East Fortune, September 2003.
Here is my dairy from the September East Fortune meeting. Peter “Budge” Burgess had very kindly lent me his reverse cylinder TZ250W for this meeting. I had been hankering after a TZ for years, so I was really looking forward to getting out on it. As you will see I did not get on very well with it on the Saturday, however after a few mods on Sunday, things started to go a bit better.
The other riders that I mention were on the following machines:
Mark Middleton: TZ750
Andy Dunnet: TRX850
Laurie Shepherd: GSX-R 750 (early model)
Friday night weather good. Small shower in middle of night.
Wake up at 6:30 just as it starts to rain. Very light shower for half an hour then it clears up nicely. Light wind all day.
First practice bike feels dreadful. Wagging its tail into Railway. Front end is pushing when coming on power out of corner. It is coughing and spluttering in midrange. Loads of vibration through bars.
Drop needles and fiddle with forks to try and make better.
Second practice bike is carbing a lot better but still pushing front end. Still struggling with brakes. Using all travel in forks.
Try to space the preload but can't do. Raise bars to try and stop being thrown over the front. Soften the rear comp and rebound a few clicks.
First race. Totally hash the start as first gear is really high. Mark, Laurie and Andy Dunnet and ahead. Plus the 250's and the classics which were set off ahead of us. Get past Laurie and Andy. Chasing Mark when Laurie high-sides out of the first Esses and the race is red flagged. While we are being held I stiffen the rear again as it has started bouncing around.
Second start and I get away better but still pish. I outbrake myself twice into Railway and nearly end up off the track. Bike has also developed a misfire. Have now lost a load of time and pissed off, tour round for a finish.
Decide to get the valve out for the second race, so pull it out van and get scrutineered etc.
Second race. Get a blinder of a start and lead into first corner. Mark comes by up the straight and slowly pulls away. Race is uneventful. Unable to keep up with Mark. New brakes are very good, bike goes well. Finish second to Mark though there are a few 250s etc in front.
Mark has a party to celebrate his 50th in paddock. Have a long chat with him about the TT etc and also TZ problems. Budge suggests that the front end pushing may be down to the font tyre being an intermediate and the rear a slick.
No rain during night although it is quite windy.
Get up about seven and have a think about TZ. After consultation with Monique decide to bite bullet and buy a front slick. Go up to van but it is still shut. Arnott Lawson comes along and tells me there is a second hand one somewhere. We have a look at it and it looks good. It then transpires that someone is throwing it away so it is free. Get it fitted. Drop forks back to where Budge had them before as Mark reckons that raising the front end would make things worse.
First practice and the bike is transformed. No longer pushing front and misfire is gone with fresh battery. I also realise that I am carrying a lot more speed at the end of the straight thus why I have been out braking myself. Once I start braking earlier to compensate things get better. Do plug chop at end of session. Still finding vibration a problem as throttle hand is loosing grip as a result. Fit new grips as old ones look really thin and hard.
First race. Bike refuses to start and I miss the gate. Kill switch is off. Furious with myself.
Second race. This time bike starts. Get a reasonable start considering first gear. Andy and Mark are ahead. Mark gets by Andy coming out of the Snake. Takes me a couple of laps to get by Andy by which time Mark has a good lead. Manage to reel him in but don't feel confident enough with the bike yet to try a pass. Am also getting quite tired. Finish up second again.
David Hogg advises me to raise the rear ride height as he reckons the bike looks very flat and that I'm struggling to turn it.
Try to adjust ride height but find that the adjuster to seized solid.
Third race. Get same start again but this time I am able to get by Andy quickly and Mark has no chance to get away. Have gained more confidence and am now able to try passing moves on Mark. I outbrake him into Pates first. This is the first time I have been able to do this to any of the faster guys. He comes by me again on the exit but I pass him again the next lap at the hairpin and this time it sticks as he struggles to get his bike to turn through Hannah’s. Finish with a good clear win.
Budge asks me if I want the bike for Croft and I bike his other hand off!