Spotcom Racing - Monster 696!

[tricolore]

I think it might be something i should do sooner rather then later before all my man courage wears thin........ For instance at Eastern Creek, on my S4R, i go down the straight flat out but going in to turn one, I've backed off 3/4 of the way down the grandstand (man courage wearing thin) and coasting in at about 150-160km....... Most fellas out on a race meet i would have thought would be going flat out through there....... Its only an example but sums up my point in my head to whether i could or couldn't do it.......

This is something that interests me too. Check out this link for the info... http://www.ozbearsracing.com/2010/10_BEARS_CHALLENGE.pdf

Spotcom, Have fun mate, sounds like it will be a real blast! Your doing something most of us would have dreamed of at some stage... I am jealous.

[tricolore]

I think it might be something i should do sooner rather then later before all my man courage wears thin........ For instance at Eastern Creek, on my S4R, i go down the straight flat out but going in to turn one, ive backed off 3/4 of the way down the grandstand (man courage wearing thin) and coasting in at about 150-160km....... Most fellas out on a race meet i would have thought would be going flat out through there....... Its only an example but sums up my point in my head to whether i could or couldnt do it.......

P.S. Dont look at your speedo.. I find it slows you down and breaks your concentration  .
In the new year we should hook up for a track day, I will be looking at squeezing in some weekday meetings. I recall weekdays suit you  . I am booked for Mon 22nd Nov but I think that is waiting list only now.

I get the feeling another OZMo Track day is brewing.... woohoo!

[cakeman]

Hey tricolore I would definitely be 100% keen for that!

[spotcom]

This is something that interests me too. Check out this link for the info... http://www.ozbearsracing.com/2010/10_BEARS_CHALLENGE.pdf

Spotcom, Have fun mate, sounds like it will be a real blast! Your doing something most of us would have dreamed of at some stage... I am jealous.

The BEARS idea is what originally got me thinking about racing. The only problem with BEARS as I see it is that for a club that is largely based in NSW, they do very little racing in this state!  5 rounds in 2010, 2 in Victoria, 1 in SA, 1 in Qld, and 1 in NSW.

I'm thinking that the Formula Extreme racing may well be the go next year. http://www.formula-xtreme.com.au/xtremema.nsf/1-FrontNewsPage

[spotcom]

Just got my race pack in the mail today.  Here's what I'm up against (some of the abbreviations are a little ambiguous):

• DUCMON
• SMR450
• HUS510
• KTM690
• DUC696 (moi)
• DUC900
• KTM654

They're all in F5. Seems like there'll be some motard action!

In the same race will be the F3 grade, consisting of:

• TRI900
• DUC748
• TRI600
• MOKO360
• BIM780
• TRI595
• DUCSS
• BEU1200

I'll have my work cut out for me!  [moto]

[DUCMONROB]

Spotcom if you look at the point score from the previous rounds the second position is a Monster 600.

All you have to worry about is how far you can push yourself and race craft.

Good luck on the first go.

Rob

Ps. I wonder who goes by the name of "DUCMON"?

[spotcom]

I don't think they're stealing your user name ... I think it's the bike.  The rider is a "Linden Roth". 

[Veloce-Fino]

Looking at your direct competitors, you have a good chance at 1st if you can "ride your ass off."

Best of luck!

[Mr.S2R]

That is an awesome looking bike Spotcom - great work! So jealous!  Hope you have fun and stay upright.  Best of luck racing.  [moto]

[tricolore]

Spotcom if you look at the point score from the previous rounds the second position is a Monster 600.

All you have to worry about is how far you can push yourself and race craft.

Good luck on the first go.

Rob

Ps. I wonder who goes by the name of "DUCMON"?

I think it's actually a 600 with a 800 engine in it. This is from Bears TV. 09 Broadford Race 3

[tricolore]

Hey tricolore I would definitely be 100% keen for that!

I  will keep you posted!

[monstermick58]

So......

How did you go??

Lots of fun, lots of nerves, wanting to go pee when on the grid for the first time, shit yourself in the first corner, telling your self that these bastards are all crazy then you got in a groove and thought you were in heaven.

C'mon, tell us!!





                                      Mmick

[spotcom]

G'day

I had a ball!

5 races, 5 places, including 1 2nd and 4 3rds.  I ended up with a barrow-load of trophies at the end of the 2nd day: 3rd in BEARS F5, 3rd in DOCNSW F3, Best Novice Rider and 1st in the St George Handicap race.

I ran the first practice session and still felt the bike was a little spongy in the rear, so came back in and put some more preload on. This improved things, and I qualified in 11th out of a total of 15 riders (there were 8 in F3 and 7 in F5).

The first race then came around almost before I was ready. Then came the start - something I struggled with all day. Essentially the 696 clutch engages almost at the end of the lever throw, compared with other bikes I have that engage much earlier.

So, in the first race, like many of the others, I found myself having to scrap my way up through the field, which was fun in itself.  I finished in 8th overall in the first race, which meant that my grid position for the 2nd race improved to 8th as well.

Michael from Carbon Imports popped over the next day with a much needed part - I'd lost a bar end at some point on day 1.  We joked about the bar end being very aerodynamic or being filled with nitro or something, because the first race with it on was my best - I managed 6th overall, and 2nd in F5.

All up it was a dream start to a racing career. Sure, I won't be quitting the day job, but the weekends may be a little busier now!

I enjoyed the experience so much that today I've entered my second race meet: I'm going to Phillip Island on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of December to race in the support races for the 6 Hour that's being held there.  That will be a much tougher event because BEARS will have about 48 bikes on the grid, all the way from the storming 1198s to Triumph 675s, Buells, BMWs, etc.  I'd best get used to being lapped!

Thanks needs to go to Aunty Mal for all his advice and encouragement. Also to "Loopy" Darren Lewis from Frasers Newcastle, who shared his pit and his espresso machine with me.  Michael from Carbon Imports Australia has also been very generous with his time, advice and goodies (including those bar ends - please, do yourself a favour and get some if you want to go quicker!  ). 

Thanks should also go to St George for putting on the event, and to the officials who donated their time to get this up and going.

I'm still tracking down where the official photos are - there were photographers out there, but I don't know who to contact just yet.  Will post photos when I get them!

Bring on Phillip Island! 

[PAUL M]

Well done, glad to hear all went well

can't wait for the Phillip Island report

[Mr.S2R]

awesome work spotcom!  [moto]

thanks for the update!