Great Day out and some more help

Another couple of busy days for us! Yesterday saw a trip to Carlisle to drop off the bodywork with Tony at JLHracepaint.co.uk  and have a quick natter and sort out new designs before heading back down the motorway.

Today was another day out but this time it was to Get Geared in Leeds for their open day. Good to meet up with Seb Bulpin and great fun with Ryan having a go on the wheelie bike, free cups of tea and BBQ and even better chance to try on some new leathers and gloves. The guys were really helpful and with a fully stocked range of HELD leathers we were soon modeling the range for all to see!

After much debate we selected the appropriate colour scheme (persuading Ryan that Red was not the best choice!) and are now very pleased to say we are being supported by HELD Rider Equipment for the rest of the year using the awesome SLADE Suit and Titan Gloves. If you have not had chance to see this kit have a look at how it is made and the great quality.
Ryan has been using Held gloves for a few years now and they are truly fantastic and  so strong and protective so to get this support is amazing and we are very grateful!

If you have chance to get down to Get Geared we would say go as they guys are really friendly and they will do their best to help you out.

Next stop is to collect Ryan's bike and get the bodywork back and we can start the rebuild..

more time in the garage..

After Ryan highsided on Sunday this week has been all a bit change. Originally the plan was for Ryan to race at the Race of the Year at Mallory, but with concussion and a battered bike the plans went out the skylight, nevermind the window!
So once again it's a week of living in the garage. We have new neighbours that we reckon think we are a bit strange as we are always in the garage when they come in or out. In fact on Saturday we were caught having a picnic out there.
This week the R6 has gone up to Alan Bamber at RR Racing, it had a few bits that needed doing that had been put off due to busy schedule and now it needed even more sorting so after a long trip to Raceways in Fleetwood (the arse end of nowhere..as per the parts man description) we dropped the bike off with Alan and hope it will be sorted and ready by early next week. New fairings are on order and a few other bits that when they arrive will have to be sent up to Alan to get it finished.
So, onto the SV! After much hassling the bodywork has finally arrived and yesterday involved 5 hours in the garage with dremel, drill and grinder making brackets and getting the bodywork that was designed specifically for his bike to go anywhere near this specific bike,...arrrggghhh!
Hopefully this will be sorted today then it's strip the fairings off, remove tank and off it goes for painting.

I think Ryan is gutted to be missing the racing this weekend but he is still stiff and sore so maybe for the best. Also means the tyre budget can be used for repairs.
Next step is to think about how we replace leathers, boots and helmet...anyone got a spare money tree they can lend us?

The blog is launched...

It has taken some time and I know we are well into the season now, but full time work alongside crashing and prepping/fixing bikes as well as racing leaves little time for exciting things such as blogging.

So, here we are, the blog is live and we hope you enjoy it. We will try to update with what we are up to, but sometimes we might get a bit behind on the race reports.

Thanks for reading
Ryan and Claire

TSGB Cadwell Park - Motors TV

GP2 and Minitwin Race 2 from a very wet Cadwell

First Blog - an older post from 3 Sisters - Lily

Last year I wanted to get a minitwin and go back to racing what I like. Unfortunately at the time I couldn't find one I liked for the money I had. In the end I made a sudden decision and bought a CB500 instead. I raced the CB a couple of times in what is a great class against full grid (40- 50 entries per meeting) and did ok with a 9th being my best. But, my heart wasn't really in it as the bike just aren't nice looking. I tried by getting it painted but I couldn't find the love for it.

First race this year at start of March and I crash anyway and end up in plaster with a muppeted thumb
Roll forward 2 months and after a very quick discussion I am buying an SV and selling the CB - all change!
So on Tuesday I got the SV and on Wednesday I entered 3 sisters to give it a test.
Excuses first then.. new bike, never ridden an SV before, thumb that is still healing and has no grip on a circuit I have never ridden and does not suit me (I like fast and open).... But, the plan was to test the bike and see if I was ok to ride.

Race Day
Very odd going to a race on the morning of it and just turning up. Luckily Bongo already had the awning up so just went straight to scrutineering and then into awning. Then it started to spit... a bit.. gamble time...wets or drys??? decided to go for the wets and discovered we probably should have done a practice wheel change.. oh well. Finally in and sorted and I am ready for practice. I was only able to get in one race but the clerk of course let me go out with classic to see where the track went....
First test.. discovered the bike was race shift... oops
After 5 minutes sussing out where the track went it was out for my 10 minutes with the minitwins. Managed to follow Nige for a lap or two to try and get a rough idea of lines although i was still everywhere and finding it really physical.

Race 1 - 7 laps wet
Pulled position 6 from the bag and had an okish start but not aggressive enough so straight away was on the back of the group. Ok though and just settled into trying to ride. Couple of laps in and I am still with them but another rider decides I need to be nudged out of the way and tbh I didn't feel like pushing back, this cost me a dodgy gear change, half a lap in the wrong gear and off the back of the pack. Once recovered I think I breathed out for the first time and visor completely steamed up, so after this I then plodded round till then end of the race finishing in 8th place but not going very quick.

Race 2 - 5 laps - really fecking wet!
Grid slot of 8th this time and a much better pull off the line, but mugged into the first corner. Stayed on the back of the pack for 2 laps, not going to catch them, but wanted to stay in touch. Then a bit of an electrical gremlin (water onto plugs we think as I braked down hill) meant the bike stuttered for a bit and I lost the tow. Once again I plodded my way round last few laps and finished in 7th this time but actually enjoyed this a bit more.

All in all it was a good day out. I learned a bit about the bike and what I need to sort before the first real ride at the next TSGB round, I realised my thumb is not fixed. I had the first serious pain in my hip in about 12 months and finally I confirmed I don't like nadgery circuits