and a good time was had by all. I was very restrained in my alcohol consumption (as usual) and retired early in the van outside the track gates as has become my habit when the lovely Katie O'Donnell is not attending.
Sunday
Race 3 F2
Another average start managed to pick up a couple of places at turn one and held up a few people for a couple of laps Clive and I swapped places a couple of time but he prevailed in the end. I managed to hold off Aria and Merv Orford was close behind on his 675, he was starting to get the hang of Manfeild .
Race 4 F1
Got a decent start, managed to pick up about 10 places in turn one and was enjoying myself as a number of rider I normally never see on the track had to get past me. Darrin, Keelim and even Johan. When Andrew Stroud lapped me I figured we must be on about lap six and the red flags came out. I felt considerably better about this race as my times were more consistent and more importantly lower I managed to be in the 1:17's the whole six laps and a best of 1:17.252
Race 5 F1 restart
The race was restarted and we did another six laps .
My start was not quite as good as the previous but I still managed to pick up a couple of places and diced with Aria and Nick again I did a 1:16.559 in lap two (new PB) and managed to hold of Nick and Aria to finish 17th I was pretty happy with that. I picked up 2 points for each six lap race.
Race 6 F2
Reasonable start had a bit of a dual with Clive and there was plenty of action until about lap 5 when Clive got away and I couldn't seem to reel him in I seemed to be in my own wee space for a while and on the last lap heading down toward Higgins I had a quick look around to see who was behind me and saw no-one so I was Very surprised when going into Higgins Aria showed me a wheel up the inside, I held my line and managed to get a good drive out of the turn and kept ahead until she out braked me going into Dunlop to finish ahead . Times for this race were a bit slower managed only 1:17.127 but mostly in the 1:18 range.
Race 7 F1
The field was starting to thin out a bit now so there was a lot of empty space on the grid my start was only average Nick Aria and I swapped places a few times and I finished between them for 19th place.
I had a GREAT weekend, thanks to Aria Nick and Clive for some terrific racing also Merv (the swerve) who I swapped places with a couple of times in the last F2 race and who was comfortably ahead of me until he came adrift at Dunlop on about lap 8.
Also all the guy's and their crew who I shared the pits with a great atmosphere
Once again the weather was good and the Vic Club were awsome !!!
Looking forward to round 6
Thanks to all the Volunteers that make this possible.
Reply With Quote
was feeling really comfortable too............untill that little trip into the tyre wall at Dunlop.
Originally Posted by wharfy
Bookmarks