George's first race....

[V12woollie]

Well done Georgio! You are of course as mad as a box of frogs, but credit where it is due.

[avinalarf]

Well done George.

[George29]

Jon39 said:

Well done George.
It all sounds jolly brave stuff. I don't know why people suggest that you might drive your DB9 short distances and slowly.

1:49 seems a good time for a fast enjoyable ride. Whether finishing 17th or maybe 9th, would perhaps not make too much
difference. At 17th, you still have others to race, but probably with less risk to you. Having said that though, I don't know
whether racing is just your hobby. You might be aiming for the very top. It is that stuff about 'racer or rider'.

'I was bouncing off the limiter in 5th through Craner curves, but since I was hanging off the bike I couldn't change up.'
By jove!
What speed would your bike be doing at max revs in 5th?

(I noticed George, that you are not with the famous RR now.)

I'm not fussed about risk levels to me. I want to win, I don't enter anything with the intention just having a good time and not caring about where I finish! I'm obviously not up to the standard of winning yet... but given time I will be. It's only 13 months since I actually passed my road bike test... never ridden bikes before then so have progressed nicely so far

Probably about 120-125mph with the gearing on that bike, maybe a bit less. Not fast enough anyway

Not with RR now either, but still doing work for them indirectly

MollyGTi said:

See (hear) what you mean about the rev limiter

Well good luck with all that but looks like being a bl**dy expensive hobby! Hope the enjoyment you get out of it is enough to make it worthwhile

Yep it's expensive (approx £20k this year including buying the bike), but worth every penny. I'm budgeting £1.5k per race weekend next year. I have 9 of those. Plus track days on top of that.

Y100 said:

Thanks for that George, brilliant footage,,,,scared me a bit when you brushed a little too close to the back wheel on the curve.

Yeah I'm surprised you couldn't hear me swearing on the camera when that happened!

CPBRI said:

Nice riding George! Good race.

Not much of a cool down!

Cheers

Not sure why such a short cool down. Thundersport was run absolutely like clockwork though, no messing about. As soon as one race was in the next was out. How it should be That was probably the reason why.

[Lunablack]

MollyGTi said:

Well good luck with all that but looks like being a bl**dy expensive hobby! Hope the enjoyment you get out of it is enough to make it worthwhile

He's only doing it on the off chance it might lead to some female company.........


It'd be far cheaper to go to Amsterdam every weekend

[Steve R7]

Good Luck George, never `add up` the cost`s it will scare you and you may stop. Enjoy and have fun at this stage,ride safe,build your confidence and if you get the `bug` for racing be prepared,it will take over your life
And if you start winning the feeling is the `best`

Remember `Smooth is Fast`

[Jon39]

George29 said:

I'm not fussed about risk levels to me. I want to win.

Now we know.
You are a racer George, not just a rider.

A great video, and very good camera position. Perhaps there is a story about the 'gaffer' tape on your screen.

Your start in race one was interesting. Please do not think that I am being critical about your start, but I just want to say how the performance of your bike impressed me.

Although you were hesitant on the grid when the lights changed (possibly because the rider ahead of you was slow away), and that did allow a few riders to overtake, but as you gathered speed, you wizzed past the riders who had passed you. Very impressive.

I wish you all the best for Oulton Park.

[George29]

Lunablack said:

He's only doing it on the off chance it might lead to some female company.........


It'd be far cheaper to go to Amsterdam every weekend

There's a girl who races in pre national 600.... She's fit too. Fit women who race motorbikes... Is there anything better?

Steve R7 said:

Good Luck George, never `add up` the cost`s it will scare you and you may stop. Enjoy and have fun at this stage,ride safe,build your confidence and if you get the `bug` for racing be prepared,it will take over your life
And if you start winning the feeling is the `best`

Remember `Smooth is Fast`

Yep the costs are getting to the stage where I need to stop adding them up! Destroyed £300 worth of wets in 7 laps on Sunday when I thought it was still damp. Worth it though!

Smooth is what I aim to be but always end up getting too tense. Need to relax more. Hopefully will come with time on the bike

Jon39 said:

Now we know.
You are a racer George, not just a rider.

A great video, and very good camera position. Perhaps there is a story about the 'gaffer' tape on your screen.

Your start in race one was interesting. Please do not think that I am being critical about your start, but I just want to say how the performance of your bike impressed me.

Although you were hesitant on the grid when the lights changed (possibly because the rider ahead of you was slow away), and that did allow a few riders to overtake, but as you gathered speed, you wizzed past the riders who had passed you. Very impressive.

I wish you all the best for Oulton Park.

My starts are utter wk I admit that. I always go backwards with them need to practice them.

Can't wait for Oulton Park next year. Doing Wirral 100 and Thundersport there. My favourite circuit and generally where I'm fastest. I love how Donington flows but I'm not right fast there

The gaffer tape is from a previous off! It will look absolutely immaculate next season though

[ADvantageV8]

George29 said:

Cheers Luna. I didn't think I was on the pace at all... 1:49s round Donington aren't great, I should have been 1:45s minimum. Need to start running race shift (am going to try it next Saturday at Oulton) as I was bouncing off the limiter in 5th through Craner curves, but since I was hanging off the bike I couldn't change up Same going up through Starkey's.

Got 17th/31 today. Quite pleased with that but was 14th at one point... shouldn't have let it slip. My mate reckons I'm not aggressive enough with standing people up/cutting their nose off into corners. Hopefully that will come with more race experience. Videoed a couple of my races, will stick them on youtube and post the links when they're done

Had a slight incident first race where my front wheel touched someone's back wheel through Coppice... was a bit nerve racking but it soon got him out of my way (he did stay on!). He ran wide at the first apex so I was going underneath him... he then pulled it back tight for the 2nd apex which left me nowhere to go!



Another pic of me hunting someone down into the Melbourne loop too (who I did pass!)




And of course congratulations to Joe. I watched most of the Mostar cup this season, he deserved to win it. Very quick and consistent Aprillia RRV450 next year?

Looks like you enjoyed the first race George and dont get too hung up on wanting to try a race shift pattern whilst still learning base race craft as you'll find yourself thinking too much about are you shifting up instead of down etc when you're already beyond the breaking point / apex. If it helps then for your starts, particularly on a high revving bike like an R6 when you form up on the grid after the sighting lap then engage first as you come to a stop and when Syd walks off the grid then get the bike right on the clutch biting point and peak power and really hang over the front of the machine to stop it flipping then when the reds go out you're already fully loading the front end and going to get a much faster race start than blipping the revs. It will feel a bit unusual at first to have so much of you hanging literally so far forward by front yolk but will help you get it off the line a lot faster. Who ever advised you to stand people up and cut of the nose then at best ignore them or at worse suggest they go and have a chat to Dave Stewart in the tower if you're doing a TSGB meet (or any other club come to that) as trust me if you're doing that standing up / cut up then you'll not be doing yourself or your fellow ACU competitors any favours - if you're a quicker rider then you'll pass the rider in front regardless. Enjoy the rest of your season and good luck in 2014

[George29]

ADvantageV8 said:

Looks like you enjoyed the first race George and dont get too hung up on wanting to try a race shift pattern whilst still learning base race craft as you'll find yourself thinking too much about are you shifting up instead of down etc when you're already beyond the breaking point / apex. If it helps then for your starts, particularly on a high revving bike like an R6 when you form up on the grid after the sighting lap then engage first as you come to a stop and when Syd walks off the grid then get the bike right on the clutch biting point and peak power and really hang over the front of the machine to stop it flipping then when the reds go out you're already fully loading the front end and going to get a much faster race start than blipping the revs. It will feel a bit unusual at first to have so much of you hanging literally so far forward by front yolk but will help you get it off the line a lot faster. Who ever advised you to stand people up and cut of the nose then at best ignore them or at worse suggest they go and have a chat to Dave Stewart in the tower if you're doing a TSGB meet (or any other club come to that) as trust me if you're doing that standing up / cut up then you'll not be doing yourself or your fellow ACU competitors any favours - if you're a quicker rider then you'll pass the rider in front regardless. Enjoy the rest of your season and good luck in 2014

Thanks. I certainly did enjoy it. Came in shaking from the adrenaline after the first race!

I need to try race shift, I know I could have knocked time off because of it this weekend.

I think I've sort of explained it wrong when I go on about standing people up. That's when people are trying to get past me. I need to stick to my line and fk them. I was making it too easy for people to get past. If he's trying to go up the inside and I'm in front, I will be turning in on him.

Not sure who I'll be racing with next season. Probably do Derby Phoenix championship and a few other rounds of various other clubs.

[ADvantageV8]

Too true George stick to that line and hold them off. Really great to see and read about a new racer getting out there and doing it so well done. DP run some good races and Jim Hinchcliffe who runs DP is a good guy and very experienced clerk / race director too so they run a decent program. Likewise TSGB are first rate and brilliant club you cant go wrong with Dave and Bernie at the helm. If you're ever keen on doing a round or two "down sarf " and fancy a Bemsee / MRO round then by all means let me know and be good to see you out with us, we will run a dedicated rookie 600 class again in 2014 so even playing field, but who ever you race with have a great time and really enjoy it. all the best Andy

[Lunablack]

George29 said:

Lunablack said:

He's only doing it on the off chance it might lead to some female company.........


It'd be far cheaper to go to Amsterdam every weekend

There's a girl who races in pre national 600.... She's fit too. Fit women who race motorbikes... Is there anything better?

Yes..... Fit woman who can cook..... And wear one of those little French maid uniforms whilst using a feather duster and walking around the house in high heels...










Oops...... Did I just say that out loud

[F1 NDW]

Well this forum sounds to be back to it's old self!
Well done George I'm enjoying your racing write up,
you're a madman!

[AMDBSNick]

Just watched the vid George. You need to MTFU you big girl

[outofstepuk]

George29 said:

I'm not fussed about risk levels to me. I want to win

Sounds like your policy for posting on here. Not sure how you win at the internet, but it explains a lot.

[George29]

ADvantageV8 said:

Too true George stick to that line and hold them off. Really great to see and read about a new racer getting out there and doing it so well done. DP run some good races and Jim Hinchcliffe who runs DP is a good guy and very experienced clerk / race director too so they run a decent program. Likewise TSGB are first rate and brilliant club you cant go wrong with Dave and Bernie at the helm. If you're ever keen on doing a round or two "down sarf " and fancy a Bemsee / MRO round then by all means let me know and be good to see you out with us, we will run a dedicated rookie 600 class again in 2014 so even playing field, but who ever you race with have a great time and really enjoy it. all the best Andy

The Derby Phoenix 2014 calander doesn't look great tbh. I don't like the look of croft. Love Cadwell so that's good. Main reason for doing it is my mate will be there racing too. Always good to have someone else there.

Don't think I'll be doing any down south rounds, a bit too far for me! Will do the Thundersport GB Oulton and Donington rounds, Wirral 100 Oulton round and hopefully the Hottrax Knockhill round

AMDBSNick said:

Just watched the vid George. You need to MTFU you big girl

Cheers Nick just wait til this time next year

[gmacdb9]

AMDBSNick said:

Just watched the vid George. You need to MTFU you big girl

I watched it too, and came to a slightly different conclusion. You are clearly mad, but

[Bincenzo]

Good work George, but you've got to get that perspex fixed, you look like a .

[George29]

Bincenzo said:

Good work George, but you've got to get that perspex fixed, you look like a .

My new fairings and tank are getting painted as I type. Bright orange with a black belly pan. Will look perfect by the start of next season

Or I could just say the screen is an aero enhancement

[Bincenzo]

George29 said:

My new fairings and tank are getting painted as I type. Bright orange with a black belly pan. Will look perfect by the start of next season

Or I could just say the screen is an aero enhancement

Excellent. Slightly confused as to why my colloquial terminology for a traveller/gypsy was censored though, I bet you thought I was calling you something much worse. Anyway, be careful FFS.

[George29]

Bincenzo said:

Excellent. Slightly confused as to why my colloquial terminology for a traveller/gypsy was censored though, I bet you thought I was calling you something much worse. Anyway, be careful FFS.

Is there much worse than a 3.14key?

Will try to be careful but am making no promises!