RACE RESULTS 2006

Managed to have a day practising on the Saturday, the weather was dry though windy (nothing new for Anglesey). The Forgotten Era was tied in with the Classic bikes for practice; this made it interesting as the classic bikes seemed like mobile chicane compare to the speed of the FJ. The last practice I was allowed to go out with the big boys in the Power Sport class (modern 1000 and 600), this was a lot better even though now I was being over taken.

On the race day the weather had turned to cold and damp. To make it fair for the grid position of the race they have a pre race to determine this. The circuit was damp so I put on normal road tyres as these have normal thread to displace water compared to the Corse, but as I queued up to take up the grid the rain started. Out on the track the bike span up the rear tyre at anything over 6,000 revs, even going through the puddles it would spin (for a brief moment I felt like Nicky Haydon). The final result was I came fifth.

The Forgotten Era has two classes (pre 1989), under 500cc for bikes like Honda NC30 and over 500cc for Exup’s and GSXR1100, so the little 400cc bikes has no disadvantage on such a short circuit like Anglesey.

The worst Race day scenario would be;

First race EVER, soaking wet track, front grid, and wet tyres that one has never tested or even turned on the tarmac. Well that’s how it was. By the first bend a hand full of the 400cc bikes had pushed in front, as the race went on, the tyre went from feeling like riding on marbles to mega grippy, with enough laps I would have got my knee down but 7 laps are quickly dispensed with. The final result was 4th in the race but 2nd in my class, not bad for the novice including orange bib, in his first race on an old FJ and good enough for a little medal.

Prep after Anglesey: Changed the normal throttle to an Enduro quick action type (£30). Up the main jets to 120# over the 118#.

This is a serious track, up to British Super Bike class status. Decided not to have a practice Friday because they wanted £40 for only a evening session (later I sadly found out they only managed three laps due to a Marshal getting killed).

On the race day weather looked good i.e. no rain. Only did a four lap practice (stop with red flag) so it wasn’t looking good.

Pre-race went well, it’s hard to describe the feeling of racing, normally on a track day you’re quite happy to follow someone around and if someone pushes in front of you, you simply move over to let him in and think I’ll perhaps over take him around another bend later.

Racing is full on. You brake later that you feel comfortable with, you bank the bike over until your knee and raised pegs hit the ground, you give full throttle on the exits of bends whilst you case the next guy down in front of you and try to pass him where you feel stronger on the track. Your heart beats twice as fast that I’m sure is healthy to and the visor mists’s up because you are breathing so hard, but when you finish you get a great buzz (some call it madness!).

I got a good start from my 4th grid position and manage to over take a few guys in front, the only problem I had was that the clutch was starting to slip from about 8,000 revs, I had recently fitted bigger jets and the extra power seemed too much for the EBC heavy duty clutch plates to handle. When the flag went down I had come 2nd.

I asked Lorinda if there was anyone behind me and if so, how close?, as I didn’t look behind and was unable to hear any bikes. I thought I had disappeared from them all, but Lorinda said is was great, it was like fly’s around shit as about five bikes were trying to pass me but were unable to.

It must be the size of the FJ, everyone comments that it must be hard to throw such a heavy beast around but with the big Renthal bars it’s surprisingly light (perhaps they don’t realise that I’ve done 180,000 miles throwing a old FJ around). Next time out I’ll fit the GIVI boxes to make it even harder for them!

The Final race was very hard, they all seemed to had removed their brains, one guy on an Exup came on the inside of me at Cascades, made me pick the ‘Fudge’ up, when I had got out of the bend I nailed the throttle only to have massive clutch slip from 7,000 revs, there was no answer to that.

I soldered my way to the end with the slipping clutch to third place (both on the track and in my class) and again a nice little medal.

Mark and Kerry and a few others had come to give their support, Kerry has taken a lot of photos of the FJ on and off track, welcome to view more at their website. (http://kerryrawsonbikes.fotopic.net/).

Prep after Oulton: Fitted the Barnett Six Spring conversion to stop the clutch slip. Connect up a second hand quick shifter so I don’t have to use the clutch on full throttle up gear changes. More speed Vicar!

Mark from Donny gets a breifing from 'Doc' about the new quick action throttle

There is close racing in the Forgotten Era. 'Doc' having trouble shaking off the little VFR400 that are in the below 500cc class. Hizzy's Chicane.