Gazman
New member
- Location
- Suffolk UK
After buying my Monty from Andy Laverton it stirred something within me and an itch that still needed scratching she is an x little racer after all.
So after 15 years since my last race and out on track ( GSXR1000k5 in the Michelin cup with Hottrax racing, bastard broke a wrist and both heels, big high side and that was the end of that ) I decided to get my ACU license and take the little terror for a few races, this weekend being the first so I thought I’d do a little write up Andy Bartlet style.
The ACU in their wisdom decided they’d give me a clubman license after checking previous results.
I wish they hadn’t a big orange vest with big L Plates would have been more appropriate.
CRMC put us in Post Classic Air Cooled 500 BUT we where in with the CB500 cup boys ( yes they really are boys) with a split start, CB boys went first then we at the back waited for second lights, on, off and away we went. Really good starts and found myself around 4th or 5th place in all 4 races which lasted until the 1st straight imagine a push bike on a motorway!!!!. There is actually 4 classes in my race, Superbike Originals FZ600s GS 1000s, me PC500 AC, CB500 and Super Twins mostly SV650’s, so basically I’m on one of the slowest bikes on the circuit. Little Monty was flat out down the back straight with the needle buried deep into the redline way before the bridge and Brundles ( note to self need to sort out some different size sprockets ) I did see 120 + on the speedo so she ain’t that slow.
After about 5 laps( 7 lap races ) the front runners on the CB500’s and mini twins came past with their elbows on the floor hanging off like monkeys with sparks flying everywhere, they really don’t care the bikes are probably only worth about £1500 and if they trash them they just go and buy another one.
But give credit where credits due the front runners where F#£king quick.
So we PC500 AC guys ( let’s call it pensioners racing ) where in our own little bubble I had some good tussles with a guy on a Ducati Pantah but he eventually got away down the straight. So what did I learn, 1 racing has moved on massively in terms of equipment and skill levels probably due to track days being so popular so anyone can give track riding a go and hone their skills, 2 it’s so true the saying “ the older I get the faster I was “ in the hands of someone with more skill than me the little bugger I’m sure could crack out a pretty quick lap time especially if they did not have a little voice in their head saying “don’t you dare f£&king drop me “ and see big £££££ signs in their peripheral vision.
So the results where 2 x 4th in class Saturday and 2 x 3rd in class Sunday, lap times dropped by 6 seconds from first race Sat to last race Sun.
I’ve actually fallen in love with the little monster over the weekend and gave her a big pat on the tank after each race.
She will get a good clean and some TLC this week and prepped for Brands Hatch in July.
Sorry for boring everyone but the Mrs is not interested in how my silly bike stuff went this weekend.
Cheers all Gary
So after 15 years since my last race and out on track ( GSXR1000k5 in the Michelin cup with Hottrax racing, bastard broke a wrist and both heels, big high side and that was the end of that ) I decided to get my ACU license and take the little terror for a few races, this weekend being the first so I thought I’d do a little write up Andy Bartlet style.
The ACU in their wisdom decided they’d give me a clubman license after checking previous results.
I wish they hadn’t a big orange vest with big L Plates would have been more appropriate.
CRMC put us in Post Classic Air Cooled 500 BUT we where in with the CB500 cup boys ( yes they really are boys) with a split start, CB boys went first then we at the back waited for second lights, on, off and away we went. Really good starts and found myself around 4th or 5th place in all 4 races which lasted until the 1st straight imagine a push bike on a motorway!!!!. There is actually 4 classes in my race, Superbike Originals FZ600s GS 1000s, me PC500 AC, CB500 and Super Twins mostly SV650’s, so basically I’m on one of the slowest bikes on the circuit. Little Monty was flat out down the back straight with the needle buried deep into the redline way before the bridge and Brundles ( note to self need to sort out some different size sprockets ) I did see 120 + on the speedo so she ain’t that slow.
After about 5 laps( 7 lap races ) the front runners on the CB500’s and mini twins came past with their elbows on the floor hanging off like monkeys with sparks flying everywhere, they really don’t care the bikes are probably only worth about £1500 and if they trash them they just go and buy another one.
But give credit where credits due the front runners where F#£king quick.
So we PC500 AC guys ( let’s call it pensioners racing ) where in our own little bubble I had some good tussles with a guy on a Ducati Pantah but he eventually got away down the straight. So what did I learn, 1 racing has moved on massively in terms of equipment and skill levels probably due to track days being so popular so anyone can give track riding a go and hone their skills, 2 it’s so true the saying “ the older I get the faster I was “ in the hands of someone with more skill than me the little bugger I’m sure could crack out a pretty quick lap time especially if they did not have a little voice in their head saying “don’t you dare f£&king drop me “ and see big £££££ signs in their peripheral vision.
So the results where 2 x 4th in class Saturday and 2 x 3rd in class Sunday, lap times dropped by 6 seconds from first race Sat to last race Sun.
I’ve actually fallen in love with the little monster over the weekend and gave her a big pat on the tank after each race.
She will get a good clean and some TLC this week and prepped for Brands Hatch in July.
Sorry for boring everyone but the Mrs is not interested in how my silly bike stuff went this weekend.
Cheers all Gary
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