EC Jun 03

some mothers do 'ave em...

and when you come of........

you just gotta get back on.......good stuff!!

The Frog and I arrived at the 'gong on Friday night with supposedly just a few things to sort out before Saturday's practice and bang! Will ya just look at that!!!! The bus has been repainted. And doesn't it look good! Attention to detail once again keeps putting this venture into a new league.

Saturday dawned and we got the bikes loaded and off to Eastern Creek Raceway for a bit of practice. Now that place is going to be even more amazing very soon! On the way in we could see the amphitheatre they are building for the drag races. The earth works alone are huge. When it's finished it will be one of those *just gotta go* places for every petrol head from near and far, and then some! Apparently they are trying to attract motor racing and like type businesses to the area and consolidate them there. Give it a few years and it's going to be THE Motor Mania Mecca of Australia!

Alas Farbio's bike wouldn't start but we finally got it going after great trauma. A simple relay problem and a little bit of amending prior sins in attempting to fix and it, and it roared into life late in the afternoon but too late for any practice. But we did sort out a few of the little things throughout the day and closed the doors just after dark confident we had most things under control and ready for racing.

Sunday morning and on the bus in the dark. Down the road a ways and pre race nerves obviously got to Dredgy, he dropped a clanger into the cool thin morning air. Most on board the bus got to see glimpses of the Pearly Gates before finally recovering from the devastating onslaught. Then into the Golden Arches for breakfast where Casey had a funny look on his face, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and his breakfast in the other. He was successfully dacked and didn't have a clue what to do. Standing there with his tracky dacks round his ankles and people pouring through the door, it just wasn't a pretty sight for those seeking an early breakfast. But ya just gotta love those red Y-fronts!

Ok, on with the racing. What a sight it was to see no less than 6 bikes in Vee Two colours in the one race! Team Manager, John MacDonald, aka "Split Pin," the racing ferret, lead the charge and did some great racing through the day retaining his lead in the series. He did a 1.39.76 in one round breaking the 1.40 first time this season and looked comfortable doing it. Mick Jolly wasn't far behind turning in a 1.40.78 and kept John honest from a team point of view and pipped him in the last to keep his series hopes alive. Dredgy and Rutty circulated nicely in their classes putting on a 1.42 and 1.43 respectively but unfortunately a clutch problem gave Dredgy an early shower. The boys on the 250s, Glen with a 1.55.27 and Jason with a 1.53.97 again pulled some silver for the day collecting a 1st and 3rd in their division. Well done guys!

But the race of the day that put a smile on the dial, was between the two Daisies. The Flying Frog and Shane swapped the lead in this one no less than 4 times in the last 2 laps of Race 20. It looked ominous for the Frog at one stage but he pulled out the big guns in the 2nd last corner and held the lead to cross the finish line with mere tenth's of a second to spare.

For the poor ole pit crew that had to perform amazing tasks with next to no notice, so the prima donnas could get out on the track on time, the Jolly Brother's latest upgrade of their fantastic Dragon Tyre Warmers was greatly appreciated. The latest model is controlled digitally which means you can adjust the warmer to suit the conditions, different type tyre compounds etc etc! but the bonus for the guys in the pit, is the quick disconnect and quick strip making it easy to get the rider away in short time. Good stuff!!!! Though it was close with Mick and Gary performing courageously and pampering their charges, it was Aaron that got the pit crew prize. He worked his butt off from the minute the bus doors opened on arrival, till the minute they were closed on departure. Well done mate, top effort!

another red?

but they match my coat!

wasn't me, honest!

After the prize giving ceremony and B-B-Q we were back on the bus for home via the Fig Tree waterhole. A few drinks and back to Dredgy's place for a few more, where Mick, who was showing signs of slight wear, produced artistic red chips in the garden beside the driveway. Ripper stuff! And that was, yet again, the weekend done. Same old story, bring on the next one!!! Wakefield Park on the 27th July for Round 4.................we'll be there!! Flying Frog's full report yet to come!