Wet Session @ PG Johor Race Circuit
Event dated 27th December 2006, Wednesday.
Bright and sunny! Well... Not exactly. After 3 days of anticipation. The first thing I did when I got up was to turn on the computer to peek on the weather condition. All the way from Singapore to the north east region looked clear. Yeap, that included Pasir Gudang. Grinned.
Not long after, I received CS' smses, confirming to proceed. Ofcourse, it was an all go. Was supposed to visit the track on the day before as Ivy and Jeffrey were free to join as well, but looked like the gods weren't keen enough. The emotions were overwhelming as the skies were finally clear after days of simultaneous dense rain. I was even expecting the rain to not stop even till the end of wednesday, but looks like I filled in the white card too late. I quickly put on my gears and stuffed raincoat into the bag and proceeded to meet CS.
I reached the Esso station at Woodlands on roughly 8. CS was early as well. Along the way, I enjoyed the attention of doning a full leather race suit while riding. It was such a head turner, I guess the bike played its part as well. After adjusting tyre pressures, we set off to Woodlands Causeway Customs.
The Woodlands customs was jam-packed, which was an unusual scene to behold because the Malaysian workers don't usually return home in early morning. While in queue, I saw a couple of guys on their way to the race track as well, looked like we had company that morning. After clearing the causeway, we waited at the white house for James. As we cleared the Singapore customs, I received a message from James mentioning to wait up for him as he was adjusting his tyre pressures then. As expected I guess he would be late, and the jam would contribute to it.
At the white house, the group of riders whom I met earlier in the Singapore customs queue were waiting for their group to gather as well. There were 2 '04 R1s, '06 R6, ZX6R-636 and 1 Super 4. They looked serious as a couple of them had race fairings and rear-set footpegs. One even had Racetec tyres on them. Not long after, "Redbeacon" (forum nick) joined in and it happened that he was waiting for James as well. Didn't quite expect to have company but it was a pleasant acquaintance.
When James arrived, we set off for the track immediately as we were running late for the 10am session. James went ahead while I pulled back to wait for our official photographer and redbeacon, who was visiting the track for the first time. I guess James was really serious to hit some good lap times. Soon we caught up to James in a petrol station along Pasir Gudang highway. There he went again after filling up the tank.
Upon reaching the circuit, I realised there were still cars in the track which wasn't supposed to happen. Because it was already 20 minutes pass 10, it was supposed to be the motorcycles' session. Then I realised the bikers who reached earlier consented to have let the cars go first, ingeniously thought it out that the cars would dry the track for us! Haha... I took CS on his phantom to go recce and scout out the track so he could position himself strategically for the best shots. Got stung by the starving commando mosquitoes there, bad mosquitoes.
I had an upset stomach and wasted some time in the loo, then soon after I went to pay up for the track. Realising that almost everyone were off to the track, I zipped up the gear and mounted the R1. Everyone were on the pit moving off lane. I held up for Redbeacon as I needed to guide him through the first lap to let him had an idea of where were the treacherous areas to look out for. Everyone was zooming past me, and I was eager to catch up, very eager.
The bikes present on the track that day. Hayabusa, ZX12R, GSR600(?), K3 G10, two '04 R1s, '06 R6, '06 R1(me), ZX6R(636), S4 Spec 3, CBR400RR, RS125... That's about it. More riders than I expected on a weekday morning. One by one they zoomed past me while leading Redbeacon on his RS125 for an introduction lap.
Soon after I crossed the starting line from the grandstand, I broke loose of my mental-implemented cruise control and immediately hit the shifter light. 3rd! 2nd! 1st! Down through the gearbox I cruised through the damp Turn 1. It was scary as I opened up through the exit, huge puddle of water settling on the rumbling strip of Turn 1 exit ripped my traction away.
Laps after laps passed. The first to be overtaken were the ZX6R and the K3 I think. Slowly one by one I overtook the Hayabusa, ZX12R, GSR and etc... I think I was the only one out of my sane mind to push through the damp track. I was sliding all around. Especially in corner exits of Turn 1, 3 and 6. The Turn 3 and 6 were the worst. Huge streams of running water were flowing down from the hill forestations into the circuit tarmac. My rear end kept stepping out whenever I opened up from the exits. The slides were pretty within anticipation though, was quite fun actually.
Fear gobbled me as I went through the wet corners. Excitement had partially brainwashed my fear though.
As I wrestle the 160hp motorcycle through the corners in a semi-wet condition. I realised everyone started to pit in. I guess I had about 15 laps before I pitted in through my first run. Impressive, the bike that is. I guess the wet track contributed to the consistency of the brakes as well. The brakes would usually fade after 7 or 8 laps, but surprisingly it held up to more than 10 laps that day.
When we were about to close for the day, going to do a time trial for James, dark clouds started to hover over the race circuit. James and I quickly buckled up for the time trial, I was the timer bike as the new R1 came with onboard lap timer. We did a warm up lap, and started timing right after grandstand starting point. James was fast, very dauntless, even in the wet.
I believe James could have gone faster in the dry, his corner entry was as if he was riding in the dry. He almost pulled away from me, luckily I had more horses strapped under me. At the end of turn 12, right after he crossed the line marker, he hit a good timing of 2 minutes and 9 seconds. Very impressive for a 10 year old 400cc bike, in the wet.
As I was about to push hard for my personal time trial, rain came pouring. Riders ahead were slowing down totally. Actually I could have gone ahead, but not wanting to endanger the lives of other riders, I held back.
The trip back was bad. Real bad. Parts of the PG highway were filled with potholes and cement soil after continuous raining and flash floods. Our motorcycles were encased in a cement coating. Till today, I have washed my bike 3 times and the dirt was still persistent. Never go Malaysia during rainy seasons, you will regret it. Unless yours is a scrambler.
More photos to come.
Bright and sunny! Well... Not exactly. After 3 days of anticipation. The first thing I did when I got up was to turn on the computer to peek on the weather condition. All the way from Singapore to the north east region looked clear. Yeap, that included Pasir Gudang. Grinned.
Not long after, I received CS' smses, confirming to proceed. Ofcourse, it was an all go. Was supposed to visit the track on the day before as Ivy and Jeffrey were free to join as well, but looked like the gods weren't keen enough. The emotions were overwhelming as the skies were finally clear after days of simultaneous dense rain. I was even expecting the rain to not stop even till the end of wednesday, but looks like I filled in the white card too late. I quickly put on my gears and stuffed raincoat into the bag and proceeded to meet CS.
I reached the Esso station at Woodlands on roughly 8. CS was early as well. Along the way, I enjoyed the attention of doning a full leather race suit while riding. It was such a head turner, I guess the bike played its part as well. After adjusting tyre pressures, we set off to Woodlands Causeway Customs.
The Woodlands customs was jam-packed, which was an unusual scene to behold because the Malaysian workers don't usually return home in early morning. While in queue, I saw a couple of guys on their way to the race track as well, looked like we had company that morning. After clearing the causeway, we waited at the white house for James. As we cleared the Singapore customs, I received a message from James mentioning to wait up for him as he was adjusting his tyre pressures then. As expected I guess he would be late, and the jam would contribute to it.
At the white house, the group of riders whom I met earlier in the Singapore customs queue were waiting for their group to gather as well. There were 2 '04 R1s, '06 R6, ZX6R-636 and 1 Super 4. They looked serious as a couple of them had race fairings and rear-set footpegs. One even had Racetec tyres on them. Not long after, "Redbeacon" (forum nick) joined in and it happened that he was waiting for James as well. Didn't quite expect to have company but it was a pleasant acquaintance.
When James arrived, we set off for the track immediately as we were running late for the 10am session. James went ahead while I pulled back to wait for our official photographer and redbeacon, who was visiting the track for the first time. I guess James was really serious to hit some good lap times. Soon we caught up to James in a petrol station along Pasir Gudang highway. There he went again after filling up the tank.
Upon reaching the circuit, I realised there were still cars in the track which wasn't supposed to happen. Because it was already 20 minutes pass 10, it was supposed to be the motorcycles' session. Then I realised the bikers who reached earlier consented to have let the cars go first, ingeniously thought it out that the cars would dry the track for us! Haha... I took CS on his phantom to go recce and scout out the track so he could position himself strategically for the best shots. Got stung by the starving commando mosquitoes there, bad mosquitoes.
I had an upset stomach and wasted some time in the loo, then soon after I went to pay up for the track. Realising that almost everyone were off to the track, I zipped up the gear and mounted the R1. Everyone were on the pit moving off lane. I held up for Redbeacon as I needed to guide him through the first lap to let him had an idea of where were the treacherous areas to look out for. Everyone was zooming past me, and I was eager to catch up, very eager.
The bikes present on the track that day. Hayabusa, ZX12R, GSR600(?), K3 G10, two '04 R1s, '06 R6, '06 R1(me), ZX6R(636), S4 Spec 3, CBR400RR, RS125... That's about it. More riders than I expected on a weekday morning. One by one they zoomed past me while leading Redbeacon on his RS125 for an introduction lap.
Soon after I crossed the starting line from the grandstand, I broke loose of my mental-implemented cruise control and immediately hit the shifter light. 3rd! 2nd! 1st! Down through the gearbox I cruised through the damp Turn 1. It was scary as I opened up through the exit, huge puddle of water settling on the rumbling strip of Turn 1 exit ripped my traction away.
Laps after laps passed. The first to be overtaken were the ZX6R and the K3 I think. Slowly one by one I overtook the Hayabusa, ZX12R, GSR and etc... I think I was the only one out of my sane mind to push through the damp track. I was sliding all around. Especially in corner exits of Turn 1, 3 and 6. The Turn 3 and 6 were the worst. Huge streams of running water were flowing down from the hill forestations into the circuit tarmac. My rear end kept stepping out whenever I opened up from the exits. The slides were pretty within anticipation though, was quite fun actually.
Fear gobbled me as I went through the wet corners. Excitement had partially brainwashed my fear though.
As I wrestle the 160hp motorcycle through the corners in a semi-wet condition. I realised everyone started to pit in. I guess I had about 15 laps before I pitted in through my first run. Impressive, the bike that is. I guess the wet track contributed to the consistency of the brakes as well. The brakes would usually fade after 7 or 8 laps, but surprisingly it held up to more than 10 laps that day.
When we were about to close for the day, going to do a time trial for James, dark clouds started to hover over the race circuit. James and I quickly buckled up for the time trial, I was the timer bike as the new R1 came with onboard lap timer. We did a warm up lap, and started timing right after grandstand starting point. James was fast, very dauntless, even in the wet.
I believe James could have gone faster in the dry, his corner entry was as if he was riding in the dry. He almost pulled away from me, luckily I had more horses strapped under me. At the end of turn 12, right after he crossed the line marker, he hit a good timing of 2 minutes and 9 seconds. Very impressive for a 10 year old 400cc bike, in the wet.
As I was about to push hard for my personal time trial, rain came pouring. Riders ahead were slowing down totally. Actually I could have gone ahead, but not wanting to endanger the lives of other riders, I held back.
The trip back was bad. Real bad. Parts of the PG highway were filled with potholes and cement soil after continuous raining and flash floods. Our motorcycles were encased in a cement coating. Till today, I have washed my bike 3 times and the dirt was still persistent. Never go Malaysia during rainy seasons, you will regret it. Unless yours is a scrambler.
More photos to come.
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