Snetterton 20th March 2004

Snetterton 20th March 2004.

Over the winter I have had my spare (was standard) engine 'refreshed' and tuned. The engine is at such a spec now it will need frequent (every 10hrs of running) preventative maintenance top end 'refreshes'. Bearing in mind the average race weekend including practice day amounts to about 3hrs-4 of running, that can get expensive very quickly!!! So I decided to leave the old engine in there until I have both blown the cobwebs away, thus saving hours on the new engine until I will get the best benefit from it.

After Brands Andrew and Matt said I really ought to get the new engine in there ASAP as I was loosing out because of power. I did feel comfortable at brands and was putting in some reasonable lap times without really needing to push it. Yep they were probably right, lets get it in there!!!

So I enlisted my spanner man Matt to help me do the engine transplant. Matt has helped me with this before now and working together it is a time-consuming, but not insurmountable job.

The plan was to fit the engine on the Friday ready for the race on Saturday. It was perhaps a little risky doing this as it didn't lave any room for error, but it was pretty much the only real available window to do it.

The transplant went well, but kept Matt and I busy until just before midnight, working under artificial light at the track! My fear was that I would hit the starter and CLONK, but the thing actually started up real easy and apart form a slight exhaust blow/leak where the headers were not quite on straight it was a gooer. Sorted out the leak and figured job done, nothing more we can tell until tomorrow, but all seems well.

Matt and I also drained the Fuchs oil out of the fork that I had changed the seal on and replaced it with Motul to match the other fork again. A good job done in itself, as I wasn't happy having different brand oil in each leg …

As Brands was only a couple of weeks prior Andrew and I decided not to bother with the official practice day like we normally would.

My first goal was to get back to 1:14s as that is my best ever time and even though I have been to Snett a few times since, I have never been able to get close to that. So new engine on my side … 74s it was … weather permitting obviously.

Race Day 20th March 2004

Morning Practice.

It had bee wet the day before and had rained overnight, but there was a good wind now and the track was drying rapidly. Chose drys for practice.

Well the time of reckoning was here, warmed the engine up and went to the collecting area and waited to see what this puppy did. I asked Phil, the guy that tuned the engine how I should run it in bearing in mind it had new rings and bigend&main shells etc. He said "er you don't!" … I said "what?" he said "you HAVE to thrash it from the start else the rings will not seat properly and it will never produce max power, make sure it is on full chat on the first lap!". Even though that is against my every mechanically sympathetic instinct, the guy knows his engines and I intend to do what he said. Poor engine.

Pulled away and set off, short shifted to 2nd then opened it up intending to get it on full chat, it got to about 12k revs and stopped pulling, it was as if someone had killed the fuel. Shifted up and it did the same in the next gear Hummm … that's not right … still, it might clear in a bit, I'll stick with it. So again against my every instinct I tried to get this thing to the redline but it really didn't want to know above 12k. If you persevered it'd get to 14.5k but it was gutless and starved of fuel, then there was a quick BURST of power until 15 odd k then it was time to change gear. This bike was not happy but I kept trying to thrash it, again it pained me to do so, but I hoped it'd clear its throat after a bit.

I was getting wasted by everyone, doubt the bike was producing 70 bhp (old engine around the 105 mark, new engine was supposed to be around the 116 mark)

I was mortified, and didn't know what to do, I really wanted to pit in as I didn't like to have the poor engine struggling like this, but I wanted to stay out to see if it'd clear. After about 5 laps I pitted in. . Went straight to where Phil was garaged, to ask his opinion, but he wasn't there. So went back to the Miers tent. I didn't say much when I got back, but my pitcrew/Andrew already knew something was wrong by my body language when riding it. I didn't say much when I got in as I was so distraught. But basically explained that 'it's not right'.

I was nearly in tears, all this time and money I have invested in trying to sort myself a decent motor to try and improve the bike and it wasn't working properly.

I was hopeful that the problem was something simple like a trapped pipe or something, but feared it was something more sinister.

Matt and I set about taking the tank off. Nothing looked untoward under there and we tested the fuel pump; that was working fine too. I got on the Phone to Phil (the chap who tuned the engine), I asked where he was. He was out in his van sorting his rear shock out and would not e back for some time. Bum!!! He was surprised to hear I was having problems, and said that mine was only the second one to have ever not run quite right (just my luck!!!). After describing he symptoms, he suggested something to try, it involved cutting up a bit of card with a specific size hole/slit In it and inserting it into a specific place in the airbox. He said this cured the other one. I had little choice but to try and I was pleased he had a 'quick fix' for me to try. I did as instructed and reassembled the bike.

Problem was that I had no way of telling what effect this modification would have before my first race. I made the executive decision to go out for the warmup lap and try it, if the bike was not significantly better I’d retire, the bike would be dangerous to ride under race conditions as it was, besides the engine was so unpredictable I’d not be doing anything spectacular anyway, so there was little point in racing anyway.

My dad doesn't normally come to watch me race as although he realises I have a passion for it and therefore is supportive of that, he doesn't really like the idea of coming along and watching me put myself at risk; I can understand that. However that said and done, on this occasion my sister and he had come along to watch!!

As described morning practice had been a disappointing time for me, but I took my dad (and sis) to Russels chicane to watch Andrew in his first race as it was pretty near our awning and a good place to watch. Now as I said my dad has never been to one of my races before so this was his first time spectating.

On about the 2nd lap two bikes came together, they didn't go down instantly, but were forced to take a trip across the grass. One of them managed to rejoin the track, but the other was headed straight for the tyre wall. He did the sensible thing and just lowsided the bike rather than hit the wall ... however this was RIGHT in front of where we were watching and the bike bounced off the tyrewall right in front of us!! ... the rider jumped straight up and ran to safety, but I looked at my dad thinking "oh ..."

Where the bikes had gone off the track, they had splashed water on the racing line from a puddle tat was just off the apex rumble strip. This I saw as an instant hazard to the oncoming riders!!! The marshal’s had been prompted on putting the oil flag out to indicate slippy surface ahead, but I was still watching with a keen eye expecting someone to go in a little hot and loose the front on the water ....

About 10 bikes went through ok, I was then looking out for Andrew ... when there was this huge BANG ... basically someone on a Duke had done the classic highside out of Russels, possibly due to the water on his tyre he picked up for the chicane apex??? either way he ha gone down big and was laying in the middle of the track!!! The marshal’s ran out to him and everyone avoided the incident. Andrew had made it thoguh safly too ... but this guy was moving, but not getting up!!! When a man is down on the track (and not getting up) they tend to red flag the race front a safety point of view (fair enough).

At this point I turned to my rarther shocked looking dad ... and said "hummm ... perhaps it wasn't such a good idea for you to come and watch!!!" ... my sister was in tears too!!! ... Ahhhhhhhhhh .... The medics soon scraped him up and he was probably largely ok, but not what you want your dad and sisters (who are very concerned for my safty doing this sport) first experience of racing to be!!! ...

Race 1 Powerbikes AM race

Start 14th on the grid, row 4 Andrew was 17th!!

Waite until a few people were in the collecting area gave the order to take the warmers off. When the rear came off, I put my hand on the tyre wondering how hot it was. It was STONE cold!!! ... Matt felt the front, that was too. Oh bu66er!!! long story short the plug had come slightly dislodged from the socket so the warmers were not properly plugged in!! So not only was I about to go out with an unknown engine, but on stone cold tyres too. This was turning into a nightmare!!! at least I knew the tyres were cold and could ride accordingly though, so was glad I checked!!!

Pulled out of the collecting are and clicked into second, I then opened it up out of curiosity. It pulled much better!! I then noticed the bloke in front was doing a brake test!!! A bit of a sphincter threatening moment but I managed to avoid him ok ... oh for goodness sake what next, this wasn't doing my nerves much good!!!

Lined up on the grid and when waved, pulled away. The bike pulled pretty cleanly up to 14k now, but perhaps a little sluggish as to what it should be. Opened it up down the back straight and again it was pretty clean through the gears now upto about 14k (it really didn't want to go above that though) and was defiantly down on power, but at least it was better than before, it was rideable now I thought. So although I realised I’d not be on the pace, especially as I hadn't been to the track for what must have been over 6months and the practice session was really not worth talking about practice wise; I decided to form on the grid and get some racing done. Although things obviously still weren't 100% right yet, I was a little more pleased now as there was a definite improvement.

I wasn't really after a brilliant start or anything, just wanted to get away cleanly so I didn't get shunted. Got away ok and let things happen in the first turn, trying to stay out of conflict. Got absolutely annihilated down the back straight where my bike wasn't running properly (and being up against 1000cc bikes). Over the course of the first two laps I had probably slipped back to about 3rd from last. But to be honest under the circumstances I didn't really care/mind, I just wanted to get some heat in the tyres and some laps in. I had noticed that the bike not only was underpowered/not revving out fully, but trying to get back on the power in a turn, it'd have a bit of a lag, so you would wind a bit more on ... nothing then whoosh, there came the power. To be honest this was much more disconcerting than the lack of power. Basically I couldn't go into corners hot as the power was unpredictable and the front would be in danger of pushing as I was trying to get the power back (to balance bike).

A few laps in and I noticed Andrew (on his bike) running across the grass just at the strait of the back (rivet) straight. He was still on it, so realised he was ok, presumed he had either gone into the corner too hot and had to pick the bike up and run on, or had a mechanical. Either way he was evidently OK (physically), which is the main thing. Andrew, like I is extremely competitive by nature and we always want to beat each other. I am normally quicker than Andrew in the dry to be honest, but Andrew is more confident in the wet, so I am the one normally 'chasing'/trying there. This was dry, but where I had enjin problems Andrew had cleared off long ago!! As he had evidently retired, this meant that I would still beat him ... even with a dickey engine (presuming I finished) ... This actually brought a slight smile to my face ... a bit cruel on Andrews behalf, but a bit funny on mine!! :o) Poor old bu66er!! :oD

As a few laps went past I got a bit more used to the bikes misgivings, but wasn't comfortable. Then I saw Andrews friend on a GSXR750 in front of me (noticed he had passed earlier). I had closed on him slightly and I set to work trying to chase him down. This was great as it took my mind off the bike a bit, but I dearen't 'push it' to hard, but was trying a bit more now. After about 3 laps of reeling him in I passed on the brakes into the Esses. He did take me back down the start finish, but I got him back on the brakes again into turn 2. I evidently managed to keep him at bay after this as he didn't pass again.

It was soon after this that I started getting lapped :'o( I was not used to this phenomenon and I wasn't really that happy about it. More importantly I was risking getting taken out by an over zealous front runner where I was well off the pace. I could have retired, but just pinched my cheeks I was determined to finish.

Crossed the line in a lowly position, but hey I had completed a race!!!

The way the bike had behaved with this bit of card in the airbox, to me felt like it was just restricting it, so decided to try cutting a bit more card out and seeing how it went in the next race. The idea being that hopefully I could 'get by' with this tempry fix.

It then started to rain heavily ... about 10 mins before my race. I thought about going out anyway, but with an unpredictable engine in the wet I was asking for trouble, so after a bit of umming and arrring I decided to sit this race out ... gutted!!!

About 2 mins before the race was due to start, Phil rolled up!!!

Spoke to him about how the with the bit of card the engine was a bit better, but I had cut a bit more out now as it was being strangled a bit. He said, "er that cured this other bike as it was" ... humm ... basically on the other bike it was something to do with airbox harmonics, Phil never did pinpoint exactly what was going on but this card thing with those specific dimension wasn't just a tempry fix, that was the cure!!! Oh ... well it hadn't 'cured' mine!!! We chatted for a bit then decided to try my original carbs from the other engine with this one (Phil had modified my spare set of carbs specifically to be in tune with the new engine) as hopefully the bike would carburate better (although not ultimately produce as much power as my other carbs if everything was ok). So we watched the SS6 race then set about putting the original/other carbs on. I was fairly confident that we were looking at a carburetion problem here, possibly highlighted because of the exhaust mismatch I described in the Brands report. I was hopeful that the old carbs would work ok though and realise some of the potential of the engine, at the very least make the bike more ridable where carburetion/throttling was more predictable. Couldn't wait to try it out in the next race (as I said I had missed the SS6 one now so the PM powerbikes race).

Race 2 Supersport 600 qualifier

Wet and as described missed!!!

Race 3 Powerbikes PM race

It had been seriously windy all day, but it had really built up now!!! Sitting in the collecting area I had to have both feet down so as not to get blown over!! It wasn’t going to be pleasant to race in this, but I really really wanted to know how the bike went with the old carbs on now.

It was no big surprised but to my horror the race was Cancelled about 2 mins before we were set to go on due to high winds !! Probably a wise decision, but I couldn't believe that I wasn't going to get to try out the bike!!! I felt I had been cheated again!!! all I wanted was the warmup lap, that alone and I’d know if the bike was better ... GUTTED!!!

Not only had they cancelled this race, but the rest of the day too as the bridge at the end of rivet straight had started shedding its sides in the wind ... a good demonstration that the cancellation decision for the SS race was a good one!! But I was still dismayed!! Nothing eve goes right for me!!!

Race 2 Supersport 600 qualifier

Well as described, the day was cancelled!

Summery

Well what a truly disappointing day, the season has really not got off to a good start for me. I had been putting everything into this season what with the new engine and all and really wanted to make this 'my season' after feeling I hadn’t had a good crack at the whip yet. But it just was not working out so far!! Soul destroying!!! Hopefully I can get the bike sorted and things will get better from here, but I am disheartened at the moment to say the least ... :'o(

Phil has offered to sort the bike out, but simply getting the bike to him will be costly in itself as he lives so far away and I don't have my own transport. Phil would have preferred to have the bike from the start to do the engine thing as he could put it together and run it up on the dyno to check all was well. But me not having much cash and already pushing the boat out to pay for the tuning work, I thought that I could save a few bob by doing the actual engine transplants myself as this isn't a 'professional' task, just a time consuming one. As things have turned out it is probably going to cost me 3 to 4 time what I saved by going that to get the bike sorted out now ... I can't put into words how gutted I am, but realise I have to bite the bullet and get the man to sort it regardless of cost. In for a penny in for a pound and all that!!

The guy who normally wins, or at least podiums in the SS6 races, is running a Phil Seton tuned R6, so I KNOW that he can build an engine, I am just unlucky as usually I guess. I have every confidence he will sort it for me, but financially and mentally I could do without this hassle to be honest!

Andrew and I have decided not to do the next round (Croft) now, so the next round will be Cadwell. Lets hope the bike is all sorted by then and all goes well. Hopefully things will go smoothly from now on and I can just move on and just chalk it up to experience.