Motorcycle Drag Racing Team
In 2013 I had a tough year of racing, getting taller and a tad heavier, so we were having to work really hard to set up the bike. We made such good progress on the old bike in 2012, gaining 6 positions in the championship. 2013 was therefore very hard gong, I got taller and wanted to go faster, but the bike didn’t. Towards the end of the year, cramming myself into the bike, knees sticking out, it was very obvious I was getting far too big for the old bike and, thanks so much to Dad it was agreed a new one just had to be built.
The new bike is beginning to take shape at Dave Branch's and will hopefully vastly improve on some of the shortcomings of the old bike. Even Dad is too short for the new one, the foot pegs are too far back for him, but is just fine for me ! On the old bike, we were having problems setting up the clutch and finding the balance between the clutch slip and wheel spin in order to get a good launch. Then there was me, the rider that gained an inch in height between every meeting, was definitely proving problematical!
I would like to thank my sponsors from 2013 - Doug at Ensys Ltd and Uncle Steve at Motorshack, who will hopefully be able to continue their support for next year. Thank also to Tony at Abbey Motorsport for some wicked 2 stroke advice and hope he can give us some tips for next year.
PS I am nearly 6 foot 2 and not 15 until May, yes I am tall, please try not to mention it too much, as I am tiring of it now! A Fulfilling Season
It has to be said, it’s been an interesting year!
From winning the first meeting of the Season, at the Festival of Easter, or whatever it was called this year. Driving there in a snowstorm, and being called for the final in a blizzard! Running my Personal best on a track that temperature was -1, when everyone else was struggling with grip issues, the little comp bike just kept skipping up the track, without too much effort at all!
The Comp bike engine had gone off to Ken Cooper at Cooperized and came back better than ever. Running 8.7 normally aspirated was very pleasing. We even jokingly thought about more compression, and going 8.50 normally aspirated…. But by then I happily had a 7.7 bracket bike, and was enjoying myself immensely.
We had a couple of hiccups, one at Shakespeare where I hit the Armco, snapping my brake lever, and needing a bit welded back on and bruising myself somewhat, but still went on to come runner up at that meeting! Kevin had managed to get the bits that was needed to repair, big up to Nigel Barker (I still owe you a lever mate!) and the welding done, thanks to Rick Cook. The second hiccup was changing the slick, and on the first run, I shot left, couldn’t bring it back and crossed lanes. I was mortified. I have never done that before, that always been told to do everything you can not to. I obviously didn’t.
One rain off at Pod, and runner up again at Shakey
I won the APIRA Championship, so onto see if we could achieve the same at Santa Pod
We were still leading the ACU Championship, by quite a hefty margin and I had to keep myself in check and get on with the job in hand.
The next meeting was very disappointing. I didn’t qualify…. Picking myself up after that, the bike had developed an “electrical” glitch….. We changed everything, to try to rectify it. Coils, schnitz box, battery….. The list was endless. Found it eventually, and was the $1 part! By then I had lost what good lead I had, and really had to do well to give me any chance of winning.
Testing the weekend before the next meeting – I ran another PB of 7.61 and then 7.60. Happy that all was well we went to the last meeting of the season, a bit more confident that we had been for a while.
All I had do was qualify well, and get through the first round. No pressure there then!
The night before the meeting, we had got scrutineered, bike back into the awning, and walking to the caravan, I tripped down a gully, and twisted my ankle very badly. Thank goodness for Julie Moxley and a roll of plaster, and ice! After each round, I was bundled off to put my foot in a bucket of ice, and everyone rallied around me! I cannot describe the pain!
I qualified number 1 with another PB of 7.46, and backed that up with a 7.43 in the first round of Eliminations. That win rewarded me with the ACU Championship. The Team were so happy when I got back, I couldn’t believe it – We’d done it!
Unfortunately the bike came out in sympathy for me in the next round, with a big bang, a flash, and lots of smoke, I got to the top end unscathed, meanwhile Kev was down the other end being handed bits of crank case. Thankfully due to running a diaper, there was no oil on the back tyre, or too much on the track, and racing started again quickly.
So Lizz, ACU Champion, racing with all the parts that Kev kept for spares, from when the motor had been refreshed in 2006, and now given back to him in a bucket!
The twisted ankle turned out to be a broken one. I wish it was possible to bottle adrenalin, I would be a very rich Lady by now!
There is a list a mile long of people who deserve a mention. Kevin, I love you lots, fab tuning honey! Jake Charman, you rock! The support I get from you both is amazing. Chris Pyke, the best Crew Chief ever! Stuart Ashton, Mandy Chant, Steve and Julie Moxley, Sarah Chapman. What an amazing Team. I seriously couldn’t do it without you. You are totally responsible for making me run good enough to win Chamionships !
The most incredible Sponsors ever. Tony at Abbey Motorsport, Doug at Ensys, Viz at Vizman Kustom Art, Jeni at Yawning Cat Photography, Ken at Cooperized Dyno and service Centre, Simon at Claron Graphics, and the help and quick parts delivery from Jay Regan at MRE.
All the hard work has paid off, and been noticed too. To be nominated for any of the Perputual Awards is an honour, but two? Outstanding achievement, and Sportswoman of the Year. There are some amazing people nominated in both catagories, good luck to us all !
So what happens in 2014?
We have been talking with Tony Gillam, the Director of Abbey Motorsport, who showed quite a lot of interest in the bike this year. With that in mind will be collaborating with him next year. We are planning some radical changes, to modernise the bike. The bodywork too is being changed and having a face lift, and a new fantastic design, thanks to Darren at Power Race Graphics. Then we will be ready to do some extensive testing and development. Big thanks goes to Miller Oils who will be supporting our venture, with their range of superior lubricants, Jeff at Trackstuff will also be supporting us with fuel, and then Tony himself with his know how and very successful experience with turbo engines (there I said it ) this should be a very interesting experience, as well as learning curve, and all being well, aiming for a first competitive outing around August.
Exciting times ahead!