Wee Monster at Donnington Park

A few weekends ago, the day after the DTRA flattrackin at DirtQuake II, I got the Wee Monster up to Donnington Park to do the last of my ManxGP Qualification races.

I cannot remember where I got these pics from...

Apologies for no credits and thanks for the pics

 

After the get-off at Oulton, she was down 5 bhp across the rev range. Mike at MD Racing did a compression test and found the front cylinder is down 35psi. She must have eaten a stone from the gravel pit. So I got up to Donnington just wanting a finish.

I unloaded the bike and then realised that I had forgotten my leathers. Doh! I normally have a check-list that I use... after flattrackin the day before, I was full of confidence and reckoned that I'd done this enough times to be able to remember everything. Yeah, right!

Bike, check. Fuel, check, kit, check... no hang on... whe're my leathers?

With a two-hour round-trip back home not really feasible, I started asking fellow Ducati Desmo riders around the paddock and garages if anyone had a spare set of leathers. I was in luck! Kevin Ellis had a spare set on hand that were the rightish size (they were up for sale). He kindly offered let me borrow them for the day. Thanks Kevin!

Kevin Ellis was so kind as to lend me his spare leathers... we then fought it out on track!

Apologies for no credits and thanks for the pics

I haven't been to Donnington since 2004. It's a big track for a wee 54bhp bike. With loads of blind corners and 'faith' sections, I just felt me way around... careful not to repeat my gravel feats of Oulton Park. I qualified second from last. Hmmmmm.

I could hardly see the start lights from back there!

Apologies for no credits and thanks for the pics

With the GP grid at Donnington (bigger spaces and only 3 slots in each row), the 11th row is a million miles back from the front row... I had to squint hard just to see the start lights! I got a good start and got up to the next row by the time we hit Redgate. I'm still learning the place and just take it easy, making sure I finish. The underpowered little bike is getting killed on the straights... even by some of the Class B bikes. On lap 5 the race is stopped with a red flag incident. No worries. I bag my last qualifying finish for the Manx GP. Not a proper race and a crap result, but relieved that I'm now qualified :-)

Apologies for no credits and thanks for the pics

Race two and I push a bit harder. But with only 4 laps in qualifying and 4 laps in race one, I only have 8 laps experience around the place. I can go a bit quicker through sections and am not pushing as hard as the bike will go... so I reckon I'm down 3 or 4 seconds a lap off where I should be. Turns out I was 8 seconds a lap off the winning pace... I guess that'll be my 10 bhp deficit (class limit is 65bhp). The race goes full distance and I get my second finish of the day. Job done.

Classic TT Build - Getting the Hammer Down

I haven't posted for a while... just about every minute I have had other than work - has been spent on the SP3... and finishing my qualification races for the IOM TT Mountain Course Licence. Haven't had time to post. Just getting the hammer down - sorting stuff, fitting bits and solving problems. It's bee a long few weeks in the garage. I had to get as much done as possible before I dropped it off for the engine rebuild.

Roll back the clock to three weeks ago...
Got around the tediously fiddly job of mounting the seat unit. Because the seat unit is light-weight, it needed some extra mounting tabs welded on. My mate Steve Mann helped me out with that. It took a bit of work, but eventually got it all to where I wanted.

 

 

Also sorted a race-mandatory catch-tank for the oil-catch tank breather, water and fuel overflow out of a camping ally water flask. Super light-weight and looks a lot better than an empty Guinness can.

The fuel-cap also arrived... from China. It wasn't too bad... a bargain considering the price. Not too happy about the action of the screw-on cap, so I swapped it for the one on my wee Monster race bike. Don't have to do a fuel stop against the clock on the wee Monster.

 

Made a bracket and remounted the voltage regulator. The bracket it was on was a botch job and in the way of the cool air flow that's going to be delivered by the trick carbon air runners. Had no idea where it should be, but didn't want to re-wire it so found an out-of-the-way place where it should get plenty cool air.

 

 

 

Peter from Oro-Nero dropped off a box of carbon loveliness too :-) Some beautiful parts, including the corsa style air runner - made extra-strong for the rigours the Isle of Man.

More on the fitment of these beauties in an  forthcoming posts...

Badd Ass Truck up PPHC

Just had to post this...



Thanks 474 Travis for the link!

DTRA Flattrackin Round 3 - King's Lynn - DIRTQUAKE II

Saturday morning I drove up to King's Lynn with a couple if dirttrack bikes, my gear and a whole packet of enthusiasm.

The day started off well... I finally collected my silverware from last year's Championships :-)

I unload, unpack and get setup for a day's racing and the crazy-ass DirtQuake II. Get the bike warmed up and kit on. First up, practice. At the gate onto the track, the bloody bike doesn't want to start. I wheel it back to my pit and give it a battery-boost. She starts, but the gate is closed and practice session underway. Bollocks! At least with 2 Classes I get 2 practice sessions. I get out in my second and try get up to speed quickly in the 4 laps we have on track.  Still feeling my way around a bit.

First heat and I'm drawn on the front row. With so many riders, to qualify decently for the final, one needs to get into at least the top 3 in every heat. Especially if you're starting on the front row. I get a decent start, but get passed and land up 5th or something. Crap.

Pikes Peak and desert racing legend "747" Travis Newbold came out from the US for the party... he was super-fast on loaned bike and kit... and bagged 2nd in the final. Great ride Dood!

Next heat and I start to get into things. I think I get a 2nd and a couple of 3rds in the heats after that. Sweet! I'm feeling fast and comfortable and riding steadily to make sure I qualify well. Last heat in the Pro Class. We wait to go out on track.

When waiting I leave the bike off - with a dinky wee radiator and no fan, she boils over quickly if standing. We get ushered onto track. I hit the start button. Crrrrrrrrrrr.... hit it again... Crrrrr.... again... Crrr. She normally fires up straight away. Fuck.

Drogo Michie donning battle-gear for a heat

 

I grab the nearest person to me, hand them the bike and shout over the noise of dirttrack bikes heading out onto the track "Just hold this...". Clunk! Clunk! Clunk! Clunk! I do the steel-shoe lope-run back to the pit, grab my battery boostpack... Clunk! Clunk! Clunk! Clunk!

I plug it in and ask the guy who held my bike "Stop them closing the gate!" He can't hear me, or understand what I mean. I point at the gate and repeat. He has no clue. Shit. I try get the bike fired up... Crrrrrrrr. Crrrrrrrrr. Crrrrrrrrr. Bollocks. I check the fuel, choke off, ignition, cut-out and lanyard switch. All ok. Try again... Crrrrrr. Crrrrrrr. Brraaaaaaap! Yeah!

Foot massage, anyone?

I look up just as the heat starts. Fuuuuuuuck! They hadn't realised I wasn't on the start line and started without me. Sitting in the pits is not the way to score points to get one into the final. Poor tactics. When the bike didn't start, I should have just asked Andy at the gate to wait 1 minute. Instead, I thought I could get it all sorted in less than 1 minute. I know for next time.

The nicest battery pack I've ever seen!

As a result, I didn't get into the Grand Final. I scored enough points in my two heats to only qualify 14th. Damn! On a brighter side, I qualify 8th in the Thunderbikes. What is it with me qualifying 8th? Third race meet in a row. It's not great... you gotta be on the front row (first 4) to have a good chance of a podium.. but its ok. Frustrating because I know I have the speed to be nearer the front. I still need to sort out my slow-burning first heats.

"Sideburn" Ben Part fettling his chop for the DirtQuake II showdown. In the Chopper final he had an epic battle with "747" Travis

For the next few hours we were entertained by the antics of DirtQuake. It was brilliant. There must have been 7 or 8 photographer types buzzing around with big cameras and a 'helicopter' camera. Riders came from all over Europe and a few from the US including "747" Travis Newbold - great to see him again. There was even a celebrity - Charley Boorman was riding a Zaeta. I didn't take many pics of the event because there was so much other exposure... I'll post links to them soon.

Cool toys! An awesome hi-tech VTOL camera drone - it was buzzing around taking film all evening. Can't wait to see the footage.

Had to get kit and race face on after about 3 hours of DirtQuake shenanigans and do the business in the Thunderbike final. I started middle row, far inside. Revvs up... and we're off!

I get a decent start and am into the thick of it in turn 1. Get hooked up nicely out of turn 2 and am in 5th or so into 3. As I get into turn 4, the bike just washes out and I'm on the floor again. I didn't feel over the limit or off-line so might have been nudged from behind. With the pack so close behind it is inevitable that I'm hit by a following rider...as I hit the dirt, I brace myself for the second impact.

Checking the heat results. Guy had another great qualification... front row in Thunderbikes and second row in Pro

Clatter! Scrunch! Thud! I see a front wheel and another rider with a red helmet off their bike in the dust. The wheel slides under me and I'm sandwiched between two bikes - Gary Inman's bike under me and mine on top of me. I'm okay.. no second impact. I manage to wriggle out and push my bike off. Gary is getting to his feet and trying to get his bike up. He must be okay, so I try get mine up. But I'm snagged by his bike, by then the red flags come out.

Okay... no panic. Let's get the bike up check the damage. Mullered gear lever. Shit. It's still attached and although out of place, still does the clickety-click change. Cool. Let's get going. I hit the start button. Crrrrrrrrrrr. again. Crrrrrr... Sonnofabitch! Crr.

"Sideburn" Gary Inman raced in the Thunderbikes... got taken down by someone on the ground in the final and also managed to run the DirtQuake II event! Top man!

A photographer offers to push start me. I try... but I know with the compression it's just about impossible. I've tried many times but have never managed to bump start that flattracker. We give it a go and land up pushing the bike all the way to near the gate. Gary's bike won't start either, so is beckoning for his starter form the pits. Great idea!

I hand the bike to Andy near the gate and say "I'll be back in a minute". Clunk! Clunk! Clunk! I lope-jog to get my battery boost pack. Clunk! Clunk! Clunk! By the time I get back to the bike, there is a crowd around it checking and straightening things. Derek Brindley just finishes off sorting my gear-change. Awesome! Thanks guys! I plug in the booster and after a few tries. Braaaaaaaap!

Jason Cursley looking badd before a heat

Jason Cursley looking not so badd between heats

I hussle her back to the start line and in seconds we're off on the restart. I get an okay start and am again in the thick of it in turn 1. Turn 2 I spin her up too much and lose a place. Damn!

For the next few laps I have a close battle with Geoff Cain - he's faster into the turns. He gets alongside me on the outside going into turn 3. We're side-by-side coming out. I'm spinning up the rear too much. Too much adrenalin and haste. "Just take it easy... feeeeeel the traction. Get her hooked up and DRIVE".

Pro heat - Co-Built Geoff and I were pretty close all day/evening

We're locking elbows as we drift out of turn 4. It's close, real close. Neither of us give an inch. I get the inside through turn 1 and 2. But he's back at me into turn 3. I work on getting drive out of 4 and I get ahead of him. I'm clear.

Next lap as I get form turn 3 to 4, I feel a nudge on my outside arm. It's like someone walked up to me and gave me a tap. Weird. Surreal.

 Co-Built Geoff sporting a cool Ruby helmet

I glance over and see a flash of yellow. It's Geoff again! I dig in and push harder. I'm onto the back wheel of Guy Sutherland now. He's trying to get past Tom Clemens ahead of him. I just keep to the lines and protect my inside from Geoff... waiting for an opportunity to get by Guy. I daren't not try anything bold on Guy because Geoff will have me as soon as I'm off line. The race winds down and last lap flag is out.

Guy makes a push for the pass on Tom into turn 3. He makes it stick and is ahead of Tom as we go into turn 4. But he overcooks it and goes down in the dust cloud. I wind up taking 6th. A close, hard-fought race. AWESOME!

Disappointed to not make the Pro Grand Final... but very happy with a 6th in the Thunderbikes after coming off in the first start. Got to take the good with the bad... missing a practice, a heat and a place in the Grand Final - kinda balances out with crashing in Thunderbikes and still salvaging 6th in an great race. Think my battery is on its last legs.

A good day on the clay! Thanks "56" James Boddy for the pic

What a day! Thanks Gary Inman, Dave Arnold and all the folks involved in the DirtQuake event. It was an absolute cracker! And thanks Anthony Brown, Anna, Andy and all those making the racing happen - awesome job!

Some Good News

Two emails popped into my Inbox within the last hour...

 and

... so far so good. No news on the Classic TT entry, so I logged onto the online entry system...

 



Nothing yet. Just a reminder for me to pay my entry fee...

Guzzi MGS-01

Couldn't resist posting this...
Moto-Guzzi MGS-01 in race trim from the Blood Falcons blog...

Still one of the best looking bikes of all time...

Busy Weekend

Between the Classic TT build, I've been sorting the Flattracker and Wee Monster.

 

Wee Monster gets new fork seals, new clip-on bar and got the broken seat-catch fixed. So idea how she'll handle with new fork oil that is probably a different viscosity to the old. We'll see.


Also got her dyno'd after she felt really slow at Oulton Park (after the crash into the gravel).

She was at 59bhp before... now down to 54. Her class limit (Class A) is 65... she's good as a Class B bike. Crap! I reckon she swallowed a stone or something and has taken a bit of internal damage. She still runs and sounds fine... so should be good for a race or two at Donnington Park on Sunday. I hope. I'm just looking for a finish... my last qualification race for my TT Mountain Course Licence.

Wednesday evening... in the sunshine, good tunes in the background, beer at hand and cutting tyres in preparation for the Flattrack racing tomorrow at DirtQuake II. Ah yes... life could be a whole lot worse :-)

Got a busy weekend ahead!

Classic TT Rear-Sets

Rear-Sets.

Proper rear-sets would be a treat for the Classic TT Duke... but are an expensive, luxury item. Not really in the budget at this stage. The only changes needed on the standard ones are the rubberised, flip-up pegs. The standard positioning is good... typical Italian - short legs and long arms.

I rummaged around my race-spares box for some spare Harris foot-pegs and engineered a few inely-tuned steel brackets so they can be bolted to the standard hangars.

 

 

Happy with the way they turned out... lightweight... ish, don't look too bad (might change the pegs for silver ones to keep it 'period'), solid, sturdy and loads of edge grip to wear a hole in my boot. Perfect!

I can engineer you a set of these babies a lot cheaper than bling rear-sets. £299.00 (excluding the pegs - you have to supply your own). Taking orders now...

Classic TT Build - Making Progress

Been away and super-busy the last two weeks... just haven't had a chance for an update. But things are moving forward with the Classic TT Build

Replaced all the wheel-bearings. Nothing wrong with the existing ones, but just to be on the safe side.

Also had a fight to get the oil filter off (proper wrench on it's way for future oil changes) - so haven't been able to get 2 hours of runtime with fresh oil for the next analysis yet. On the back foot there :-( Worried about that lead content.

Because of the age of the bike, some of the fasteners have never been moved since rolling off the factory floor so they need a bit of encouragement to come off. Also, working on the bike, I find all sorts of little botch jobs... mismatching bolts... incorrect bolts... seized bolts. Sorting those as I go. These things are a bit time consuming and frustrating - quite a few visits up to my local race/fastener/tool shop.

The bike had a James Bond device fitted. It flips the tail-light down over the number-plate. It didn't work very well.

Started the tedious drilling for the lock-wiring one needs for the IOM. Gone through 6 x 1.5mm bits so far. Just picked up another 8 that should finish the job off.

Replaced the clutch plates with some Barnett items. I've knackered 2 clutches over the years on the IOM... the bike is held at max power for such long periods of time, the clutches take a beating. Been using Barnett clutches for racing for many years and they're pukka! Also replaced the rusty old springs with some shiny new ones.

Before and after. Tempted to tart up the pressure plate and make it red... if we have time...

Made up a test spacer for the front wheel to replace the speedo cable gizmo. Will get one made up that I'm 100% happy with.

Happy with the shorter gearing-test, I got some more sprockets and changed the gearing around so that I could lengthen the chain by 1 link. Long wheelbase and high-speed stability is what I'm after. The plan is to start off with close to standard gearing and see where I go from there.

Taking things apart reveals a little history...

Cool custom rear sub-frame arrived. Fitted perfectly. Really surprised how neat and easily all the standard wiring, brackets and sub-frame could be changed. These things are often an absolute pain because they were never meant to be changed.

Made up a little hinge for the rear tank mount so that one can lift the tank easily. Also got a couple of dry-breaks for the fuel lines and some fuel overflow piping on the way. Still need to mount the rear heat-sink and wiring, ECU and shock reservoir onto the sub-frame.

Also picked up the bodywork yesterday from Ian at QB Carbon. He made them lighter than usual and gave them a 'Rosso' colour impregnation. Unless you can give a nice hard 2-pack paint-job, the paint just gets a stone blasting on the front fairing and the bikes look tatty by the end of practice week. Colour impregnation is the way to go for the IOM!

The bodywork moulds were taken of a Corsa. I guess back in 1992, open belly-pans were the norm. Rules now state that they have to be enclosed. This is a major pain in the ass. Going to have to do a few modifications there. It's all a bit tight with the lower exhaust... also a bit concerned about ground clearance, but we'll see what we can do with some resin and cloth.

I fitted the bodywork in a mock-up (I just couldn't wait to see it on the bike!). It fits a treat... the bike starts to look the part now :-) Still need to make up front and rear sub-frame fittings for it all to hang onto.

We're getting there. Still no news on my entries though... think the organisers are pretty tied up with the TT at the moment. Speaking of which... the TT footage has been awesome!