Brands Hatch Today

Me Dave & Harley (number 2 & 3) in this years Bandit challenge are off to the BEMSE club meeting at Brands today.
NG Racing who we race with have dropped Brands next year, as one of only two local tracks we did we aren’t happy!
Going to see if there is a class that we fit in as they are there 3 times next year!

 

Cheers Dave, weather stayed dry which was a bonus.
Had a look round at BEMSE, had a chat with officials & riders to get a feel for what we could do if we joined them for next season.
The main thing is 3 meetings that are only 2 hours from where we live, if you're on a limited budget the last thing you want to do is blow most of it travelling. So there is a class that I could race the Bandit in, it is the lowest Supersport class for older bikes up to 105 bhp, the Bandit has about 70 bhp, so although I could race it, I would be seriously under powered compared to the rest.
So looking at maybe getting something like an old pre-injection model R6 like the one in the photo to race, first things first though, I need to refresh & then sell the Bandit. I would really like to race a 675 Daytona or an RSV as I prefer both to an inline 4, but both classes are seriously quick (and expensive) for a poor old duffer like me to race in.

 

Yes mate we are all considering a move, we are all based in the South, NG are only racing 1 circuit down here next year which is Castle Combe, we will all probably join NG and race at Combe, if we run pre-injection R6's we will be able to race in a Pro-stocks class, if I go for an RSV then I can also run in the new Pro-stocks battle of the twins class, if I were to run a Daytona 675 then it would be super sport which is really not going to suit me.

 

Thanks Sandi, Brands Hatch is special to me, it is the first track I ever went to to watch motorcycle racing, this was when Barry Sheene was an up and coming rider & Percy Tait was riding Triumphs!
Brands also was my first ever on track experience when I did a 'track day virgins' special day on board my Triumph Daytona back in 2000.
That is why I was so mad when my club decided they are not racing there next year, it has started me looking at other clubs & classes of bike to race, watch this space to find out which way I go!

 

As the old saying goes, I used to be indecisive .... but now I am not so sure!

Keep changing my mind with what class bike to run, Aprilia RSVR is where my heart is, but potentially a big money pit as there's not a huge amount of cheap spares available, also the class is very quick, I am not so much!
So the head says choose an Yamaha R6, there are loads about, and plenty of spares, & there are many classes to race in, one at least would suit my skill level.

Stage 1 was get the Bandit running sweet again, so a carb clean necessary, also another exhaust header bolt was stripped, so off came the front end of the bike & dropped the engine in the cradle to helicoil, all now fixed & bike is up for sale.

Will see what happens with the sale & how much money that generates, that will give me a better idea of budget if I decide to race something else.

 

Nah! Like you, I prefer to be an outcast mate!

 

Well Sandi, the ideas are still running around in my mind , but I am not going to give the Bandit away, no nibbles on it as yet, but early days, I have it up for sale in many different race related sites and e-bay;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153684330282

If it doesn't sell then I am planning to refresh the Mk2 engine that is sat on my garage floor & stick that back in, then get the carbs ultrasonically cleaned, once done I will take it to a dyno for proper set up to get it running as near to the 80bhp limit as I can while achieving a decent torque & power curve. Then it is work on a new rear shock & ride height in order for me to get it in range for me, the GSX-R 1000 shock that is in at moment is maxed out everywhere & still too soft. When all of that is done I will do a track day to try to get the bike dialled in before I try & race it again.

Will see what happens with the sale.