Tokoroa GP 2013 Photos

Here are some more photos from the Tokoroa GP 2013. I cannot emphasis how awesome this event was, such great competition!

^Nathaniel Diprose took it out on his Honda NF4 RS125 powered by a 80cc watercooled Derbi engine putting out 21hp

TOKORA GP 2013 – PITLANE & PRACTICE

On the weekend the 2013 F4 GP was held at Tokoroa Kart track. This is a simple walk through the camp ground/pit-lane on Saturday followed by some practice laps by the F4 GP class. There will be some more video of the fierce race to come. There were TEN, yes, 10 Honda RS chassis’ at the GP this year. This included one RS250 and one NX4. That is more RS’ than the National 125 rounds!

ROYS HILL ROUND 6

I haven’t posted in some time so here’s a quick catch up. The final round of the North Island Series was held at Roy’s Hill Kart Track in Hastings at the end of March. Another spectacular track and some amazing roads to get there through the gorge hills. I did pretty average, sitting at the back of A grade with a bike performing very badly and some slow lines as it was my first time there. Never the less it was a super fun weekend. The final race came down to Rick Ford and Reagan Griffith with Reagan taking the series win, congrats!

Yes the race track is located in vineyard country and is in fact built between two vineyards and a road. You really couldn’t ask for a much more beautiful area. I’m thoroughly looking forward to the next race there, and the start to the new season. Hopefully I can inspire one or two readers to join in on the incredible fun.

F4 AT MT WELLINGTON – NOV 24 2012

A rough video I put together of the racing from last weekend. Hand held, shaky and my battery ran out for the finish but you get the idea. Turn the volume up and watch in HD.

MT WELLINGTON NOVEMBER 12

Rick and Henk on the F4 sidecar onto the main straight, look at the concertration! These actually go pretty well with two people believe it or not

Photo of myself by my dad Simon

Last Saturday I finally got my engine back together and running after being sprawled over the benchtop all week. We didn’t get a chance to have practice before the October meeting so were allowed an addition practice and fun day last Sunday. I was frothing to get out there and by 1pm I was stuffed, too much track time, not enough muscle strength/endurance. I managed to drop my PB time down to a 33.35, 0.75 seconds from my last meeting, which I am pretty stoked about!

This Saturday there is the north island series round at Mt Wellington and on Sunday a 40 lap b-grade endurance race followed by a 2 hour endurance race (team of two, 30 minute stints). With the weather looking like it’ll stay dry for the weekend I’m more than keen! It was my birthday on Monday and my parents were nice enough to buy me some italian Gaerne GRW boots! No more fear of broken ankles! Whilst we were searching around for boots I bought myself some Revit! racing gloves too so I’m all geared up and ready for some more track time. Last on the list is another tune to make sure the engine is running at optimum, some physical training to get my strength up and someone to point out how to improve.

Keep an eye out for some more photographs from the coming weekend, fingers crossed on a good result

SPANIARD DYNO

Note: old man in green is my old man. The guy sitting on the bike with a broken arm and doing the honours is Kelly (racing related injury) who I bought the bike from and who built up the engine.

I got the bike on the dyno on Saturday and ran her up to tune the new carb and exhaust in. The last time it was on the dyno it had a hideously loud but well functioning megaphone exhaust which has been swaped off for something a bit quieter to keep the peace. Whilst it was making almost as much power as it was with the megaphone (19.6 vs 20.4hp), the curve was on the piss. A few changes in pilot and main jets and resetting of the fuel floats filled in a large hole in the curve.

Unfortunately I didn’t have a new plug with me because it seemed that the current one was a bit poked. A tighten up of the gap found a bit more in the curve but we left a little disappointed in the result. Although it went off the dyno a huge amount better than it did when it rolled on, the illusive megaphone curve taunted me whilst trying to get to bed that night. I’ll get a new plug and consider having a go at moving the needle around but I’m really dreaming of how to quieten down the megaphone to an acceptable race level.

I painted the seat frame on Sunday which improved it’s looks drastically but with summer holidays coming closer and my wallet tightening further I don’t think I’ll paint it until next year… maybe. Racing is on this weekend and hopefully the rain stays away because I am beyond addicted and I need a hit of racing.

RACE MEETING #1

After torrential rain through the night I didn’t think this event was going to happen. Auckland’s weather surprised me again by clearing out and bringing the sun to dry up this notoriously slippery track. I went out with my old man who shot a few photos of me trying to get used to the bike, I really wish I could have made practice on Saturday.

The fastest lap time is in the 30 second mark with the top guys lapping consistent 31 and 32 seconds. The lap times the class I’ve started to race in are approximately 33 seconds to 34 seconds. I started the day out slow to get my bearings and ran a 37 for the first 10 lap sprint. The next was a best of a 35.6 then a 35.0. The last race session I put my best time down as a 34.0 which I was fairly happy with. The bike has plenty of power and I know when I get better I can start to hustle a bit. I need to find about 0.8 of a second per lap to be setting times up near the top of my grad but it’s the racing skill that counts and the ability to pass. Again, I’m frothing to get some experience under my belt with the rad guys who race every month.

Huge thanks to the guys who put this on whilst racing too, it’s hugely appreciated!

RACEBIKE – THE SPANIARD

Finally! Man that took far too long… that is for me to own a race motorbike. So my dad and I picked her up today for a very good price considering the work that has been done (spec list below). Honestly I think Suzuki FXR150s are pretty damn ugly but even when they’re almost stock they are very good value for money. There are limitations however and this bike has already had a few of them scratched off.

At this time it’s pooring with rain outside and the monthly bucket race meeting is this weekend. I missed the practice today because we had to pick this up but I did get a chance to give it a punch down the deserted country road and was very pleased. These make approximately 16hp from the factory and this one has been dyno’d at 20hp with a healthy torque curve which is the main thing given the nature of the tracks we race at.

I took a few things off the bike tonight and swapped the sprocket for a larger one for tomorrow but I also started to plan a new colour scheme. I’m a bit bummed I don’t have fairing space to play with – because they’d just get obliterated – but I did a quick photoshop for myself and I’m psyched to make this thing my own. I bought a back protector today so now I just need some proper boots and gloves and I’m set with gear.

Spec/modification list and other stuff I picked up:

After market high lift cams and heavy valve springs (3 meetings on these)
Ported head
64mm piston (6 meetings on this) and copper head gasket
28mm Keihin flat slide carb
Custom stepped header and muffler (plus a very good but loud mega phone exhaust included)
12 tooth front sprocket, new 47 tooth rear sprocket and new chain. 48 and 49 tooth sprockets included
GSX250R wheel conversion with Dunlop slicks
Standard wheels with wet weather tires
Raised footrest hangers
Clip on bars
KX125 quick action throttle
And a bunch of useful spares

The person I bought it off had this to say about it: “The bike was used for the north island series with several wins and top 3 placings, finishing second overall. There is plenty more scope for development but is still up there with the best”. I’m stoked,let’s get out there.