The weather played nice, not a drop of rain all day.
My first time on Puke in over two years (not including wandering around there at nana's-nana pace to break my bike in 6 months ago. and crashing at Jennian after about 5 minutes a year ago).
I went in to the day just wanting to get a bit more time on the bike before heading to Taupo next weekend. Was actually pretty shit scared about crashing at that hole, given the run of events there over the years, and especially recently.
First practice: Adjusting from Hiace van to bike mode, got passed by a few of the horses on the infield. Best time 1:10...unfortunately it was was F1 and not streetstock..
Second pratice: 1:07, still pretty uncomfortable.
The races:
Got down to 1:05.5 by the end of the day, and didn't bin, which I was pretty happy with. Nabbed a few 6th places in F2. Made up time in different areas throughout the day. I backed off going through Jennian after a while, 'cos the bike was all over the show from the bumps. Ran off the track twice after being punted wide by them. Ooops, my bad. I needed to turn in later and faster, but didn't have the balls to try it at race pace with dudes trying to come up the inside, and no time to practice it at a more relaxed pace.
Went soft through the left handers after the hairpin and over the hill all day. I've crashed this bike twice at Taupo from decking the fixed pegs out now, and I wasn't about to have it happen on Puke and wind up in hospital. Was only hitting about 190 at the entry to front straight most of the time. Saw 205 a couple of times when I got on the gas a bit harder, but the bars were slapping a bit, so I backed off (no damper, and haven't set the bike up for me, yet. Anyone know if Shaun is still setting up shop in Auckland? EDIT: email sent to Shaun re: Auckland clinic).
Had a pretty good time overall. I've not been a fan of Puke in recent years, but am actually quite looking forward to heading back there when I get more confident on the bike and can better gauge how far from the point of peg hitting ground, ground hitting bike, I am. Kit made a good point that I should stick my toes off the peg a bit more. I got in to the habit on my road bkes with foding pegs of getting my foot out of the way, so that when the peg touched down, my boot didn't get knackered. Will find some replacement sliders for that ones that fell off and give that a go.
Thanks again to the KZ family and KS19 for letting me pit with you all, use your power cords and all the rest. Cheers Texmo for the tyre warmers. Massive thanks to Bugjuice and Strat for your help with warmers, stands, etc. That makes such a difference to how much you can enjoy the riding, especially to an unfit bugger like myself.
Can't wait for Taupo. Hopefully the forecasted rain holds off.
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Originally Posted by Keystone19
Cheers!!
if i come, ill come up sunday morning...got an 'appointment' saturday night...see, so famous you have too book me 
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