NZCMRR Classic TT

Where the magic happens // Benelli at Hampton Downs 2013 // Medium format film

Mt Wellington May 2013

Mt Wellington May 2013

I forgot to post about the last track day I attended back in May, here it is:

Another great weekend at Mt Wellington, I was really enjoying myself and got some great starts which I was pretty stoked on. In the second points race I was following Henk around as he tried and succeeded to past Dave Diprose in the mid field. Feeling very confident in myself I started to line him up too but I ran out of talent and ate shit into turn one when I grabbed too much brake. Thankfully my dad was shooting on that corner and managed a few frames of me skipping along the concrete. I got away with a solid bit of rash on my hip which swelled up pretty impressively and a sprained thumb but otherwise pretty good… bike still goes.

Time to update the 13 and 7 year old tires, get a smaller rear sprocket and some more practice I think. Never the less I still managed a 31.03s PB lap in that last race which is my best time to date on Mt Wellington. SO close to that 30s bracket!

GP125 Seat

To be perfectly honest I had completely given up on this frame. With the engine in pieces and being worked on for my RS125/GP125 swap, this bike no longer has a heart.

I’ve always loved the simplicity of classic flat top frame bikes and after my usual internet trawl of delicious bikes this week, things started to brew again. I cut the end off the frame to shorten up the working area and started playing with a template for a steel seat. With no real intention to build something permanent I got to this point and I’m wondering if I should progress with it, I kind of like it. It’s not perfect as I didn’t intend it to be used and I don’t have any real sheet metal working tools (folder, band saw, roller etc) so I had to be a bit creative with some thick steel and some g-clamps.

I do have a gripe on the GP125s styling. The tank side profile is fairly nice on the eye but it’s chubby. If I was really keen/wreckless I’d cut about 80mm out of it’s width and follow suit with the tail piece but… I’m not to fond of the idea of cutting and welding a fuel tank.

On the RS/GP front, I have ordered a small dentist drill and some carbine tip burrs to port the 2 stroke cylinder. Otherwise, I’m just waiting really.

BARRY SHEENE TRANS-TANSMAN CHALLENGE

A typical scene at motorcycle events in New Zealand. Race, sleep, eat, race again.

A favourite of mine, the Yamaha 350 twin cylinder two stroke sounded beautiful.

The Honda RS125 is also one of my favourite bikes and one day I hope to own one. This ’89 NF4 was piloted by a young Australian girl who wasn’t messing around! Awesome.

My dad and I headed down to hampton downs today for the first day of the Barry Sheene Trans-tasman Challenge which runs until Monday. What a day! Sun, fuel and the biggest collection of motorcycles I’ve seen all year. Being trans-tasman, there was a large field of Australian riders there who had imported their bikes for the weekend. The event is aimed towards classic motorcycle racing but there were plenty of late 80’s bikes there too which pleased me greatly.

I shot plenty of photos with more to come including some hot side car action. Head down to Hampton over the next two days to catch the action for yourself, it’s highly recommended.

Dad’s VFR400

About 200 years ago, my dad sold his bike to buy a fridge and completed his embrace of family life. After being motorcycle-less for so long and after many many hours put in encouraging his return to his teenage years, he FINALLY owns another bike!. This time it’s not a single cylinder thumper but a V4, 400cc twin cam, 59HP Honda VFR400, every teenager from the 1980s wet dream. She snarls like a cougar, moves like a super model and makes me embarrassed to ride a CG125 but it’s good to have another sports bike in the garage.

My dad’s 60 years young but grins like a 20 year old and I’m incredibly happy to see two passions reunited at last. Here’s to being a guy and buying dangerous toys that fuel our soul.