Weather no dampener for race competitors

TRAVELLING at 300km/h-plus in wind and rain is "scary", according to Masterton motorcycle ace Tony Sampson.
But despite the conditions Sampson registered 303km/h (188.68mph) on his Suxuki GSX1000 at Sunday's rain-hit standing and flying quarter-mile sprints on Dalefield Road, Carterton. He passed through the timed area in 4.77s, just .04s slower than his fine-weather time in September.
Sampson had hoped to better the New Zealand record of 4.71s (307.52km/h/191.08mph) but the conditions didn't allow it.
The wet conditions were the worst part, Sampson said later.
"You couldn't gas it up too much or you'd get wheelspin," he said. "And the water on the road really holds you back."
Had the weather been fine, Sampson would have gone for the record, after Motorcycling NZ dithered over whether the road qualified. The initial word was that variations in the surface ? bumps ? exceeded the limits imposed by MNZ. That was appealed, and at a very late stage approval was given for the record attempt.
Sampson, however, will be back. He is on record as saying he wants to exceed 200mph (320km/h) within the next couple of years.
Also returning is the event itself.
Garry Albrett, of Cliffhanger Promotions, said the sprints were started as a fundraiser for the club's big event of the year, the Kororau Road Cliffhanger hillclimb, but the lesser event had got a life of its own.
His wife Dina, event secretary, said the sprints had gained national radio attention and there was a lot of interest.
This month, because of the weather, entries were down to 29, compared with 42 in September, but she expects the event to keep growing.
"We even had some guys with quads who wanted to come," she said.
There will definitely be sprints in September and November of next year, and possibly a third round in the New Year, ahead of the hillclimb on March 17 and 18. The club hopes to make that a whole weekend, including a rally, and is looking for a big sponsor to help cover costs.
Results:
Ivan Juggins, Honda RS125, 7.51s, 119.84 mph (192.86km/h); Malcolm Nabbs, Suzuki GSX250, 9s, 100.00mph (160.83); Anthony Hilyard, Kawasaki ZX10R, 5.07s, 177.51mph (285.68km/h); Nigel Playle, Honda VTR, 6.06s, 148.51mph (239.01km/h); Simon LeBreton, Kawasaki ZX6R, 5.59s, 161mph (259.11km/h); Matthew King, Kawasaki 600, 5.65s 159.27mph (256.36km/h); Roger Cathro, Yamaha RG, 5.77s, 155.98mph (251.02km/h); Vicki Streifler, Kawasaki ZX9R, 5.38s, 167.29mph (269.22km/h); Craig Sullivan, Suzuki SV650, 7.01s, 128.39mph (206.62km/h); John Lambert, Yamaha R6, 5.63s, 159.86mph (257.27km/h); Warren Oakes, Honda CB750, 5.57s, 161.58mph (260.04km/h); Gary Povey, Suzuki GSXR, 5.49s, 163.93mph (263.83km/h); James Gibbings, Suzuki GSXR, 5.60s, 162.71mph (258.64km/h); Craig Olliver, Kawasaki Ninja ZX12R, 4.94s, 182.19mph (293.20km/h); Craig Pullen, Suzuki GSX, 6.54s, 137.61mph (221.47km/h); Mark Shiminini, Honda CB1300, 6.63s, 135.75mph (218.46km/h); John Presow, Kawasaki ZZR1100, 5.62s, 160.14mph (257.72km/h); Julia Gretton, Hyosung GT250, 9.75s, 92.31mph (148.55km/h); Stan Lynch, BMW K1200R, 5.81s, 154.91mph (249.30km/h); Tony Sampson, Suzuki GSX, 4.77s, 188.68mph (303.65km/h); Stephen Somerville, Kawasaki ZX12R, 5.18s, 173.75mph (279.62km/h); Tony Cottle, Yamaha R6, 5.57s, 161.58mph (260.04km/h). Troy Foster, Suzuki GSXR, no time; Adam Foster, Honda Fireblade, no time; Paul Wheeler, Yamaha R1, no time.