Monday 12th January (we survived Aramoana)

We left Invercargill in what looked like rain.
The Boys, Adam, Kurt, Dom, Ashley and Darren headed off to Queenstown to let off some steam on the luge and involved in some raw egg fights with some of the other riders that appeared on the scene.
We made our way back to Dunedin, checked out the train station for Mr Cole and booked a trip for the next day on the Tairere Gorge Train trip. We decided to head to the supermarket then off toward the Otago Peninsula and around past Port Chambers to Aramoana. What a slow twisty narrow road, and with the trailer, what a mission.

Once we got to Aromoana we walked out on the break water (called a mole down south) where we spotted a little bit of wild life including half a dozen seals. After dinner we found the sleeping spot and James and I jumped on the push bikes and went to explore the area. We had a great ride around the beach and streets of Aramoana. We spotted a house called “Gunyah” and assume this is where the shootings took place years earlier. We got back to camp before dark and set up under a pine tree beside the bus, a great night’s sleep.

The next morning we headed back into Christchurch for our train trip.What a great excursion it was heading up into the highlands of Otago,the train turned around at Pukerangi 250metres above sea level and wasa 168km round trip.
The train returned around 6:30pm and we headed back out of Dunedin upthose huge hills again but this time with a little more than quarter ofa tank of diesel. We had dinner on the beach by Shag point thencontinued our drive to Timaru.
We arrived at Timaru at 11:30pm so headed straight out to the track andcamped in the grass or should I say dirt at the entrance gate. In themorning we were really surprised to see Andrew Stroud parked near uswith him stretched out under his trailer.

Wednesday 14th January practice day at Timaru (Levels track).

It was quiet warm today so we expected the guys would get some riding in.
A quick track inspection indicated overnight some resealing had occurred, there was a lot of rubbish on the track and the new seal patches looked very slippery.
The administrator from the track was a bit of a hard nut; it was $160 for the day to practise or $100 for half a day, which was excessive, we thought considering Teretonga was $60 for a full day. We tried to no avail to negotiate a decreased team entry. The guys prepared for the afternoon practise. James changed his piston and gear box oil and Graeme changed Nick’s clutch and gearing.
Practise was uneventful until late in the day when James lost the front end in turn one.
Broken bits removed and replaced and he was back out for the next practise, oh dam he did it again in the same place so we put the 125 back into the trailer to work on tomorrow (something to look forward to).
Thursday quickly disappeared as we fixed Hairy’s 125 dropped by the airport and purchased more av gas then back to the Motel.
Then we watched a film in Darren’s room whilst some who will remain nameless (da Coles) rested then late in the afternoon before dinner went for a big walk around a nice coastal walking track.

16th January Friday, Levels practice day.

The weather forecast indicated showers today but those showers certainly did not eventuate. What a shocker the heat was at the track, reported to be over 30º. Believe me it was very draining.
Nick continued to improve all day even though we struggled with tyres and front braking problems. We were fast running out of the right tyres and brake pads for both 600’s. Adam also impressed as he continued to get consistency going faster and faster. By day’s end Nick was down to the high 1:06’s and Adam down to the mid 1:09’s. Nick was pretty happy as his times were already down to what he was circulated around this track in last year’s races. James practiced his starts just about every third lap and finally had them nailed, doing six good ones. His lap times down to the 1:12’s. All is looking pretty good for the two race days to come.

17th January Saturday - Race day.

The weather forecast for today was again for showers and we were presently surprised when we woke up to see blue sky out there, so it was down to the track early to set up and get organised for a busy day.
Qualifying for all today and one 125 race so the pressure was coming on.
James managed to dial in a couple of high 1:11’s during his qualifying, the times faster than his race time from last year. However the 125 pace was certainly hot with Kenneth Jones (that boy from Cambridge) clocking in a high 1:09, very fast for a 125 and just outside the lap record. James was disappointed with his 6th place grid position but this just meant a good start was critical.
The 600 qualifying was also very interesting. Nick was already 3rd and we looked to protect that position and Adam was already in 10th place.
Fresh tyres were pulled out for the last qualifying round and that really paid off.
Nick turned in a low 1:06 and Adam put in three flying laps in a row and moved up to 8th on the grid. Top qualifiers in the 600’s were James Smith (setting an unofficial lap record) and Gareth Jones, Nick behind the leaders by half a second just makes it all too exciting for the big event come Sunday.
James had his first race today and being on the second row of the grid a flyer of a start was needed. Unfortunately this did not occur and he was close to being second to last into turn one. He fought very hard back to 6th and clocked up 6 laps all in the low 1:11’s. On the last lap Hairy moved to 5th with the finish line in sight but on the last corner it was an all or bust move that saw Hairy pipped on the line and relegated back to 6th. Hairy’s number 1 job for Sunday is to sort out what he is doing wrong with these starts and if he gets that he will run with the front runners. A special note in this race; that boy from Cambridge set a lap record at 1:09437. What an impressive ride from Kenneth.
The guys are certainly all pumped and really ready for Sunday’s races. The real bonus for us was Adam’s ride to get to 8th position on the grid, what will happen if this young fella gets one of his good starts (I will tell you tomorrow).
The rain just pelted down after racing and everything got pretty wet, so Graeme and I decided to stay at the track the night so we did not have to pack all the gear up (thoughtful guys really). We went around socialising with those other campers but in general terms a very quiet night.

18th January Sunday - Racing.

As the rain now falls heavily, racing is now over for the day and what a very exciting day in the office it was. They started very well after a full round of tyre scrubs.
The 600’s up first with Nick on the front row and Adam on the second. Unfortunately Adam did not get a flyer as he could not keep the front wheel on the ground.
Nick got a good start and settled into 5th behind Sam Smith who he followed for a whole bunch of laps. Once past Sam, Nick pulled slowly away and finished a classy 4th. Adam was having the ride of the tour to date and was holding his position in the field well, He finished 8th but there was some sort of protest and Jay Lawrence was penalised 10 seconds which moved Adam to 7th place. The team was really proud of his ride and we were all on the finish line to welcome him home.
James first 125 race was another close fought affair. Hairy got off the line alright and settled into a battle around the 6th and 7th place position. The front-runners both running quick times in the high 1:09’s with James in the 1:11’s (being his fastest times at Levels). Final result for James was 7th but we are still confident if he gets off the line quicker he can hold onto the front groups.

The second 600 was another ripper. Nick again settled in early behind Sam Smith with Jay Lawrence right behind him. Adam got a better start and settled into his work.
Nick again followed Sam for a few laps but this time Jay was putting the pressure on so Nick made his move early with Jay following him past Sam. Slowly Nick pulled away to hold a 1.5 second gap. Nick held this advantage to the finish another 4th place, behind Gareth Jones, James Smith and Dennis Charlett. Adam was battling with Jeremy Holmes and Jamie Rajek to finish a credible 8th place.

The last 125 race was a repeat of the earlier race. James got off the line a little quicker but was still doing battle for the 6th and 7th place positions. Rain was threatening and no doubt had already began to fall at the far end of the track. James won the battle with #10 Eric Oliver-Maxwell after passing each other several times. James finished in 6th place behind Avalon Biddle. The race was won by #39 Tim McArthur but the two faster riders were in 2nd and 3rd position but Tim had luck on his side on the final lap when Kenneth Jones went from 1st to 3rd in one corner.
With the rain now falling and our racing over, I think the team had a world record pack up and we were on the road heading to the motel by 3:45pm.
We leave the Levels track pretty proud of our two 600 riders who are really fighting above their weight and we know once Hairy sorts his starts he will be up there fighting at the front.

The circus now moves onto Christchurch and the last round in the South Island.