Remember Me?

Hi all,

It's been a while, just been really manic here.

So what's been happening?

Well Skerries and Southern 100 were the main things obviously.

Skerries was a wet and wind affair. 400 went well, but the Supertwin races were a case of changing between wet and dry tyres, and usually me ending up with the wrong ones.

John was my help for Skerries, and he later claimed that he'd never changed wheels so many times in his life.

The second Supertwin race was a washout, and after the sighting lap I decided that as I had The Southern the following week, I'd rather save the bike for then, rather than drop the bike and having a lot of work to do before racing started. The race went ahead but the following Superbike race was cancelled, so felt I made the right decision.

Shame as the bike felt good after the work I did over the Winter and looked great with her new fairings painted and fitted.

As you can see she's looking good, you can also see how windy it was by our neighbours awning.

The more eagle eyed of you can see a new name sticker gracing the screen. Thanks to Shuffy for designing it for me.

The 400 went well, but I went out on wets on a dry track. I was later told that you could see her moving around a lot coming out of corners, and I just thought it was me.

I went over to The Isle Of Man and had a week 'off', basically it was a week working on bikes, but out of a different garage.

This bits a long story, so get a coffee.

Earlier in the year I got a given a SV650 after Gordon's son ran it out of oil, he thought it was the cam chains making a noise.

So I decided to turn it into a minitwin to use on short circuits to get more track time.

Before I went to Skerries I started it up to see how bad the damage was.

On tick over she sounded ok, but open the throttle and it was a different story. To replicate the noise, first get a sturdy bag, fill with spanners, then put it in the washing machine, get the idea?

So I decided to take the engine in the van over to The Island and strip her down to see what damage had been done.

Upon our arrival John and I stripped her down, and was greeted with a mess, but could've been worse and damage was limited to the crank and rods, so project minitwin was go.

Southern 100 went well, great organisation and good weather made it a great week.

Sadly I blew up the 400 engine in the first race, when a valve broke.

Luckily I had a spare 400 engine in the van, as you do, so Steve and I set about swapping the engines over.

Engine swap went well but on the first lap the clutch cable came adrift, so that was race two out the window too.

Supertwin went well and had some good races, despite getting a puncture, luckily just as I came back into the paddock.

Next up was Killlane, which sadly was cancelled, two days after I booked my ferry, which lost me over £200, but can't be helped.

So that was a very short roads season this year, but onwards and upwards and I'm entered to race at Thruxton on 8th October.

I haven't raced at a short circuit since 2006, and I last raced at Thruxton in 1996, sure it still goes the same way though, so is going to be a big change for me.

The bike though, is looking good, but still loads to do according to by ever present list.

Hopefully getting her finished won't mean too many more late nights and I will have a good run round.

I'll try not to leave it so long until my next update, and if you are at Thruxton come along and say hello.

Cheers

Stuart

Southern 100 On TV

Hi all

Just back from almost 3 weeks away, firstly Skerries followed by Southern 100.

Will write up a full report once sorted out, but just to let you know highlights of Southern 100 will be on ITV4 Wednesday 20th July at 8pm.

Keep an eye out for number 99, as that's me.

Cheers

Stuart

Tandragee & Cookstown Race Reports

Hi all

As always apologies for delay in an update only the last few weeks have been flat out rebuilding my supertwin, which has been a nightmare, but am getting there.

So before I knew it I was loading the van for my first races of the season.

Tandragee

We arrived at Tandragee and had to be towed into the very wet paddock, not a great start. Once we set up the bikes were of to be checked over before getting the all clear to race.

Sadly the 400 had to have an engine case protector made, luckily I keep all sorts of odds and ends in my 'come in' pile in the van, and a it wasn't long before we had one made.

Practice went ok, with a few teething problems, mainly due to the bikes having been laid up since Killalane, some 7 months earlier.

I did get black flagged in one 400 session as oil was leaking onto the exhaust, a case of a bolt coming loose and nothing more serious, or expensive.

Saturday arrived nice and dry, so was looking forward to the racing.

I was out first in the Junior Support race on my 400. I usually race my 650, but as it's still in bits took the 400 out instead. Which made the fact that I was keeping up with a couple of 650's even better. I also found out later that I'd beaten my personal best lap time by 7 seconds, which is some doing.

600 race didn't go so well and I pulled in as the bike was spluttering and wasn't pulling full revs, but I still got some valuable miles under my belt.

I had another good dice in the 400 race and then it was time to pack up and head to Cookstown for racing the following weekend. 

We had a week between races so we had a good look over the bikes, which resulted in both bikes running a lot better the following weekend.

Cookstown

The weekend didn't start of great as the fork seal on the 600 started leaking, so she was put back in the van where she sat for the weekend as I didn't have any spare seals with me, that and I hate changing fork seals in my garage, so didn't fancy doing it in a field in Northern Ireland.

Still the 400 sailed through, but we had to wait until late in the day to actually practice. We got out once and then waited until last knockings only to be told our practice would be held on Saturday morning.

Saturday started off wet at some places around the circuit, which wasn't very confidence inspiring, still we had been told weather would improve, so fingers crossed for that.

Had two really good races and once again improved my fastest time around the circuit on my 400 by 5 seconds, so still improving, and more importantly enjoying it.

Am back home now and once the SV is sorted I'll be getting ready for Skerries in early July, can't wait as missing it already.

So until next time, take care

Cheers

Stuart

Spot The Difference

Hi all 

Here's a little teaser for you, can you spot the difference between the two photo's below?

Give up? Well I have to say it's not that obvious,but the answer is about 2 bhp, that is according to Slick.

For those not intimately familiar with ZXR400 engines, it's the fixing for the oil filter, which I have been told that with the oil way removed from the end, hence the difference, and the fact I don't use an oil cooler, allows the oil to circulate better and means I am using all the oil in the sump rather than losing what is directed towards the oil cooler.

And according to Slick this means another couple of horse power, which is good, plus I've saved a bit of weight too. So all good news, and even better was free.

If only all hp gains were that cheap.

SV is coming along nicely with the engine back in the frame and various other odd jobs have been done. Am now working on removing the dents from the exhaust before refitting so I can get on with trying my new fairings on for the first time.

Hopefully this won't be that far away, and will update you as soon as I can.

Cheers

Stuart

Quick Update

Hi all

Been a while I know, apologies for that.

I recently caught up with my SV at my Northern Irish base and was greeted by this

Yes the Moneymore post office had been working hard delivering various parcels, it was like Christmas, only the wrapping paper wasn't too festive.

Lots of nice bits to stick on my SV. These included a new front end, a lightened flywheel and some cylinder heads which Slick Bass, he of Foggy fame, had done some work on.

As you can see my SV was in need of some love after my Killalane off.

The biggest parcels were a complete front end which I bought from a guy on the SV Forum. I don't need a whole front end just the forks, but at the price it was worth taking the lot.

First job was to put the new forks in so I could move the bike around. With this done I set about fitting new piston rings as wasn't sure when this had last been done.

All was going well until I found the rear cylinder had some surface rust due to a leaky roof in the shed. I mean what are the chances of putting the barrels under the one place the roof leaked?

I've now got to see if this is still ok to use or if I have to source a new one.

As time was running out over there, and my van needs an MOT, believe it or not an MOT issued in Northern Ireland is not valid in the rest of the UK, I had to bring the bike and van back home.

So I now have my bike back and plenty of time to work on her, just as well as Tandragee is rapidly approaching.

Am really looking forward to getting started on the engine as I find rebuilding an engine strangely therapeutic,I must get out more.

Hopefully my next update will be with the engine assembled and back in the bike.

So until then, take care

Cheers

Stuart

  

2016 Race Dates

Hi

As promised, next years race dates have now been confirmed, looks like a busy year, especially April. Shame Southern 100 has moved from its traditional week, straight after Skerries, as it means a few will miss it as it starts the day after Walderstown.

Also Manx Grand Prix starts the same day as Cork. I won't be racing at The Classic TT this year, but will be putting in an entry for Supertwin race during The Manx, so fingers crossed for that.

Still does mean if I don't get an entry I can go to Cork instead.

Friday 1st April Mid Antrim 150

Saturday 2nd April Mid Antrim 150

Friday 22nd April Tandragee 100

Saturday 23rd April Tandragee 100

Friday 29th April Cookstown 100

Saturday 30th April Cookstown 100

Saturday 18th June Kells

Saturday 19^th June Kells

Friday 1^st July Skerries

Saturday 2th July Skerries

Saturday 9th July Walderstown

Sunday 10th July Walderstown

Monday 11^th July – Thursday 14^th July Southern 100

Saturday 23rd July Faugheen

Sunday 24th July Faugheen

Friday 29th July Armoy

Saturday 30^th July Armoy

Saturday 20^th August Manx Grand Prix

Friday 2^nd September Manx Grand Prix

Saturday 20th August Cork

Sunday 21^st August Cork

Saturday 10th September Killane

Sunday 11th September Killane  

I would like to do as many as possible, but we see how we go, and after the organisation of some of the meetings I will be thinking long and hard about which clubs I race with.

This will probably be my last update this year, so I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Cheers

Stuart

Update

Hi

Well spent some of last week tinkering with my SV and the first job was to straighten the steering, which on the face of it appeared that the forks had twisted in the yokes.

Having loosened everything off I tried lining the front wheel up with the bike. Sadly this didn't work so decided to drop the forks.

You don't need to be a suspension expert to see why the steering wouldn't line up, yep forks are bent.

So next job will be to strip and repair.

Sadly I didn't get to try and fit the fairing as without the front wheel in would be difficult.

Still I did drop the engine and removed the barrels so that I can replace the piston rings. Whilst the barrels were off I cleaned the pistons up ready for the rebuild on my next visit.

So until next time take care and speak soon

Cheers

Stuart