01/02/2016
Dead Donkey Racing recently traveled interstate to Mt Gambier to compete in the Mac Park 6 hour scooter race. After dumping all our fruit at the border, we headed straight to the track to unload the bikes and gear and have a stroll around the track to familiarize ourselves with it again as we hadn't been there in a while.
Saturday morning came around quick but we were up early enough to eat a quick breakfast and coffee on our way to the circuit so we could enjoy the track day ahead. In the Dead Donkey posse was Robs Gixxer 600, Jacks R6 and Chris s Ninja 300, all of which performed well and improved steadily as the day went on but we were all quietly waiting for the first scooter session, as we had never attempted a scooter race before, or a 6 hour race, or a bike race with fuel stops, or a race with 50cc engines....... we were more than eager to see how we stacked up against the competition!
Its always a relief when you find yourself performing better than what you thought you would in any situation, and this was no different. The first session went well enough, then the second and third sessions all went with improvement so we retired Saturday night feeling positive about the race the next day..... we were no way going to win but top ten was in our sights.
Sunday is raceday, is the thought i woke up with and couldn't wait to get to the track. There was an extended morning practice so all the riders and pit crew could get their eye in and then the serious business of qualifying started. Qualifying consisted of a riders briefing followed by a reverse lottery for grid position in the lemans style start! we quietly waited for our team name to be called, and waited, and waited...... the last name to be called was Dead Donkey Racing, we were on pole!! Not bad for the teams first outing
Walking out onto the grid and getting ready for the start the nerves were there but it was a lot of fun, Chris made a valiant start and after the first lap jostling was done, the race settled down and he diced for a full hour for position before the first pitstop and handing the bike over to me, after another hour i handed it over to Niko and all three of us were having a ball racing and the lap times were constantly improving, the team was in a good place............ Until.
I had thought of a contingency for everything, or so i thought, everything except a f@&$kn crank bearing failure. After 4 hours 17 minutes and 113 laps the Dead Donkey Racing scooter suffered a mechanical failure and had to retire. Time to pack up and watch the end of the race.
Making the decision to drive home straight after a 6 hour race probably isn't the smartest but it does give you a chance to debrief and reflect over the weekends events during the drive. After having more to do with larger bikes and cars than i ever have had with a 50cc scooter, racing is racing and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The engine rebuild has begun and Dead Donkey Racing will definitely be back for the 6 hour next year, but what are we going to race next?
A huge thanks goes out to everyone involved Robert Villano, Jack Gallagher, Cris Gallagher and Niko Ivanov.
