From Road to Race - where after advanced test pt2

[Just Joanne]

Following on from my extensive posts on my thread "where after the advanced test" and with a lot of shoulder barging from the Webmaster, encouragement and damn right bullying i am starting a new thread to show my progress in the world of racing.

Well the Summers on its way and so ithought i would update you on where i am.

I have two associates who are doing well, both want to be observed at the same time which i find ok, and so we extend the sessions a little giving both the right amount of time but also they can critique each other after the sessions, and me to i suppose

Some maybe aware that i ride for the Freewheelers Charity and am regulaly on a blood bike late at night in the pouring rain, thinking what am i doing here?

But its well worth doing and if anyone is interested click on the link http://www.freewheelers.org.uk/

491718028_FRUuK-M.jpg

well that great, but still not quite hit the spot

so i have decided to go racing

Jo Jo Medium.JPG

This is me testing at Pembrey, now that scared the pants off me but i have several track days booked to get to better the race craft

But i am keeping going again and again and my first race will be at the end of May 2010 having got my ACU Road Race Licence

I have since done another day of testing at Pembrey and my lap times dropped by 7 seconds, due to knowing the the track lines better, a change of tyres and correct tyre pressures

Next training day 9th April Mallory Park

[AndyW]

Good luck for the 9th..........looking forward to the update on your track adventures

See more of Joanne's track day photos here:
http://cvam.smugmug.com/Track-Days

....and you should post some info on the work you've done on the bike Joanne!!!!

[Johny1]

The bike looks great Joanne. Good luck for the 9th

[Just Joanne]

Thanks for puting the Pictures on the Thread, your gonna have to teach me how to do that.

The Bike is an 2008 R1, it has racing sets, micron Exhausts, powercommander with full race settings installed, i am changing the gearing this weekend to 14 teeth front and 45 Teeth Rear which will lower the gearing so i am able to use the full extent of the Gears 1st to 6th where as before i couldnt. I obviouslty have installed a full race fairing apart from that its standard, as the regulations in my class says it must be

Just to give you some idea of the season and the classes i will be competing in

I will be racing in the Streetstocks 700- 1300cc (See attached for rules) as well as the Newcomers class, my aim this year is to get my clubman licence which means I must attend at least 10 races at 3 different circuits and finish in them all. As I have to fund this all myself I am limited to the number of meets I can attend, but always looking out for sponsorship.

2010_streetstocks_regs.pdf

To race in this class you are bound by controlled Tyres which are the Metzler Race Tec K1 Front and K2 Rear, these tyres are £250 a set and I use a set at each 2 day meet, Race entry fees are normally £280 for a 2 day meet (6 races) and then you have the travelling on top and the rest to look after yourself, hence I am what is known as a budget racer. You can only buy the tyres from 2 suppliers and they are stamped to prove their origin.



NG Road Racing Club will be meeting this year at the following events, and i have highlighted my intended attendance

20/21 March – Brands Hatch (Indy)

24/25 April – Cadwell Park

29/30/31 May – Pembrey – attending – NG Road Racing 40th anniversary and Pembrey Circuit 20th anniversary events

12/13 June – Snetterton

10/11 July - Pembrey – attending

13/14/15 August – Anglesey

18 Sept – Oulton Park – Attending

2nd October – Thruxton – Attending

23 October – Silverstone (National new) – Attending

I will be doing a lot of track days to get race fit and race skilled in the next few months I am not racing, like this Friday 9th April at Mallory Park and then early next Month at Pembrey.

http://www.ngroadracing.org/is the club that I race with and they are a very friendly helpful gang of people with all skills and budgets catered for: from the full team set up to the budget racer like myself


I will update you more as the season goes by

[AndyW]

Thanks for puting the Pictures on the Thread, your gonna have to teach me how to do that............

Posting images and photos - viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7

[Just Joanne]

an Update of the 9th April 2010 at Mallory Park a link to there website is here http://www.mallorypark.co.uk

mallorypark_map.jpg

The day was lovely with bright sunshine and lots of bikes at this track day

three groups, Novice, Intermediates, and fast group. i thought i had put myself in the Novice group as i was new to track, but my instructor had put me in the fast group, but forgot to tell me, i was thinking at the time "my god these novices are fast" or am i slow today.

I upped the pace and so the inevitable happended, i had an off. The bike is fine, a little gravel rash, and after a period of time so was i having suffered complete memory loss for 20 minutes.

The morning off as advised by the paramedic and after he gave me the all clear back on the track i went.

By the end of the day, i had dropped my lap times to a good pace. I should listen when people say to me slow equals smooth and smooth equals fast.

Pictures to come, when i can find them

Next Track Day 7th May 2010 Pembrey Circuit.

[SueH]

Complete memory loss for 20 minutes - that sounds serious! Glad you were able to get back on and enjoy your afternoon.
(Hope you didn't scratch your lovely Shoei )

[AndyW]

A few offs in the early days are par for the course I think for anyone serious about racing.......the quick way to find your/the bike's limits!
Glad you're ok and no real harm to the bike, like Sue says the memory loss is rather worrying....GO TO YOUR DOC and mention this

Hope you didn't scratch your lovely Shoei

.......if it took a knock BIN IT!

[Just Joanne]

Thanks for all the advice, i like advice

I think the memory loss was down to the adrenaline rush, the shock and the confusion that comes with it, took a little while to get over, but all is fine now. Had the all clear from the Doctors, and had the shoei serviced and checked and told thats fine too.

Looking forward to Pembrey Track Day and then My first Race Late May Bank Holiday weekend.

pembrey_circuit_map[1].gif

[Just Joanne]

I have been dealing with the Dilema of now my Yamaha R1 is now set up for the track to race.

Especially having recently changed all the gearing so i can help to cut my lap times, how do i keep up the Observer and CVAM stuff that i enjoy doing.

sorted now bought this little bike below, not quite a race bike, but its great for hacking around the streets on, and the insurance is sooooo cheap

Triumph Speed Master.jpg

[phild]

Looks like a bloody Harley!!!!!

[Just Joanne]

Looks like your cruisin (for a bruising)

[phild]

Looks like your cruisin (for a bruising)

It'll be leather luggage with tassles next.......... .........I'm now emigrating........

[DuncanD]

Looks like a bloody Harley!!!!!

It's OK Jo, Phil must be Dislexic, but quite how you get Triumph to read Harley I don't know.

Looks like a comfortable ride. Nice touch with the matching gear already.

[Just Joanne]

well its cool, it keeps me on the road, lets me keep up my observer stuff and ride outs, and i dont have any more red mist moments (on the road at least).

and its British(ish) well its history is

Looking forward to sunday 2nd May, the ride out for the group, been a while since i was able to make it