P.I. Interclub and Broadford Hartwell R3
Lots of engine trouble, no grip but 5 BIG wins!!!
Two big meetings over the last three weeks. The Interclub debacle and the Hartwell series round 3.
The interclub was the usual late, 10am start to not have time for all 3 races. So 1 full day to only do 10 laps!
The times were terrible with the new steering damper making me wobble at every turn. But a win is a win!
Ahhh, hartwell. What a pleasure it is to compete at these meetings! OR WAS IT!
Day 1 practice, oil and water leaks everywhere! Even water in the oil! So a blown head gasket on top of everything else. Tracy had to make the trip back home to get a replacement for a split water pipe. Then finally a cracked thermostat housing! I think I tried every tube of goop on the market to seal it up, so it was left overnight to set.
Day 2 Qualified on pole position! Then when back at the pits, water was leaking everywhere! So it was off with the thermostat altogether and dodgy up a hose to get it running in time for race 1. Amidst the gloom a small bit of luck. A dry track and the steering damper removed, the bike was flying! Running very cold but very fast and another win!
Day 3 Race 2 a damp track and huge wheel spin off the line saw 2 bikes in front of me into turn 1.........not good, one of them was Craig (second in the championship). I had to get past him! Or it would be a huge psychological advantage if he was to beat me.
Pushing the tyres beyond normal grip I out braked him into 'crash' (not a good name for a corner), to slip past and hold on for another win.
Race 3 Now sporting some hand cut grooves in my tyres thanks to a grooving tool borrowed of another rider. A great start and the bike was handling a treat. It just got better and batter! Blown head gasket and no thermostat but flying!!!!
So I'm now leading Hartwell series by over 35 points and the Interclub by .....well ....Heaps! In the Vic titles we are third but anything can happen with that one!
Next race is at Phillip Island on August 16th & 17th
So now I have 8 weeks to pull out the motor and do some major work to it.
I just want 1 meeting to go smoothly!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pic : some of the other riders say I have too much of a weight advantage..........what do you think?............Nahhhhhhh!
Cheers!
Chris Rostron