A great short movie on the flattrackin' at Oxford last year...
Short Track - UK from Richard Dawson on Vimeo.
Showing posts with label oxford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oxford. Show all posts
Monday, 30 July 2012
Monday, 25 June 2012
ShorttrackUK GNC Round 3 - Oxford
Down to Oxford Speedway on late previous Friday afternoon (I know, I know... I've been slack...) for the next round of the flattrackin’ Grand National Championship. Despite all the rain, the track was dry and dusty with a top layer of loose gravel in practice. I was looking forward to the heats.
Heat one and I’m drawn at the back. I almost stall off the line… the bike hooks up, I gas it and I off. Into the thick of it in turn 1, bike ahead misses a gear, I take avoiding action and bounce off Pete Wilkinson who goes down. Shit. Sorry Pete. Red flag.
Restart. I almost stall, get the 640 hooked up and am off into turn one. It’s a close race… I make a few passes and finish 3rd or 4th. Happy with that effort from the back row.
Heat 2 and I’m drawn on the middle row. Remembering my last two lightning starts, I almost stall on the line… hang on… I do stall on the line. Fuck! I’m left in the silent dust-cloud of shame. I try get the bike started, but she struggles and it’s two laps in by the time she fires up. I’m pissed at myself so fling the bike around a bit wildly to finish the heat in last place. Yay.
The problem of mid season last year is back. She struggles to start, will only idle with the choke on and bogs down when the throttle is cracked open. Blocked pilot jet again methinks. Maybe my fibreglass tank is being chowed away by the petrol… need to check that.
Heat 3 and I’m drawn in the front. I make an okay start but am quick and consistent enough to finish second behind protégé Tim Neaves on the factory Honda smoker. I end up with 7th pick – happy with that after Heat 2’s blunder.
Final. Revs up, tape shoots up and I make an okay start to be in the thick of it in turn one. Turn one is definitely easier when you’re drawn on the front row… from row 2 it’s a dog-fight.
Race settles into single-file on the now tricky track that had developed holes and bumps in the worst places. Easy to make a mistake.
I’m being held up by a bit by Dave Chadburn and the lead group are getting away. On lap 3 I my move up the inside turn 3. Dave closes the door, but I’m committed… up on the grass to avoid collision… but there’s not much traction there and I nudge into some space at the apex. It’s tight… and a bit strong… but I get through and there’s no harm done.
I chase the lead group of four… getting closer every lap. I keep pushing. On the last lap I come around the treacherous turn 4 and Alan, who was in the lead group, is on his ass – coming off worst in the last turn punch-up between himself, Neil Martin and Tim Neave (who’s bike slipped out of gear on the line and had to overtake the entire field to take the win!). I steal a lucky 4th - a good night’s work!
In the Shorttrack Pro final, I see the biggest pile-up down the back straight. Time Neave bounced off the fence mid-pack and it was carnage with 6 riders caught in a dust-cloud of carwheeling bikes and bodies. Only Tim was hurt proper with some broken bones and internal injuries. Tim has been the man to beat so farthis season... someone else will have a chance to win a final now. Get well soon Tim!
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| The racing was close all evening |
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| I think I unintentionally clipped Wilky's handlebar - sorry Pete |
Restart. I almost stall, get the 640 hooked up and am off into turn one. It’s a close race… I make a few passes and finish 3rd or 4th. Happy with that effort from the back row.
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| The speedway guys came out to give a few demonstration races |
Heat 2 and I’m drawn on the middle row. Remembering my last two lightning starts, I almost stall on the line… hang on… I do stall on the line. Fuck! I’m left in the silent dust-cloud of shame. I try get the bike started, but she struggles and it’s two laps in by the time she fires up. I’m pissed at myself so fling the bike around a bit wildly to finish the heat in last place. Yay.
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| Paddock life |
The problem of mid season last year is back. She struggles to start, will only idle with the choke on and bogs down when the throttle is cracked open. Blocked pilot jet again methinks. Maybe my fibreglass tank is being chowed away by the petrol… need to check that.
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| Time Neave makes easy work of getting past me... check the difference in lean angle... the lad's got talent! |
Heat 3 and I’m drawn in the front. I make an okay start but am quick and consistent enough to finish second behind protégé Tim Neaves on the factory Honda smoker. I end up with 7th pick – happy with that after Heat 2’s blunder.
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| It was bumpy as hell... I was out the seat many times that evening |
Final. Revs up, tape shoots up and I make an okay start to be in the thick of it in turn one. Turn one is definitely easier when you’re drawn on the front row… from row 2 it’s a dog-fight.
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| I love the ambience of a night meeting |
Race settles into single-file on the now tricky track that had developed holes and bumps in the worst places. Easy to make a mistake.
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| A sea of flattrackers |
I’m being held up by a bit by Dave Chadburn and the lead group are getting away. On lap 3 I my move up the inside turn 3. Dave closes the door, but I’m committed… up on the grass to avoid collision… but there’s not much traction there and I nudge into some space at the apex. It’s tight… and a bit strong… but I get through and there’s no harm done.
 |
| Guy sharing some post-race war stories... check out that grin! |
I chase the lead group of four… getting closer every lap. I keep pushing. On the last lap I come around the treacherous turn 4 and Alan, who was in the lead group, is on his ass – coming off worst in the last turn punch-up between himself, Neil Martin and Tim Neave (who’s bike slipped out of gear on the line and had to overtake the entire field to take the win!). I steal a lucky 4th - a good night’s work!
 |
| Ahhhhhh... cold beer and war stories! |
In the Shorttrack Pro final, I see the biggest pile-up down the back straight. Time Neave bounced off the fence mid-pack and it was carnage with 6 riders caught in a dust-cloud of carwheeling bikes and bodies. Only Tim was hurt proper with some broken bones and internal injuries. Tim has been the man to beat so farthis season... someone else will have a chance to win a final now. Get well soon Tim!
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| Watchin the final |
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| One lap befre the carnage unfolds... |
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| Steel fence is ripped apart like cotton gauze |
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| Tom Woolley got bashed up and whinded... but nothing broken! |
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Rooster - Just Brilliant!
Monday, 9 May 2011
Action Pics - GNC Oxford
Some great action shots by Steve Baldock from Friday night's Grand National Championship...
Looks like Co-Built Anthony is sliding around my outside on turn 1...
On the gas through turn 2...
Just behind Sideburn Gary
This is turn 4 during the Thunderbikes final
On the outside at the start of a heat... thanks RedMax Steve for this one
Co-Built Geoff and I - Thanks Ian Osborne for the pic
Awesome action shot of Geoff and Stevie Coles from Ian Osborne... on it!
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Grand National UK Championship - Round 1
Yesterday afternoon I got my ass down to Oxford for the inaugural round of the Grand National UK flattrack Championship. I'd entered the Shorttrack and Thunderbike class and pitted between the ScooterFarm and Co-Built guys. With practice done on a slippery track, we were ready for the heats starting at 17h00.
My first heat was in the Shorttrack class - in the last few laps I started battling for position with another rider. He's on my inside and as we approach turn 3, 'Whack!' - he hits my left arm and handlebar. Not sure how this happened, but next thing I'm tumbling down the track on my ass thinking "What the...!?". He must have knocked my hand off the bar or something.
I scramble off the track and they run the last lap of the race with my bike lying graunched on the dirt. My new paintwork! Spent many hours dicking around with that... fuckin' annoying.
Fortunately the only damage is a bent footrest, gear leaver and my paintwork on the tank and seat trashed. The bike's good to go after ten minutes.
The track had a few big bumps in it and was very slippery coming out of turn 4... but I started going well in the heats. Chatting to David Aldana between heats I got a few tips and pointers and by the time I was in the last Thunderbike heat I managed to hang into the coattails of 'Che Spetacolo' Jacopo Monti for three laps or so. Improving :-)
Against the other riders, I felt really strong coming into the turns, but struggled a bit with grip coming out. Especially on the slippery exit of turn 4, the bike kept on losing traction completely and I'd go sideways to opposite lock... I'd ease off the gas and get popped out of the seat in a mini-highside. Each time this happened, I'd lose 5 yards or so on the rider in front.
I think my traction issues are linked to the last major thing the bike needs in it's development... the swing-arm angle. I'm still running with a close to standard swing-arm angle - it should be a lot flatter.
With consistent riding and few mistakes, I achieved my objective of the evening and made the Thunderbike final. I lined up ninth on the grid :-)
Revvs up... watch the start-tape... watch the tape... it shoots up and we're off in deafening roar of dust, dirt and exhaust fumes. I'd been making decent starts all evening and this start got me from the back row of the grid up to the middle of the pack in the first corner melee. Yeeehaaaa....
The racing is hard, fast and close. I keep it steady. Trying extra hard not to get her too sideways out of turn 4 it seems like I'm just pootling out of there at an agonisingly slow pace. In front of me, Geoff Cain runs Stevie Coles wide at turn 1 and I don't stand on ceremony and duck up the inside of the pair. A few laps later, on my Achilles-heel turn 4, super-fast Stevie manages to get back at me and 4 turns later we pass the chequered flag.
Some of the ScooterFarm team
Wayne Drake doing a bit of paddock fettling - he went well all evening
Wayne's cool underslung pipe on his special Thunderbike
My first heat was in the Shorttrack class - in the last few laps I started battling for position with another rider. He's on my inside and as we approach turn 3, 'Whack!' - he hits my left arm and handlebar. Not sure how this happened, but next thing I'm tumbling down the track on my ass thinking "What the...!?". He must have knocked my hand off the bar or something.
Mr Bones - David Aldana. It was fantastic to be in the paddock get some tips from and race against such legend!
I scramble off the track and they run the last lap of the race with my bike lying graunched on the dirt. My new paintwork! Spent many hours dicking around with that... fuckin' annoying.
Co-Built were out in full force again with four bikes... what's that beaut No 40?
Fortunately the only damage is a bent footrest, gear leaver and my paintwork on the tank and seat trashed. The bike's good to go after ten minutes.
Flash new paintwork signed by David Aldana...
The track had a few big bumps in it and was very slippery coming out of turn 4... but I started going well in the heats. Chatting to David Aldana between heats I got a few tips and pointers and by the time I was in the last Thunderbike heat I managed to hang into the coattails of 'Che Spetacolo' Jacopo Monti for three laps or so. Improving :-)
and lookin' sweet before getting punted off
Against the other riders, I felt really strong coming into the turns, but struggled a bit with grip coming out. Especially on the slippery exit of turn 4, the bike kept on losing traction completely and I'd go sideways to opposite lock... I'd ease off the gas and get popped out of the seat in a mini-highside. Each time this happened, I'd lose 5 yards or so on the rider in front.
'Cowboy' Glyn Pocklington qualifying for the Dash for Cash race
I think my traction issues are linked to the last major thing the bike needs in it's development... the swing-arm angle. I'm still running with a close to standard swing-arm angle - it should be a lot flatter.
David Aldana, Anthony and Dicky Brown chewin' the cud
With consistent riding and few mistakes, I achieved my objective of the evening and made the Thunderbike final. I lined up ninth on the grid :-)
Guy Sutherland struggled with a misfire all evening
Revvs up... watch the start-tape... watch the tape... it shoots up and we're off in deafening roar of dust, dirt and exhaust fumes. I'd been making decent starts all evening and this start got me from the back row of the grid up to the middle of the pack in the first corner melee. Yeeehaaaa....
Geoff Cain getting his machine ready for the next race
The racing is hard, fast and close. I keep it steady. Trying extra hard not to get her too sideways out of turn 4 it seems like I'm just pootling out of there at an agonisingly slow pace. In front of me, Geoff Cain runs Stevie Coles wide at turn 1 and I don't stand on ceremony and duck up the inside of the pair. A few laps later, on my Achilles-heel turn 4, super-fast Stevie manages to get back at me and 4 turns later we pass the chequered flag.
Thunderbike podium - Jacopo Monti swept all aside and romped to victory with his usual Italian flare... in his Tuxedo!
I land up 6th... Whoooohoooo!
Besides getting taken out and getting my new paintwork mashed into the dirt, it was a great evening on the clay. It's the first time flattracing has been run at the Oxford Stadium and thanks to Pete, Co-Built Anthony and all involved to make this happen. Also many thanks to Sideburn and all who brought David Aldana out. Thanks David for the banter and tips.
I'll post some action shots as soon as I get them.
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