VMCC - Winter Series - LukeM Racing

[lukemillar]

Having been inspired by Team Numberwang! I thought rather than posting new threads for each round I'd follow Tim's example and just start a thread and add to it.

For those that don't know me.... I'm originally from the UK, but have been living in Oz/NZ for the past 3 years. Started club racing last year on my 2006 Triumph Daytona 675 in the Clubmans class. Since then, I competed in most of the PMCC Summer series and intend to make it to every round of the VMCC winter series!

Club racing works a little different in NZ than the UK, where newbies on larger capacity bikes typically start out in a class called Clubmans. This a completely open class which allows any motorcycle with any modifications! The kicker is once you laptimes areon par with your respective class you're supposed to move into that class! At the moment, my times would put me mid-back of F2 so really I should be moving up this season. However, I haven't been to Manfeild in the dry since my first ever race meeting, so I thought I'd do the first round in Clubmans, to check on my laptimes and check out the F2 form!

Main Classes:
- F1 - Superbikes (F2 guys can cross enter)
- F2 - Supersport (F3 guys can cross enter)
- F3 - 450cc IL4, 650 Twin etc. complete formula class. There are some crazy machines here. Like supersport bikes with 1 cylinder disabled, highly modified SV's (check out http://www.glenwilliams.co.nz) for a very modified SV F3 bike)
- Pro-Twin - Minitwin Equivalent with pretty much identical rules

My bike:

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2402/12215086.jpg

So far it isn't that modded in terms of performance. I'm looking to enter a round or two of the National series next year in Stock Production which means a pretty much untouched engine. Mods are:

-Full Arrow Exhaust + custom map
-Ohlins rear shock + reworked forks
-STM slipper clutch
-BMC race filter
-Aftermarket rearsets + clipons

Race Calendar:

Manfeild Short Track
Sat 15th May

Manfeild Long Track two day meet
Sat 12th Sun 13th June

Manfeild Short Track
Sat 17th July

Manfeild Long Track
Sat 14th August

Manfeild Short Track two day meet
Sat 18th & Sun 19 September

Manfeild Long Track
Sat 9th October


I'll update the thread with reports of how it goes!

Cheers
Luke

[lukemillar]

Oh, completely forgot about a few mods since the end of last season!

In the past couple of weeks I have installed a race throttle:

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7550/triumph3.jpg

It is scary how quickly this thing gets to full throttle. I haven't used it on track yet, but have 2 other cams to soften it off it is too much

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/6333/triumph2m.jpg

New Fabbri screen. Never ereally be bothered about aftermarket screens, but I ruined the old one.

Also have new set of boots - switching to a 190/55 Rear when I get to the track tomorrow.

Finally, I have mounted a camera in the nose of my bike (you can just about see it in this pic) to video racing and practice. My laptimer does some basic data acquisition stuff, which I can overlay with the video and see where I am quick, slow, can go quicker etc. At the moment, looking at this is way more beneficial to my times than chasing ponies with performance modifications.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/7994/triumph1.jpg

[Berlin]

Nice one Luke.

Interesting that you're going to a 190 rear. I tried this earlier this year and couldn't get on with it on my 600. I lose the very fine control when right on the limit and found the heavier rear upset the suspension. (190 designed to take 180bhp. 180 designed for 120bhp) I also ended up riding off the front tyre instead of the rear tyre. and I don't like that set up at all! Its bad for your health! :)

I'll be reading with interest! :)

C

[Tim in Belgium]

Good luck for Saturday. Nice paintings in your garage ;)

[lukemillar]

(190 designed to take 180bhp. 180 designed for 120bhp)

I'll be reading with interest! :)

C

But you don't put 180bhp through the back tyre when you're at max lean! :wink:

Ok, I love the 190 rear! The combo of the 190 + quick turn throttle meant that I can get on the gas so early compared to before. The slower tip-in barely registered as well! :) Even in testing today I was running 19s with my laptimer giving an optimum mid-18 (based on best splits in a session) This is great and race pace will certainly be quicker. Also means that I will most definitely be booted into F2 next round.

I see what you mean with the rear tyre - I have small 2mm strips of unused tyre on the rear whereas the 180 would be to the edge. Didn't feel like I was pushing the front at all though.

Roll on tomorrow - looking like it may be wet though. :rolleyes:

Cheers
Luke

[Berlin]

Looks like it'll be wets here on Sunday too.

But dry tomorrow!:D

I'm using Racetec Interacs for the first time this weekend so we'll see how they fair compared to the older ones. Very soft to the touch!

Have a good weekend and keep it the right way up!

C

[lukemillar]

VMCC Rd 1 - Bruised and battered burglar :)

Just got in from the first round. Unfortunately I didn't get any video. Seems to be playing ball now, but all the movies I took from the weekend are black :( Pretty good weekend with a few ups and downs.

Practice/Qualify:

Wake up to a dampish track, but looks like it may dry out. Then the heavens open and fully drench the track, which at least makes everyones minds up on which tyres to run. Out to qualify and most people don't have wets! :eek: Picke up the pace and start lapping people so figure I have put it on pole and think to myself that maybe I should back off and take it easy. However, I never really got the chance as coming out of Higgins, my rear just washes out. Bit of a weird crash as I was pretty much at the corner exit. However there is a notorious bump here and so I can assume going over than just lost traction as it didn't even slide under power - it just went.

Slide along on my ****, over the curbs and end up on the grass. Bike is sitting just off the side of the track. Initial look seems pretty good! All the levers and pegs are still there, just looks worse than it is from all the mud.

Finally get carted back to the pits and apart from a bent clip-on, brake lever and snapped swingarm bobbin, it's all good. Obviously there is other cosmetic damage, but I need to do very little to get back out on track.

Race 1:

It's completely dry now and so back on the Racetecs. Get a sh!te start! I roll on too quickly with this new throttle and lift the front big time. By the time I have stopped bouncing up and down, I'm 5th into turn 1 :( Manage to pick off everyone in the next few laps and then get my head down for the rest of the race. Ended up winning with a 13 sec lead :cool: Not only that, I dip into the 18s which is on the verge of getting excluded from the results as it's too quick for the class. People call this being a "clubmans burglar" as you are in the wrong class stealing wins! Still, my qualifying time would have had me 9th on the grid for F2 and around 9th-10th in the race, so it is definitely time to move up.

Race 2:

I'm really starting to feel sore now - my @rse is swollen and starting to go purple. Also, my bent brake lever is definitely not cricket and seems to be binding. I try and patch up stuff as best as possible, but it'll need a closer look. I manage to screw up the start even more this time :( Rev way to low for a normal start and short shift into 2nd straight away. The bike bogs down and I end up something crazy like 8-9th into turn 1 :rolleyes: (I really need to get used to this new throttle on starts). Manage to work my way up to 4th (I thought it was 5th, but the timing sheet says 4th??) but as it has been shortened to a 5 lap sprint due to accident delays, it's pretty much as far as I can get. Bit annoyed at that as I was expecting to be up at the front again, but I'm feeling exhausted and my swollen @ss keeps on complaining! Laptimes have also dropped ~1 sec from the morning.

All in all a pretty good meeting especially since last VMCC round last year, my best lap was 5 secs slower! One thing I have been impressed by is my leathers. I have a set of Dainese and based on a lot of opinions on here, I was expecting them to be destroyed when I eventually threw it down the road. Thing is, there is barely a scuff on them! All the stitching is perfectly intact and apart from a bit of mud, they almost look like they haven't slid along the road.

Need to work on my starts with this new throttle though and fix up my bike a bit.

Until next month... :D

[Tim in Belgium]

Sounds like you did well apart from the mud and swollen ar$e, good racing :thumbsup:

[lukemillar]

Couple of pics - Both at the Hairpin:

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/8180/vmcc1.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6033/vmcc2.jpg

Getting a lift back:
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/9436/vmcc3jpg.jpg

[Tim in Belgium]

Cool pics.

[lukemillar]

Small update:

Unfortunately I have had to postpone the 2 day meeting on the long track this weekend which sucks. I only got back off holiday on Wednesday and now don't have enough time to get my bike ready for the weekend. The front brakes seem to be losing pressure. I can't tell if it is just a bit of air in the system or something more sinister with the master cylinder which took a bit of a whack last time out.

This has been further compounded by the fact that my race boots have gone missing! I'm pretty sure I unloaded them after the last meeting but I have searched the whole house/garage and can't find jack. :scratch: I can only assume that they either got nicked or thrown out accidentally, though why anyone would want to nick some skanky 3 year old boots that have seen much better days is beyond me. What is worse is I can't get the size/colour combination in the boots I want here in NZ for the July meeting let alone tomorrow so I'm having to resort to ordering from the UK!

Just the way it goes sometimes. :(

[Tim in Belgium]

Sorry to hear this Luke.

I get all my riding kit/parts from the UK as it's cheaper than the continent, even if I have to pay postage soon.

[G]

Not sure how i missed this thread, love threads like this.

Also I crashed over 90 in dainese leathers and they were pretty much fine, although they are old italy ones as opposed to new china ones.

[lukemillar]

Also I crashed over 90 in dainese leathers and they were pretty much fine, although they are old italy ones as opposed to new china ones.

None of Dainese race suits are made in China. I think that is mis-information on here! Recently Dainese shifted manufacture of most of their products to Tunisia where they already had manufacturing plants, but that was only earlier this year. I'd imagine things like Dainese t-shirts and other branded merchandise is made in China, but all the Dainese products I own were made in Italy and they aren't that old!

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/dainese-longer-italy-moves-remaining-italian-production-tunisia/

[G]

None of Dainese race suits are made in China. I think that is mis-information on here! Recently Dainese shifted manufacture of most of their products to Tunisia where they already had manufacturing plants, but that was only earlier this year. I'd imagine things like Dainese t-shirts and other branded merchandise is made in China, but all the Dainese products I own were made in Italy and they aren't that old!

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/dainese-longer-italy-moves-remaining-italian-production-tunisia/

I think there is a lot of misinformation on here from certain people about different brands in general, and people just seem to accept it as right.

Edit: I did lose all my zip puller things though which is a pain in the ****.

[lukemillar]

Been a bit quiet lately so I thought I'd update this thread.

Bike is now patched up and looking good for the next round in 2 weeks. I managed to score some new wets for $250 as I think running worn tyres before played a big part in the crash. I looked at the data my laptimer spat out and I was carrying the same speed, gear and revs as every lap previous. Even my line was virtually the same so I can only assume that it was a combination of worn tyres and a surface change mid corner. I try to understand why a crash happened so that I may learn for it but this one really does seem to just be bad luck.

Fairing patch up - Now sanded and drillied - looks pretty good!
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/3366/fibreglass.jpg

80km/h get-off and this is what my leathers look like :thumbsup:
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/2613/dainese.jpg

Woodcraft covers replace GB racing ones:
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/538/woodcraft2.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/6855/woodcraft1.jpg

Back in one piece with new CRG folding lever:
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/385/675d.jpg

And finally, possibly the gheyest motocycle boots money can buy..... :flower:
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/7968/gheyb.jpg

But I love them! :wink:

Roll on July 17th.....

[Tim in Belgium]

Is that pink and black :shock:

[lukemillar]

Is that pink and black :shock:

Are you talking about my leathers!?

Nah, I have an old school 70s RED! leather bike jacket. Just so happens to be hanging next to my 1 piece.

Having said that, pink and black might work pretty well with those boots! :lol:

[Tim in Belgium]

I meant the boots, they look very pale pink, but I guess they're white!

[lukemillar]

I meant the boots, they look very pale pink, but I guess they're white!

Yes Tim, they are white :lol:

[lukemillar]

Luke's VMCC Rnd 3 - Fart in a thunderstorm


Bit of a mixed round for me. It was gonna be my first time out in F2 so I was pretty nervous to start with. Didn't really have any real goal for the weekend as I really just wanted to get a feel for the faster class, though improving a personal best would always be sweet.

Friday Practice

Hadn't been on the bike since round 1 so was keen to do Friday practice. Had great weather and after a few sessions was already into low19s/high 18s which was kind of were I left off after round 1. I had made a ride height change to compensate switching to a 190 rear (which turned out to be a mistake!) and everything felt pretty good.

F2 Qualify

Wet track, but bright sunshine! After wondering around the paddock trying to see which way most people are gonna swing with their tyres, I plump for wets front and rear. After losing the rear last time out in the wet, I'm a little cautious especially when we get told at the briefing there is crap all over the track. Take it far too easy and spend the session just sitting behind another rider to wind up 16th but over 2 secs slower than last time out in the wet. :rolleyes:

F2 Race 1

Get an okish start but am on the outside of the track and get pushed wide in turn 1 over all the cement dust so roll off and end up last-ish! Spent the rest of the race catching and breathing down Wharfy's exhaust pipe, but he is quicker than me through Dunlop and pips me to the post. I am having really hassles in the faster corners rolling on the gas where the bike wants to run wide. Given the amount of crap on the track, this really hampers my drive as I can't get on the gas early enough. Best time was a mid 20s which wasn't great for me. :rolleyes:

F2 Race 2

Again, pretty bad start but I'm very conscious this time to get over to the right side of the track and not repeat race 1/turn 1. Only this time, it happens to Darrin instead who has a bit of a out the seat moment and everyone takes avoiding action. Am quite far back now and still suffering from not being able to get on the gas because the bike runs wide. lonely race and still in the mid 20s. Starting to feel a little bit down now. :(

F2 Race 3

Decide that the ride height was working better where it was before and so make the change before race 3 which has a positive effect. Catch and hold on to Wharfy for the majority of the race again but laptimes are 1-2 secs better which is good, but still down on last time out in clubbies. Last few laps of the 3rd race, I actually felt like I was finally getting into my stride. Just too little too late.

Overall, not a bad weekend, but not great. First time out in F2 and I already picked up and learned a lot. Just trying to digest all the information now and move everything up a notch next time round.

Just hope that next time there isn't so much crap on the track! I know that everyone had to ride in the same conditions, but how people deal with it mentally makes a difference and it really bugged me as it was such an unknown quantity. Found myself scared to go off line and fight for a position for fear of ending up on a line of oil/cement. I guess experience will help with that.

Just like to say thanks to Motorad for sorting me out with tyres and and Mark for pit sharing. Now bring on round! 4 :D

Cheers
Luke

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4jvgrJ5T9Qo/TELYPl8A2iI/AAAAAAAAGIA/IveweH3hW1Q/Actrix%20Winter.%20Round%20317%20July%202010%20516 .JPG

[Berlin]

Excellent Luke!
What happened with the 190 rear?

C

[lukemillar]

Excellent Luke!
What happened with the 190 rear?

C

I like the 190! I have another set and also swapped out my wets to 190 so my setup isn't so different - wet -> dry.

What I really want to try though is these:

http://www.sportrider.com/gear/146_1007_dunlop_d211_gpa_race_dot_tire/index.html

The 190 is designed for a 5.5 inch rim so you don't get the mild pinching that you do on other 190/55s. Pretty much all the fats guys run these tyres and I'm curious. Will probably try and score a used set and then try them on a test day.

However, at the moment I am pretty happy with the Metzelers and will run those for the rest of the season :)

Going to do a test day in 2 weeks and work on my setup a bit before round 4

[Berlin]

Sorry Luke, It was the way I read this..

I had made a ride height change to compensate switching to a 190 rear (which turned out to be a mistake!)

So it was the ride height change that was the mistake, not the changing to the 190 :)

I've just read a fantastic tech doc from Dunlop about those. I'll see if I can find the link...

C

[Berlin]

http://www.dunlopracing.com/DETAIL-D211GP.html

and this one..

http://www.dunlopracing.com/D211GP-A_PressKit.pdf

Interesting to see the difference between the GP 209 Racer and the GP211 Racer. With the 209 avialable in Sv sized the pinch from the narrow rear rim might actually bring it to being the 211 profile.

I used one of these last october and was impressed but you need to get the rear pressure right as its very prone to cold tearing. The new NTEC is only 21 psi hot, same as the Power ones.

I've just bought a couple of pairs of K106/K108 slicks for the Mintwin :)

C

[lukemillar]

Sorry Luke, It was the way I read this..



So it was the ride height change that was the mistake, not the changing to the 190 :)

I've just read a fantastic tech doc from Dunlop about those. I'll see if I can find the link...

C

Yep, It wasn't so apparent on Friday because I could use the whole width of the track, but on saturday with big lines of cement dust everywhere, I had to try run tighter lines on the exit. Reverted the ride height back to where it was and laptimes for the whole final race were ~1 sec a lap quicker despite the track being colder track than race 2!

[DaveW_42]

Berlin - just read the doc - can those pressures be right - 31 front and 21 rear cold! That sounds a bit low on the rear to me... Other than that, quite fancy a set of those...

EDIT: just read your other reply and see that it's the same on the Powers... ignore me

[Berlin]

I didn't belive it either Dave.

In a fit if madness I decided to try a Power One at Cadwell in March at the prescribed pressure (21psi cold) and it was marvelous! I cintunued running ti at 21 HOT and even 19 hot and it was still good.!
I've seen a lot of people cook Power ones and Ntecs by running them at 28-29 hot! massive cold tearing.

The Metzeler Racetec Interacts are slightly higher at 24 psi but I had no problems running them at 28-29psi hot and got really good wear.
C

[DaveW_42]

Berlin - just wondered where you were getting your tires from at the moment. I used to have a good deal going on with the Dunlop factory direct but I've not been in touch with them for about 2 years as have been running Pirrellis. I'll try them again if I can dig out my old sponser number - hopefully it'll be in my notes somewhere, but it'd be useful to have another contact.
Will a 190 rear squeeze on the SV rear?

Luke - sorry for the derail!

[Berlin]

Berlin - just wondered where you were getting your tires from at the moment. I used to have a good deal going on with the Dunlop factory direct but I've not been in touch with them for about 2 years as have been running Pirrellis. I'll try them again if I can dig out my old sponser number - hopefully it'll be in my notes somewhere, but it'd be useful to have another contact.
Will a 190 rear squeeze on the SV rear?

Luke - sorry for the derail!


No chance, the 160 is already a squeeze.

I'm getting my tyres from all over the place at the moment including race meetings (best place by far), Ebay, friends etc. I've not bought a new tyre in two years! :)

I might end up buying new rears as I've got a good stock of fronts from the 600. .. and getting a hold of 160 scrubs is nowhere near as easy as getting 180/190's. Hopefully I'll pick up as many as I can at the next meeting in two weeks time.

The thing is, other folks take their rears off when they start to slide. I like them like that and so I race their old tyres on my bike. If you don't like them loose at the rear then new tyres is the way to go.

Complog.co.uk were doing cracking deals last year but they seem to have dried up now. Always worth keeping an eye on them though.

Its such a shame Racetecs Interacts don't come in 160 profile. It'd be all I use


C

[lukemillar]

No worries on the derail!

I have now scored a secondhand set of d211's which I'm planning on fitting on my wet rims and doing a back to back test with the Metz's a week today (weather permitting). Pressure on the rear is low because of the way the sidewall constructed - means they generate a lot of heat. (well, you have to be a certain pace and work them hard to get them there! Wouldn't recommend them for track newbies if they are reading this)

As for the Metz pressures, I too run the same as Berlin - 29 rear 31 front. However this is in the realms of what Metzeler recommend. I have a crib sheet from them which I'll post here later and it gives you recommended hot pressures.

[lukemillar]

Just uploaded some video to test the cam and logger output - Worked out pretty good! Unfortunately the timer only started timing halfway through lap 3.

If anyone is curious/following this thread you can have a look here:

http://vimeo.com/13638822
password: triumph124

I won't bother uploading races 1 & 2 because they are rubbish, but will try and cover the races from now on. :)

[lukemillar]

Metzeler Racetec Interacts pressure chart:

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/8302/metzh.jpg

[barwel1992]

love the info thats displayed on the video :D very cool

[lukemillar]

love the info thats displayed on the video :D very cool

At first I thought it was gimmicky, but I get so much feedback from the info in understanding why I went quicker in one lap than another and then seeing how I can go quicker. The video just adds a visual reference but it is such a useful resource!

[barwel1992]

cool, i bet that set you back a lot ?

[lukemillar]

cool, i bet that set you back a lot ?

Not too bad. Expensive bit is the timer ~ 400 quid. I just wanted a GPS laptimer, but as it turns out the DAQ stuff is a very nice bonus.

Camera can be whatever you like and syncing up the data can be down in a simple graphics program and a bit of code.

[barwel1992]

cool still £400 for a timer :o

[pete m]

is ther only one track in NZ luke ? :o

[lukemillar]

is ther only one track in NZ luke ? :o

:lol: No, probably about 6/7 main ones but clubs tend to arrange all of their races at their local tracks. VMCC Winter series - Manfeild. PMCC Summer season - mainly held up at Taupo. AMCC use Pukekohe and (hopefully soon) the New Hampton Downs.

Not sure what the South Island clubs are but there are 3 tracks down there as well. Then you have the 2 big street races - Wanganui and Paeroa in the North as well :)

[lukemillar]

Round 4

Just got back from round 4 and I have to say it has probably been my worst race weekend ever :( I didn't crash, but that would have just been the icing on the cake.

Test Day

I had a great start to the weekend - Test day was cloudy and running the short (regular) track. Race was to be on the long track, which rarely gets used and so I had done about 1 track day session on it. I knew which way it went, but as for turn points, brake points etc. I had nothing.

Anyway, I had some suspension work done and did a bit of setup which pushed my pace quicker than have been before and about a 1 sec lap quicker than last time out. Very happy and put the bike away with a fresh set of scrubbed dry tyres.

Qualifying

Very wet (as usual) I am getting so fed up with the rain. Last year the winter series barely had a wet round. This year, every single round has been wet as some point. Chuck on my wets and head out for qualifying. I have never put a time in round the long circuit, so whatever I did was gonna be a PB! Coming down the straights, I get this vibration building in the bike. By the time I hit 6th, it is really quite violent. I stay out for enough laps to get a time, but just try and get a feeling of the track and conditions. End up 24th! :lol: More importantly, every laptime is about 2 secs quicker than the last.

Race 1

Didn't happen :( I spend the break tying to fix the vibration issue and turns out the rear wheel is way out of balance. I get it balanced, go out for the warm up lap, still vibrating like mad, so come in and DNS.

Race 2

Figure out the worst of the vibes is actually coming from the front wheel and going back through the whole bike. I try to balance the wheel but end up sticking a crazy amount of weight to the opposite side from the high point and it still isn't balanced! I get a tyre guy to spin the tyre 180 degrees on the rim and finally have some success! Warm up lap feels good, so I grid up for the start. Get an okish start, but go round the outside of a few riders in turn 1 and make up a few places on my grid position. Hang on to a few quicker riders and it looks like it will be a good race. Red flag by the start/finish as there is a bike down in the middle of the straight.

Restart

Restart, I don't get as good a start (as usual!) but fall into line. The vis is really bad and I have to keep on wiping my visor every half a lap. Few guys decide it's not worth it and pull in (which in hindsight is what I should have done). End up circulating - not really pushing, just clicking the laps away as I am not enjoying it whatsoever. I feel completely lost on the extended part of the circuit and can't work out any turn points etc, because I can see ****! The point at which I get lapped, I seriously think about calling it a day. I stay out till the checked flag. Almost take out another lapping rider (sorry again!) and end up last (albeit with a position much higher than starting due to people nit bothering, crashing or pulling in!)

Packing up the bike and I am feeling so down. Thoughts of chucking it in and selling up are flashing through my mind and the highs of the days before seem to pale in comparison. Next time out we'll be on the short circuit again, so wet or dry, I'll feel comfortable. I will definitely skip round 6 though (long track) There is no opportunity to practice it between now and then, but more importantly, I'm getting married a week later and don't want to trash myself!

Cheers
Luke

[Berlin]

I feel for you Luke. I'm not the greatest fan of the wet either. And it'd be worse if I was on something like a 675 with its front weight bias!

C

[lukemillar]

Man, the winter series gets worse. A massive storm rocked up on friday dumping 20mm of raining overnight, and it didn't stop all weekend. I didn't even bother loading the van and luckily found this on Saturday morning:

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/530/picture1qg.png

Phew! That was $100 of diesel and $380 in hotels (was staying in a nice place because the GF was coming) that I managed to save.

Unfortunately, unless they reschedule (and even then I have no free time) that is the end of the winter series for me as round 6 is 5 days before I fly to Fiji to get married and I would be in deep poo poo if I fell off and damaged myself before that!

What I do have is levels 3 + 4 at the Cali. superbike school in 2 weeks to look forward to especially since they run it at the brand new Hampton Downs racetrack! Sweet. :cool: Then the summer series kicks off at the end of October again! Let's hope that stays dry as I am so over rain and racetracks!