Avanti 6hr 2011

Well after 2 weeks of racing bikes I was running low on brownie points and decided I was not going to race the 6hr, but Zack and Ethan were racing a 3man team and ended up a man short 3 days out from the race. After a quick plead to the minster of war, piece and finance I was given the go ahead to race. Woop Woop


As you know I don't often race in a team and I have never raced with these lads. I knew from the Parkland session we did last month that the lads were very fast and I would have to be on it to do them proud. The Bekkers family loaded up the Vito and headed down the Hway, we arrived at Canugra, perfect clear skies and a pretty warm morning greeted us. I didn't get a chance to do a whole practice lap but I have raced here alot before and wasn't to concerned. Zack and Ethan arrived and the team was complete. Captain Dave and Ethan parents were there also, Captain Dave basically ran the team throughout the race, he kept track on laps times and when riders were due back through pits. I was voted in to do the first lap, I found myself standing along side Dave Whitney, nothing like some pressure straight up. It wasn't my cleanest start off the line, I pulled my cleats 3 times in 50m. RUBBISH





By the first hill I got myself back up to 5th and for the remainder of the lap this is were I stayed, i came into pits slapped the number on Ethan bike and he was away. This was rather foreign to me, stopping. Capt. Dave informed me my first lap was around the 19min mark. Ethan came through on about the 20min mark and Zack pretty much the same on his lap. All I could think was wow these lads are in there teens and just about smashing my times, I really need to step up my training. 1hr in and we were sitting 1st in our Category and 3rd outright. My next two laps were OK just kept running into traffic on the course, everyone on course were great at letting me pass and i managed to sneak past most people with no real hold ups. Zack and Ethan said they had the same for these couple of laps also. My last 3 laps i was quite happy with, I managed to rip them back under the 20min mark and i aslso caught sight of the 2ND outright. I caught up to 2ND and just tagged his wheel for most of the lap just before we got to transition i got a very small gap and got Ethan out on course and we were in second outright. Ethan set a cracking pace and although slipping back to 3rd whilst on his lap he showed some good grit and determination to keep within 15 seconds of 2ND outright. Zack went out and smashed his lap also, Zack didn't gain to much ground by then end of the lap but once again he dug deep and kept us within 15 sec of 2ND.





My last lap: by the end of the first set of switchbacks i had caught 2ND and went on to smashed it all the way to transition, once again the boys dug deep for there last laps. Team Ay Up end up 1st in cat by 2 laps and 2ND overall. Well done lads and I appreciate the invite to smash the race with you both.


Having a proud Dad moment now, the best thing about the race was I got to see both my girls race there first ever race. I had brought there bikes down and when they heard there was going to be a race for them i saw them practicing around the paddock. We lined them up on the start line. They started and climbed the hills like little machines. Well done girls.

Catch you on the next post

Later