ricky750
05-06-2008, 17:56
Stu and I went up to Anglesey to watch Mark (Tark Racing) and to be his pit crew/spanner men, it was his first race of the season with Derby Phoenix, and this was his first time on the track in about ten months.
What a weekend it was!
We got there at eleven PM on the Thursday night it was a bl++dy long way, it took us about 5 hrs to drive up there. We met up with Mark and Mandy, (Marks better Half) they had their caravan but we had to set up our tent in the pitch black while they sorted their caravan etc, Mandy made us something to eat and cuppa, the cuppa then turned into a beer, we talked for a while then we decided it was time to get some sleep.
Day 1 Friday
Got up around the 6.30 we were greeted with the sun blazing down on us and that’s how it stayed the whole day, we wondered over to the caravan and they were still sound asleep (lazy people), so Stu and me started to get the bikes sorted, bikes being mine and Marks his new race bike, the one he thought would not be ready, but it was well sort of, tell you more later, after a bit they woke up and Mandy made a cuppa with a couple of nice bacon rolls each.
Mark went over to book in for the track day “Hottrax” and we got the bikes checked over and tyre warms on , most of that day was spent watching mark enjoying himself on the track, he used both bikes, finding his lines and trying to get some good times in, most of the Derby Phoenix racers were doing the same so it was good for Mark to see who he was up against.
Everything went well apart from a few slides, after the last session he was on a real high but he wasn’t happy with the set up on his race bike, any way we then got on with getting the bikes all locked wired and checked, ready for scrutneering we then took the bikes down and they passed, done an oil change and a did a bit of tinkering with the suspension to see if we could sort something out, we then decided to walk the track. What a great track it is, smooth as a billiard table it had every type of corner in the book and a mini cork screw, after that we went back and had a BBQ a few beers and good old chin wag and laugh.
Day 2 Saturday
The day Started good, the sun blazing down again, mark went out with both bikes to do his 10 minute practice sessions they both ran really well apart from the 600 suspension still being a mare and the gearing on both bikes, he was losing out on exiting the corners a bit so we changed the gearing to try and sort that out.
Mark had entered himself into two classes, The Thunder bikes which he was racing my 750 and the F600 class, the first race was the thunder bikes race, four on the program and the 600 was race five so he was going to have to jump straight onto the 600 and straight out again with just time for a sip of water and to change transponder, that was down to us.
The call come over the tanoy for race 4, tyre warmers off and he sets off, we follow down with the other bike at the ready, and his start position was 14 out of 22? (approx) they did their warm up, then they lined up, don’t know who was more nervous him or us the red lights come on, the revs build, the lights go out, gone, we all rush to the wall to see them go round the first corner, then we waited for what seemed like an hour. They all come round onto the back straight and he’s in fourth, as the race goes on he seems to be losing out coming out of the corners, that was down to gearing not down to Mark as he was riding like a demon .
6th overall, 4th out of 750class. Fastest lap 1:15.14, not bad for his first race.
He then comes in, straight onto the 600, and out again, all went well with the changeover, again our nerves were at breaking point, more so Mandy. He lined up on the grid he was in 21st position, he went out again even with the suspension problems he got up to 13th position, with a lot of hard riding in a very fast class. Race 5 F600: Start position 21. Finish Position 13th. Fastest Lap not given.
That was it for the morning, we went back to the caravan and checked the bikes over, had something to eat and waited for the call for race 11, which was the 750 , this time he had a better grid position, 6th , the race went really well even after coming together with a couple of riders in the first corner and he had the bruises on his left arm to prove it.
But he did emerge out the other side intact and still on the bike, he had a good race everything went well got himself to 3rd ,2nd 750, what a good result on a standard 750, race 12, 600 class, and he started on the grid in 13th position.
After his good riding in the morning he got a good start and pushed his way up to 6th ,so all was looking good for the next day, in the afternoon there was a spike race which Mark had entered on the 750 and that was a good ride as well started 7th ended up 3rd ,with the fastest thunder bike lap . He was against full blown race bikes; he was great even on a standard bike.
He won 20 quid, not bad, thank you very much.
Race 11 Thunder bikes: Start Position 6th. Finish Position 3rd Overall 2nd 750. Fastest Lap 1:14.88
Race 12 F600: Start Position 13th. Finish Position 7th. Fastest Lap 1:13.44 (second fastest lap of race)
Race 14 Open: Start position 7th. Finish Position 3rd. Fastest Lap 1:14.67. (Fastest Thunder bike lap)
Mark Stu and myself and a bit of advice from Colin from100% suspension, all decided that it might help a bit by changing the fork oil for a heaver one, in the other set forks, so we spent a couple of hrs changing the forks, Mark then decided why not fit the WP rear shock in the 600, (cheers Mark) which was a bit of a mare to do but after a few grazed knuckles and the odd swear word we got it all sorted out. I also bit the bullet and put my hands in my deep pockets and brought a bigger rear sprocket to help with exit speed out of the corners it then turned into a new longer chain and a new front sprocket, we finished around 9.30pm.
Mandy got the BBQ on the go while we cleared up and had a wash. The BBQ was good we had a laugh, talking and telling jokes. Then a few people come round to talk to Mark about the day, they had a couple of beers with us, the next thing we knew it was 12 o’clock so after another hr of saying nite we all went our separate ways, it didn’t take long to fall to sleep with a combination of beers, sun and hard work.
Another good day was had by all.
Day 3 Sunday
Woke up a bit later, the sun was not as strong today, the track was a lot cooler today than Saturday. We had something to eat checked the bikes over again to make sure we tightened everything up, which was lucky as we found we had put the throttle cable the wrong side of the forks the night before. With all that sorted we just chilled till we got the call for the thunder race 4, with a grid position of 3rd, things were looking good for a first place. Off he goes on the warm up lap, next thing we know he’s back in, the bikes running like a bag of nails so that put paid to first place. Those of you that where at Rockingham will remember what happened, it done the same thing, what a time to play up, you can imagine what Mark was like, a bear with a sore head is putting it lightly.
Anyway, next was the F600’s with a grid place of 7th , it was a good start into the first corner he rode round the problems with the suspension as it was a load of rubbish, in fact worse than before, but it just was too much and he slipped to 11th but he put in some good times.
Went back to the caravan kept out of the way of Mark for awhile, LOL, but he did come bouncing back and we tried to see if we could sort the bike out, we turned a few dials, pushed on the bike, in the end he said “that will do”. Had a look at mine pulled the plugs out of the power commander, connected the standard ECU, the bike ran ok, I plugged the power commander back in it ran ok so I said to mark your choice he said “go with the power commander”.
Race 11 was called. We went down with the bikes; he had to start in last place 27th due to fact of having a DNF in the race in the morning. He rode like a man persesed and fought his way to finish 5th overall and 3rd in 750. I’m sure the gearing helped out thinking about it, if he had got out in the first race, I’m sure we would have gone home with two first places, but it’s something to build on.
Any way he came in, jumped off the bike on to the 600; it had worked like clockwork all weekend but not this time. He was late out for the warm up lap; they let him start at the back of the grid after pleading with them. The race started and he worked his way to 6th position, it ended with a DNF.
Sunday:
Race 4 Thunder bikes: Start position 3rd but did not start race.
Race 5 F600: Start Position 7th. Finish position a shitty 11th! Fastest lap 1:13.98
Race 11 Thunder bikes: Start position 27th. Finish Position 5th Overall 3rd 750. Fastest lap 1:13.62
Race 12 F600: Start Position Pit lane. DNF in 6th place. No lap times recorded.
All said and done it was a great weekend, Stu and I, and I’m sure Mandy thought he did really well for his first meeting of the year, also it had been 10 months since he had ridden on the track, plus using two different bikes, one that he had never riding before. Well done Mark!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/falloff/Anglesey/raceweekendwithMarkMandyandstuan-8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/falloff/Anglesey/raceweekendwithMarkMandyandstuan-6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/falloff/Anglesey/raceweekendwithMarkMandyandstuan-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/falloff/Anglesey/raceweekendwithMarkMandyandstuan-1.jpg
What a weekend it was!
We got there at eleven PM on the Thursday night it was a bl++dy long way, it took us about 5 hrs to drive up there. We met up with Mark and Mandy, (Marks better Half) they had their caravan but we had to set up our tent in the pitch black while they sorted their caravan etc, Mandy made us something to eat and cuppa, the cuppa then turned into a beer, we talked for a while then we decided it was time to get some sleep.
Day 1 Friday
Got up around the 6.30 we were greeted with the sun blazing down on us and that’s how it stayed the whole day, we wondered over to the caravan and they were still sound asleep (lazy people), so Stu and me started to get the bikes sorted, bikes being mine and Marks his new race bike, the one he thought would not be ready, but it was well sort of, tell you more later, after a bit they woke up and Mandy made a cuppa with a couple of nice bacon rolls each.
Mark went over to book in for the track day “Hottrax” and we got the bikes checked over and tyre warms on , most of that day was spent watching mark enjoying himself on the track, he used both bikes, finding his lines and trying to get some good times in, most of the Derby Phoenix racers were doing the same so it was good for Mark to see who he was up against.
Everything went well apart from a few slides, after the last session he was on a real high but he wasn’t happy with the set up on his race bike, any way we then got on with getting the bikes all locked wired and checked, ready for scrutneering we then took the bikes down and they passed, done an oil change and a did a bit of tinkering with the suspension to see if we could sort something out, we then decided to walk the track. What a great track it is, smooth as a billiard table it had every type of corner in the book and a mini cork screw, after that we went back and had a BBQ a few beers and good old chin wag and laugh.
Day 2 Saturday
The day Started good, the sun blazing down again, mark went out with both bikes to do his 10 minute practice sessions they both ran really well apart from the 600 suspension still being a mare and the gearing on both bikes, he was losing out on exiting the corners a bit so we changed the gearing to try and sort that out.
Mark had entered himself into two classes, The Thunder bikes which he was racing my 750 and the F600 class, the first race was the thunder bikes race, four on the program and the 600 was race five so he was going to have to jump straight onto the 600 and straight out again with just time for a sip of water and to change transponder, that was down to us.
The call come over the tanoy for race 4, tyre warmers off and he sets off, we follow down with the other bike at the ready, and his start position was 14 out of 22? (approx) they did their warm up, then they lined up, don’t know who was more nervous him or us the red lights come on, the revs build, the lights go out, gone, we all rush to the wall to see them go round the first corner, then we waited for what seemed like an hour. They all come round onto the back straight and he’s in fourth, as the race goes on he seems to be losing out coming out of the corners, that was down to gearing not down to Mark as he was riding like a demon .
6th overall, 4th out of 750class. Fastest lap 1:15.14, not bad for his first race.
He then comes in, straight onto the 600, and out again, all went well with the changeover, again our nerves were at breaking point, more so Mandy. He lined up on the grid he was in 21st position, he went out again even with the suspension problems he got up to 13th position, with a lot of hard riding in a very fast class. Race 5 F600: Start position 21. Finish Position 13th. Fastest Lap not given.
That was it for the morning, we went back to the caravan and checked the bikes over, had something to eat and waited for the call for race 11, which was the 750 , this time he had a better grid position, 6th , the race went really well even after coming together with a couple of riders in the first corner and he had the bruises on his left arm to prove it.
But he did emerge out the other side intact and still on the bike, he had a good race everything went well got himself to 3rd ,2nd 750, what a good result on a standard 750, race 12, 600 class, and he started on the grid in 13th position.
After his good riding in the morning he got a good start and pushed his way up to 6th ,so all was looking good for the next day, in the afternoon there was a spike race which Mark had entered on the 750 and that was a good ride as well started 7th ended up 3rd ,with the fastest thunder bike lap . He was against full blown race bikes; he was great even on a standard bike.
He won 20 quid, not bad, thank you very much.
Race 11 Thunder bikes: Start Position 6th. Finish Position 3rd Overall 2nd 750. Fastest Lap 1:14.88
Race 12 F600: Start Position 13th. Finish Position 7th. Fastest Lap 1:13.44 (second fastest lap of race)
Race 14 Open: Start position 7th. Finish Position 3rd. Fastest Lap 1:14.67. (Fastest Thunder bike lap)
Mark Stu and myself and a bit of advice from Colin from100% suspension, all decided that it might help a bit by changing the fork oil for a heaver one, in the other set forks, so we spent a couple of hrs changing the forks, Mark then decided why not fit the WP rear shock in the 600, (cheers Mark) which was a bit of a mare to do but after a few grazed knuckles and the odd swear word we got it all sorted out. I also bit the bullet and put my hands in my deep pockets and brought a bigger rear sprocket to help with exit speed out of the corners it then turned into a new longer chain and a new front sprocket, we finished around 9.30pm.
Mandy got the BBQ on the go while we cleared up and had a wash. The BBQ was good we had a laugh, talking and telling jokes. Then a few people come round to talk to Mark about the day, they had a couple of beers with us, the next thing we knew it was 12 o’clock so after another hr of saying nite we all went our separate ways, it didn’t take long to fall to sleep with a combination of beers, sun and hard work.
Another good day was had by all.
Day 3 Sunday
Woke up a bit later, the sun was not as strong today, the track was a lot cooler today than Saturday. We had something to eat checked the bikes over again to make sure we tightened everything up, which was lucky as we found we had put the throttle cable the wrong side of the forks the night before. With all that sorted we just chilled till we got the call for the thunder race 4, with a grid position of 3rd, things were looking good for a first place. Off he goes on the warm up lap, next thing we know he’s back in, the bikes running like a bag of nails so that put paid to first place. Those of you that where at Rockingham will remember what happened, it done the same thing, what a time to play up, you can imagine what Mark was like, a bear with a sore head is putting it lightly.
Anyway, next was the F600’s with a grid place of 7th , it was a good start into the first corner he rode round the problems with the suspension as it was a load of rubbish, in fact worse than before, but it just was too much and he slipped to 11th but he put in some good times.
Went back to the caravan kept out of the way of Mark for awhile, LOL, but he did come bouncing back and we tried to see if we could sort the bike out, we turned a few dials, pushed on the bike, in the end he said “that will do”. Had a look at mine pulled the plugs out of the power commander, connected the standard ECU, the bike ran ok, I plugged the power commander back in it ran ok so I said to mark your choice he said “go with the power commander”.
Race 11 was called. We went down with the bikes; he had to start in last place 27th due to fact of having a DNF in the race in the morning. He rode like a man persesed and fought his way to finish 5th overall and 3rd in 750. I’m sure the gearing helped out thinking about it, if he had got out in the first race, I’m sure we would have gone home with two first places, but it’s something to build on.
Any way he came in, jumped off the bike on to the 600; it had worked like clockwork all weekend but not this time. He was late out for the warm up lap; they let him start at the back of the grid after pleading with them. The race started and he worked his way to 6th position, it ended with a DNF.
Sunday:
Race 4 Thunder bikes: Start position 3rd but did not start race.
Race 5 F600: Start Position 7th. Finish position a shitty 11th! Fastest lap 1:13.98
Race 11 Thunder bikes: Start position 27th. Finish Position 5th Overall 3rd 750. Fastest lap 1:13.62
Race 12 F600: Start Position Pit lane. DNF in 6th place. No lap times recorded.
All said and done it was a great weekend, Stu and I, and I’m sure Mandy thought he did really well for his first meeting of the year, also it had been 10 months since he had ridden on the track, plus using two different bikes, one that he had never riding before. Well done Mark!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/falloff/Anglesey/raceweekendwithMarkMandyandstuan-8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/falloff/Anglesey/raceweekendwithMarkMandyandstuan-6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/falloff/Anglesey/raceweekendwithMarkMandyandstuan-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/falloff/Anglesey/raceweekendwithMarkMandyandstuan-1.jpg