Manfeild this weekend

[Edbear]

Anyone going? I'll be there, I was invited as a guest of VB Racing as a result of meeting Josh McGrath's Grandparents at Hampton Downs, so was quite pleasantly surprised to get an email from Maarty.

I'm heading down tomorrow, Friday, and am rather glad to have the Kizashi to do the trip in. That is why I bought it though, for long haul comfort. Would be fabulous to do it on the C50T but alas... sigh...

I got the all clear from the wife, she'll spend the weekend with our daughter just back from 5wks overseas. I'm taking a mate with me who has never been so he told his boss he was going to be off sick tomorrow. Boss said he's gonna work his butt off next week!

Looks like rain will be the order of the day and I know a rider who is rather pleased with that forecast. Better take the brolly and raincoat I think.

Look out for my ad in January issue of Motorcycle Trader, it'll be a half page with testimonials and pics by a couple of well known riders. I'm on page 149 of the December issue.

[yungatart]

Mstrs and I will (probably) be there.
I know Maarty and Josh, so will pop in to their pit shed and introduce myself!

[Edbear]

Mstrs and I will (probably) be there.
I know Maarty and Josh, so will pop in to their pit shed and introduce myself!

Cool be good to see you guys.

Just upgraded my ad to full page as too much to fit in! Some good pics and testimonials so more like an advertorial.

[oscarnz]

Cool be good to see you guys.

Just upgraded my ad to full page as too much to fit in! Some good pics and testimonials so more like an advertorial.

And you will be staying with us. See you tonight

[Edbear]

And you will be staying with us. See you tonight

Good coffee too! Even if I did have to make it myself ... twice...

[yungatart]

Good coffee too! Even if I did have to make it myself ... twice...

I'm sure you were told to 'make yourself at home'...so of course you have to make your own coffee! Its not a hotel you know.
Lovely to meet you, finally!

[Edbear]

I'm sure you were told to 'make yourself at home'...so of course you have to make your own coffee! Its not a hotel you know.
Lovely to meet you, finally!

Well, yes... But...

Had great time Paul & Carmen great people!

Fab to meet you both too! I had a ball, met some amazing people and was very impressed with the friendly, unpretentious camaraderie between everyone. Made the weekend!

[MSTRS:Me]

... was very impressed with the friendly, unpretentious camaraderie between everyone. Made the weekend!

You should see us when we are relaxed...
Nice to meet you too, Mr Bear.

[Edbear]

You should see us when we are relaxed...
Nice to meet you too, Mr Bear.

If you were any more relaxed, mate, you'd be comatose...

[Edbear]

Got back home this arvo. Had a great time and met with some great people!

Wind was strong and cold at the track for Saturday and no-one was happy about the weather conditions. However the racing was good save for a few red flags here and there. Some spectacular off's were witnessed but fortunately no-one badly hurt as far as I know.

I had a vested interest in several riders, both those I sponsor and others using the Shorai batteries across three classes. Andrew Stroud, Shaun Harris and Craig Shirriffs are all using Shorai batteries as are Marcus Beagley, Johnny Small and Sarah Elliot. All are very happy with them and very impressed with their reliability, weight and performance.

Look out for testimonials from Craig, Shaun and Marcus in my January ad in Motorcycle Trader.

Sean Donnelly got a battery from me and swapped it in for the last race of the pre-89's. He saved just over 3kg by just that one swap and was a second a lap faster! He's hoping to get 10kg off the GPZ and now has only about 6kg to go. He and a couple of others there couldn't believe the weight difference over his Motobatt Glass Mat battery! Naturally the tiny 14A2, (a 14amp in a 9amp case), fired the 1100 up instantly straight out of the box with no hesitation whatsoever. His bike is immaculate and a credit to him!

Had a good chat with Dave Cole, who happened to be staying with Paul and Carmen as well, and he's got a 9A and a charger to take home and play with to see what he thinks of them. He was rather impressed, if I must say and I found him to be a genuinely nice guy. Quiet, well spoken and calm as he assisted young Josh McGrath as pit crew. Josh is a great kid. Despite his age he was calm. consistent, listened to the advice given and laid down steady times gradually improving through the two days until he manged to crack into the 9's for Manfeild. Well done Josh! I was impressed with you and look forward to watching your progress. You weren't fazed by racing against the thou's and were it not for the acceleration difference you would have been mixing it with them all through! I liked meeting your parents and catching up again with your Grandparents there. Your little sister is a real cutie!

Maarty was a great host, open easy-going and very supportive of his team.

It was a pleasure to briefly meet Robert Taylor, who impressed me with his easy manner and quiet confidence. Thanks for helping Marcus out, Robert, he was much more settled and consistent after your tweaking the forks. He went out and immediately gained five positions! In the final race he passed about three riders before the race was flagged, he looked comfortable and quick!

Well done Marcus! The difference in your riding was clearly obvious even to my relatively green eyes and I look forward to seeing you progress through the field as you gain time and confidence in the bike. The bike is obviously fast and sounded great.

I sold several batteries while at the track, thanks to certain people going around and telling everyone about them! In all a rewarding weekend, not just business-wise, but also in meeting and getting to know some good people!

[unstuck]

Thats a nice looking yammy.

[Edbear]

Thats a nice looking yammy.

Sounded sweet too!

[RobGassit]

We had a tough weekend Ed, as your photo will attest, but the Shorai battery was on board for a lap record and I have to admit they crash well. You better order a heap more coz they are the best thing since sliced bread.

[Edbear]

We had a tough weekend Ed, as your photo will attest, but the Shorai battery was on board for a lap record and I have to admit they crash well. You better order a heap more coz they are the best thing since sliced bread.

I did feel for Sarah! She was riding so well and it really was a case of her being so far ahead everyone else was having their own race for second! I mean a 13sec lead is hardly a race is it? Did u establish whether it was Stroudy's oil that caught her out?

[RobGassit]

I did feel for Sarah! She was riding so well and it really was a case of her being so far ahead everyone else was having their own race for second! I mean a 13sec lead is hardly a race is it? Did u establish whether it was Stroudy's oil that caught her out?

Stripped the bike today and gave it a good wash. We now have enough last turn soil in our yard to plant some roses. Found some strange triation marks on the right hand side of the front tyre that would suggest the front slipped away on something. I think Travis went off at exactly the same place so there's a real possibility something was on the line. I was worried about racing F3 right after the sidecars but it would appear the Supers are just as risky!