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When in doubt accelerate!!
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Nitro OlympX 15-17 August 2008 or One step forward, two back!!
After the Bulldog, where I only got a run, and gave Lizzy the chance to have a go too, we dashed home for the day to get ready, prepare the bike and reload for the Nitro OlympX at Hockenheim. We enjoy no sleep and a challenge! Got to the docks, and the weather was appalling, the ferries were taking it in turns due to adverse weather, the last ferry had to drop anchor so it could turn safely and dock. We were hoping that this was not an indication of how the rest of the weekend was going to be. The journey, solely relying on the Tom Tom, and Lizz’s diverse map reading, we drove through Belgium, in the midst of the most terrific electrical storm, skirted around Luxembourg, into a bit of Holland, and eventually got to Hockenheim, 17 hours later!! The security guards, let us in no problem, and we abandoned caravan in middle of pits, climbed in, and went to bed. Set up in the morning, bike sorted, and having taken our road bike too, went out and about, did some sightseeing, shopping for the crew, Chris and Ken, who were flying in the following day and generally acted the tourist! The joys of independence!! Bike scruteenered ok, Chris and Ken arrived, and we were all ready for Friday, where it rained until late afternoon, so took the head off for something to do, and found a couple of bent valves, which Ken “modified”, and make a couple of changes. The track crew managed to get out and dry the track, fair play and great job, and we got a run, which was wheel spin city. (Still got number 2 qualifier.) This spin we battled with all over the weekend. We were chipping away at the sixty foots again, and I ran my PB, only by a few hundredths, but a PB is a PB, and we were happy with the performance of the bike overall.  We got into the semi finals, and although lost the race, it was a very honorable second, lost on the tree against Christian Jaeger, who has really upped the anti, and pulled a 0.080 reaction to my 0.180…. I didn’t see him until the second half and he came past me, at the moment my nitrous bike does not make big power at the top end, hey ho!! The bike stayed intact, and ready to face another race meeting this weekend at Shakespeare County for an ACU round!! The presentation evening was a super affair, and all the best to Rico who announced his retirement form the organizing of this event. Well done also to Dave Smith, for winning Super Street for the 3rd year in a row. The whole weekend was excellent, Lizzy, who had never been before, will certainly go again, she says with a smile “Maybe one year on a bike of my own!!” Packed up, went to the Hotel for breakfast, and said our goodbyes. Chris and Ken back on the Train Plane and Automobile thing, we had the long drive home – the round trip exactly 1200 miles!
To Chris and Ken; The help we got this weekend, from you guys was over and beyond the call of duty. To fly over to Stuttgart, get a train, then taxi to the track, Ken lending me his engine in case things went horribly wrong, and Chris for being the great guy he is, thanks, and breakfast don’t seem to cut it, but thanks so much for the support. Drove to Calais, with 15 minutes to spare but 2 hours later than the intended ferry, 14 hours later, at 2am, we abandoned the van and caravan on the High street, to be unloaded the following day. Bike in garage in the morning, Lizzy took the clutch apart and re did, and I was going to replace an outrigger bearing …….. re assembling it, the bolt from the output shaft simply fell off, and after a lot of discussion, I have pulled my entry for Shakespeare, neither of us are too keen on another lot of sleepless nights, only 3 days to go before the meeting, would rather wait for the new motor, and be up and running for the Extreme Bike Weekend at Santa Pod in September, which will give us more time to go though the bike and make sure all is well. ….. This season I am mostly having gearbox issues!
Before we start the race report, we would just like to thank Sue Whyte from Photoparazzi for taking a load of photos of the team and bike for us. It was good fun, as far as having your photo can be, and she put us all at our ease! Check out her website, http://www.suewhyte.fotopic.net/, there are some cracking photos on there from the Nats (and not just of us!)
SUMMER NATIONALS 14 – 15 JUNE 2008
Qualifier 1 Up against Steve French. My left hand launching gremlin reared its ugly head, and I had to back off. I launched hard, and shot left, which was a bit hairy, but not as hairy as Steve, who also launched hard, lost some oil, and got it on his tyre, and shot across both lanes, very close to me. Somehow I still managed to run an 8.70 sec at 162mph. At the top end, Steve apologised to me for crossing lanes and forcing me to back off, but to be honest, I didn’t even see him, due to having a wild ride myself. I bet it looked quite impressive from the tower though!
Qualifier 2 Up against Tim Blakemore, but the less said about this run the better. I wasn’t focused, and forgot to arm the nitrous, and ran a 9.17 at 142mph The bike did run straight for a normally aspirated run which, inadvertently is pleasing, as we will be able to take some power out for Lizzy, when she rides it.
Qualifier 3 No getting away from him, against Tim again, and again I launched to the left. However the timing ticket was void, as Tim decided to play football with the timing lights. Back to pits, and that was it for the day. To say I was unhappy and very p’d off was an understatement. I will mention at this stage that the bike launching left is absolutely nothing to do with the chassis or anything mechanical. The problem lies totally with me. For reasons totally beyond me..Or Chris who puts me straight, I have taken to riding the bike to the left on launch. There is no reason for it, I have no idea why, and I have got to get my head and my act together. It’s a “me” thing. That evening I sat down with my son, and had a quiet relaxing time taking the clutch out and freshening it up. I decided to change the settings and hoped that tomorrow would be a better day. I didn’t come here to lose badly, especially after the last meeting ( was it a flook??) I didn’t really want to be knocked out in the first round, (Who does??) so needed to do something, spoke to Chris, told Lizz and they all left me on my own to reflect on what I was doing. Thanks to the whole team for letting me get on with this, while I had some time to reflect on what the hell I was doing. Thanks to the girls too, Donna, always great to see you there, Di, ditto and Lou for feeding and watering us, and although you may be in the background, we are very aware that if you weren’t there, we would, have been lost without you, especially this weekend. Thanks also to Lizz for her patience and understanding, and not telling me I was riding like a complete ******* (you know her style) !!, Lisa for trying to cheer me up, And to Jake, my boy, you are the best. x Round 1 Eliminations
I got Tim in the first round !!! (oh Hell – or third time lucky?!!) Got to the line, I was focused and my race head was on. The lights went down, and I got Tim off the line! It was not to be enough; he came storming past me mid track, almost as if I was stationary…………….. I came an honourable second, a 7.57 at 172 to his 7.04!! I can cope with losing to that sort of time!! Well done to him. When we got the timing ticket, I was very happy to see my reaction time. All weekend and last meeting my reactions were around the 0.28, this last run was a 0.17. Whether I had my head on straight, or my clutch setting was something to do with it time will tell. I know I need more seat time, the weather has been so unkind to us, all told now I have ridden it up the track 8 times, am I expecting too much?? It was good to finish on a happy note, never the less. We are doing demos at the Truck Show on the 28-29 June, if you are there come and say hi, unless you see me beating myself over the head with a big stick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks again and as always to Sponsors, Andy and Kate (for willing us on especially). Big Chris and The Super Crew … sorry guys, will try harder…..
SPRINGSPEED FESTIVAL 3RD-5TH MAY 2008
Friday morning came, and the brake line that we had been waiting for did not arrive with the post as promised so as you can imagine we were not very happy at all. To get this far and not be able to go fast because we would be unable to stop, seemed so wrong.
A long call to Goodridge voicing displeasure, and explaining about the long nights building the bike, long telephone calls while they were on the internet looking at the website so they knew why we needed a brake line 2.2 metres long, receiving one short one and not the other, no phone calls questioning the length, and now not having said line, was mortifying.
Martin from Goodridge however, was very apologetic, and understood completely, made a call to Goodridge at Silverstone, called us back and said if we could collect the line, the replacement would be made up there. We of course said yes, as only a few miles from us. He called back half hour later to tell us it was ready. What a star, we cannot thank him and Goodridge Silverstone enough for going that extra mile for us. . 
So with bike and tools in the van, caravan hitched up, we must have looked a right sight, as we drove in and out of Silverstone. Collected the last piece of the bike, and drove on up to Shakey. 
The joys of living so close to both drag strips now!! A detour, unloaded at Shakey, spent 1 hour 40 minutes, bleding the new brake line, awning up, Jake and co fed, caravan sorted, wheelie bars on bike, and ready for scruteening by 8pm!
In the morning, nerves were getting the better of me, and Lizz stomped off to crew for PMR muttering something about me being "unbearable", leaving me with my thoughts on what the bike may or may not do. Had we checked the bike over properly, was I going to like the new bigger tyre, was I going to stay on it, et etc. before long we were called, and down to the fire up road, Lizz managing to get back in time to wish me luck, and video the run. Got to the front and called onto the strip. 
First run normally aspirated. Advised the start line crew that we would prefer to run singly as a new bike and if it did get out of shape, would not interfere with anyone in the other lane, and was agreed we could do this. Very nervous, not being too sure what the bike was going to do. Good strong burnout. Stopped a little short of the line. Chris put me straight, and somehow I managed to get my self a bit crooked after that. Bike launched hard to the left, corrected it as best as I could as I was also rolling on and off the throttle, managed to correct, and got it straight, back on the throttle and got to the end, but didn’t make enough power to get off the track, so had to push it off as quickly as I could as was horrified to hear two pro stock bikes burning out, no one appeared to be aware that I was still in the middle of the track. What to do.... I had just finished my first run on a new bike, and was not really in any state to jump off and push bike to the side, neither did I want to leave it there, neither did I want to crouch down on bike, and hope they rode round me. Thankfully they were cut off, and I pushed the bike to the side.
I was very relieved to get to the other end in one piece, and no major hiccups. The bike, however does not like normally aspirated!! So an 11.84 @ 133. I was not too happy about getting back on the bike after that, but knew I had to, but when Chris had already told Lizz he hated normally aspirated Funny bikes, as not safe under little or no power, the gas had to go in. Second run Nerves obviously still there, healthy respect for the bike …only this time there was going to be proper power, and again, not too sure what it was going to do. To say that I was very scared (the polite version) was an understatement!!
Burnout felt good, got myself closer to the start so less room for error, and Chris went further back to make totally sure it was straight. Launched well, but again went off to the left, tried to correct it, but still felt the need to back off the throttle to correct it. Got it back into the groove, rolled back onto the throttle, and felt the nitrous kick hard. Through the gears and finish line, 8.22 at 174 MPH. Not bad at all, considering that when we checked the data, I had in fact been off the throttle for 2 seconds!! The bike pulls like a train, and this time had enough speed to get me to the end of the track. I have a lot to learn, and need much more seat time. It scares the living wotsit out of me at the mo, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun!!! (And I’m number 3 qualifier!!)
Totally un bike related, but well done to PMR for their show, paticularly Dave Catton for gettting into the final in the Ugly Stick 4 link, new ride for him too!! Well done mate! Good to see you all at the Car versus Bike Barby on Saturday.. here's to many more. (Think Lizz is will miss the banter a lot!!) Rain stopped play on Sunday, out to play Monday... Third run was 7.62 @ 172.5... Long story short, just got quicker quicker, and bike went straight!! Bearing in mind the bike is running on relatively no power (soft settings) Last run knocked out Stu Chamberlain in the semis with a 7.46 @174.8 mph, and into the final against Chris Hall. Time not on our side, and called. A very successful weekends testing, and I am very happy with the new bike, it is an awesome bit of kit, and I have a lot to learn, and there is plenty there yet. (which is scary!!)
Thanks to my amazing crew, Big Chris and co, Jake for being Jake, really couldn't do it without you, Lizz will thank you in my own unique way, Ken thanks to you for all your help and a great engine, Andy Dawson for calling me almost as soon as we got home, and my sponsors as always.
Big Thanks also to :- Pete Donaldson http://peterdonaldson5305.fotopic.net and Steve Wexter www.eclipsephotos.co.uk for allowing us to use their photos on this site. Please keep them coming, they are great!!
 
SPRINGSPEED NATIONALS 3-5 MAY 2008 SHAKESPEARE COUNTY RACEWAY
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