A tough day at the office for Vinnys first race meeting, at Summer Cross in Awakaponga Bay of Plenty, after a 2 months break!! We had a practice at Tokoroa to make sure all was well with the 85 bike. After no spark we had swapped the plug and the bike started well. Problem sorted.... And the clutch master cylinder was leaking so a new plunger was ordered plus a new rear brake disc. When the disc turned up it was the wrong size so we would have to survive with the old one. But the clutch plunger arrived and I fitted it in the master cylinder. We were ready! We arrived on Friday and camped on site. Nice and warm weather, and some burgers we made on our camping stove kept us happy. Saturday looked good. No rain and a cloud cover that stopped the sun from burning us. The bike started 2nd kick and Vinny rode to the startline for the 12-13yo 85cc practice. He turned off the bike and waited for the start... and the bike never started again no matter how we pushed. kicked and prodded. Back to the pits to look deeper in to it. Second time in 3 years of 85cc racing we did not have a spare bike with us and exactly the same problem, a dead stator! (We has sold the spare 85 to buy the 125 that Vinny is still to race with). That would have been the end of it... But we learnt that Jacob Biels KTM had a developed a noisy main bearing ending his riding for the day. We borrowed his stator and Vinnys bike was alive again! We just made it to the starting line for Race 1 and there was a chance for some riding. But a lap in the new clutch plunger seized and left the clutch on. A DNF for Vinny. Back in the pits I found that the O-ring on the new plunger had swollen and jammed the plunger. (a brand new unit and using the KTM recommended/supplied hydraulic clutch fluid...what?). Some White Man Magic and the clutch was again usable and Vinny was lined up for Race 2. OK start and Vinny looked good as he settled in to 9th (of 37 riders). He was keeping ahead of Carlin and Leroy lap after lap at times pulling a little ahead but never getting away. Then on the last lap the presure took its toll and a small mistake allowed both past. Vinny finished 11th and his racing had looked good. He also loved it and could not wait for Race 3 where he wanted to climb a few spots... That was before he forgot to turn on the fuel tap at the starting gates. (Hear me scream in the video...) Vinny started the chase from 10 seconds behind. He passed the backmarkers before end of lap one and by end of the race had worked him self just past half the field to 18th. That gave him a DNF, 11th and a 18th for a 24th in the Champs. Clearly this was not the return to MX we had planned for. But we all have one of these days. We never came here for placings but to do some good riding, plus in Race 2 and 3 Vinny got just that. Now a couple weeks until Valley Champs in Patetonga! https://youtube/watch?v=62eCB8Y0lYI&feature=youtu.be
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 22:26:53 +0000
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