It jumps from here to there but you'll get the jist.
Well, 2011 was a year to remember and the foundations have been laid for a cracking 2012 on the old 400.
Mr Middleton fettled and tweaked the girl, I fettled and then managed to untweak the old girl, then Slick Bass had to re-tweak the untweaked tweaks that Rog had originally tweaked so well - note to self "keep hands in pocket"
My first outing on it in 2011 was at the Southern 100 - some baptism for the old girl was that!
Two races, one finish in about 6th and then in the second I was going for it no matter what.
Alistair Howarth was away at the front on his Yam 400, then it was Peter Simpson on his 1mm oversize ZXR then old Jonesy had managed to sneak the Green rascal up to 3rd.
I was as keen as a tramp on chips to pass Peter and grab 2nd spot but missing a gear out of the last corner let about 4 bikes pass me, this was with 1 lap to go......bugger!
Not to worry though, the bike was not missing a beat, well apart from a little clutch slip under full load, which I originally thought was the back wheel spinning up! Idiot!
The next outing was gonna be the Manx Grand Prix - yee haaaaa!
Well after swapping flat slides for CV's, then swapping CV's for Flat slides and then back again I thought that it was best to run the CV's. Roger set these up and they were bob on and I mean on the money.
The Flat slides, I just could not get them dialled in. They had hours on the Dyno but I was pissing in the wind with them. I needed the full on racing slides not the SP ones.
I remember going down Bray hill on first practice with the Flat slides, thinking, "am gonna pull in as this is SLOW". However with a bit of perseverance and some words of wisdom form Rog the CV's went back on.
I also managed to burn a clutch out and create an oil leak. The oil leak was comin out of the rocker box, at the spark plug holes. You know, the holes which have those rubber seal thingies underneath them. Well after much on and off activity and about a tube of Black mastic, it still frikin leaked. The leak was stayin as I think if I took it apart again I would have set the giraffe on fire.
I also needed a 17t front sprocket, but to no avail. My gearing was never right. It was either under or over.
I know you need to find a compromise but I couldn't even get close.
On race day I was in top wayyyyyy to early and my top speed was down about 15 - 20mph on the leader.
Practice on the whole was pretty miserable in all honesty. I never really got a clear run, I never set the suspension (apart from race day), gearing was wrong, apart from theses tiresome matters I had her dialled in like a Moto GP bike.
My fastest practice lap was 102.3 on my second practice session and the fastest lap in practice was 106, by me mate Billy on his 83bhp Yam.
Practice leader board:
106 Billy Smith
104.89 Alistair Howarth
104.3 Ross Johnson
103.2 Peter Simpson
103.19 Dan Millard
102.5 Mike Carter
102.3 Adam Jones
Race day was Wednesday and it was, damp on parts of the lower track and then wet on the mountain. Never mind, it was gonna be the same for everyone.
On the line, she started to boil up!!! Jebus, can anything go right for me.
My game plan was to absolutely nail it through all the corners and then whatever I made on them I would only loose a little on the straights.
The flag went down and Booooooooooooom as was away down Bray Hill! FYI - Not Boooom, she dropped her ass.
Am not kiddin you I was pushing as much as possible.
I was braking later than ever, taking corners faster than ever. You name it I was trying to do it.
On the lower half of the track it was a bit sketchy. My tyre choice was a Supercorsa rear and a 364 front, it made life interesting I tells ya.
Once I got to Guthrie's memorial on the Mountain it was pissin it down but I just had to keep on goin as fast as I dared.
I managed to navigate the majority of the Mountain incident free then I came to the 33rd. I was flat in 5th and the 33rd is a big sweeping left hander and as I tipped it in I started to slide on the White lines.
The bike was sliding and my butt was makin buttons and I thought "am off here and heading down the mountain, it's gonna sting"
The ZXR gods were shining that lap and I managed to keep her off the Green stuff and away from the Sheep...phewwwwey.
By the end of lap one I was in 4th with a lap of 101.8, the leader was on a 103.8 - wowzerrrs!
Lap two I was still in 4th with a 102 and Billy was leading with a 104
Pit stop time at the end of lap two, let the fun and games begin.
I stopped at my pit box.
Prior to the race I told the guys that I would need a push as the battery wont have enough charge for the starter motor. "Right boss" was the answer from all 3 of them, happy days at least I'll get out of the pit lane incident free.
Here goes. The filler cap was lifted and refuelling began. The refuelling consisted of fuel was being put in the tank, my glove and finally my boot. I was fully re- fuelled and literally a human bomb, the boys weren't worried though, they thought it was hilarious.
"Push" I shouted.
"what ya sayin jonesy"
"Push me"
"What was that" cam the response once more
"Fu*kin push me"
And away I went.
Lap 3 I did a 97.5 and the leader did a 103.4. I was down to 7th. The leader was on a 4 lap tank which as you know the ZXR cant manage it the thirsty little bugger she is.
The last lap I managed a 103.5 which was my fastest lap of the week. I think this was down to being passed by David Yeoman's on his ZXR. I was on my own for the majority of the race and when David passed me I had somit to chase. David did a 105.2 on his last lap, excellent lap squire.
I crossed the line and that was it. My race was over.
I absolutely loved every minute of it, the bike never missed a beat and it gave me all it could.
Racing a 400 is ace. I also ride a 600 but the 400 wins hands down every time.
2011 gave me everything that it could and if I wanted more with what I had then I was asking the impossible.
2012 and am going to be on it.
Mr Middleton will be receiving by bike in Feb. Discussions have taken place as to what needs to be done and finger crossed the ZXR will be magnificent.
Finally, I'd like to thank
Roger Middleton (RMKD Racing) for all the work he has done for me, mega job Rog.
Slick Bass for all fixing of stuff that I've broke
Dave Abbot, John O'Hare and Tony Oates for their help in the pits, without theses guys I would not be racing
Cargo for his help in the paddock and just bein there in case I needed a moan
Dan Millard and his pit crew for helping me out with bits and bobs
And lastly, Neil Kent who lost his life doin what he loved. Only got to know Neil over the last couple of years but he would help out where he could and was a totally ace guy.
I know the above is a bit long winded and it may not be written in the best Queens English, but thanks for reading it and I wish all members past present and future all the best for 2012. May it be fast, breakdown free and we can all talk about it next year.
That's all folks.
Adam Jones
aka - Jonesyiom or just Jonesy - imaginative nickname or what
Happy New Year
You can however find ones who have been tuned by an ACTUAL race company - Bito R&D
lately
