First time out at a hill climb for the SO YZ250 today. No snow at Hartland Quay this time and it was actually sunny at lunch time. The YZ proved much easier to ride than I expected, certainly better than my old 250 Rotax disc-valved beast - the YPVS helps I imagine. Significantly undergeared though and so was hitting the stroker 'wall' without frequent up shifts. Manageable at Hartland, but must be sorted for Loton next weekend. It seem most of the 250 stroker runners are on 14/42 rather than my current 14/47 set up. Anyway, I managed a 31.9 on my first ever run on it, and got just under 30 by my first timed runs. Not been in the 29s there for a long time. The Avons inspired confidence, despite being spanking new, and the oversize front disc pinned it down very well, but the pistons seemed to have gone a bit lazy and the brake was binding on a tad. The suspension is a revelation and soaked up the bumps before the finish very well. Almost too good, because there isn't so much 'feel' on the smooth surfaced part. Anyway, it went well enough to deserve greater development and being treated to some new bits. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Pete Fisher Not bad for an old guy... ;^) Sounds like fun, well batted!
I wasn't the oldest competing, but possibly the oldest on relatively modern machinery. TBF, The overall championship winner for several years recently is in far from the first flush of youth. I was, however, trounced by a 15 year old on a 125. Someone was passing an old 'Classic Bike' magazine round in the pub the night before. There was an article about the Hartland Quay event in 82 IIRC, with amongst others a photo of me on my first Morini hillclimber. I *think* I first rode there in 1980 - certainly 1981. If I don't know the course by now I never will. Not a bad effort for first time out on a recently lashed together and unfamiliar bike (bimbling along French forest tracks on knobblies isn't quite the same). -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
Well done you old gimmer. I have a contact who can get cheap 24v batteries when it comes time to tune your mobility scooter! Boxerboy
In communiqué Cheeky blighter! Funny you should say that. The NHCA have just had an enquiry from someone about using an electric powered outfit. "The motor is a NetGain TransWarP 9, with a Curtis 1231c speed controller and EnerSys Cyclon battery pack 144volt 16ah." I'll have you know that I actually got 1 point in the 250 championship - OK, so I did only beat a 125 and a vintage 250. Having said that, I did also go quicker than a 900 Ducati and a Tedium amongst several others. Come and have a laugh at me at Loton Park on 4 April. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
Too kind. TBF, most of the hill has been resurfaced since I was doing 28s on the Husky 510. Not the last bend and run up to the finish though. The scene of my 250 SWM off in '83 when I'm not sure if it was me or the bike that broke the finish lights beam. One of the top-ten lot lost it there on Sunday, and several others had lurid wobbles. The fast guys arrive at the horrible bumps and ripples v. fast and sometimes with the front wheel up and then tend to get fairly out of shape after touching down after flying off the biggest bump. If I can do a 29.54 on it just think what you could get down to ;-) To put things in to perspective though, the 250 winner did a 24.24 and the 250 record is 23.36 (outright hill record 22.59). So I'm more than 20% off the pace. The lad has his first ride at Margam Park on the 12 April and at least I'm now slightly more confident of putting in better times than he will on his YZ85. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
