back racing: Oran Park July 2008

Hi all. Finally went back to racing. Thanks Ness.

Here is a rundown on our day at oran gp with the pcra running the up-to-95 new era class. Big thanks to:

Hourglass Photography (my wife Vanessa )
Campbelltown Motorcycles for helping.
clarkie and nick nakedtwin at NSW RATs for lending us stands and warmers.

Tyre warmers made a huge difference. Previously on the cb1100r, it used to be a race to warm tyres up without crashing, let alone the actual race! after 5 years off, we all got told that our practice was in fact qualifying! whoooaah! so, never having ridden this bike, or anything on a racetrack of this era in anger, and having not raced at oran for 5 years, off I go! Contrary to my expectations, i felt right at home and just started getting used to the bike. it sure tips in easier and brakes better than a 1100r! although, it just hasn't got that wrist pulling torque and in fact is like a 2 stroke, needing to be revved all the time. I qualified 20th with 1m28.7, steve just behind me with a28.9 on his fzr1000. Gearing was all wrong, only using 5th at the end of the straight. a gearnig chart in fact showed later that even then, because of the high gearing, 5th had me at between 230-250 kph depending on revs.

I turned down the preloads on the front forks, got max comp and rebound and spring on the rear. it has air in the top of the shock and doesn't start damping until about an inch of seat travel has happened. hmmm. might need that looked at

Race 1: 20th position, lots of 250cc gp bikes, fast guys out front, can't even really see them. This will be good as Steve blows off heaps of guys on my right, I snake up the middle, people within an inch on each sides, some going past me within an inch. I remember now: this is racing. Do one lap, making a few spots, then red flag! A guy is laying on the right hander's grass, not moving at all, face down, after coming off the bridge. my heart stops. We always move if we can. Shit I hope he's not dead. ambo's right there, FIV too, working on him and another in the same crash for ages, off to hospital, which is good, cause he's alive presumably. suspected spinal injuries, being carried carefully. Turned out he must have got knocked out, word later from his pits is that he's quite ok, has hurt 1 finger only. F'n awesome. Still, makes me remember to keep paying my Combined Insurance premium to cover me a bit if I fall off and can't work. In case you need this, which you need this if you do race or trackdays or ride at all other than to and from work: call Ashley Clarke on 0401406199.

RACE 1 RESTART: pitt street again for 1 lap. Keep nice line, so noone will take me out hopefully. Some slides, still working out what gears to be in. Ahh yeah, isn't this a 6 speed? 5 gears used only are perfect till end of straight, doing about 230kph. Must change gearing for next event. Managed to keep ahead of Steve, old friend Lloyd on a cbr600 is jumping up and down with joy after he finally got me after so many years. OK, mental note to get him back next race. 1m23.9 fastest lap. This would have had me on the front row as 4th if I got this time in morning's qualifying! Finished 20th.

Rob on a 88 vfr750 crashed. again. does it everytime he rides. He can't say why. OK, let's see: engine cover crash bar worked, saved cover, broke off and bent bolts, lots of grass in engine spaces, fairing mount broken, footpeg assy broken. I fitted his spare, cleaned the bike, fixed the fairing, replaced bent bolts, all good. Taped up broken stitching on leathers.well Rob, the reason you keep having unexplainable crashes is cause your tyres are over-round: sideways. As in too wide for the rim. the angle of lean required to get the tyre to the edge of the tread is: vertical almost and you have repeatedly achieved this and will benefit from the correct tyres being fitted. Craig White organised some Bridgestones, but due to the early finish of the day Rob will have to wait for a ride day, preferably with RATs, to feel the difference.

RACE 2: start on far left side, not ideal: slowly cross over to right after launch, whilst actually offthrottling at times so I wouldn't run up the back of some bikes, only to see some other spear in between us. Keen. Drive hard around outside into the kink, slide front in keep back brake on to tip in, go around about 4 guys incl Steve, then lock / slide rear into stop corner. That should put him off for a milisecond. Got Lloydie back after he passed me again, going in deep into last turn to come onto straight, going around him then closing the door. Bye Lloydie. Squirrell (Wayne Gow) on a 90's GP tz250 gets me turning right after going under the bridge, then wheelies to stop corner. Bugger! Best lap 1m23.9. again! amazingly the same best time! I think I got 17th or so, after 20th in race 1. Slow compared to Murray Clarke's 1m16.8 on his factory zx7-rr!

What a ball! We were due to have race 3 as last of day race, but on the previous group, last lap, last corner, some guy smashes into the airfence coming onto the straight. Unfortunately, due to quite another trip for the ambos, the day was lost and we only got 2 of 4 planned races. Not good value, but awesome fun and adreneline. I wanna do it again!

Next race should be Sep28th, with maybe a ride day first.

I am on the Blue bike with #41, black helmet.

For a slideshow click here.

To see the photo album click here.