My first track day.

[fezzick]

Years ago, when all race meeting had travelling marshalls, I used to perfrom that duty and I really enjoyed it.

BUT, that was a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, far away.

In fact, the last time I rode around Oran Park was 1984.

http://www.halltech.com.au/CBX/CBX550.jpg

So, after a lot of thought, I decided it was time to get out there again and see what changes had taken place in the intervening years.

On April 29 I sneaked into the first "D" grade session, determined to either succeed or look very foolish. I also sneaked so that the guys on my forum wouldn't know I was there in case I made a God-awful fool of myself and they'd have enough ammo to plaster me with for the next 5 years.

2 laps into the session someone binned a bike in Turn 1/2 and the session was red-flagged while the oil spill was cleaned up.

Back on track again and I fell in with a guy on a GSX-R of some sort. He would HOSE me down the straights, but I caught up with him in the twisty bits.

The track was just as I remembered (only rougher). I soon found that the flow had returned and it was all just so smooth. Amazing. Amazing, that is, until the guy on the Zook looked behind him in Turn 5 and saw me there, gassed it up and high-sided straight in front of me. Oh crap.

Rider and bike were skidding up the track towards the bridge while track day novice me was burying the bike on brakes and aiming for the ever-decreasing gap between him, his bike and the edge of the track. I missed his helmet, but only by a Maxwell Smart distance.

Session red-flagged again, this time for good.

I went out in two more sessions and called it quits. I could have gone out for the last 2, but figured I'd had my fun and I'd proved my point. I COULD ride the track, and do it pretty effectively too. By the last session I was feeling very comfortable and was starting to worry less about the people behind me and more about what was in front.

It was a hoot. I rode my pace and concentrated on line and smoothness, as I like to do on the road, and it worked.

When I get a bike again, I'll certainly be lining up for more.


http://www.halltech.com.au/forum/IMG_4504_medium.jpg

Oh, I should add. I'm 58 years old!

[MATTK6]

nice write up there mate:ayyy:
next time theres a race meeting, i'll put my hand up to marshall again, but i'd love to do the rolling mashalls job:ayyy:

[dungbeetle]

nice work mate. i would have loved to ride oran park in 1984, but i was only 13!! james pulled a guy up front of race school on may 10th and intrduced him. i cant remember his name, but he is 60 sumthin years old and has been racing for 2 years!!! ill be stoked if i can even get on a bike when im yours or his age!! hope to see ya at a track soon:D

[jasonbw]

Great stuff coming out of the track closet Fezzick, so you're part RAT part IRA.. thats a mean combination!

and RIP the VFR, have you worked out what red beast you will get next?

By the sounds of it you've had a huge involvement in the Australian Racing scene... you were calling the race at Oran Park werent you? Good stuff !!!

[jasonbw]

Now I feel like a fool, have since read your post in "the Go Show" thread.. that answered all questions... amazing.. really glad to have you abord here Fezzick.

P.s. I was the annoying guy who had Zippa talking on his mobile while you were trying to commentate :) sorry !

[fezzick]

Great stuff coming out of the track closet Fezzick, so you're part RAT part IRA.. thats a mean combination!

and RIP the VFR, have you worked out what red beast you will get next?

By the sounds of it you've had a huge involvement in the Australian Racing scene... you were calling the race at Oran Park werent you? Good stuff !!!


Yes I was, mate. Dunno about replacement yet, but it just might be another VFR (how predictable am I?)

Yes, I've been going to the races since 1976.

I have commentated Bathurst bikes races twice (1980 and 2000). I called the 1979 Castrol Six Hour Production race at Amaroo and the Road Closure steet races in Canberra from 1977 to 1981.

I was also the Founding President of Canberra Road Racing Club in 1977 and am its only Honorary Life Member.

It's been good.

[Turtle]

G'day Fez and Don't worry about that age thing, it wont slow you down, :ayyy: I ride with a guy who is 60+ and no-one i know can keep up with him, actually you may know him. (Alan Hales)

[fezzick]

G'day Fez and Don't worry about that age thing, it wont slow you down, :ayyy: I ride with a guy who is 60+ and no-one i know can keep up with him, actually you may know him. (Alan Hales)


Ask Alan Hales about the Castrol Six Hour race in 1979. He won it that year with Neil Chivas and I helped commentate that race!!!

I'm not at all surprised that nobody can keep up with him. Very few people could back then, either.

[Zee]

Yes...the Fezzko surprised me :confused1: :ayyy:

[Turtle]

Ask Alan Hales about the Castrol Six Hour race in 1979. He won it that year with Neil Chivas and I helped commentate that race!!!

I'm not at all surprised that nobody can keep up with him. Very few people could back then, either.

We have already talked about it..........Did you know he had his old CBR954 at Eastern Creek and was doing flat 1.40 on street tyres !!! And that was on his 6th Lap before he fried the tyres and Binned it ?

[jasonbw]

Yes I was, mate. Dunno about replacement yet, but it just might be another VFR (how predictable am I?)

Yes, I've been going to the races since 1976.

I have commentated Bathurst bikes races twice (1980 and 2000). I called the 1979 Castrol Six Hour Production race at Amaroo and the Road Closure steet races in Canberra from 1977 to 1981.

I was also the Founding President of Canberra Road Racing Club in 1977 and am its only Honorary Life Member.

It's been good.

Wow... just wow!! that is some seriously good dedication!

I'll put a plug in for the newer VFR.. this was mine till I did my ACL two years ago, had to sell as I couldnt ride for 9 months... I would not have sold it if I didnt have to - this was a keeper.. seriously lovely bike.
but... its Blue ! :)

http://members.iinet.com.au/~jasonbw/photos/bikes/My_2002_VFR800/DCP12748.JPG

[Turtle]

Wow... just wow!! that is some seriously good dedication!

I'll put a plug in for the newer VFR.. this was mine till I did my ACL two years ago, had to sell as I couldnt ride for 9 months... I would not have sold it if I didnt have to - this was a keeper.. seriously lovely bike.
but... its Blue ! :)

http://members.iinet.com.au/~jasonbw/photos/bikes/My_2002_VFR800/DCP12748.JPG

GEEEZ !!! Jase that is a VERY SWEET VFR Dude !!!!

[fezzick]

Wow... just wow!! that is some seriously good dedication!

I'll put a plug in for the newer VFR.. this was mine till I did my ACL two years ago, had to sell as I couldnt ride for 9 months... I would not have sold it if I didnt have to - this was a keeper.. seriously lovely bike.
but... its Blue ! :)



With due respect, mate, I have never liked the looks of the VTEC model and I just never understood the whole VTEC thing. It took away the one thing that the VFR was famous for, seamless power delivery.

[jasonbw]

:) sounds like you know what you need.. a pre VTEC model... here you go (http://members.iinet.com.au/~jasonbw/photos/bikes/My_2005_CBR1000RR/retribution.jpg)... been babied as you can see :)

[fezzick]

We have already talked about it..........Did you know he had his old CBR954 at Eastern Creek and was doing flat 1.40 on street tyres !!! And that was on his 6th Lap before he fried the tyres and Binned it ?


If you've got it, you've got it. He should have won in 1977 as well, but slipped off in the Stop corner late in the race. An immensely talented rider and one of the SMOOTHEST operators on a production bike that I've every had the pleasure of watching.

[Turtle]

If you've got it, you've got it. He should have won in 1977 as well, but slipped off in the Stop corner late in the race. An immensely talented rider and one of the SMOOTHEST operators on a production bike that I've every had the pleasure of watching.

He is unbelievable to ride with, you don't even see him coming till he goes around you......

[fezzick]

:) sounds like you know what you need.. a pre VTEC model... been babied as you can see :)


Bubble wrap! I love it. Was that your bike? Yep, gotta be pre-VTEC for me.

[jasonbw]

:) a friend who thought it was a great idea to use the 300meters of SDLT computer tape as a way to decorate my bike.

That was a brilliant bike too, I completely understand the dislike towards vtec, its a personal thing.. to me it wasn't a prob as the sweetness of the rest of the bike made up for it.. you can probably tell I loved that bike :)

All the best in the hunt, really sorry to hear the reason though... completely unexpected and just plain wrong to fall for no fair reason - same as Turtle here, riding properly, just -very- unfortunate circumstance that could happen to anyone. At least I'm ... hmm.. lucky enough to say I have caused every one of my accidents.. all 13 of them... my own stupidity - young and invincible.. kids are a great attitude changer :ayyy:

Options: here (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Honda-VFR-750-road-bike_W0QQitemZ300113852788QQihZ020QQcategoryZ10268 5QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem), here (http://www.autotrader.com.au/iteminfo/adnumber_W959725446737_kw_vfr*_loc_locRZSQregtAVSC distRZSQAVSCstateRZSQ9AVSCregRZSQ_off_11_sect_Auto motive_sort_otRZSQ0BJDZfdRZSQSellingPrice_sqt_0_st pg_1_subs_Motor+Bikes_), here(nice) (http://www.autotrader.com.au/iteminfo/adnumber_WY2282978201_kw_vfr*_loc_locRZSQregtAVSCd istRZSQAVSCstateRZSQ9AVSCregRZSQ_off_16_sect_Autom otive_sort_otRZSQ0BJDZfdRZSQSellingPrice_sqt_0_stp g_1_subs_Motor+Bikes_), here (http://www.bikepoint.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?UsedBikeID=2425869&TabID=3424&Alias=bikepointau), here (http://www.bikepoint.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?UsedBikeID=2226276&TabID=3424&Alias=bikepointau), here (http://www.bikesales.com.au/as/search/sd.do?recIndex=1&makeID=37&page=0&keywords=vfr&selectedModelIndex=0&y=9&state=2&sortOrder=2&selectedMakeIndex=29&previousResultPerPage=20&x=9), here (http://www.bikesales.com.au/as/search/sd.do?recIndex=2&makeID=37&page=0&keywords=vfr&selectedModelIndex=0&y=9&state=2&sortOrder=2&selectedMakeIndex=29&previousResultPerPage=20&x=9), here (http://www.bikesales.com.au/as/search/sd.do?recIndex=11&makeID=37&page=0&keywords=vfr&selectedModelIndex=0&y=9&state=2&sortOrder=2&selectedMakeIndex=29&previousResultPerPage=20&x=9), here (http://www.bikesales.com.au/as/search/sd.do?recIndex=12&makeID=37&page=0&keywords=vfr&selectedModelIndex=0&y=9&state=2&sortOrder=2&selectedMakeIndex=29&previousResultPerPage=20&x=9), here(pricey but low k's) (http://www.bikesales.com.au/as/search/sd.do?recIndex=1&makeID=37&page=0&keywords=vfr&selectedModelIndex=0&y=9&state=2&sortOrder=2&selectedMakeIndex=29&previousResultPerPage=20&currentPage=2&x=9)

and for the 'teach a man to fish' bit, these were found here:
http://www.ebay.com.au
http://www.bikepoint.com.au
http://www.bikesales.com.au
http://www.tradingpost.com.au

others to look through will be the oroad sports website, ours (RATs and IRA), formula-xtreme... anyone else know some?

Sorry if you already have seen all these, I just hope it can help in the search.. after all, its your next newborn your looking for!!!!

[zRoYz]

fezzick like me I know you would like one off these (that pic was taken Baldhill, you don't know the person do you).

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/210/rc30001od6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Jasonbw I also really like the VTEC but do know why some don't due to the extra bits it really doesn't need, but it is without dought the safest bike I have been on as far as being forgiving. It just does everything better with just that thing that happens at 02-05 7000rpm, 06 6500rpm.

[jasonbw]

OH YOU BASTARD... short of showing me a pic of a NR750 you have the freaking sweetest bike....

[jasonbw]

Ahh, thats not yours... hmmm.. Clem? no, who was it on the aus.motorcycles who had one of these, kinda associated with AMCN??

[Turtle]

fezzick like me I know you would like one off these (that pic was taken Baldhill, you don't know the person do you).

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/210/rc30001od6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Jasonbw I also really like the VTEC but do know why some don't due to the extra bits it really doesn't need, but it is without dought the safest bike I have been on as far as being forgiving. It just does everything better with just that thing that happens at 02-05 7000rpm, 06 6500rpm.

RC 30's are one of Sweetest Bikes on the Planet, my mate has one with 4000k's on the clock and a spare full fairing still in plastic !!!

[Bigdog]

Well done on your first trackday Fezzick.I was sorry to hear about you dropping the VFR on Mac Pass. Hopefully we will see you at the track again on your new bike.

[zRoYz]

Sorry for the small thread hijak, but when you start taking about Honda RC30, RC45 or the wonder if russel crow will spot me $100000+ for a NR750 (if you can find one to buy), I tend to post whore.

[Zee]

RC 30's are one of Sweetest Bikes on the Planet, my mate has one with 4000k's on the clock and a spare full fairing still in plastic !!!


Tony will never part with it.

[fezzick]

Ahh, thats not yours... hmmm.. Clem? no, who was it on the aus.motorcycles who had one of these, kinda associated with AMCN??

Ken Wooton from AMCN owns this one. He was editor for many years. He loaned this one to Freddie Merkel at Phillip Island this year when they did the "Legends" parade.


http://www.halltech.com.au/forum/Kens_RC30.jpg

[jasonbw]

ahh thank you! The man who inspired Vermulen to wear such a stylish hat!

Did you see the eBay VFR back there in my other post? quite a good price... and a few in Sydney for sale too.

[fezzick]

Yes, I did, thank you. You've been a busy boy!

Unfortunately, I look like having 6k to spend which means that I can only really look at something with a max of about 7 and hope to get the price down by waving cash under the seller's nose. That red 800 for 6 looks good, will keep an eye on that one.

There's also a red 1996 VFR on ozvfr.net that I'm watching too, as well as a red/black ZX9-R in maitland for around this price that looks nice. Plenty of options, just have to wait for insurance to pay up.

Anyone had any expeience with ARISTA and claims?

[jasonbw]

Ahh ZX9R... seems you might be getting prepared for the track again :)

[fezzick]

Ahh ZX9R... seems you might be getting prepared for the track again :)

Well, I've always thought that I'd like my next bike to have less weight and more power (don't we ALL? :ayyy: )

However, it also has to be able to live with all the types of riding I do. I commute every day, I do short tours and long extensive ones as well. I do day rides with the gang that usually involves scracthing the backroads and I'd like to do more track days.

No sports bike that can deliver the power/weight equation successfully, can really do all that COMFORTABLY...the only one that has a reasonably comfortable riding position and doesn't have to be revved to 8000 to get it to do anything, is the ZX9-R (that I have been able to find anyway)

Shirvo's going to sell his, I believe, but not till after he's been to the GP in October.

[jasonbw]

No sports bike that can deliver the power/weight equation successfully, can really do all that COMFORTABLY...the only one that has a reasonably comfortable riding position and doesn't have to be revved to 8000 to get it to do anything, is the ZX9-R (that I have been able to find anyway)

Shirvo's going to sell his, I believe, but not till after he's been to the GP in October.

You may be suprised, maybe try a few out that you wouldnt normally do... in the last few years I've changed from a RF900,CBR1100XX,ZX12, Duc Monster, VFR800,ZX12 and now the CBR1000RR... the funny thing about this is the CBR1000RR is by FAR the most comfortable for me... I'm average height (but slightly oversized) :) and now I have the rearsets in the most rearward and upward position and the bike and I can travel all day in comfort.

I can see its another one of those personal choices... I don't rest my weight on the bars now, I take up 90% of the weight using my thigh into the perfectly shaped tank (with Stomp Grip) the other 10% is held up by stomach muscles (not that I have much there)... I've recently tried friends bikes (BMW R1100S - a good contender for a VFR rider BTW and he's selling too) and a Z1000 and I cannot feel comfy, usually my back hurts first since I screwed that up playing B'Ball as a kid... no such pain on the CBR.

Very suprising since I always thought full on sports bikes werent going to be comfy... put it this way, I usually dont keep a bike for more than a year (over the 16 years of riding thats cost a lot but has been fun) but I've now had the CBR going into its 2nd year! Thats saying something.... maybe try some sports bikes and see? Couldnt hurt... much.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, my CBR1000RR is my daily ride, I dont drive... my wife has a car but I ride everywhere, rain-hail-shine kind of thing... its my commuter and its perfect for that job too.

JasonBW

[fezzick]

Meh, I ride every day too!! (well, up until Monday, anyway)

Good on you. None of this pampered bike stuff.

:ayyy:

Might go to a dealer and see if I can bludge some rides.

Good thought, thanks.

[Turtle]

Tony will never part with it.

He's been offered $30,000 and declined, he was gonna save it for his son (Matt) but said if he was offered $35,000 he'd now take it......

[Zee]

He's been offered $30,000 and declined, he was gonna save it for his son (Matt) but said if he was offered $35,000 he'd now take it......

Fark that kid spoilt.....ahh to be the only son in a bike shop family :cool:

[Turtle]

Fark that kid spoilt.....ahh to be the only son in a bike shop family :cool:

We could only dream..............but then again look at Tony, he's sick of the sight of bikes ...........no-one wants to be like that .......

[fezzick]

There was a guy from Sydney used to race one in the RB series. Fell off at EC and seriously injured himself, almost died. Brain injuries if I recall. Anyway, he repaired the bike and put it back to road trim and I think, from memory, he had it for sale for around 10 grand.

That was 2000 or so, I guess, and it had been raced, but still...

[Zee]

Yeah that was the salesman, Blake. Made a full recovery :ayyy: but it was touch and go there for a while. :eyecrazy:

[fezzick]

Wow, you've got a memory just like mine!!

[Turtle]

Yeah that was the salesman, Blake. Made a full recovery :ayyy: but it was touch and go there for a while. :eyecrazy:

Blakes still not the same as he used to be.......i used to go to School with him, i have known him since we were about 8 years old.......after that crash he still has some troubles, believe me .....

[fezzick]

Blakes still not the same as he used to be.......i used to go to School with him, i have known him since we were about 8 years old.......after that crash he still has some troubles, believe me .....

He came up to the commentary box about a year after his accident and spoke to me. His speech was quite slurred and he seemed a bit "spaced out". I really felt for the guy. Sad that he has not fully recovered.

[Turtle]

He came up to the commentary box about a year after his accident and spoke to me. His speech was quite slurred and he seemed a bit "spaced out". I really felt for the guy. Sad that he has not fully recovered.

Yeah Fez, he's pretty close but not quite the same, i think he gets better every year. Such a top bloke ! He's still doing track days now but not quite on the pace same pace he used to. He's now married and has a little baby so he's goin' pretty well. He's now the sales manager for Jap bikes at Frasers.

[Zee]

I bumped into him about oh a year ago now and he looked really well and spoke very well too. A far cry from the condition he was in a year after the crash. I thought he'd never be even close to how he was before the crash but from the outside at least, there's no difference to me.
Blakie always been a bit slow. :) You can tell him I said that...he'll laugh. Top bloke :ayyy: He even laughs at himself, at first when he was a bit slow. He has a great positive attitude :clap:

[Turtle]

I bumped into him about oh a year ago now and he looked really well and spoke very well too. A far cry from the condition he was in a year after the crash. I thought he'd never be even close to how he was before the crash but from the outside at least, there's no difference to me.
Blakie always been a bit slow. :) You can tell him I said that...he'll laugh. Top bloke :ayyy: He even laughs at himself, at first when he was a bit slow. He has a great positive attitude :clap:

Yeah Zee it seems a bit that way......he came from a very "Proper" family and was very well spoken, but he's quite good now compared to when the accident happened, but anyway he and Lynn are a great couple and anyone who knows them would love 'em...i'm sure you know what i mean....

[Steve R]

Good on you Fez
For doing the track day at Oran Park, you might not be able to much longer with the development plans. Although I remember Leppington Pastoral Company when they bought the track many years ago had plans to develop it or turn it into a dairy farm and that never happened. I last rode/raced there 20th May 1984, which was a meeting run by Canberra Road Race Club by the way, and you might also remember that the Goddard boys started their road race career on modified dirt bikes around the same time.
Anyway hope you get to enjoy some more track time when you get sorted with a new bike.

Steve R

[fezzick]

Good on you Fez
For doing the track day at Oran Park, you might not be able to much longer with the development plans. Although I remember Leppington Pastoral Company when they bought the track many years ago had plans to develop it or turn it into a dairy farm and that never happened. I last rode/raced there 20th May 1984, which was a meeting run by Canberra Road Race Club by the way, and you might also remember that the Goddard boys started their road race career on modified dirt bikes around the same time.
Anyway hope you get to enjoy some more track time when you get sorted with a new bike.

Steve R


What an amazing co-incidence. A meeting run by CRRC! Wow. I certainly want to run OP again, but my next aim is EC and WP. It's sure fun. Thanks for the good wishes, anyway! Now it's much too long ago for me to say with any certainty, but the more I think about it, the more I'm pretty sure that the photo of me on the CBX550 at the start of this thread was taken AT THAT MEETING!!!

[Turtle]

What an amazing co-incidence. A meeting run by CRRC! Wow. I certainly want to run OP again, but my next aim is EC and WP. It's sure fun. Thanks for the good wishes, anyway! Now it's much too long ago for me to say with any certainty, but the more I think about it, the more I'm pretty sure that the photo of me on the CBX550 at the start of this thread was taken AT THAT MEETING!!!

Hey Fez being around Oran Pk so much does the name Paul Fenech ring a bell ??

[Steve R]

What an amazing co-incidence. A meeting run by CRRC! Wow. I certainly want to run OP again, but my next aim is EC and WP. It's sure fun. Thanks for the good wishes, anyway! Now it's much too long ago for me to say with any certainty, but the more I think about it, the more I'm pretty sure that the photo of me on the CBX550 at the start of this thread was taken AT THAT MEETING!!!

Far too long ago for me to remember the finer details as well, I did several meetings run by CRRC around that time, but I do seem to remember that bike, checked out that top fairing to see if I might be able to fit something similiar to my road bike (Honda CB 1100). At the time was racing a CR250 built by Tony Hatton that I bought from Alan Cunnyngham. Modified dirt bikes were a cheap and very effective way to go road racing.

[fezzick]

Hey Fez being around Oran Pk so much does the name Paul Fenech ring a bell ??


No, mate, sorry it doesn't.

JEFF Fenech, yes...:lmao:

[jasonbw]

Hey Fezzick...

Its not red, but its in the right $ range... http://www.aus-superbikes.com.au/xtremema.nsf/3af4b8961d968b8fca256e410079fd79/ffa970e4ded4c92eca2572dd000fd379!OpenDocument

[fezzick]

Thanks, mate, will add it to my growing list.

[Turtle]

No, mate, sorry it doesn't.

JEFF Fenech, yes...:lmao:

He used to race at Oran Park on an RC30 ...he held the record there for a while ????
Is there anywhere you can look up lap records at OP ???

[GRL13]

Hey Fez, good to have another VFR lover on my side. I got a '99.
welcome to the RAT house dude. enjoy the site.
Amaroo aye, I watched a few races out there.

[fezzick]

Thanks for the welcome.
Yeah, Amaroo was a tough track. Saw a few of my mates killed there too, which spoiled it for me.

[Irena]

:welcome:

[jasonbw]

BTW, now would be a good time to paste this link in...

This is an interview Fezzick did with Troy Corser, great read, a LOT of effort went into making this!
http://www.illawarrariders.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3303