February 2009 - NZ Post Classic Racing Association

NZPCRA NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2009
CONTACTS
Tech Queries
Craig Smith
E: smithy@smaller.net.nz
President
Lindsay Pinker
E: lnk@paradise.net.nz
Membership
Graham Moorhead
E: g.moor@xtra.co.nz
Editor
Tony Haimes
T: 021 907 844
E: haimes.family@xtra.co.nz
FEBRUARY 2009 PRESIDENT’S REPORT.
There has definitely been lots of action
since my last President’s Report, with
most of you that are actively involved
will know about anyway. Lots of racing
both here and at Phillip Island for
those that were able to make the
trip.
A great big special “congratualations”
to Craig smith for his achievement
of taking away the prize for best
international rider.
The committee’s first job after
our annual “Grand Prix” is
over is to first get dates and
a venue sorted out for the
next one, and then do a
review of the one you
have just had to see
what you can improve
on for next time.
As this was the first
race meeting we had
run entirely under our
own banner, we messed up in a few
areas that we can definitely improve on.
On that matter of improvements, I pass
my personal apologies on to those people
and businesses that were disappointed
with the exposure they received at the 9 th
of November, 2009 Grand Prix. I agree
we did not do a very good job. Some of
the reason behind this was the radios we
hired along with the “Pacific Motorcycle
Personel” slowly one by one went down
as the batteries all went flat, so there was
no round track information, and then the
Public Address System as hired with the
circuit failed, so communication to the
public was
cut off. Then, unfortunately I forgot to
mention the sponsors at prize giving and
made a couple of other mistakes as well.
Sorry guy”s!!!!
All in all though, it would seem those
who competed had a great day, and at the
end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.
The next topic was our great committee and
promotions man, Tony Haimes having his horrible
accident at Pukekohe and his seemingly miraculous
recovery after one hell of a rough road. Tony sent me
an email begging for information to do the magazine
with which is a great indication of a come back. Good
on you Tony.
Wanganui had a great turnout of Post Classic entries
across the board. It would definitely have been thin
fields if the classes had not been mixed, but it looked
good. Terry Fitzgerald is certainly handing out some
lessons with his pre-89 very well sorted Ducati. Great
to see.
Somewhere in this issue is Craig Smith’s report on
Phillip Island so I see little point in repeating it, with
few numbers and bike problems it sounds like the
team were a bit on the back foot this time. I am sure
they still all had a great time.
Of course there is still plenty of racing around the
country before the end of the season and it has been
great to see that our grids aren’t too bad considering
the current economic climate, and don’t forget Paeroa
and the AMCC Pukekohe TT in March, which are
always absolute blinders.
The really great news is that of “Hampton Downs.”
It is still going ahead in leaps and bounds and the
prospective first test date is the 1 st of June, 2009.
In conversation with Chris Watson, (the head director
of operations at Hampton Downs) he also confirmed
we are in the hat for a date along with all other clubs
and organizations. More information is going to be
made available after the 1 st of June when initial
testing proves the new track surface to be suitable
to race on.
The date for our 2009 AGM is still to be set. This
should be some time in May/June and I urge you to
think about who is replacing me as President as I am
standing down at the end of this term. I am moving
on to new challenges in life and after five years as
President and eight years on the committee I feel it
is time for some new blood to help the club move
forward.
Cheers, Lindsay Pinker.
www.nzpostclassics.org.nz
The Post Classic February 2009
Page 1

Phillip Island 2009
By Craig Smith
I flew in to Melbourne on Monday, got the rental car
and drove straight to the track. I had booked a ride day
bike and was keen to get some laps in. In the end I got
3 afternoon sessions of 20 minutes on an 08 Suzuki
GSXR 600. What a cool little machine!! I loved it. It
went everywhere I wanted it to. Stopped like you would
not believe, and revved to about 30,000rpm. Put it
this way, I never red lined it!! They would not put me
out in the fast group (just as well as they were reeling
off 1’40” flat lap times…) but being in the “medium
fast” group meant I could carve up some GSXR 1000s,
R1s and the like. They would get me on the straight,
but by surprisingly little, and I could pass them on
the corners. Excellent fun, but it ruined me for when I
had to get back on the old girl. The first time I hit the
brakes on the GS going into Honda it was: “Is that all
you’ve got”
Thursday practice was tough. There was about a 35
knot wind coming straight down the main straight which
meant you went way too fast into T1, and it was really
hard to initiate turning both in T1 and T3, the fast left
hander. I totally destroyed the front tyre as the wind
just pushed it across the track. I was pushing the front
everywhere, and the fastest time I got was a 1’54”...
Race meeting practice on Friday with the GS 1000
started badly.
The 150hp Armageddon engine developed a rattle that
would not go away, so I pulled it out of the bike and put
the 130hp spare “pussy engine” in. I got an average
qualifying position, and then before I could improve on
it, the engine developed a misfire above 7500rpm. Took
a bit of tracking down but it turned out to be the Dyna
2000 ignition module. Replaced that and got a 4 th in
the Aussie P5 races, then a 12 th in the first international
challenge, then an 8 th in the second international
challenge (40 starters). First Non Aussie home and a
PB lap of 1’47”. Gardner did a 1’43…. And won both
races, but I kept him in sight for pretty much he whole
race. I was rapt. I beat all the Poms and all the Kiwis,
and was in 7 th for a while, but ran wide at Honda and
let the bastard back in… On cloud 9 here!!
Vince blew the Honda up again, as soon as he started
going for it. Broken Cam chain again. He has borrowed a
GSX 1100 from an Aussie and is already getting 1’49s.
Pretty damn good. Shame he’s not on the Honda!
Well I finished my racing career on a high. Got 8 th overall
out of 40 qualified bikes. Top international finisher, so
beat all the Kiwis and all the Poms, including multiple
TT winner Stan Woods.. I was lucky though. My engine
blew to bits on lap 6 of the last race and I coasted over
the finish line with it making nasty grinding noises,
thinking the game was up, but the race was red flagged
later that lap with all results put back to lap 6. Even
though I coasted over the line, I got 15 th (was in 8 th )
and that was enough to give me top international rider.
Wayne Gardner won it, and Wally Campbell (Aussie
legend) set a new lap record of 1’41”. Makes my PB
of 1’47 look lame!
With 100% hindsight, if I had managed a decent grid
position (quite possible if the Dyna had not packed
up) then I think I could have held onto the front bunch
and got into the low 1’46 maybe 1’45, especially if I
had he Armageddon Engine. The bike was very well
behaved, and I was getting used to slowly sliding the
back in Siberia and T11, T12. It certainly went through
the rear tyres though. I did 3 rears and 2 fronts over
the weekend…
When the bike gets home, I will be re-building and
selling. Quite a lot of interest… Yes, for those of you
who don’t know, I am bowing out of Post Classic racing.
The bike is for sale with the Armageddon engine (will
be re-built, new pistons and rings) for NZ$20K with
all spares, and the 130hp Pussy engine will be sold,
re-built for $10K complete with some spares. I need
to spend more time with the kids and cannot afford to
have this much value sitting in the garage. (Never mind
the temptation!!)
That’s it from me.
Cheers, Smithy.
Page 2 The Post Classic February 2009

Motor Racing Is Dangerous
We have all seen this statement on the entry forms
we sign and the race programmes we get when we
attend the meetings but until December 14 th I used
to consider that it was for others, not applicable to
me.
Race Day
I had finally sorted out most of the bugs on my 1985
GSXR 7/11 which I had built up from a lot of spares
that I had accumulated over the last 3 years and went
to the AMCC club Championship meeting on Sunday
14 th December with high hopes of a great days
racing. The day was fine and there were a number
of Pre 89 Senior bikes so we were expecting a good
competitive day.
We had, as usual for the AMCC rounds, been included
with the Clubman’s field which usually meant that we
could compare the “Old Ladies” against the newer
model bikes. The day consisted of practise and three
races.
The first two races were great with the standard
1052cc motor fitted into the 1985 GSXR 750 frame
getting great starts and being slowly caught by the
pack over the 6 laps. Unfortunately the starter motor
packed it in after the practise and I had to push start
the beast for the races. I was in the pits next to Jim
Manoah who was great company and even better at
pushing the Suzuki, thanks for your company and
assistance Jim
The Accident.
The third race saw me get a good start again and I was
holding a top 10 place going out of the left hander
after the hairpin when we had a coming together
with a rider who was trying to get past. The result
was what we normally call a racing incident resulting
in me crashing into the Armco on the infield going
up the hill.
It’s funny what goes through your mind as you watch
the track disappear and the Armco rush up at you, I
distinctly remember thinking that this was going to
end in tears and that’s exactly what unfolded.
I was extremely fortunate that my son Paul was
marshalling at Castrol and as soon as he heard that
85 was down he flagged down the recovery vehicle
and was at my side looking after me. For this I am
forever grateful.
Don’t short change on safety equipment.
When the bike and I had stopped rolling I did a
quick check and immediately realized that this was
a big accident as far as injuries were concerned,
listed below is a rough précis of the injuries and the
surgery:
“Tony suffered horrendous injuries to the pelvic/
hip area on both sides, as well as dislocating his
left shoulder. On the Monday he underwent nearly
7 hours of surgery to repair his left hip joint and
top of femur. Not sure how many plates, nuts and
bolts they used, but they said it took “two full
repair kits”. He had 2 hours further surgery on
Wednesday to repair his right knee cap during
which he developed breathing difficulties. A CT
Scan revealed that the bottom of his lungs had
collapsed and filled with fluid, so he received a
couple of blood transfusions, and is on constant
oxygen to assist breathing.
On the following Monday he underwent another 7
1/2 hours of surgery to repair his right pelvic area
(the x-ray shows that this was even more extensive
than the hip injury). In the words of his surgeon...
He didn’t “break” any bones, he just completely
“smashed” them. The following day he had an
emergency Angiogram revealing vein damage in the
right leg which meant another 3 hours of Surgery to
save his leg.
The Surgeon has estimated about 3-4 weeks
in Middlemore hospital, after which he will be
transferred home about 2 months with no load
bearing on the hips. At this stage he faces about 3
months in a wheelchair. Hopefully after this he will
be able to start getting back to some “normality”.
As you can see from the injury list I still am in awe
that there were no back injuries, this I put down to a
God who looks after me, and good safety gear.
I would like to publicly acknowledge the manufacturer
of the Back Protector as this, and the associated
carbon pads in the racing leathers contributed to
me surviving this accident. Please if there is only
one message to take from this then remember never
underestimate the wisdom of getting first rate quality
safety gear, It could mean the difference between
life and death.
Rehab.
I am now waiting on the surgeons to give the go ahead
for Rehabilitation and load bearing exercises and am
on the healing trail. I would like to acknowledge the
Nurses and Doctors of Ward 11 at Middlemore who
spent so much of their time and attention looking
after an old racer. They are an absolutely fantastic
team who were patient and caring in all that they did,
“THANKS FOR ALL YOUR LOVE AND CARE.”
I need to thank all of the members of the NZPCRA
who took the time to send cards, visit me, and send
E mails, it was uplifting to know that people cared.
The biggest thanks need to go to my Wife and Family
who put up with all the drama and continued to look
for the best out of the situation.
The Post Classic February 2009
Page 3

Motorcycle Road racing Calander 2008/ 2009 Series
Date Club Track No I Plate Points
25/26 October 2008 Classic Motorcycle Racing Register Pukekohe Yes
9 November 2008 NZPCRA Taupo full Yes double
30 November 2008 Pacific MCC (Round 1) Taupo No 3 No
14 December 2008 Auckland MCC (Round 2) Pukekohe Yes
26 December 2008 Wanganui MCC Wanganui No
29 December 2008 Sidecar Spectacular Taupo No 1 No
24 January 2009 Pacific ( Have a go day) Manfeild No
25 January 2009 Pacific (Round 2) ManFeild No
22 February 2009 Paeroa Street circuit Paeroa No
7/8 March 2009 NZTT Pukekohe Yes
26 April 2009 AMCC (round 3) Pukekohe Yes
5 April 2009 Pacific (Round 3) Taupo No 1 No
16 May 2009 Victoria MCC (Winter Series round 1) Manfeild Yes
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Page 4 The Post Classic February 2009

M y Race Bike
Owner/Rider: Phil Duxbury aka ‘The Flying Duck’ #41
Sponsors: ABC (Avondale Blasting and Coatings), Pro-Coat, SKF, Cannon Signage Concepts,
Henderson Motorcycles, Blackout Website,
Model: Suzuki GSXR 7-11 and Yamaha RD 350 LC
Class: Post Classic Pre ’89 Senior and Post Classic Pre ’82 Junior
Best results: 1 st AMCC club champs – 4 times.
1 st NZPCRA club champs – 4 times
2 nd at Phillip Island, ’06 Island Classic – Forgotten Era Under 500cc. 500cc Up to 500cc
Best advice: Go Hard or Go Home.
Why these bikes I developed the GSXR1100 in a Formula 1 sidecar that raced for a few years. When I
sold it, I kept the engine. Then the newly formed Pre ‘89 class was created so all I needed was a chassis.
So I bought a beaten up 1988 GSXR 750J road bike and sold the engine to the TQ guys knowing that
one could fit the 1100 motor straight in. I made my own fairings and hey presto I had a very competitive
7-11 toy. Yeah hah.
The LC is a bike that I raced in England for a few years after the introduction of the Pro-Am series.
Those were the days, 2 heats of 40 x RD350LC’s with the top 20 getting into the final. Now that is
competition. So the nostalgia of that era has stuck with me and I love racing my little LC. I always get
my fix from pushing her to the limit.
Specifications:
Engine
Ignition
Carburetors
Frame
Suzuki GSXR 1127 K
1216cc JE Pistons.
13.5 : 1 Compression.
1mm over size Stainless Valves.
GSXR 750 J Cam shafts
Head ported by BRM.
Yoshimura Header pipes and home made
muffler.
Approx. 155 rear wheel Horsepower
Approx. 180 kg dry weight
Dead loss standard Suzuki ignition
4 x Mikuni RS 38mm
Suzuki GSXR 750 J
Wheels Front: GSXR 17” x 3.5”
Rear: GSXR 17” x 4.5”
Brakes
Suspension
All standard Suzuki GSXR
Front: Re-valved GSXR 750 J standard forks.
Rear: White Power remote reservoir mono
shock
The Post Classic February 2009
Page 5

Specifications:
Engine
Ignition
Carburetors
Frame
Yamaha RD 350 LC
Yamaha TZ 750 top end.
Wobbly pipes
Boyesen reeds
2 x Mikuni CR 34mm
1980 Yamaha RD LC
Wheels Front: Yamaha RZ 350 18” x 2.15”
Rear: Yamaha RD 350 LC 18” x 3.0”
Brakes
Front: Twin Disc standard Yamaha
Rear: Yamaha RDLC Standard Drum
Suspension
Front: Yamaha 350 Forks
Rear: Standard Yamaha Mono shock
Page 6 The Post Classic February 2009

Name Bike Class* Place* Total CR Puke PC Taupo GP Taupo AM Puke TT Puke AM Puke VC Manfd
Pete Sales Honda XR500 82 J 1 90 20 25 25 20
Nick Turner Honda RC30 89 S 2 86 25 16 20 25
Trevor Taylor Yamaha TZ350 82 J 3 76 25 16 10 25
Paul Brown Yamaha FZR400 89 J 70 25 20 25
Phil Duxbury Suzuki GSXR7/11 89 S 4 65 20 20 25
Graeme Parr Kawasaki GPZ1100 82 S 4 65 20 20 25
Carl Hanna Ducati TT2 82 J 6 56 16 11 13 16
Randy Scott Honda CBR600 89 J 54 25 9 20
Steve Bridge Ducati TT2 900 82 S 7 50 25 25
Peter Smith Suzuki GSXR1100 89 S 8 49 13 10 13 13
Trevor Taylor Yamaha TZ250 89 J 49 20 16 13
Phil Clarke Suzuki GS1000 82 S 8 49 20 10 11 8
Russell Barker Suzuki GSX1100 82 S 8 49 11 9 13 16
Randall Dixon Suzuki GSXR1100 89 S 11 45 13 16 16
Andrew McDonald Yamaha RD350LC 82 J 12 40 20 20
Graham Moorhead Suzuki GS1000 82 S 13 37 11 6 20
Graham Moorhead Yamaha TZ350 82 J 14 36 7 13 16
Craig Seddon Suzuki GS1000 82 S 15 33 7 6 10 10
Lyle Chambers Yamaha FZR750 89 S 16 31 11 9 11
Bruce Sutton Honda GB 500 89 J 29 16 13
Sean Donnelly Kawasaki Z900 82 S 17 29 13 16
Paul Brown Yamaha TZ350 82 J 18 27 10 9 8
Richard Mosley Kawasaki ZXR750 89 S 19 25 25
Frank Van Oijen Suzuki GSXR 1100 89 S 25 25
Craig Smith Suzuki GS1000 82 S 19 25 25
Shane Ross Suzuki GSX1100 82 S 19 25 8 8 9
Paul Dobbs Norton F750 82 S 22 24 13 11
Glenn Walker-Holt Ducati SS900 89 S 23 23 16 7
Vince Sharpe Honda CB1100 82 S 24 22 16 6
John Carter Suzuki GS450 82 J 24 22 11 11
Paul Haimes Yamaha TZR250 89 J 21 10 11
*Place #1 Plate Competition; Pre 89 Senior, Pre 82 Junior & Senior Classes
The Post Classic February 2009
Page 7

Rob Hunt Honda NC23 89 J 20 20
Jim Manoah Kawasaki Z1 82 S 26 20 16 4
Sheldon Reynolds Honda CB900 82 S 27 19 3 9 7
Colin Higgins Yamaha RD350LC 82 J 28 17 8 9
Stuart Hosking Kawasaki GPZ550 82 J 28 17 8 9
David Smith Yamaha TZ250 89 J 16 16
Steve Sherriff Honda CB1100R 82 S 30 15 10 5
Terry Waite Kawasaki H1 500 82 J 31 14 7 7
Dean Beatson Honda CB350 82 J 31 14 6 8
Alistair Wilton Yamaha TZ250 89 J 13 13
Pete Jones Honda CB1100F 82 S 33 13 13
Glenn Walker-Holt Kawasaki GPZ550 82 J 33 13 13
Graeme Ogle Yamaha TZ350 82 J 33 13 13
Paul Lance Kawasaki GPZ900 89 S 36 11 11
Tony Haimes Suzuki GSXR1100 89 S 36 11 11
Marty Lile Kawasaki Z1000 82 S 36 11 4 7
Jim Campbell Yamaha TZ350 82 J 36 11 11
John Tanner Kawasaki ZXR750 89 S 40 10 10
Rod Price Yamaha TZ350 82 J 40 10 10
Billy Mitchell Yamaha TZ350 82 J 40 10 10
Aaron De’Arth BMW 80 82 S 43 9 9
Debbie Bridge Ducati TT2 82 J 43 9 9
Donald England Cagiva 650 89 S 45 8 8
Brian Deadman Kawasaki Z1R 82 S 45 8 8
Alan DeLautour Suzuki RG500 82 S 47 7 7
Eric Bone Kawasaki H1 500 82 J 47 7 7
Alistair Wilton Yamaha TZ350 82 J 49 6 6
Lee Hunter Suzuki Katana 1100 82 S 50 5 5
Guy Webster Yamaha RD350 82 J 50 5 5
Andrew McNab Suzuki GSX1100 82 S
Tony Osman Yamaha TZ350 82 J
*Class S= Senior; over 600cc
*Place #1 Plate Competition; Pre
Page 8 The Post Classic February 2009