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Profile ID# 1015
Last Updated: 2009-08-17 00:52:35
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| Current sponsors: |
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| Read My Race Reports:
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Date: 2009-05-16
Event Name: VMCC 09 Rd1
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Race Report:
After some time off over the summer I was very excited to get back on the track. Round 1 arrived so fast I didn’t have time to realize it had been a year since riding the A1GP track! My goal this series is simple: Finish every race and have as much fun as possible.
Taupo put on its usual weather deal, not deciding what it was going to do till the afternoon. Not thinking it was wet enough for wets I went out to practice/qualify on my trusty Dunlop GPR-A10’s.
F3 Practice/Qualifying:
Rolling onto the track, I immediately realize half the field are on wets and are flicking up a lot of water. A few bikes pass me on wets, but I was also happily picking through other bikes on dot tyres. Taupo hasn’t changed much, I’m happy and in rhythm straight away. We get the checkered flag after 4 laps and I’m happy I didn’t get passed by any bikes on dot tyres and I qualified 19th on the grid with a 2:14.1 qualifying within the top 20 gives me a good starting point on the 5th row.
Post Classic Jnr Practice/Qualifying:
Only 1 class between qualifying I roll out for the Posty’s on my GPR-A10’s again. The track is drying but still no dry line. The bikes with wets still have an advantage, but I didn’t find the track slippery at all so figured I could still qualify well. On my third lap I gave it a bit too much coming out of T7 (hairpin) and the back end starts coming round, visions of last year quickly kicked survival into action as I’m bucked out of the seat, I button off and Tweety comes back into line and I’m back on the gas, I lost some pace so my faster lap wasn’t so fast. Checkered flag is out after 3 laps; I scratch my head, as I was sure we got 10mins allocated. I qualified 19th again with a 2:13.3 and I’m happy and ready to race.
F3 Race 1, 5 laps:
My goal was simple, finish! We lined up on the grid, I had my full wets on but the track was drying fast. I found it really hard to find my spot as the cones were concealed by the other riders. The lights go out and we’re off, Turn 1 was a mess so I ended up round the outside, I don’t mind as it sets me up for T2. I got a good start with a jump on some of the other 400’s. I settle into a rhythm with no majors. The 5 laps fly by and the checkered flag is out. I finish 11th with a best lap of 1:58.3. I’m very happy to break the 2min mark first race out.
Post Classic JNR Race 1, 5 laps:
With an Ok start, I find myself round the outside of T1 again. There are bikes everywhere and I’m mid pack. I’m determined to not loose the front-runners that quickly and push the first lap. I ease into a rhythm and find a Z1 I believe slot in front of me. Holding me up in the infield I decide I need to get in front, I man up and make a pass that sticks till the back straight when he and a mate fly past. I catch them under braking and make a pass on both through the infield again, I’m buzzing as I’m getting more confident at passing. They burn past me again on the straight and a cat and mouse ensues. I know this is slowing me down and I’m wary of other JNR bikes catching us. A red bike gets past which I think is a JNR till we hit the straight and he leaves me for dust with the other 2, I’m puzzled as to what he is and worry I had lost a place while amazed at his straight line speed. I keep them in check but don’t get past at the checkered. I place 7th with a best time of 1:59.6. A little slower but put it down to being slowed in the infield. I’m stoked to discover the third bike was also a litre bike and I’m buzzing over the awesome dicing I had with the big boys 
F3 Race 2, 5 laps:
We line up again and there is a lot of confusion on the grid, the SV’s in front of me seem all intent on one row and poor Skippy cant get them in line. I decide to stay a row further back to keep out of the congestion for a bit more safety. Flag drops and I get swamped from behind, note to self made to practice starts. I settle into a good rhythm again but loose touch with the bikes in front. With no gauge in front, I try to keep pushing myself so I don’t get caught. White flag and I get passed by a 400, then another, shoot another, I try to keep up and catch them down the straight under breaking, I hit a false neutral downshifting and have no idea what gear I’m in, I stomp it down and its too high, I decide to shift again half way through the chicane, I do and find I’m in 3rd, not enough to catch the closest bike across the line. 17th in F3 with a best time of 1:57.9 I’m happy with my times coming down but kicking myself for not being able to chase the 400’s down in the last lap.
Post Classic JNR Race 2, 5 laps:
Amping form the last posty battle, I’m planning to try not to get stuck with the same litre bikes and getting slowed. I get a bad start and start chasing the bikes in front. Dicing throughout the race, but not as hard as the first race I’m totally loving this class this year. I let some Jnr bikes past that I cant catch and settle for 11th across the line. I thought I had gone slower but turns out I got a PB for the day with a 1:55.3 I’m stoked!
Overall I placed 7th in Post Classic Jnr and 13th in F3. I’m very happy about my consistent riding and finishing. I have a lot to think about before the next round especially round starts and tactics. I’m looking forward to a return to Manfeild and the first of 2 two-day events!
Big thank you to Dave and Donna at Kiwibike Insurance for their continued support this series, Paul and Di from Team Showerbuddy, Dunlop Tyres, my man Frenchy for being my awesome supportive pit crew extraordinaire and organizer. Deano and the welly crew for sharing their pits with me, cheers! And Mum and Dad, was great to see you guys there and have your support too
I can’t wait for next month and the much shorter drive to Manfeild from my new hometown!
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Date: 2009-06-20
Event Name: VMCC 09 Rd 2
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Race Report:
Keeping with what seems to be a little tradition my report is late as usual. I’m sitting here watching Boyd Coddington’s hot rod building show on discovery, waiting for the next programme; the Orange County Choppers. So here’s my latest VMCC adventure:
We cruised up to Manfeild Saturday morning, I’m hoping for sunshine as we had never ridden the long track in the dry and I was hoping it would change my opinion of the track. It was cold, very cold but dry so I was happy. Big thank you to Frenchy for crewing for me again, I know what its like to itch to get out when your not racing.
F3 Practice/Qualifying:
With 20 mins to remember where the track went I was looking forward to getting out there. Was great to be able to see the track, although the dry still didn’t allow you to see the corner and where it went till you were in it. I followed a few different bikes figuring out my lines, I sorted a good ish line through most and followed about 3 different ones through the left with patchy seal, none felt good and I was slow through there. I managed to get back some of my breaking of old on T1 and was feeling better by the checkered flag. I finished qualifying with a 2:24.2 putting me 29th on the grid. My worst starting place yet, but hey, it was in the inside, which gave me great vision and room to move when the flag drops.
Post Classic Jnr Practice/Qualifying:
After thinking a lot about the track I was more confident with the extension. I rolled out and hooked on to some faster bikes and managed to pass a few boosting my confidence. The track was warming and I managed to drop my best time to a 2:20.5 and qualifying 19th. I was happy as it was below 20th, which was a goal of mine. Time to think about race starts as mine needed work.
F3 Race 1, 6 laps:
Being so far back it was time to grow some male anatomy and make up as much as I could before T1. Plucking courage, I revved more than I have been and got an ok start. I noticed straight away how tentative people were towards T1 braking way too early, I weaved my way through a few rows and settled on the inside which is great for getting set up for T2 and T3. I caught up to Glenn on the 555 NSR and had a bit of a play with him, my memory is foggy but one thing I do know, it started the battle of the weekend and I loved it. I crossed the line in 14th place with a 2:17 flat, I’m stoked and looking forward to postys shortly.
Post Classic JNR Race 1, 6 laps:
I was worried 6 laps was quite long, but they went by pretty quick. My start wasn’t as good as I had to weave from the outside to get to the inside where I wanted to be. The laps flew by and I crossed in 11th place with a 2:16.7, even better PB but was behind Glenn, doh!
Day 2:
With no practice and only 2 races per class there was a lot of sitting around. I was a little glad it started late and we were all set up after having to go home to attend to a flood in our house and drive back down early in the morning.
F3 Race 2, 10 laps:
I was worried about such a long race, the flag dropped and my goal was simple, go hard to get as far forward as possible and stay there. It worked as I fought to keep up with the faster boys. After a few laps I settled into a rhythm and wanted to conserve as much energy as I could. Dicing with Glenn again I didn’t want that to slow us down so I sat behind him for a while and we just rode clean fast lines. I wasn’t worried and after a while forgot how many laps we had done, I wasn’t getting tired wither so was stoked. We caught up to Tom on his SV and I knew I had to keep Glenn in check or he would put too much distance on me so passed Tom as quick as I could, I was lucky as a smaller bike slowed him and Glenn down and I managed a pass on both of them to come round Dunlop to the checkered flag. I was stoked; I finished the long race in 10th place and had ridden a 2:15 flat. It is encouraging to see my times had dropped as the laps went on and my fastest were the last few.
Post Classic JNR Race 2, 10 laps:
After some energy gel and powerade I was ready for my 2nd long race of the day. I got another good start, pushing to keep up for the first few laps. I caught Stevie and was stoked! Battling again with Glenn I got a little tired towards the end but still managed to match my PB of 2:15 flat and cross the line in 11th place, Glenn beat me across the line but I was stoked to have finally caught Stevie since we used to battle 2 years ago.
F3 Race 3, 6 laps:
I think this race will go down in my books as one of the best. I must say a huge thank you to Glenn on his 555 NSR for some of the best dicing I have had to do. We battled from pretty much the start and on the last 2 laps I forget how many times we changed position. I may have come off 2nd best in out battle that race but I had the best time ever out on the track and from crowd comments it seems we provided some awesome entertainment too. I finished 10th 0.1 of a second behind Glenn and had a total blast.
Post Classic JNR Race 3, 6 laps:
The last race of the weekend, I was determined to beat Glenn. The flag drops and I get a great start, I cut up the rows of bikes into T1 and squeeze to the inside, I’m amazed how far up I am and push to keep up with the fast boys. Glenn is around but I’m having a great race. 3rd lap through splash and I go wide into the hairpin and turn late as usual, next thing I know the bike is gone from under me and I tumble over, Jono is right there and rides right over top of me to my astonishment, I turn my head to watch him and his bike tumble into the grass. I’m stuck with one foot under Tweety and the other trapped in the rear sub frame. Bugger. My ankle’s facing the wrong way and hurting under the weight, I yell at Jono to come help, he lifts the bike off, thanks mate, and I get my other foot free. I try to sit up but feel pressure in my hips, I wasn’t going anywhere. The marshals/ambo scoop me off the track after what seemed like forever, I knew there was something wrong with my hips and after the long wait at the hospital, I find out it’s a break in the front and fracture in the rear of my pelvis. Thank you to everyone who came to the ambo to make sure I was ok, I was shit scared and all your well wishes really helped me stop freaking out. As I was in the ambo bay I hear an OOHH and think the worst for someone else. The race meet is called and my ambo made a fast trip to Palmy hospital.
Overall mylaps had me in 10th for the weekend in F3 and 11th for Post Classic Jnr, these put me 13th for the series in F3 and 8th in the series For Postys. I had a total blast dicing all weekend with the likes of Glenn and Stevie, thank you guys for a lot of fun. To all the volunteers/marshals/VMCC crew and ambulance/hospital staff, thank you all for the parts you played in keeping me safe and picking me up off the track. I was scared, as it was my first big crash I couldn’t walk away from but your composure and care really made a big difference…. Thank you all again. Big ups to VMCC for organizing a great event as usual, I’m out for 6-8 weeks, but I promise I’ll be back each round to pit crew and race before the end of the series! It was mooted in hospital about a reunion… I hope you guys don’t mind (Phil etc) if we don’t make a habit of it! And huge thank you to everyone sending me txt’s/emails/pm’s etc every one of you help boost my positiveness and I’m sure I’m healing twice as fast thanks to it.
Big thank you to, Dave and Donna at Kiwibike Insurance, Dave it was great to see you and Kerry on Sunday, I think I did jinx myself a little for that last race. Paul, Dianne (the kids) and Team Showerbuddy, thank you for the support on Sunday too, sorry if I scared you guys and the girls. Mum and Dad for coming down Saturday to watch and Sunday to the hospital and driving me home Monday. Last and never least, Frenchy; thank you for taking care of me, sorry I scared you, but thank you soo much for looking after me soo well babe, you are the best!
I may not be on Tweety for the next few rounds but am looking forward to coming and watching some awesome racing, I’ll be back soon… don’t worry!
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| Name: |
Nicki Smith |
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| Nickname: |
Nicksta |
| My Race Numbers: |
F3/Post Classic Jnr#266, F1#66 |
| Email Address: |
Private - Message Me
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| Age: |
31
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| Home Town: |
Auckland, now in New Plymouth
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| Region: |
North Island - Taranaki
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| Height: |
717 |
| Weight: |
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| Club or Clubs I Belong To:
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| 1. Victoria Motorcycle Club |
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| Class or Classes I Race In:
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| 1. F3 |
| 2. Post Classics |
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| Current Race Bike/Bikes: |
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| My first offical motorcycle race: |
| PMCC Rd4 2007 |
| Favourite NZ Circuit or Circuits:
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| Taupo & Manfeild |
| Racing highlights to date including best finishes:
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VMCC overall 2008: 8th in F3, 10th in PC Jnr.
VMCC Rd3: 2nd place PCJnr, 3rd place F3
3rd overall VMCC Clubmans B 2007, VMCC Clubmans B 2007 1st Place Round 2. |
| Team information if applicable: |
| I currently race a KIWIBIKE INSURANCE sponsored VFR400 in F3 and Post Classic Jnr. for the VMCC winter series I race under Team Showerbuddy. |
| Team or solo rider website: |
| http:// |
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| My Road Racing Hero: |
| LooseBruce, Shaun Harris and Rossi/Hayden |
| Best racing advice I've been given:
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| Just have fun |
| My ambition for this season:
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| VMCC 2009: Top 10 in both classes. |
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| Helmet Brand: |
Shoei |
| Boot Brand: |
Sidi
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| Leathers brand: |
Quasimoto
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| Glove Brand: |
Quasimoto
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| My Hobbies / Other Information: |
| This is my 3rd season racing. When i'm not at the track i'll be up the mountain skiing or wakeboarding. |
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