This would be the turning point of our season so far. After all the bad luck we've been confronted with it was time for a change. Well, the change didn't come yet even this was the first race we could write down 2 results!
The Iisalmi track is normally a hard clay track but due to the weather conditions a little bit softer now and no dust at all. Already at the beginning of the training we had a misunderstanding between driver and passenger that resulted in a crash at the first jump. The first 5 minutes there was the possibility to practice starting and for the first start we took it easy to see the track's layout in the first corner and the jump after it. The second start we tried faster and I thought lets take the first jump also at a good speed but Mikael came back from the hack's nose thinking I would shut off. But I didn't and with the sidecar's wheel high up we came over the jump what resulted in a nice crash. I can only say the track wasn't very soft at all actually, this resulted in a very sore body for the rest of the day (and days after still).
Only 9 entries and our poor training result didn't matter much. We had a good start, fifth,from outer position and the first four laps our speed was good. Then my hands start to feel all the holes and we came under pressure of Pöllänen/Lehtinen. In the last lap, only a few corners before the finish, I made a mistake and missed the inside line of a corner and we did loose our position and finished sixth.
Before the second heat a rain and hail shower softened the track a little more. Our start was bad, for some reason we had a lot of wheel spin this time and almost dead last at the first corner.Halfway the first lap some sidecars got stuck before a jump and I gambled to drive around and try an outer line, no success, stuck in the mud too. After the sidecars got under way one by one there wasn't real racing any more and just survival. The kick-start lock broke and was all the time stabbing in my knee so we made a pit stop to lock it with the famous airco tape. Last and eight position.
2 results but the exhaust pipe has a crack, the clutch cover broke (kickstart lock) and again our old problem is back; pressure in the cooling system with black coloured cooling fluid now. A lot of work again for the coming week.
Regards, Stephan
route Espoo-Iisalmi-Helsinki
results (MX SV = sidecars)
EML - HUSABERG - AYR
Sunday 29 May 2011
Wednesday 25 May 2011
Monday 23 May 2011
Training sessions Salo and Hyvinkää, 21-22.05.2011
No races this weekend and we used the time to visit tracks in Salo at Saturday and Hyvinkää at Sunday. Salo is one of the two tracks in Finland that has organized sidecar GP's in the past. The last GP was in 1991 and I was there as a race mechanic helping the team of Suominen/Hietala.
The track has a lot of climbs and descents made from hard packed clay but the lower part of the track is soft sand.
We'll have a race here for the Finnish Championship June 19th and it was good to practice at this technical track.
Sunday we spent in the deep sand of the Hyvinkää track. Good track to build up some endurance. Next Saturday the first race for the Finnish Championship at Iisalmi. Let's hope things will work out better this time then the first four races of this season.
Regards,
Stephan
The track has a lot of climbs and descents made from hard packed clay but the lower part of the track is soft sand.
We'll have a race here for the Finnish Championship June 19th and it was good to practice at this technical track.
Sunday we spent in the deep sand of the Hyvinkää track. Good track to build up some endurance. Next Saturday the first race for the Finnish Championship at Iisalmi. Let's hope things will work out better this time then the first four races of this season.
Regards,
Stephan
Sunday 15 May 2011
Ape, Latvian championship race 2, May 14th
Hello,
this time the sidecars had their heats at Saturday and we took Friday the 17:30 ferry to Tallinn. After a 3 hour drive we arrived in Tõrva were we stayed in hotel De Tolly.
We've stayed there before many years ago, it was Mikael's first trip to the Baltic and first sidecar GP (Janikeese 2004).
The next morning we drove the last 85 km to Ape, just over the Estonian/Latvian border. A very impressive track was waiting there, laid out over a ridge with many long and steep climbs. The organization was very professional and for the different classes they switched sections of the track to get the correct level suited for the rider's skills and bikes.
Our training was up and down. We got stuck once at a climb but we still made a good lap in between, 13th place. Yes, we left Friday 13th and our start position was also 13th..... The track was very demanding for the sidecars, mostly a right corner followed with a climb followed by a left corner. Deep ruts at critical places like jumps and climbs, easy to get stuck.
Our start of the first heat was not very good but we passed some teams soon in a rhythm section by taking the outside line. But half way the first lap 2 teams got stuck in the deep ruts at a small jump and we were direct behind but still at the slope. When you're loosing speed with a sidecar in the ruts you get jammed. It took half a lap and some help from spectators to get us going again. The slippery mud didn't make it easier. We just did our laps, even faster than during training but we were to far behind already. At the last lap with only 2 climbs any more, a team that lapped us got stuck just in front of us. We made it by taking a very outside line and had to do a lot of work to get the bike uphill. Jumping on the pegs to force the rear tyre to get some grip, slipping the clutch and sometimes the sidecar almost flipped over but we made it.
Directly after this climb a second team lapped us and with one climb to go, they got stuck in front of us and no other lines. Again with the help of spectators both teams made it to the top and could continue to the finish line. But without the help of spectators many teams would have been still there on the slopes stuck in the ruts.
The start of the second heat wasn't good either, like Aizpute an uphill start and with the small 550 cc engine we do lack some power. During the first 2 laps all kind of trouble happened for several teams but now, wiser, we could pass safely and improved our position. At lap 5 the engine stalled and it took some time to get it started again, all the teams we had passed were gone by that time. We just continued when the race leader started to lap us. We took the outside line and they were able to pass and start the climb. But they got stuck directly in front of us and again we needed help from spectators.
This time it was such a bad position that it took 4 laps before we were on the top and the engine running again. We just rode over the finish line but no points because less then 75% of the winners laps.
The good thing is that the engine stayed OK and no punctures.This season's start is not the best but at least we are ready for the start of the Finnish championship series now.
Regards, Stephan
results (BV=sidecars)
Trip Tallinn-Tõrva-Ape
this time the sidecars had their heats at Saturday and we took Friday the 17:30 ferry to Tallinn. After a 3 hour drive we arrived in Tõrva were we stayed in hotel De Tolly.
We've stayed there before many years ago, it was Mikael's first trip to the Baltic and first sidecar GP (Janikeese 2004).
The next morning we drove the last 85 km to Ape, just over the Estonian/Latvian border. A very impressive track was waiting there, laid out over a ridge with many long and steep climbs. The organization was very professional and for the different classes they switched sections of the track to get the correct level suited for the rider's skills and bikes.
Our training was up and down. We got stuck once at a climb but we still made a good lap in between, 13th place. Yes, we left Friday 13th and our start position was also 13th..... The track was very demanding for the sidecars, mostly a right corner followed with a climb followed by a left corner. Deep ruts at critical places like jumps and climbs, easy to get stuck.
Our start of the first heat was not very good but we passed some teams soon in a rhythm section by taking the outside line. But half way the first lap 2 teams got stuck in the deep ruts at a small jump and we were direct behind but still at the slope. When you're loosing speed with a sidecar in the ruts you get jammed. It took half a lap and some help from spectators to get us going again. The slippery mud didn't make it easier. We just did our laps, even faster than during training but we were to far behind already. At the last lap with only 2 climbs any more, a team that lapped us got stuck just in front of us. We made it by taking a very outside line and had to do a lot of work to get the bike uphill. Jumping on the pegs to force the rear tyre to get some grip, slipping the clutch and sometimes the sidecar almost flipped over but we made it.
Directly after this climb a second team lapped us and with one climb to go, they got stuck in front of us and no other lines. Again with the help of spectators both teams made it to the top and could continue to the finish line. But without the help of spectators many teams would have been still there on the slopes stuck in the ruts.
The start of the second heat wasn't good either, like Aizpute an uphill start and with the small 550 cc engine we do lack some power. During the first 2 laps all kind of trouble happened for several teams but now, wiser, we could pass safely and improved our position. At lap 5 the engine stalled and it took some time to get it started again, all the teams we had passed were gone by that time. We just continued when the race leader started to lap us. We took the outside line and they were able to pass and start the climb. But they got stuck directly in front of us and again we needed help from spectators.
The good thing is that the engine stayed OK and no punctures.This season's start is not the best but at least we are ready for the start of the Finnish championship series now.
Regards, Stephan
results (BV=sidecars)
Trip Tallinn-Tõrva-Ape
Monday 9 May 2011
Kose, Estonian championship 8.5
Hi again,
this season's start has not been an easy one so far. Planned was to have a training session last Wednesday but we had to postpone it. For this reason it was only until Thursday when washing the bike I noticed there was a lot of coolant mixed with the engine oil. I removed the clutch cover in the hope we could manage with a minor repair.
No luck and Friday evening the only solution was to remove the engine and take it apart completely. We checked and rechecked every piece of the engine but there was no clear defect. We cleaned every part and put it all back together. It was almost midnight when we left the workshop.
Saturday morning I checked the engine by connecting it to the waterworks to put it under pressure. Water was flowing straight trough. A very nice situation when we had to get the ferry to Tallinn at 17:30. As a last resort I took a clutch cover from the second engine, still in parts, and furnished this with the necessary seals and bearing stuff. After exchanging the clutch covers I reconnected the engine to the waterworks and tested it. Now it stayed okay. The clock was 13:00 already!
Quickly the engine back in the bike and all the equipment in the van.
We were in good time for the ferry, there was even time to pick up a hamburger. Mikael was not feeling well, sore throat and a cold. We stayed for the evening in the Dzingel hotel with the team of Aronen/Mantila & co.
Kose was only a short ride from Tallinn. The track is very hard with a lot of stones in all sizes you don't want. We took it easy during the free training because I wasn't sure about the engine. After the training sessions and first heat I exchanged the engine oil to get it clean again (residue of water). In the time training we crashed in a corner and I was on the ground checking to where the sidecar would go but it was Mikael flying on top of me in an American Wrestling style. "Did it hurt" he asked me, I replied with "well how many kilos do you weigh?".
Not a good time and second row with 18 entries. At the Kose track he first corner is followed by large whoop-de-doos. Not very inviting for pushing so we just "followed" the leaders. We passed some teams and also got passed but we noticed many teams had quickly problems to keep up. The track was very demanding and rough. But then we had a repetition of the week before, again the (new) rear tyre got flat. But with about 5 laps still to go we had no possibility to wait it out in the paddocks (75% of the amount of the winner's laps to be classified).
The second heat was for the first part a copy of heat 1. After 4-5 laps everything was settled and we concentrated at keeping the tyres away from the biggest stones and to arrive at the finish line for our first result in Estonia, 11th place. In spite of Mikael's illness he stood bravely and managed to complete the 25 minutes and 2 laps. Aronen/Mantila took 5th overall with 2 fourth places. Both teams took the ferry of 21:00 back to Helsinki.
Regards, Stephan
http://www.mylaps.com/results sidecar=kv
Trip Dzingel, Tallinn - Kose
this season's start has not been an easy one so far. Planned was to have a training session last Wednesday but we had to postpone it. For this reason it was only until Thursday when washing the bike I noticed there was a lot of coolant mixed with the engine oil. I removed the clutch cover in the hope we could manage with a minor repair.
No luck and Friday evening the only solution was to remove the engine and take it apart completely. We checked and rechecked every piece of the engine but there was no clear defect. We cleaned every part and put it all back together. It was almost midnight when we left the workshop.
Saturday morning I checked the engine by connecting it to the waterworks to put it under pressure. Water was flowing straight trough. A very nice situation when we had to get the ferry to Tallinn at 17:30. As a last resort I took a clutch cover from the second engine, still in parts, and furnished this with the necessary seals and bearing stuff. After exchanging the clutch covers I reconnected the engine to the waterworks and tested it. Now it stayed okay. The clock was 13:00 already!
Quickly the engine back in the bike and all the equipment in the van.
We were in good time for the ferry, there was even time to pick up a hamburger. Mikael was not feeling well, sore throat and a cold. We stayed for the evening in the Dzingel hotel with the team of Aronen/Mantila & co.
Kose was only a short ride from Tallinn. The track is very hard with a lot of stones in all sizes you don't want. We took it easy during the free training because I wasn't sure about the engine. After the training sessions and first heat I exchanged the engine oil to get it clean again (residue of water). In the time training we crashed in a corner and I was on the ground checking to where the sidecar would go but it was Mikael flying on top of me in an American Wrestling style. "Did it hurt" he asked me, I replied with "well how many kilos do you weigh?".
Not a good time and second row with 18 entries. At the Kose track he first corner is followed by large whoop-de-doos. Not very inviting for pushing so we just "followed" the leaders. We passed some teams and also got passed but we noticed many teams had quickly problems to keep up. The track was very demanding and rough. But then we had a repetition of the week before, again the (new) rear tyre got flat. But with about 5 laps still to go we had no possibility to wait it out in the paddocks (75% of the amount of the winner's laps to be classified).
The second heat was for the first part a copy of heat 1. After 4-5 laps everything was settled and we concentrated at keeping the tyres away from the biggest stones and to arrive at the finish line for our first result in Estonia, 11th place. In spite of Mikael's illness he stood bravely and managed to complete the 25 minutes and 2 laps. Aronen/Mantila took 5th overall with 2 fourth places. Both teams took the ferry of 21:00 back to Helsinki.
Regards, Stephan
http://www.mylaps.com/results sidecar=kv
Trip Dzingel, Tallinn - Kose
Monday 2 May 2011
Põlva, Estonia, May 1
Hi again,
our bad luck continues. 20 teams entered this event and we achieved the 10th training time. The start of the first heat was not good but we made up many places quickly. After some laps we were riding at the 12th place and close behind 11 with good options to pass. But then our bad luck did strike again. The rear tyre got punctured and did spin in the rim. No possibility to continue.
Second heat again bad start but we started to recover until the engine stalled. After we restarted the engine stalled again. This repeated 2 times and we thought an ignition problem and did quit the race. In the paddock we found a stone jammed under the rear brake pedal....
That's it for so far, the speed is there but now to finish a race with good results.
Regards, Stephan
Trip Tallinn - Põlva
mylaps results (KV = sidecars)
our bad luck continues. 20 teams entered this event and we achieved the 10th training time. The start of the first heat was not good but we made up many places quickly. After some laps we were riding at the 12th place and close behind 11 with good options to pass. But then our bad luck did strike again. The rear tyre got punctured and did spin in the rim. No possibility to continue.
Second heat again bad start but we started to recover until the engine stalled. After we restarted the engine stalled again. This repeated 2 times and we thought an ignition problem and did quit the race. In the paddock we found a stone jammed under the rear brake pedal....
That's it for so far, the speed is there but now to finish a race with good results.
Regards, Stephan
Trip Tallinn - Põlva
mylaps results (KV = sidecars)
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