Letter from Stoimen Stojanov Wednesday 11^th April, 2007

Racing in the Victorian Interclub Championship for 2007. This is a slightly (but you wouldn't know it) less competitive championship than the Victorian Road Racing Championship! This was suggested by one of my Race Marshalling buddies who is also heavily involved in state road racing. You even have to join a racing club to be able to race. Newport-Braybrook is who I have joined. The club seems to be full of blokes in their 50s and 60s, mostly former 70s motocross riders.

Five rounds for the year. First two over (Winton, Phillip Island), three to go, all at Broadford: 6^th May, 23^rd September and 4^th November. (Big winter break). So, if you can miss a Club ride, come to Broadford for a look. I don't believe they are charging people to enter.

I have always wanted to race. However, due to various circumstances, I have not had the chance. Hence, marshalling as a substitute for the last 11 years! It's quite interesting to see it from both sides of the track.

It's been a real hoot so far. I know I will hate it when/if I drop the bike, but these things happen. Racing is certainly very different to track days. It's pretty much 100% for the whole time you are out there; no fluffing around. You know when you are because someone soon comes flying past you! That was my first round experience. At the second round I was a bit more on the ball and instead of people going past, I could hear them coming up behind me. Nothing a bit of concentration and determination couldn't fix. It soon was quiet behind me again.

You really need to concentrate; a fraction of a second of hesitation or distraction can be ugly. At one stage I found myself hitting the ripple strips at Phillip Island out of the hayshed! This is approximately a 200 km/h corner!

So what does it take to race? The R1 didn't really need all that much since I'd already done the suspension modifications and the jetting is pretty spot on. All the fluid bolts/screws and caps need to be lock wired. A bit of drilling is required. Luckily, Clyde at C&C Engineering offered to guide me one Saturday morning to help prepare. A chain guard under the swing arm (to stop those toes getting chopped off, a la Darryl Beattie) needs to be fitted. I also needed to fit a lanyard ignition cut out. There was not enough room on the clip-on to fit it, so I had to shift all the controls about 10mm outward. This involved having to drill new locating holes in the clip-on for the switch block and throttle control. No horns, lights or side stands allowed either. All off. I bought some race glass which included the front upper fairing, belly pan, tail section and a front guard. The guard has remained on the shelf in the garage. I also bought a genuine instrument cluster and nose bracket. The R1 is quickly, easily and readily turned into a race bike. I reckon it can be converted within 2 hours!

Removing the road gear and the fitting of the race bits is pretty easy. The dirty work is changing the fluids. You cannot race with coolant; water only. This requires two flushes. Water as coolant tends to rust the steel bits so it comes straight out after the weekend race. I also change the engine oil and filter prior to a race meeting.

The R1 is in the top class: Formula 1A (which is very close to Superbike). This also means you use slicks! I managed to pick up a set of old Marvic magnesium race wheels off a wrecker in Perth. Awesome! Must have been ex-superbike wheels, with discs in better condition than my road ones and a newish Afam sprocket with an extra tooth to boot! Clyde recommended a set of Dunlop race slicks (normally a Michelin supporter, however after their performance in Aussie Superbikes last year, not the first choice out there). I get the impression it can be good to race a slightly older bike.

It is invaluable having someone "in the know" to help with all the various bits and pieces. Having done some marshalling also didn't hurt.

In case you were wondering, result wise, I am in the bottom half of the field. I don't really care. I am having a ball and really enjoying it, especially after Phillip Island, a track that normally scares me a little due to its high average speed. However, riding on slicks is nothing like road tyres: shit to a blanket comes to mind. Vittoria claims to have clocked me doing a 1min43! Woo hoo! I invested in tyre warmers after the first round. It takes a lap before the tyres come up to temperature without the tyre warmers, and you know it. For my own piece of mind, tyre warmers are compulsory, allowing hard riding into the first corner!

At the Island, speaking of the first corners, it was a bit overwhelming. Over 30 bikes on the grid and me on 24^th position, saw 5 to 7 wide into turn one. Not for me, I preferred to watch and wait for the field to string itself out a bit, then go in pursuit. I am told this self preservation instinct will subside and I will be in the thick of it soon…

I will try and make some Club rides this year. However, I don't like my chances with Under 8's football club coaching over winter as well. So, if you have any questions, drop me a line at [email protected].

As an aside, Ben, I have been giving the club membership some thought. The Club it too niche market: very experienced, fast riding road riders, with no room for novice riders. As nice as everyone is, and passionate about motorcycling, the riding can only appeal to small, specific demographic. How do you attract more membership? Diversity. The pillion ride was a great idea. From my point of view, the Club has a bit of a take no prisoners mentality with the rides hard and fast. This just does not appeal to the majority of riders.

Nor do we want it to either. But how do we attract and nurture the type of rider that would like to ride "hard and fast"? Have several “First ride with the Club” days? Keep the pace a bit more constrained. Limited to less than 200 kms distance. Bit of food for thought.

Stoimen Stojanov