Anglesey August 2011

October 22nd, 2011

Anglesey

Yeah I know I’m a very bad person, I’m just doing the write up for the race meeting in August ….now understanding you may be reading this in the Future it’s a Wednesday today. Oh and a Wednesday in October.

Right so using the super sharp memory how did it go, well summet like this:

Now Anglesey is miles away, its miles and miles and well you get the picture, now NG do a test day on the Friday so although a long way its three days on track J.

Not wanting to tow the trailer very slowly forever I pick up a hire van on the Thursday morning , pack up and head off. I have managed to fool Helen into coming (its not ‘that’ far ‘onest) so we head off. Now the last couple of years I have headed up on the Friday afternoon, and fairly much hit traffic all the way. Thursday was easier but still took 5 odd hours L

Now there’s a bit of pattern here, Garf wasn’t going to be able to make it till the Friday. Meaning we would have to set up without him (again), he’s like Rossi …. Turns up and everything is sorted for him lol

Now setting up took forking ages , not that it was that hard just ended up chatting to everyone lol. We wanted to get set up before the weather changed , which we did so no biggie.

A few pints in the club house and a good night’s sleep in the back of the Van, its better than the trailer.

Friday morning and the weather is better than expected, sign on and wait to be called.

The circuit is fun, I mostly wobble round for the first session and get used to being on a bike again.

The rest of the morning is good and the times come down (slowely), well up to the point I go grass tracking flat in 4th lol (don’t brake don’t brake)

Garf turn up at lunch, his set up is unload the bike and stick it in the awning lol (well almost like ross)

2nd session and Garf don’t come back, he has a small off at the top of the hill, seems a bit shaken up and goes to buy photos of the crash. So we knock the levers straight and a small bit of duck tape and she’s ready to go. (and by she I am referring to Garf)

The rest of the Afternoon goes as planned and stays mostly dry, it’s starting to come together and all is good.

I do a bit of scrooting, some guy gets a bit funny as I tell him he needs numbers on the side of his bike. “well its been like that all year” type bollox, don’t care it’s the first time I have checked it and you’re not racing  unless you have numbers…… WTF its £2 of numbers some people are weird. Quick tip don’t get funny with a scruiteneer, you can’t win, we don’t get paid

Saturday up early and practise out the way, the weather is still good. Sure we saw some rain Friday evening (I think )

First race and it’s the Minitwins, have a good race and best lap comes down from Friday. I spent the race chasing down a couple of riders but can’t make it stick …….. I need that extra 2% of ‘something’ lol.  I entered the 600 race for shits and giggles, I get a good start but quickly get swamped. I keep Garf off for a lap and a half but can’t keep close being on the little sv650. Mike lines came past me on my old CBR600RR, weird thing he tired that whilst on the grass ….. that didn’t work J

So a change of tyres some lunch and the second MiniTwin race,  the race goes much like the morning. I’m close to Nigel (Fingers) but not close enough L . Times improve slightly so at this rate If I do several weeks I will be at the front lol.

Saturday night and Paddy gets me on the beer again, not as bad as last year though J . the weather gets up and its blowing a Gail, I do some emergency tying the awning down at 2am and move the van to best protect it. I go to sleep convinced it wont be there in the morning lol

But it is J so we do it all again

Sunday behind Nigel I see him go down and he gets banged about, the rest of the race I was kinnda on my own. Times had improved but it was a bit of a lonely race the person in front wasn’t close enough and the person behind was a way back.

The rest of the racing was non eventful …….. ok ok I lost my notes for the Sunday and doing it by looking at the results lol.

The good thing about Sunday is that I was in no rush to get off , we stayed Sunday night at the circuit and went out for a nice meal. Waking Sunday we took the scenic route through Snowdonia and met up with Marion at the Red kite centre which was fun. There’s some great scenery and its nice not having to rush back home unpack and work the next day J

Did I mention its frigging miles away

 

doog

 

 

 

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Oulton Park 9th July 2011

July 17th, 2011

You know it’s funny how people remember race day different lol, have a look at Garfs memory at

http://www.garf17.co.uk/reports-and-results/oulton-park-round-8-saturday-9th-july-2011/

So my take on this rather expensive habit that I’m no good at ;-)

It all started last month, “How fucking much” when the cost of the test day was mentioned. Sod that I canl just watch lots of you tube videos J …. that and money is tight at the mo.

So after a nightmare of a journey we turn up and grab a spot opposite the scroot bay and in sight of the holding area .. … sweet.  The test day had been wet / dry / wet , but was sunny now .. and much like Pembrey Helen takes control and sorts the awning and stuff out while Garf and myself look useless.

Catch up with Simon as its first NG meeting of the year, he’s being doing some rounds with Hot Tracks but Oulton is quite local to him (traitor lol). Tina and Lauren turn up on the Saturday and its great to see them (been 11 months)

Anyway doog the wise booked a travel lodge back in January, so we have a hotel and shower and all for £19 quid. So couple of pints in the pub next door and some food, job done and bed ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz

So weather, I hate getting stressed about the weather and all those will it won’t it. Anyway after seeing Garfs FB status the week before the forecast was wet/dry, so a whole lot of swapping of wheels. The Friday had been as forecast and the forecast for the Saturday was ‘better’ but not perfect.

So pull back the curtains and ……… sun :-)

So at the track early and scruitenerring, and man its busy, signed on and out in a late practise.

My practise session gets called and out I head, the watching of you tube means I know where the track mostly goes but the 4 laps go by quickly, the bike feels down on power but it might be in my head.

So minitwin race, adrenaline is built up and in the zone …. Well in a zone you understand. Pumped up and so ready for it, bike warmed and warmers off. Let the clutch out …. what the fuck no power and stalled. Try and start it again but no joy, on the paddock stand and a look around, then throw a big diva strop as I realize I won’t make it onto the back of the grid after the warm up lap (that I missed).

Anyway I could see the problem, the front carb had popped of the rubber. I could see it but cant quite get my hand in. Anyway 5 min job but missed the Minitwin qualifier …….arser

During the long wait till im on track again Garfs parents and girl friend turned up, its hard to get my head into racing with people around. As the race before goes out I have a drink stick ear plugs and stick the helmet on and sit quietly.

So I entered the 600 open race to get some more track time, it’s the last one of the qualifiers and so far only done 4 laps ….. and its 2pm :-0

So 600 race and I got murdered, my race start (with new clutch) was good but apart from that rubbish,  still 6 laps in the bag and the bike is running fine. The usual back markers seem to be in the 600 a where im in the 600 b. And where are all the minitwins that said they would joint the 600 fun lol.

Oh well 2 seconds better than practise and the MT is in a couple of races :-)

The black clouds start to look threatening, will it won’t it . Hopefully I can get the MT final out the way first.

So minitwin final and as I didn’t qualify I’m on the back of the grid with Jason Chicky, he fell in the qualifier (on the first lap). Anyway he loves his starts as do I, the lights go out and we both make places before the first corner…. although he makes more doh.

Awesome race and more fun chasing bikes of the same power (not 40bhp down in the 600’s) chasing the usual suspects for three laps before slowly losing the pack. On the last lap I see Jason in the kitty litter, still on the bike (not crashed) but its 2 DNF’s for him. Anyway I Took the chequered and came in happy. This is the only time of the day that I see a couple of rain drops, but they quickly stop and it stays dry

I was in two minds whether  to do the 600 final due to been so out classed earlier, a few um and errrrr’s and sod it. Its only a days racing and its why we are here.

Now the club went for one 600 A final that I didn’t qualify for, the b race was put in with the sound of thunder (4 off us , 3 600’s and me).  Final race of the day and it all started coming together, I had all my breaking points and lines. Had a bit of a race with the 600 back markers and was happy. Guess this is why I should have learned the track on the test day.

But really, I can’t not ride a bike for 2 months, then with 4 laps on a circuit I don’t know be any good lol. It just takes me a day to get back up to speed (well the word speed is relative you see).

So onwards to Anglesey, again a circuit I don’t know but will be doing the test day J (then MT and 600 open  wooohoooooo.

doog101

 

 

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Pembrey 14th/15th May 2011

May 23rd, 2011

Pembrey 14th/15th May

Friday

So this was going to be the first meeting of the year but leading up to it I was mostly on Holiday and visiting emigrating cheese’s (they all seem to be leaving the country). So Sunday night and 4 days till the test day. I need to do a Fork seal brake pads and clean callipers fit new clip-ons and controls wash and check everything lock wire and goooooooo. So that took Sunday night, Monday night and Wednesday night load the trailer Thursday get up at 5 am Friday and we are off.

We arrive bright eyed at 8.30 to the circuit (well we arrive) and get a nice spot on the concrete; I wasn’t able to hook in to the circuit generators as all outlets were takenL. So quickly unload and check the bike before signing on. I remember helping putting the awning up but magically it all gets sorted by the time I come back in from the first session which was nice. (ok ok credit to Helen for organising us all weekend lol).

So the first session is the first time on the bike for a while, we have also changed the fork oil viscosity, the clip-ons and gone to a two finger brake/clutch lever setup. I come in after 15 mins and check it over, all good. Forks feel fine and it turns better with the longer clip-ons. That and drink tea J

At this point I realise its 30 mins sessions:-0, oh well it’s a nice way to fully wake up if only every morning was like it. Quick check of the bike and all is good; we get on setting everything up and catching up with a few people.

<tea>

The morning is much getting into the swing of things , everything on the bike feels fast and rushed I slow the pace down a little to try and get things right then built on that (my excuse and sticking to it). Unlike last year I have changed my line after spitfires and I think its working. Heading to spitfires I short shift into third take the corner and accelerate not trying to get to the right of the circuit for the left and just turn leftJ. I can carry forth then till the old hairpin which is nice and makes the ride less frantic.

<tea>

So lunch and the afternoon sessions, it starts to rain so the kettle gets stuck on, looks like just a shower and not worth changing wheels (yet). By the time I drink the tea and look out its dry. Helmet on and out we go (with 15 mins still left).

The rest of the afternoon it’s out for 15 come in check times quick drink and out for 10 more awesome track time J. So day over and happy, times down and constant and matching the personal best at Pembrey. If the weather holds it’s on J

<tea>

A quick spell at scruiteneering we get through a lot of the bikes ready for tomorrow, Alan Bond checks mine and after a few tuts and looking impressed at the new clip-ons and levers we get the nod. Signed on with a ticket for practise 5 and relax

<beer>

<beer>

In good cheese traditions Garf arrives gone 10pm and after several pints, ok I hear you …… Garf you say ? Well Garf is the new Cheese currently on his probation until we get the nod from all the old cheese lol. He’s a mate that’s been doing  trackdays for a couple of years  and eager to impress girls , thought he would try racing.

<beer>

Armed with a handful of excuses for being late he sets up his tent in the dark and prepares for tomorrows fun.

<beer>

<beer>

Sleeping tonight is in the back of the trailer, I can’t get comfy and am never going to sleep and ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Saturday

Morning has broken like the first morning, throw summet at the church choir and stick my head out the trailer. After all the talk about the weather I look up and think ….. Sweeeet it’s sunny. Bit more scruiting and recheck the bike all good to go.

Nerves, not really as yesterday was on the bike and its more of the same (with more aggression), practise I get to the holding area with seconds before the gate opens and hit the track ‘on it’ (well as on it as I ever get) . 10 mins practise and a fraction of a second slower than the best time yesterday, more we need more lol.

Back in and Analyse my laps times, analyse you say? Well yeah I got this GPS logger think and some software. It’s awesome, logs your lines you can see where you get on the gas and brakes .. the speed through the corners and all that jazz.  That and I look cool plugging the lap top into the bike J

Race 1

First race and I’m gagging to get out there, it’s been too long, the sun is shining tyres are hot as I get on the grid. Flagged off for the warm up I practise the race start and it’s good. Well I can hold my own but find I can make up places before hatchets a plan emerges.

Lights on ……. Lights off man that was quick and catches me a little unprepared, still right hand side of the track and push my way through and we are racing. From 4th from the back I make  5 places after the first lap. Gary (98) comes past (as normal ) he normally finishes just up from me and has to bea target …. Anyway I finish where I started and lost most of what I made up.

Finish and buzzing I love racing nothing comes close:

Race 2

So after a long wait (delays and stuff) I get out in the 600 race, there’s another SV but the rest are 600’s so I am down 40 – 50 bhp :-0. This will be hard but at least its track time.

After the first lap there are 8 bikes behind me (all 600’s) , I keep most at bay till the 5th lap but finish and not last. Times are down and consistent, great battles big  grinsJ . I chat with a rider I have been dicing with all race and we are both buzzing on adrenaline……. God knows what people watching thought lol.

Race 3

The Minitwin race is 2 after the 600 race, so a quick splash of petrol drink and we are back out.

Adrenaline already flowing we go from having 5 behind to 10 behind at the end of the first lap, Gary takes me on the second lap (again), awesome racing again and some fantastic battles with both the GP45 boys and the Minitwins. I lose some of what I made up in the start but again times constant with a personal best in lap 2.

Race 4

So the 600 final, get my usual start and entering hatchet’s there’s smoke  and bikes everywhere, this slows everyone down and I get through on the curbs. I nail it and think don’t red flag don’t red flag ……. And they red flag ‘doh’

Now here’s the downer after a race start I always loose adrenaline and do really really badly. They clear the crash and after 10 mins or so we restart. My times drop by 4 seconds a lap , what the hell is that about… tiered ? Something changed ? Looming weather playing on my mind ?? aghhhh rubbish I tells ya … but finish J

Saturday night and there’s the auction for DebRA and Mason (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=195120061677) Helen is helping out Maz and I bid and win a generator service, just in time as mines playing up and I snapped the pull cord that morning. Anyway being the intelligent chap I am I booked a travel lodge months ago, that makes it cheap you see so off I went to a warm bed and shower.

Sunday

Waking in a bed is just bliss after the night in the trailer, so fresh and wide awake and ready to go. We get to the circuit as practise is still out get the kettle on and change the rear tyre (was shagged) for a not so shagged part worn (cheap skate).

Into the leathers and lid and race face on.

 

Race 1

Much like Saturday my starts go well and the end of lap one I have ten bikes behind me but the clutch has started to slip slightly, not enough to slow me greatly but annoying. I am close to by best time and having some amazing battles. Gary (98) keeps passing me coming past the start finish but I get him on the brakes every time. Good  on the brakes there but obviously coming out of Honda too slow L.

He finally gets me on lap 6 but in my mind that’s an improvementJ. Finish and back to the paddock from more tea.

Race 2

Warm up lap and the clutch is really slipping bad, I do the race start and pull in after 1 lap, won’t have time to sort it before the minitwin race and want to finish that. In the paddock loosen the cable and make sure there free play in it, don’t have time to change it though as I’m out in a couple of races.

Race 3

Unlike the rest of the weekend I do a very easy race start, after the 1st lap im second to last, I take a novice. I was going to come in but continued. I was taken the circuit a gear down the whole way to get drive, towards the end I take the essess in 4th as normal and find I have to go down to third to get drive before I brake for the old hairpin , gawd knows what the Marshalls thought. As for the straight before the kink, it felt I could push it quicker lol.  Still I bring her home not last and tbh with times lower those on Friday testing J

Race 4

Didn’t go out, clutch is shagged

 

 

Early finish but a successful weekend J, TBH I really should have changed the clutch at the first hint of slippage, it don’t take long. But all in all an awesome weekend, but the older I get the longer it takes to recover lol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2011 and welcome

February 15th, 2011

So here we are again at another year, the weird thing is this just seems normal now. Finish the season sell a bike, work on a bike, spent some money and soon enough we are flying to the test weekend.  So whats changed , well picked up a full system for the bike and fitted that:-) few odds and sods but thats about it. Seems I wont be racing to May !!!!!! yeah yeah I know its ages.  Brands I will be looking after the novices then I’m away April and back for May. So the plan is to race Pembrey mill Mallory as im at the isle of Man then oulton, Angless Pembrey and Thruxton.

Assuming I can find some money that is ;-)

So what else, well Garf has thrown his hat into the ring and plans to race this year :-) . Cant wait to see his face as he enters 600′s and open lol. A trackday this isn’t

Testweekend I will be there just not sure if the bike will be ready, but the older I get the later the season seems to start he he.

So lets see what the year brings.

 

doog101

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That there silverstone

October 29th, 2010

Well its been a few years since NG have races at Silverstone, tbh it’s the National circuit not the most exciting place in the world … and they have changed it. Basically that stoppid flip flop has been removed and it’s now a fast lovely corner leading onto the straight.

There had been a couple of trackdays a few weeks before and an ACU day on the Friday (organised by the circuit). The test day was £160 :-0, ran from 9am to 4pm and at the end of October, I mean WTF a trackday the day after is less than a hundred quid. So on basic principle and not that fact I’m a stingy git … no really very principled you see.

So turning up mid-afternoon I unpack and find a space in a garage, the test day finished so I found a quite garage and got sorted. Wheels off and tyres changed and wander off to do a bit of scruitnering then I get told …. The bad news …. Silverstone aint opening the Bar no food no drinks … nothing. However in a fit of genius I had booked a cheap travellodge £25 quid a couple of months back and just down the road, food warmth and TV J.

I get to the track early to help scroot, my mate turns up and sticks nxt to me in the garage, weirdly there’s not many people in the garage only 4 of us. The other side there is more all the GP450 boys, theres Keith from the Prodigy there as well helping out.

Now practise is wet as it rained overnight, being the end of October it’s not quick to dry, so a wobble round. TBH I had watched many laps on youtube of the changes so there was no real surprises, its almost like doing the test day but a bit more virtual lol.

Wonder round a bit and help with scrooting and noise testing in the holding area, im race 9 which is like days away. But it has dried by then J

So first call for the race and I aint ready not in my leathers, luckily a fellow minitwin looks at me gone out and mentioned that maybe I should start heading to the holding area aghhhhhh. So leathers on warmers off and we are off…….. I get to the holding area seconds before we get released (I try and look like its intentional) and onto the grid. Miss my grid position so have to mess around pushing the bike back and breath.

The green flag is waved and we are off, time for a practise start so full throttle bouncing off the limiter I feed the clutch out … not bad J

Full lap and we are back on the grid; the marshal with the red flag lowers the flag points to the lights and leaves the circuit. Full throttle the red lights come on …. Weirdly at this point everything is surreal, time seems to slow down I don’t notice I’m sitting on a bike that’s bouncing off the limiter don’t notice I’m surrounded by bikes all doing the same there’s just the red lights, then they go out. The gap from the lights going out to starting to release the clutch must be mico seconds but seems ages.

First corner I get pushed out wide but keep with the pack, lap 3 and one of the lads loses the back and nearly highside exiting the 1st corner. I miss him then loose him and the pack over the next couple of laps. But making time up on a black SV, chase him to the flag and no matter what I do he beats me by 0.3 of a second. I’m faster than him but he’s beat me (just). He must be getting an awesome start, or maybe mine are just rubbish? as my best time was better than his.

So back to the garage drink check over the bike and wait for the final, the sun is shining some good racing and good friends.

Then it rains, not for long but it’s never going to dry, wheels swap and all ready for the final J

Then the heaven’s open as I head for the holding area … its very wet J, the rear wet is giving some strange feedback may be in my head but little confidence. I start hating the race and the weather but quickly settle into it J there’s more than standing water its huge puddles on the back straight but what a laugh J. Finish the race and enjoyed it J.

Roll on 2011 when we do it all over again J

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Thruxton

October 29th, 2010

So Thruxton again bring it on :drool: I love this circuit had my best races at this circuit and never crashed at this circuit :ahappy: . Its unusual as there’s no practise days no trackdays, it’s a level playing field …. And a fast one at that. It’s the first time on the minitwin at this circuit So Friday and the bike and gear is all packed , I need to finish work get home eat and head to the circuit. Well that’s the plan, I end up getting home after a hard day working eat and decide as the circuit is an hour away I will get up early.

So I get up early check the weather (should be dry and rain from 6pm) and drive to Thruxton, find Simon who makes tea and toast and get set up. Get scrooted get the warmers on realise its still wet and foggy, shouldn’t rain but being October might take a while to dry if the fog ever goes.

More standing round as practise is delayed for a hour and a half, then I’m practise 5 but its still wetish so I stick a front wet on.

Practise Didn’t really enjoy practise which really pished me off, it was wet and slow and I ended up just following slower riders. Practise 5 was the minitwins and 400’s, now I have done the circuit before on a gsxr1000 and a cbr600rr but the less powered SV650 it didn’t seem to flow as well.

The track was drying though so back on with the dry’s warmers and waiting for the first race.

The sun was out it was warm and the excitement / nerves were building, they had put the sound of thunder and minitwins together as we had lost time with the fog. Split grids with the minitwins at the back. Warm up lap is the only real time to practise the start, handful of throttle and we are off

The lap feels a lot better its flowing its fast its lovely.

The race starts with a bike just in front of me nearly flipping the bike, I see it in my peripheral vision but don’t have time to absorb it as I’m in the middle of the pack heading for the first corner. The adrenaline the rush, before you die you really need to experience this :thumbsup:

After the 3rd lap the pack in front pull away and I cant make any headway on pulling them back but having a blast trying. Then the chequered flag and head back to the pits with a massive smile … did I tell you I love thruxton.

At lunch time there is a lap of respect for Jamie Adam a regular with the club who lost his life during the Manx this year RIP fella.

Posted Image

More tea and sitting round , I knew I should have entered another class a bit of a wander round catching up with a few peeps and watch some fantastic racing. There is some tension in the garages with a couple of riders at the cusp of taking the championships. Not something I need to worry about though ;-) .

Second race goes well, again the nerves in the holding area and waiting on the grid for the light to go out. I need to get my launch better, holding the throttle against the stop and having the needle bounce of the limiter gives the low powered SV a good start. Trust me the feeling of 30 – 40 bikes heading for the first corner when the lights go out is fooking great ….. and we are racing.

Lap 4 I’m chasing down a bike and slowly making progress, not sure if I will get him by the flag though, as I get closer I realise it’s a sound of thunder Ducati and his speed on the straights makes it hard to close the gap. After he screws up at the last chicane I get close but alas the flags out before I make much of his misfortune.

Back in and beer time, theres a party this evening mixing adrenaline with ots of alcohol always means a good time :beer:
So silversone next :yes:

Doog#101

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Pembrey 10th 11th July

July 12th, 2010

Pembrey 10th 11th July

So  Having booked the Friday test day to get the setup sorted we turned up late on the Thursday, the first shock of the weekend there was space on the concrete so I blag a space next to the scroot bay. Being the organised chap I am I set light to the disposable BBQ with a borrowed lighter then burn my fingers cause I forgot cutlery lol. Still a couple burgers and bed (washed down from a beer from John). The glamour of racing lol, see Loomses we dont need your caravan and tea ;-)

Waken to a shite day it can only get better right ? I stick a front wet on as its not standing water but wet (wet water you understand). So a wet slow session followed by a dry session (still with a wet front) then I stick the drys on …. and it pishes it down doh.  After lunch I walk out of the club house and its raining, sorted get the wets on :-) …. but it drys and drys quick :-z

Anyway the day gets called as there’s a big crash and no Ambulances left, I suspect they are cutting corners as there was only a few marshals. As its run under a ACU licence maybe summet to check ;-)

Anyway day over and have taken very little from it L

Saturday I wake early even though I have had the bike scrooted on the Friday (Cheers Alan, my own scroot service) and get sorted. Its dry but big black clouds hanging over. I get practise out the way and my times are a little better than Friday, TBH not that hard lol.

Practise over and I have hours to my first race, I stick a new rear tyre on just as the heavens open, still one thing remembered from Friday, this place drys quick in July lol.

Tyres on and warmers on and much waiting, I get out about 1pm just before they call lunch, have a good race with my times about the same times as last visit to Pembrey. With my cheap manual lap timer I can however see the times are more constant (which is nice), Im battling at the back of the pack and having a laugh and don’t nearly crash by side swiping a bike coming out of hatchets ……. not at all.

Pumped for the final the race is much the same as the first, well except not neally crashing my side swipping the bike in front ….. thats not to say I did crash lol but Saturday over …. these 12 lap racers and it aint half hot mum.

So with great hindsight and realising 3 nights sleeping in the back of the trailer will properly get  me divorced I had booked into the local travellodge and surprising the trouble and strife we head over there have a ruby a decent shower and a bed not a trailer.

Sunday and I open the curtains to perfect sunshine, we get up late and head to the track for about 10:30, still with loads of time as my race aint till about 1pm again. Most of the race im stuck on my own , still those gremlins of loosing focus are prevented by that fancy (cheap) lap timer ……. damn big up the pace fatty you going of the boil.

So best lap time of the weekend but didn’t reach my goal but close :-)

Last race of the weekend and it was much like the last time at Pembrey, red flagged after 5 laps and restarted after some time …….by which time my adrenaline had gone and I just couldn’t get back to where I was that morning. Still a successful weekend and going back in one piece :-)

Oh well back to work on Monday and plans in progress ;-)

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Pembrey round 5,6 and the Prince Of Pembrey Anniversary races

June 25th, 2010

Pembrey 29th,30th, 31st May.

The plan was this would be the first time out for the SV650 and first time in the MiniTwins, I had done a shakedown at Mallory the month before and was still having issues leaking oil (not good). Again ebay comes to the rescue where I get a new crankcase cover for not a lot.

So with a month to go I’m thinking there’s no real rush, I need to do a bit of lockwiring check its not leaking oil and more drain the antifreeze and drill the lock stops. Then work gives me less than a week’s notice to head to Chicago for three weeks returning on the Thursday before racing. So spare couple of hours I have free I drop the forks whip the bottom yolk out ready for drilling and tapping. Take the side stand off and lock wire the bike.

Fast forward a bit and land about 10am at Heathrow (feeling like 4am) and get back to the house by lunchtime. A bit jetlagged I manage to get the front end back together before falling asleep. Friday I wake early spent till 1pm finishing the bike start here go to put it in gear to ride it up the trailer and ……. cut out …….. doh forgot about the side stand switch.

So all loaded up and we are on our way, Helen is with me this weekend and I promised her sunshine and good racing. The weather report suggests otherwise however L

Saturday morning awaking early by heavy rain on the trailer (sleeping inside) and realise that im getting wet doh the trailer leaks doh and I need to get the rear wet fitted to the wheel doh. Still we are racing for three days so it has to be dry at some point …..

I’m not scruitenerring this weekend at all, seeing as its pissing it down I get Alan Bond to scruit me in the awning which saves me q’ing in the wet. Bike done WOW on and signed on, no kettle but its always on in the scroot bay.

Saturday

Practise

First time on the bike in the wet so mostly wobble round, but it feels good, braking points have changed from the 600 but theres not a lot of breaking at Pembrey so no big deal. Didn’t check times but most people seem to be taking it easy make it back look-over the bike and no oil leaking all is good.

Then the nerves hit, i aint raced since Thruxton last year and I don’t really get on with the rain, my first race aint for a while, will the SV be any good etc etc. I wonder the paddock and bump into the happy lawnmower man (Shaun Wynne), a bit of a chat and I mention maybe I will hold till it gets dry. Just go out and enjoy it ya big poof … yeah he’s right and I know it. The race was very wet but went like a dream, found someone to battle with at the back but there’s a few places I am just not holding corner speed.

The afternoon and the dry’s are fitted the tracks mostly dry and I’m feeling a lot more confident, still at the back but knock 8 seconds off the morning time so going in the right direction. I’m realising that I’m down on power slightly (or up on weight in the whole power to weight ratio lol). Also into the slower corners the engine breaking of the twin sees me scrubbing to much speed off, used to the inline 4 I think.

Sunday

Sunday morning we Woke to sun, which was nice. Breakfast and a leisurely looking over the bike. Then over to the office to figure out how this Prince of Pembrey meeting was going to go. We are split up into qualifying groups, based on your qualifying time you will then be grouped with riders of similar times (with different  bikes).

So qualified at a worse time that yesterday which got me in the Anniversary race group 5 (out of 5 lol). Loved the first race, good mix of bikes and had a few good battles, loved the longer races (12 laps). Lapped a few bikes for the first time ever lol , did kinda throw me though and I lost a place as I rolled the throttle L

The afternoon race was almost an exact copy for me tbh , racing the same people the same battles and the same mistakes lol

Monday

Again a dry day J first race i managed to drop my times further and this was the best lap time of the weekend and within a second of last years on the 600 (with 40 more bhp). So quite happy with that, I still need more tbh and its about corner speed (it always was), realising a few corners im to slow by the apex due to engine breaking im playing with different points to get back on the throttle and trying to carry more mid corner speed. All going in the right direction I guess (clockwise)

The last race  is at the end of the day, just before going out I notice that a airbox pipe is dripping a little oil so quickly sort that out. The race is red flagged and we end up waiting for ages for it to be cleared up, the restart and my head just isn’t in it, adrenaline gone tiered and oil leak on my mind i post rubbish times and have a nothingness race tbh.

It does appear that the Sv is down on power a little to the rest of the filed , i know its running a little rich so will rejet her before nxt time. Talking to other MT riders it seems the curvy (original SV) really needs the inlet cams from the later model to be competitive. I suspect a lot of them are also carrying the original inlet in the exhaust side which is against the rules. So I really need some track time , need to rejet again and need to think about getting doing the cam change from the later model. A shorter throttle wouldn’t go amiss either. Still project MT was about getting a road legal bike (horn number plate and MOT ) onto the track as cheap as possible, this was done for under £1300 including buying the bike. Do I throw money at it know ?  TBH I need track time on it and i doubt that will happen before the next time I’m out.

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Brands Hatch

March 29th, 2010

Ok so I didn’t ride Brands , bike still not finished and no money L

But went along scruitenered and was the clubs contact for the Novices, seems it will be an ongoing job so I get to meet more riders and point them in the right direction.

So the M25 on a Friday evening , not the best place in the world. Still arrive just as they stop doing food, still the beers still on. I took the tent with me but its pishing it down, sleeping in the back of the car is a better idea than putting the tent up in the rain anyway J.

So I get introduced to a few novices and talk to them for a while, you can see the nerves lol. So a few pints with the rest of the scroots and of to bed … well the back of the car.

Alarm goes off at 6.30 , bloody car aint comfy, so sign on and head of looking for novices. End up scrooting a few bikes on the way round and catching up with people I aint seen over winter. So novices mostly going the right way, pishing it down not the best first meeting I guess.

So the day ticks by with a big break cause someone left all there oil out there, still soon all finished and hit the bar… .pints and a meal (club not paying for L ) and bed .. well car again.

Sunday the weathers better and most of the novices seem happier, first stint on the start/finish line and theres a start line crash. These things can be nightmare, so run to the bikes and the Marshal training I did in Feb takes over. First check the guy that’s quite before going to the guy that screaming. Getting to the screaming guy and hes banged his bollox, arms legs all working and slowly he gets up. The other lad we stick on a stretcher but will be alright J. I seem to be first responder at a lot of start line crashes …. Not so worried now im trained and I have done a few.

So racing over and next Cadwell, not riding cadwell but hope to get on circuit before then with the minitwin J, the years starting slowly but aint racing great lol

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2010 is a go

March 8th, 2010

Well when I say a go I mean its getting a little warmer, he end of 2009 I spent more time on trackdays than racing. When I was racing I was going as a scruiterneer so still around racing. So what did the winter months bring , well as you know the loomes left the UK and headed down to the farest reaches of the Empire. Now set up in Australia we have team cheese racing’ down under’.

I also got hold of a very cheap SV650, had it MOT’d and started taking it to bits, now this bike is done on the cheap and a ebay special :-) . Learnt a bit about carburetion and suspention, so it goes and handles a lot better than it did, just need to try the thing really. I suspect the CBR600rr will have to go to pay for this year , still she’s been a good bike and I shouldn’t loose toooooo much money on her ;-)

In the winter months I have done some marshalling training as well we scruiternering training, so when not racing I can still get very involved :-) .

So fairing to fit and lockwiring……. and waiting till it gets bit warmer lo

doog

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