28.11.07
Brands Hatch test day
Total result!! We turned up late on Monday night expecting to sleep in the camper outside the gates but could'nt beliveve our luck when the security guard let us in,so apart from him we had the whole of Brands to ourselves (it was a bit spooky to be honest).
Numbers were kept to 50 bikes max split in to two groups but it looked like only half that had turned up so they changed the format to open pitlane.At times if you got the timing right you were the only one on track,what a birthday present!
Track time was spent moving the rear sets and bars around trying to get comfy,there a lot less room than the old bike,also found that it does'nt turn or hold a line through a corner as well as my old bike and the front brake is terrible,but this is all easily fixable.thats the bad points now the good.THE ENGINE jesus,it just revs for ever! and the look of the bike is stunning even though the paint on the tank is still not quite dry(cheers Dad,I take it all back about you not finishing it)
The track was a bit slippy in the morning but it started to rain lightly after dinner which was better because I could put the wets on.Only managed one lap below 1m due to my complete lack off balls going over Paddock Hill Bend,I just could'nt get what happened to Steve Mangles out of my mind and was braking way to early,cant wait to try it in the dry though.
The new leathers looked the business but were a bit too tight once I got the back protector on,that's the motivation to loose a bit weight.Tried stopping drinking but cant see that lasting so its more exercise and less food then.
Numbers were kept to 50 bikes max split in to two groups but it looked like only half that had turned up so they changed the format to open pitlane.At times if you got the timing right you were the only one on track,what a birthday present!
Track time was spent moving the rear sets and bars around trying to get comfy,there a lot less room than the old bike,also found that it does'nt turn or hold a line through a corner as well as my old bike and the front brake is terrible,but this is all easily fixable.thats the bad points now the good.THE ENGINE jesus,it just revs for ever! and the look of the bike is stunning even though the paint on the tank is still not quite dry(cheers Dad,I take it all back about you not finishing it)
The track was a bit slippy in the morning but it started to rain lightly after dinner which was better because I could put the wets on.Only managed one lap below 1m due to my complete lack off balls going over Paddock Hill Bend,I just could'nt get what happened to Steve Mangles out of my mind and was braking way to early,cant wait to try it in the dry though.
The new leathers looked the business but were a bit too tight once I got the back protector on,that's the motivation to loose a bit weight.Tried stopping drinking but cant see that lasting so its more exercise and less food then.
23.11.07
Well, I could'nt resist! the fairing is only half finished but there is an ACU test day at Brands Hatch next Tuesday which just happens to be my birthday so what could I do?? the weather forecast looks good,cold but dry and bright.
Looks like I'll be billy no mates though as everyone else will be working.The format looks good with 40 minute sessions so I can come into the pits and make adjustments to the suspension,rear sets,bars etc. and the numbers are limited so everyone gets room in the garages,might even bring the gas fire along to keep it cosy.
Its a good time to try out my new (ish) leathers that came off ebay for a whopping £47,all this spending money is making me dizzy!
Looks like I'll be billy no mates though as everyone else will be working.The format looks good with 40 minute sessions so I can come into the pits and make adjustments to the suspension,rear sets,bars etc. and the numbers are limited so everyone gets room in the garages,might even bring the gas fire along to keep it cosy.
Its a good time to try out my new (ish) leathers that came off ebay for a whopping £47,all this spending money is making me dizzy!
20.11.07
19.11.07
Dyno Sore
Spent the morning down at Tim Radleys place at Gloucester (Race Developments link)where I watched as Tim strapped my bike down then revved the nuts off it!trying to get the best power curve by changing the settings on the Power Commander.
This would have been fine but it was minus 3 and the dyno blows air at you making it feel like the Antartic!
Bit disappointed with the power figures(117bhp)but the power curve was perfect.
Just need the suspension serviced now and she's ready for next year
This would have been fine but it was minus 3 and the dyno blows air at you making it feel like the Antartic!
Bit disappointed with the power figures(117bhp)but the power curve was perfect.
Just need the suspension serviced now and she's ready for next year
17.11.07
Fixtures and fittings
Next up, I had to replace the horrible narrow clip on bars with some wider,longer ones.Managed to get some from the US for £85 delivered when Demon Tweeks wanted £118 without postage. God Bless America!!
Ebay provided the rear sets that I adjusted so the new bike felt almost like the old one,with race pattern gear shift.
Desperatly want to ride it now but its looking like next year before thats going to happen.Daz is talking about going to Spain early next year but I know thats definatly not going to happen.Boo Hoo!
Ebay provided the rear sets that I adjusted so the new bike felt almost like the old one,with race pattern gear shift.
Desperatly want to ride it now but its looking like next year before thats going to happen.Daz is talking about going to Spain early next year but I know thats definatly not going to happen.Boo Hoo!
All change for 08
Some serious begging to the bank and some wheeler dealer'ing which saw my old R6 go to Dave from the Team Cheese mob (see the bike-racer link) and my beloved MX bike go to someone I used to race with,mean't I had the cash for Keiths bike so the deal was done.
I deceided not to do any races or track days instead using the cash bringing it up to scratch,Keith had come off in the wet at that horrible Snetterton place and the fairing needed replacing and some other bits needed doing.The tail section wasn't too bad so I armed myself with a palm sander,fiberglass and some filler.Pretty chuffed with how it turned out and how many pennies were saved.it then went off to my Dad who sprayed it in his kitchen!! everthing in there now has a funny white/orange tinge to it.
He's got the contract to do the rest but I won't hold my breath.
I deceided not to do any races or track days instead using the cash bringing it up to scratch,Keith had come off in the wet at that horrible Snetterton place and the fairing needed replacing and some other bits needed doing.The tail section wasn't too bad so I armed myself with a palm sander,fiberglass and some filler.Pretty chuffed with how it turned out and how many pennies were saved.it then went off to my Dad who sprayed it in his kitchen!! everthing in there now has a funny white/orange tinge to it.
He's got the contract to do the rest but I won't hold my breath.
16.11.07
07 season in a nutshell
It went better than I expected to be honest,at the beginning of the year although always making the A finals of the 600 class it was always alot closer to the back than the front.But as thing went on I kept getting nearer to the pointy end of things but never quite making the top ten,came 11th once just behind Dave Thompson who must have been having a bad race(just not quite bad enough for my liking though!)The highlight was getting trophies on both days at Cadwell park for best novice in the 600 morning heats.which when I add up what I've spent so far put it comes to £2500 per trophy.
The newcomers championship seemed to be my bogey race and probably should have done better than my eventual 13th place.It was tight at the front with Josh Day,Dave Thomson,Andy Hayes and the unlucky Ady Shaw all seperated by a handfull of points deceided in the last race at Pembury.
After the final round at Thruxton I heard a whisper that Keith Sizeland was selling his bike which set the desire cogs spinning in my head MUST HAVE NEW BIKE! repeat the mantra over and over.
The newcomers championship seemed to be my bogey race and probably should have done better than my eventual 13th place.It was tight at the front with Josh Day,Dave Thomson,Andy Hayes and the unlucky Ady Shaw all seperated by a handfull of points deceided in the last race at Pembury.
After the final round at Thruxton I heard a whisper that Keith Sizeland was selling his bike which set the desire cogs spinning in my head MUST HAVE NEW BIKE! repeat the mantra over and over.
13.11.07
New shoes
I needed something lighter and with more performance,so when this came along I was powerless.
Unfortunately this was deemed too powerfull to compete in any class so a re think was needed.
Now I've always been a Honda man but the R6 was looking like the thing to have.Reasons, cost, spares and a rev happy engine.
I set myself a budget of £2000 and as if by magic,Ebay provided!
Met the seller at Stow and the deal was done.
By good fortune the seller,Steve Rack,was a genuine bloke and it did exactly what it said on the tin.a bit a spray paint later and I had a proper race bike.Spec as follows.
Akrapovic system,Ohlins shock,K Tech forks,Performance Friction pads,EBC disks,Yoshimura Clip ons and a Dazzer paint job
A bit of background
After trying a few track days with my mate Dazzer in 06 we deceided to go for it before we were to old.We chose NG Roadracing as they seemed to be a novice friendly club with a good website and Dazzer already knew some of the organisers.
My plan at first was to convert my road going Fireblade for racing as I did alright on track days on it but I soon changed my mind after going to a few race meetings.
The Blade is excellent on the road but too lardy for racing,so much to my wife's disgust,it had to go!
12.11.07
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
