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Aaron wrote:Trailboss wrote:She is priceless she is also obviously so used to seeing all your videos where we are all passing you
Again it’s a fantastic write up I also checked through some results last night and I am sure it is the highest finish by an Old Bull at Finke. Next best about 100 spots behind in 2010 was Sb-250y, without detracting from sb’s result at all because a finish there in the first 50% is a great effort but given his race experience (safaris, condos, yellow mountains etc) it puts into perspective just how well you did mate one bike same tyres with your Dad cheering you on AWESOME!
TB
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Any one who finishes this race is a bloody legend very well done Gibbit. Chris Thomas from Moree(OBT revthemobkey) placed 5th in his class and 50th outright. apparently had a big off over the bars but pulled through.
Chris was supposed to ride a YZ250 2 banger but was having engine issues before he went out. So he used a bike they had traded in. So to get that result with a bike with no suspension work or previous history is bloody awsome.
Prologue.
I was amazed at how many riders where on the start line with long range tanks filled to the brim with fuel for an 8.3km track.
I started a 2:02pm and he nerves really got to me. I nearly spewed in my helmet. Dunno why cause I had a blast. I was on the start grid with a KX450F on either side of me. I blew them both of the line and held the lead for a few km?s until I came into a corner too hot and had to go wide. One of the KX?s blew past me and then the rest was dust. I also caught a rider from the start grid in front of me and had to deal with his dust.
I got 6min 33sec for my time which put me at 189th out of 519 riders. I use the dust for my excuse for the bad time but everyone was in the same boat. I had some work to do over the next two days.
Race day 1.
It was cold.
My game plan for day one was to take it easy for the first half so I had some energy left for the woops down near Finke and for day two.
The nerves were not as bad, I had 8 other bikes and a Yamaha Banshee on my start grid. I blew them all off the line and kept them all off until the quad with a pink tue-tue came past me on a big sweeper. He then proceeded to cover me in dust until I laid it down when my front wheel washed out in a rut. This can be all seen on my helmet cam footage.
The rest of the trip to Finke was pretty non-eventful. I just rode my own race and passed people where I could. I had a few ?loose? moments, mainly where a nicely graded section would finish with a series of deep woops. A couple of times I was doubling and tripling woops with lots of “panic” revs when I really shouldn’t have been.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXEfIeYRwdA&feature=g-upl
I arrived in Finke in 3:08 mins which put me in 155th place. “Apparently” I jumped the start (have a look at my vid) and I got a 5 min penalty. So 3hr 13mins put me in 180th, spewing! I didn?t get much clean air due to passing slower riders but had a ball with a grin from ear to ear.
We camped down near the river away from all the “riff raff”. Once I found our camp I changed the oil an air filter, had a heap of ‘Endura’, a few beers and went to bed (with ear plugs). The old man had a few red wines so it was like sleeping next to a v8. He had fun though.
End of race day 1 with a big smile.
Race day 2.
Had a good night sleep and woke up a bit stiff and sore. I lost a bit of bark when I fell off at the start which stung a bit and I had no skin left where my steg pegz rub my calves. Once it warmed up a bit, I came good.
I didn?t get a real good start (about mid pack) so I had a bit of dust for the first few km. I had a good run back to Alice with hardly any dust. I just kept catching and overtaking people.
I forgot to do my chest strap up on my Camel Bak so when I got to the woops, it started bouncing around and falling down my back which made the shoulders straps fall down my arms and restrict my arm movement. I rode all the way to the first club fuel stop with my arms pinned back like a spastic. Man I was glad to get to the stop and fix it up. I nearly pulled up a few times to fix it but decided to push on.
I made it back to Alice in 3hr 6mins which put me in an overall of 152th and 16th in my class (35yrs – 39yrs.). Considering I was only hoping for a finish in the top 50% of 520 riders, I was stoked!
The rear tyre.
This Dunlop D952 120/90,19 did the pre-run from Finke to Alice and also the race both ways. I’m very happy with the grip it provided and how it lasted.
Sight-seeing.
Did a bit of sight-seeing around the place. We went to the National road transport hall of fame.
Due to my cousin, we also went on top of Heavitree gap which is a restricted area. This loader went over the edge while working up there. It’s really quite steep and still pretty unstable where it came to rest.
I would have liked to get to Ayres Rock but just didn?t find the time. Maybe next year.
Scrutineering night.
Team Stevo.
Hayden cleaning up for show and shine.
The bike passed with flying colours. I was surprised how little they check. All they did was check the brakes, spokes and vin/engine number. A good tip here is get your riding gear checked first, as they won’t do your bike until it’s done. A few got caught by sitting in the bike line only to find out when they got to the front, they wouldn’t check them.
It was great to soak up the atmosphere and see all the bikes cars and buggies on display. I had a bit of a chat to Grabbo , AJ Roberts, Jarod Bewley and Ivan Erceg. Ivan is a pretty loose dude.
Not sure who this bloke is but he asked if he could have a photo with me and his bike so I thought I would be nice. He looked a bit injured.
All ready to go now. I leave for Alice Springs in the morning.
If anyone see’s this bloke out there come and say G’day!!
All ready to go now. I leave for Alice Springs in the morning.
If anyone see’s this bloke out there come and say G’day!!
Thanks Mate. I would change the jets………but it’s fuel injected!
However……I belive it is already running a bit rich (fair bit of carbon buld up in the head and exhaust), so removing the baffle may help to correct that.
Found this foreign object in the exhaust while repacking it, so I cut it out to stop the contamination spreading.
The finished project!! I just have to put on a few sponsors stickers and some new tyres, then she’s good for a trip to Finke and back!
Lefty, I will take spare valves and a head gasket with me…………..just in case!
