Ready, Steady

Well, I've got the belts done, new WOF - all ready to jump on the Ducati and hit the Track Days of Summer!.

Where to Trackday

Here are a couple of links for track day facilitators that I can get to out of Auckland, NZ.

Play Day On Track
Hampton Downs days with separate bike and car sessions on the same day.

Auckland Motorcycle Club
Used to have Pukekohe, and now using Hampton Downs while the Puke track is OS

Moto TT
Run at Taupo and at Manfield.

You can do it!!!

Evil Stig and Javawocky hit Hampton Downs

What a beautiful Sunday in May to be at the prestigious Hampton Downs Motorsport Park with the Hampton Downs Ride Days guys!


Javawocky in full trackday regalia with the GXSR600. See vids

We had a great day - and what a work-out!!! We were in the Medium-Fast group Green, and that demands constant planning and focus - no cruising between corners.

My black Ducati 916 was running very well after Ramon and John from Haldanes gave it a tune up, adjusting throttle-bodies, new brakes on the front - and what a difference. She idles now ;-) and when throttle pinned just gives back strong performance. Problem belong me now - getting that throttle roll-on right through the corner.

A great day, looked after well by the HD crew.

Cheers guys

Taupo Raining

We headed down to Taupo on Friday night, with all the weather reports and forecasts saying it was going to rain.

It did rain.


Waiting patiently in the trailer.

The Taupo track is reportedly slippery when wet - I wasn't going to do the 50-50 thing - chances are I would be on the wrong end of a dropped bike - not worth it. Disappointing. We watched for a while, and the weather didn't let up - the riders were tip-toeing around and coming in soaked. We trekked home again.

Nice drive though...

Evil Stig on GN250

Yes it is a fact, when the black Ducati 916 is getting some new brakes, we must use the GN from Haldanes to get to work.


Doesn't look too happy ;-(

The Ducati Owners Club of NZ

I have been going to the DOCNZ (Ducati Owners Club of New Zealand).


There is a gallery, events and a forum that may be of interest. I would have gone along on the Ducati Rally in March however it was right around the time I was off on the Suzuki Boulevard Rally in Napier, and brownie points being what they are ;-) I missed the Ducati Rally the week earlier.

Go check it out. I should get along to the meetings: Auckland
Headquarters Restaurant and Bar - 132 Beaumont St Westhaven - Auckland
1st Wednesday of each month, Start time 7.30pm

ciao

Hampton Downs July 10

The mighty Waikato put on a splendid day at Hampton Downs last Saturday, and we were there taking the black 'cat around the awesome track.


Black Ducati 916

This was the break in the weather we have been waiting for, and what an excellent place to spent 6 x 20minutes session of one's life.

Metzeler Sportec M5

Thanks to being at the Motott trackday at Taupo in April I found myself the owner of a new set of tyres - Metzeler Sportec M5's to be exact. I have Metzeler Marathon's on the cruiser so I knew they would be good - but with all the hype... how good?

Hi-tech Motorcycle Tyres

The Metzeler Sportec M5 is a new concept whereby the tyre has 5 radial belts that are tensioned differently, to provide better support and a better contact patch. My black Ducati 916 took 180x55 ZR17 on the rear and 120x70 ZR17 on the front.

Scrubbing In

Initial ride was to scrub in the tyres - a process that needs about 150km of running before you start to lean on the tyres in acceleration, braking and hard cornering. I chose the route from Auckland - Kaiaua via Kawakawa Bay and return through Mangatawhiri and Hunua. I did about 250km and I would say that by the end of the day I was really impressed - I was confident and relaxed and the Ducati was really working well. These are great roads to ride too. In the main the road was dry so I haven't tried them in the wet yet.