www.zxrworld.co.uk

Well I convinced Ross (ZIMM) to attend his first race meet at Oulton Park yesterday. Well he was damned good and learned the track in mega quick time. For the practice session I followed him round just trying to suss out the track for the qualifying sess. Lapping around 2:25-2:33 (snails pace!) Where we were we could not hear the tannoy so nearly missed the final call for qualifying! Travelling down thw paddock I realised I still had my trainers on, quick zip back to base and got to parc ferme missing the warm up lap and and my 19th spot on the grid and started at back!! Told the marshalls why I was late and boy did they laugh

Qualified 21st and Ross was 20th in front of me! Well all I will say is we did not care what was happening up front and Ross and I had our own tussell at the back, swapping positions nearly every lap! What a F*****G buzz. We crossed the line with Ross in front by 1 and a half bike lengths.

What a day and what a track!!!!

Oh, forgot to mention, lap times in the final we got down to 2:12.91 for Ross and 2:13.84 for me. A bit better than earlier on!!

I want my next trackday to be at Oulton, love that track!! Sounds like you guys had some fun, thats what its all about!

nice one.
I sent zimm a message before, i thought he got a 2.10 in the open? that ng website is well shite man, really hard to understand the results and lap times, they should use mylaps.
good weather and a great track. I think Oulton can be quite scary at first cos of the blind corners...
Makes you wonder how some 400 lads do 1.51's around there!
You coming back there for the w100 later next month?

oooopps, just reminded me I was supposed to do a lap guide, sorry . But, it sounds like you didn't really need it

Glad you had fun, that's the main thing and why we do it

MAy well have got a 2:10, I had to shoot b4 the open race! Well done M8 if you did!!
Going back to Oulton for a track day with no limits on 1/11 now!!

Love it!!

you should come and race with the w100, 18th october mate. Its too cold in november!

was a good day out

thanks for all the help with tyre warmers and everyting else chris

had kinda worked out where i was going for the open, and tried to get my head down a bit, then my chain snapped almost as i crossed the line at the end of the race .. luckily no harm done

jake wrote:you should come and race with the w100, 18th october mate.

hopefully see you there

how did you get on at Aintree ?

I trust the bike ran well then Zimm?

its quick enough and was just about revving out in top just before Island Bend on 14/47, but the suspension (stock) is crap, the fronts undersprung and underdamped and the shock is oversprung and underdamped

My H1 has a gsxr k1 rear shock in it, supposed to improve things and i gather it slots straight in.

Ross,

My Irish M8 Dave said your chain looked too short? still glad no damage done to man or machine, hang on to the warmers for a while. Just booked a trackday with no limits at Oulton for 1st November so will need them for then (just to warm me up!!!). See you at Pembrey in March?

its possible it was a little tight, and i forgot to lube it before the last race, so probably a bit of both, serves me right for trusting a spring clip !

i havent actually looked at the bike for damage, but it didnt start leaking anything .. just a twang followed by a complete loss of engine braking whilst coasting down after the flag.

now .. wtf am i going to get a replacement link for a lightweight racing chain ?

oh, and major kudos and thanks for paddy/dave for helping some numpty he'd never met (me!) fit bodywork, lockwire stuff, get race numbers, get through scrutineering, signing on, getting a transponder, adjusting forks, fitting tyre warmers .. umm, basically everything. I'd have been stood in the paddock wondering what to do for most of the day without his help ..