Duke came over and we loaded the bike and made our way the a local sign writer to get the speed blocks added to the bike - and they look perfect - even if I do say so myself, then a leisurely cruise down the Island in perfect weather to arrive in time for the Friday evening scutineering, and garage grab.
Saturday dawned with a brisk 6 degrees C, but promised to be a beaut day weather wise, so after bacon and eggs at a cafe by the lake, we headed off to the circuit.
We were using the full track again with a 3.3 km length so there's plenty of variety and fun to be had.
The temp was still in the single figures (there was snow on the mountains in the distance...) so I set the tyre pressiure to 30psi and went out for the practice session.
Apart from needing to regain confidence in high speed cornering, I had a ball and qualified mid pack (man this things has some legs down the straights), two places behind Duke22 on his FZR 911.
Race time, still chilly, line up, lights out, let the clutch out and HOLY SHIT - I'm having a real good look at the tacho and not much else!!!!!!
It would seem that the cable clutch takes up a smidge quicker than the hydraulic unit and as this was my first full on race start, lets say it was a learning experience.
I still got a good start and made up a few places into the first corner.
Got taken by a few bikes on the infeild, but got by them again on the straights, in fact I could even pull the fastest bikes in down the back straight with the hp the FZR is making, it truley is impressive!!!!
The race settled down and according to one on looker, there was a group behind me on the infield, but I kept gapping them any time a straight came into view.
Three corners from the end, one of the fast boys behind me came around the outside of me around the sweeper T11) onto the back straight, so I opened the taps and passed him easily on the straight, only to have him do it again coming out of the last corner (T14) heading up to the flag - so I just opened the ol' girl up again and took the place for a mid pack finish and 5th in the class.
Back in the pits we got the bike up onto the front wheel stand, only to notice the front brakes were binding quite badly.
It turned out that two pistons in the LHS caliper seemed not to be retracting, and after trying everything available in the pits, I elected to call it a day and strip the caliper before the next meeing - discression being the better part of valour.
It was still a successful race meeting though, great fun and no extra scratches on the bike this time
There are a few things that have been added to the 'to do list' such as change he pegs to non-folding items as I tend to flick them up when moving around on the bike, and invest in a set of tyre warmers (I've been putting that one off for years), and check out the switch on the quick shifter as it crapped out on me (again).
The falicon cluch basket is working well and the clutch slip is non existant now.
We had a few other FZR racers coming over and having a real close look at what weve done to the bikes, and one or two of them might just pop up on here in the next week or so
Next race is on November 14th, so there's plenty of time to get things sorted - I can't wait
