15/11/2019
WARNING – THIS IS NOT POLITICAL, THIS IS NOT ENVIROMENTAL, THIS IS FUN!
Well that’s a wrap for 2019! Only had the big tractor out a handful of times this year, hardly enough to get acclimatized. Managed 4 out of 5 of the Southern Downs Superbike, F1 World Championship rounds and finished on the overall podium for 3rd! This last round was a WHOPPER” with temps on Friday unbearable and strong winds for Sat, Sun racing. The main event of the weekend, The F1 Superbike was as hotly contested as ever – after qualifying and the Superpole, the stage was set!
International Superstar model and racer, Ryan “Von Ryan’s Express” Yanko, took pole, the loved up newly wed, Mitchell “Rambo” Paynter slotted in at 2nd and completing the front row was unusually the “Slowe Lowe”, Ben “Lowe Show” Lowe. Now here’s the kicker folks. The 2nd was a “GRANDAD” lockout LOL, the “good looking” compact factory…………..ME in P4, Dean “The Hit Man” Hasler on the ski resort special and rounding off the second row, The Dark Lord himself, Michael “Darth” Edwards on the Death Star Yamaha. The smell of fear from the front row was quite distracting for the “mature” second row as the visors came down.
Fortunately for the top 3, their start was a pearler, Yanko buoyed by Ducati’s start program, ‘Lovedups” Suzuki and “Lowe Show’s” ZX10 assisted by Woolworths self check out launch program (some cite race fuel in the Honda verses a plethora of electronic aids on their war machines) pffffft!
However, the oldest of the “pops” on the factory Arcare Honda after a lap of tea and biccies, reeled in the leaders and came home 2nd.
3rd race of the weekend, the big lap event saw the veteran Honda chasing down “lovedup” and “Von Ryan” but unfortunately doing a Marquez at turn 2 on the deadly deteriorating Morgan Park surface. Not the full MM however, but did get it on its wheels before it stopped sliding – yes I was impressed too lol Unluckily the RH bar was pointing up a the hole in the ozone layer above Morgan Park. So, after a slow run back to the pits (trying to drop as much gravel on the track as possible) it was game over!
The last event of the weekend was another 7 lap sprint, this had to be a hatchet job for grandad Honda, but within half a lap following “Von Ryan” in 2nd…………………….I’m SOAKED and looking for the windscreen wiper switch! Oh No! Scuppered again! The heat had been talking to the head gasket and he’d come out on strike, hence me getting showered with water gushing out of the catch bottle. Game Over………………….AGAIN!
Ok folks, until next time……………..(if there is one) Remember, never underestimate that old fella sitting in the garage mumbling incoherently to himself, slight dribble on his chin and a faint damp spot on his groin………………..he may bite lol
Big up to Neurofen, Rock Tape, human growth hormones, sport enhancing drugs, race fuel, Andrew “it will be here soon” Smart, @ Ricondi for dressing me, Uncle Phil & Craig at HiSide Leathers for stitching me up, (Awkward again), Alan @ RaceArt Australia for sticking me up, Castrol for lubing me up, Kazu at K1 Racing for race mentoring, mechanical, technical guidance and sense, my bosses Jim and Chris Latter at Conshift for all the hidden extras, Tim the Toolman @ Superbike Supply for sourcing the odd stuff for a pedantic old fart, Joe at Ride Dynamics for suspension tuning and re-setting an old dog with some new tricks (cheers coach) and AlyTek’s Stephen and Michelle Benjak for their support, encouragement and race engineering – you need it, Stephen makes it, everything from exhausts to foot rests – hugh thanks to all.
Last but not least, the ground crew – the outlaws Steph and Ray, who spend a fortune following us around the country, cooking, cleaning, fixing and hanging off pit wall with the giant vision impaired signal board – we’re not young anymore! Love ya! We’ll wind it up with the biggest up for “THE MISSO” Love ya!
Oh and wait, there’s more…………… Who can forget the Motorcycle Sportsmen crew, what can I say…………….I say, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST – thank you! See you soon BR1AN
