Two's company!

The FZ motor has some company on Steve's work bench. Not only is my motor getting major works, but so is the new motor of my friend and co racer Phil. He has spent the last 2 seasons racing his Laverda 750 formula v-twin.
It is a lovely handling bike but unless you spend an absolute fortune on it, it is doomed to circulate somewhere near the back. As proven by the Alto Laverda team who have spent a real fortune on their bike. It did win last season and is a real marvel of engineering and dedication. It looks beautiful too!



Phil attempted to get the bike to perform better earlier in the season and spent a lot of time, effort and money re-working the engine only for it to self destruct in quite a spectacular manner. The inside of the motor looked like a scrap yard!

The Laverda has been really good to Phil over the years! Now she gets a well deserved rest....for a while anyway!



Phil hasn't been so good to the Laverda though! This was a big off at Dijon, France in 2005!

So he was left with a dilema. Spend shed loads more money on it or buy something that will make more financial sense as well as giving the owner a lot less hassle and be more competitive.
Phil is a die-hard v-twin fan but has managed to quell his lust for Italian exotica and run a Japanese four cylinder. So while the Laverda gets pushed to the back of the garage, along side the v-twin RSV Aprilia, Phil has very sensibly, in my opinion, got his hands on .....can you guess?.......... a rather messy Yamaha FZ 750!

And it does make sense. Cheap racing, relatively!

So over the course of the coming season I am going to try to keep up with the two of us and post what happens with Phil's FZ as well. I say try because I find it a lot of work to keep the blog going and get on with day to day life. I do enjoy it and the e-mails I get from folks saying how much they enjoy it makes it worthwhile taking the time to write. It also leaves a good record and is fun to get nostalgic over on occasions as my self and Phil did the other evening as we went over some of the early goings on last year. Anyway, back to the bikes....

Phil's brother Dave, had the FZ I am using laying around in his garden looking sorry for sometime. He donated the machine and came a couple of times to watch last year and really enjoyed himself. Then he came home from a stint away with another FZ in the back of his van and gave it to Phil. So the fun for Phil begins.

This FZ was really sad looking and it was decided that a total strip was in order. It actually looked like it had been dragged out of a river!

Ooooo....nasty!

Phil took to motor to uncle Steve for a total overhaul and to have the works done to it. So everything that mine is having, so is Phil's.
He has sourced a complete R6 front end, a new rear shock, and a FZR 400 swing arm. I think the body work is old 90's race kit and the frame has been blasted and primed. New adjustable yokes that will be made by Phil will replace the standard R6 items retaining the FZ steering stem.

Brings back memories!

Things are well on the way to turning the old Fat rusty girl into Project FZ750 racer MK2!
Time to get back to beavering in the shed.....

Plans for '08

The bike is sat in my back room at the moment looking sad with the engine at uncle Steve's for some tlc. It's nice and warm and dry in here and my pc is right to hand too! The Mrs. gets to see me this winter. Don't think she's too bothered either way really, I think she liked the peace and quiet last year!

There is a list of jobs to do but nowhere near the amount as at the same time last year...thank goodness!

Steve has big plans for the motor.
With the weight of the bike as it was at the last race of 189kg and the power being 94 bhp, we can gain a significant increase in the power to weight ratio allowed in the series.
If the power remained as is, we would be allowed a minimum weight of 170.5 kg. Alternatively, if the weight remained the same, we would be allowed a maximum power output of 104.2 bhp.
This leaves us with a host of choices. This is what we are planning to do.

The FZ motor runs a starter motor and generator. These are getting removed. Weight will decrease significantly here. The crank shaft will be lightened and ballanced. Again, weight will be reduced here. The other benefit of decreasing the weight of the crank will be that the motor will"spin up" a lot faster and smoother meaning the bike will accelerate a lot faster. Added to this, the removal of the starter and generator will also massively decrease friction in the motor allowing it to Spin up and rev much quicker and freely. This basically, according to the rules, is a free power increase, undetectable on the dyno. It doesn't show up as horse power.
This alone because of the weight loss, will probably get us near the limit but added to the above will be some gas flowing and porting work, worth a few more bhp. Steve has also mentioned adding titanium con rods and much lighter pistons. Again less weight in the moving parts of the motor adding to the freedom of spin up. They are also a lot stronger to help take the extra power.The bike will fly out of corners and off down the straights much sooner and gears will be changed earlier.


The wiring loom is going to loose a lot of unnecessary wires and weight. The battery will be replaced for one half the weight.

That's about it in the power and weight loss area. It will make a massive difference in performance. This is all very well but a bit of a waste of time if the chassis can't handle the increase.
The front end suspension is the next area to be looked at.
Ideally a complete front end replacement is the way to go using the 1999 to 2002 Yamaha R6 equipment. These have been tried and tested and are superbly suited to the FZ.The only problem here is funds, so Phil has agreed to loan me the front end from his Aprilia RSV 1000.We are yet to determine the difference in weight compared to the YZF equipment currently fitted. The next hurdle would be to make a set of yokes to take the RSV forks and wheel. Again Phil comes to the rescue and has agreed to make some. I think he enjoys the challenge! Another benefit with this equipment is the lighter front wheel, which reduces gyroscopic effect and helps the bike to change direction and turn into corners faster. Also if we can get the correct geometry in the set up of the front forks, we should eliminate the sluggish and slow turning that the bike suffers from.Steve has assured me that this is possible. It is spot on using the R6 forks. Making the yokes so they can be adjusted is the answer here. Phil says it is possible to achieve.
I used to own the machine and know from experience how good the handling of the RSV is. Not only that but the brakes are absolutely, astoundingly good. We hope this will do the trick!
If we can get the bike to behave as it should at the front, then things will be looking very good for an improvement in results next season.

Other jobs on the list include some paint here and there to clean things up a bit, replacing the old, leaky clutch slave cylinder. A bit of general maintenance and servicing such as cleaning out and re greasing all bearings, the chain, the rear shock and linkages, swing arm bearings, cables etc. etc. Nothing too heavy or taxing. This is all under way but the real work will start when the motor gets back and we head to Brands Hatch on March 7th. I can't wait!
So all in all, it's very promising and exciting.

I will update as things develop, although I have a feeling that not too much will be going on until February swings into gear.
In the mean time I will be ( if I can find the time!) posting some pictures and info on other people and their FZ projects. Not only have I made a lot of new friends through the racing but also through this blog! Quite a few guys have mailed me in the last year, via this blog, to either ask questions or tell me about their project FZ's. I am always happy to hear from them and will do my best to get any fellow FZ riders a ticket to enter the circuits and to watch us race and hopefully meet in person in the paddock. We usually have a spare ticket or two! You are always most welcome, and there's always tea on the go in our race trucks!

Big Thanks for '07

Racing maybe a solo sport out on the track, but no way could I have done it without the help and support of a whole host of people.This is the moment to give them all a mention and say how much I appreciate it.

Firstly Steve, for banging on at me to get a bike when I had stopped the nonsense for a few years. Also for taking up his shed for most of the year to build and store the race bike.

Phil, who has given of himself and his time in the workshop, making stuff and getting me out of the shit plus a massive long list of other stuff he has contributed in a most generous way. It's great to have him around.

Phil's brother Dave, who gave us the bike in the first place. Glad you enjoyed the racing and hope to see you more next season.

My Mrs. for not seeing me for three months solid last winter during the build and for supporting me to accomplish my dream.

Mr. Steve Spencer, without whom the whole project would have been a nightmare and rather amateurish . His huge amount of knowledge of the Yamaha FZ motorcycle, racing and tuning the things, he has passed on to us without holding back.It has been a blessing to have met him. He is a really rare breed.

Jeremy Hill. He has given his time to come and see me over every race weekend and on the phone to offer advice and help to get me going in the right direction. A very passionate and generous guy. He really has been an inspiration.

Jeremy's wife Tina. She has also been full of advice and help in the fitness arena and also helped me understand what makes a racer.

During the licence day at Mallory Park, I met Gyles. He's an all round great guy and I feel fortunate to have met him, competed against him and shared all sorts of stuff in the paddock while camped out together, including cutlery!

Gyles right hand man and top guy, especially when he is drunk and telling stories, Chris. He had no hesitation in offering his services whether it be acting as a human bike lift or starter motor or whatever.You're a star!

The whole Alto Laverda crew. A pleasure to be camped out next to and always willing to help in all kinds of ways.
Ben and Aaron have been very generous with their experience and all the guys in their crew have been really great! Thanks to all of you.

Steve and Sarah Jordan have always been quick to help when asked and always delivered. Good luck to Sarah who is quitting Thunderbikes for another series. It was Fantastic when she won at Cadwell Park!



I'd like to thank my sponsors, but I don't have any! bugger!

Last of the summer gasoline part 2

We had an eventful evening, chatting with new found friends and fellow racers, both in the bar at the circuit and back at our paddock camp on Saturday evening.A most memorable night.
The excitement of the next days racing was building, and I resolved to savour the day in the knowledge that this was going to be my last fix until next March.

And savour it I did!

The next morning, I maxed the suspension settings at the front in an effort to get the front to stand up as much as possible and keep the Exhaust system off the ground. I had to get it to brake later which this would hopefully help achieve.

We had a very short morning warm up of just 2 or 3 laps in the dry Brands sunshine. It was looking like it was going to be a day of good weather. The last thing I wanted was for it to rain.
As soon as I took off down the track on my first lap, I knew the bike was going to be better and on the brakes for the first time into Druids bend was instantly better. With the short session, I was going to have to wait for the racing to get a good feel for what I could get away with.
We didn't have to wait too long as Thunderbikes were the second race of the day.

Druids bend on the 1st lap is a high light of racing for me and quite a spectacle for those watching.

I Was to start from yesterdays finishing position of 15th place out of 28 riders.
The usual sensations in mind and body before setting off from the paddock had set in early today and it seemed like eternity before our race was called. The bike sat on it's stands with the engine being run up to temperature and tyres in their warmers and I sat feeling like I was going to need to run to the nearest drain and puke. It was taking for ever for the call to come. Once finally off the stands and riding up to the collecting area, the nerves dissipated a little. It's not until the lights go out for the warm up lap that it becomes more bearable.The warm up lap is a good release and I always tend to give the bike a good hard push for that one lap. It's nice to get the tyres and myself up to optimum temperature before the start procedure.

Great Photos! Thanks to David Stoddart for sending them.

The bike felt good on that first lap but as we lined up for the start, I could feel the nerves in my stomach running wild. As the flag marshal pointed at the lights and walked from the track, the noise from all the bikes around makes the ground and my chest shake, but as my focus became more concentrated, I became unaware of the noise and the feeling in my stomach. It's the last thing in the world to pass through my mind at this stage. All my mind it focused on is the lights and then which side of the guy in front I am going to go.
The friendly banter and rivalry of the paddock naturally make the focus on the guys you know the best as the ones you want to beat. In my case this is Phil and Gyles, being as we all camp together. Phil has remained at the back end of the field due to the under performance of his Laverda. (This is in no way a slur on his abilities as he is a very good rider and racer. he deserves a better performing machine!)

Phil on the Laverda.You have to admire the guys commitment to riding a bike that has no chance of scoring points all season. He just loves V-twins and racing.Just wait till you see what he'll be riding next season......I'm in for a battle for sure! can't wait!

So this leaves Gyles, who due to his 10th place the day before was 5 places ahead of me on the grid.With the bike feeling better, I was really hoping to be able to get somewhere near him in this race, get a better finishing position and therefore get a better shot at him in the next race. That was my plan anyway!

The start was nothing special for me but not too bad either. I aimed for Gyles and tried to reel him in as I knew my bike was faster off the start and by the end of the 1st lap I was in 12th and could see Gyles just a couple of places ahead. I have to admit that the race was a bit of a blur. I was super concentrated and aware that the bike was behaving a hell of a lot better than the day before. It was still miles from ideal! The next couple of laps saw two bikes come past me, both Suzuki SV machines and then a Ducati 748 which managed to throw it's rider into the gravel a lap later!

What a mix of machines!

My determination to catch Gyles coupled with knowing this was the last days racing of the year, made me really dig in deep and push as hard as I dare. At one stage, exiting the last turn onto the start straight, I had tapped on the power too early and too hard and Ended with soiled pants as the back came round so hard it had the front forks hitting their limit and the handlebars going from lock to lock, hard. As soon as the bike had composed it's self, I was back on the gas and didn't look back....I had a big black Guzzler to catch after all!
By lap 5, Gyles was in front. I think it was more a case of him getting passed by other guys than of me catching him, but I had caught up with him. A couple more bikes got in the mix with the two of us and somehow Gyles has escaped again. I was still pushing as hard as I could. For 4 laps I chased The two guys in front, Gyles was being hassled big time by another SV but as hard as I tried, all I could do was maintain the gap between us. Finally Gyles got passed and I spent the rest of the race looking at the back of the big, wide Moto Guzzi. I couldn't get him and finished the race right on his tail, well.... 1 second behind.
Tim had finished right behind me again. I bet he was cursing!
Gyles was looking at a 1st place in the rookie championship!

Druids is still fantastic on your own!

I had also hit my target lap time of a 53 second lap, 53.822 to be exact. I would have liked it to have been a bit quicker but still, it was a big improvement on the day before and just a 10th of a second slower than Gyles.

I was absolutely buzzing and feeling on top of the world. I found out later that I had finished 13th. I was happy with that considering the competition.
As we all peeled off the track and into the back of the pit garages, I could see all the guys in front being directed into the weight bridge and then the dyno. Excellent. I'd been looking for a free dyno run all season and at the final race I was to get one!
The whole process of weighing and Dyno running twenty-something bikes took a while. It was hot and I was tired and with no stand, half an hour or more of holding 189KG of bike gets a bit boring and made me very stiff. Once over and done I was informed of a final dyno reading of 94 BHP. A little more than I had expected.


The 2nd race of the day was to be the last of the year and the excitement was high and the atmosphere in the paddock was electric!The race was a bit of an anti climax. I let my emotions get the better of me. My self preservation had kicked in and I was knackered having spent my limited fitness and energy on the first race! I just wanted to get round and finish in the points and get home in one piece.
The start was not impressive, but I got into my stride after that and made a couple of places in the first few laps. It was not to last and as Gyles disappeared into the distance, I seemed to go backwards for the first half of the race. I seemed to settle down for the second half of the race. This was reflected in my lap times which were very consistent and within half a second of each other for the whole race. I spent the last 6 0f 11 laps behind the same guy, the only thing was he was getting further away as the race went on and with a brief peek over my shoulder I could see someone gaining on me. It turned out to be Steve Joy on his Ducati 748 with Tim close behind him and they were catching me. I decided not to push and just hope to stay in front of them. The plan nearly didn't work as on the last lap at the end of Cooper straight I hit a false neutral and ended up drifting through the turn with no drive. I knew that if I were to kick the bike back into gear that it would most probably cause me to leave the track, either on my arse or not, I decided to wait until I had the bike somewhere near upright. Steve came past and with just one long right hand turn leading onto the straight I thought I had messed it all up. I got it into gear again and as Steve ran slightly wide, I managed to get up the inside of him as we approached the apex and got on the gas earlier than him and out dragged him to the line...a real nail biter for me if I had had a hand free there would have been no nails left!

Again Tim was behind, but not far. The three of us all within a second of each other.

As I rode back to the paddock, all kinds of feelings and emotions pumped around my system. I was buzzing. I pulled up to our camp and pulled a big burnout as a celebration!

That was it...All over. Well not quite....
We had the Thunderbikes Rookie Championship Presentation to attend.
The usual banter was somewhat elevated in our pit area. We were all a bit excited to be receiving a trophy. Gyles had won with Tim second and myself third. I was really chuffed. This was an un-official prize organised by Ben Shaunessy, our series organiser and the guys that had come 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the real championship had given up part of their prize money to fund the trophies for us rookies.

Back row...The Real Champions, 1st (just!) Martin Cooper (middle) 2nd Gary Budgen and 3rd Phil Read JR. Then Myself, Gyles and Tim "chunky" Churchill.

The race services, A&R racing, had donated some gift vouchers to spend in their shop, and also agreed for us to use their transporter steps as a podium. We had only learnt about this recently and it was really a bit of a surprise as we had expected none of this, we just imagined it to be, well, fictional, and for fun. So to actually receive a trophy was fantastic. As Ben had put it, it was a reward and acknowledgement of the hard graft the rookies had put in to their, or our, first season. Gyles and myself were really quite emotional about it. I think we were both close to tears!

Ben handed out the silverware.

It has been the best experience of my life. Finally living a dream, one that I never thought would ever come true. It goes to prove that you can do anything in life if you have the determination to make it happen. That is what I have done, to actually make it happen.
I had done a lot better than I had hoped. I never expected to compete in 7 rounds. Out of 10, I had hoped for half at a push.I have to admit it has been a real struggle to get through it finacially and will take some time to recover, but to hell with it! you can't take it with you and I really dread the thought of sitting in my chair at 70 years old wishing I had done it.
Now I'd like a bigger one!

Now I can sit there and remember what it was like to open the throttle as the lights went out at all the circuits I had watched my childhood heroes race at.
Now I have just simply got to do it again!


Well chuffed!