Slacky's NI Cup round up

As the mighty Bushlove's sole competitor (save a token cameo by goldenshanks in Tokoroa)it fell upon my mighty track-building muscled shoulders to shower us in Glory
Despite many yearnings from within the ranks of Bushlove, seeds of dissension were sowed by many emailed bleatings and whinges about the nationals. Such things cannot sully my love of the nationals and the myriad of different track styles, and as such I alone stood proud at the finals with my mighty 4 point lead over Jonty Taylor in the much esteemed Master 1 category.

The first race of the NI series was in Tokoroa on a track partly designed/built by Mikey Northcott. Track was plenty of fun, with some madcore hucks and some XXXtreme northshore.
The old guys have to start in a wave behind the youngies in this race and as such we had to barge our way thru a heap of them racing up the long first section of track. Cabin was long gone and had like a half lap lead after 3 minutes. I smashed goldie for the first half lap, then felt sorry for him and let him past. Noticed the freak, sorry Garth, behind me on lap 2. In yet another kind move, I eased up on a slight downhill 4wd section and let him spin past. I sat behind him for a while, but couldn't stand of the sight of him, so let him go further up the track. My back was giving me a bit of gip but like the mighty Bushlove soldier that I am I get on trucking. Noticed another freak catching me on the last climb on the 3rd lap, but gapped him when I once again deathgripped the final DH and flew down over the jumps. I maintained a good gap on Marcello going up the fireroad, but once into the climbing singletrack, he gained on me, part cos I was climbing like shit with a knaff back, and part cos he was running up the climbs on his SS. Pulled a bit back out on the DH, and he pulled back anytime it went back up. Old buggar was riding hot. Up the last climb and I just buried it, went deep deep into the pain box, so he was 20m behind me by the top. Here I knew I was safe as wasn't anyway catching me on the final DH. I released my inner DH'er and hucked like mad with fingers nowhere near my brakes. thankfully I didn't even realise that he was in M2. 4th in M1, behind Cabin (burglar) Leishman, Jason (goldenshanks) Goldie, and Garth (Freak) Weinburg.

I tripped up to Hamilton with Young Cam, Younger Tom tom, and youngest Jonty, being over a decade older than everyone. We pre-rode the track and it was fun....ish. Not the best place to just ride, but I could see how much fun it was going to be to race.
I thought it was a tad disappointing that Paintrain was only able to field 2 racers at their home race. Poor form. Even I was able to get up and race, sick with the flu as I was(filled a shopping bag of Tissues).However on the start line, this time in a wave ahead of the grommies, some heady banter was had. The start whistle went and I displayed what the other racers where really there to see, my fat arse being in front of them. I decided to let young mr Earnshaw past, as I liked the pale blue top he was wearing, not cos he was faster or anything.
(blatantly stolen from RussS on Vorb)
I also let Focker form the paintrain get close, but not too close, cos he was a dirty Hamiltonian. For some 500 odd corners and 3.5 laps we held this position. However the flu was catching up with me and I was feeling it. I went wide on one corner and made love to a haybale. Unfortunately this stoppage cracked me and I had nothing. Shortly after Focker came past and I couldn't go with him. I did however limit the time loss, and trailed in behind him for the win on M1.


(blatantly stolen from RussS on Vorb)
Putting Bushlove on the podium where it should be. Young Tom tom got edged outa 3rd by a local on the last lap of his race, Cam struggled with no hills and a stuffed back, and Jonty managed a whole 2 corners on the first lap before taking him self out.

I ditched the boys for the Vegas trip and took a hot chick with me instead. Still suffering a bit from the flu the week before, I knew glory would still be mine in some form.
The Vegas track was heaps of fun and some nice wee tricksey bits, some cool jumps, cool berms and mad hucks.
This time we started with the grommies. This was not a problem as they all took off up the hill like scalded cats. I'm pretty sure I went backwards with the slowest start of my life. Garth was long gone, and I was sitting in 2nd. Jonty and Focker were somewhere behind me. Start of the 3rd lap and Jonty Taylor went past me, I stuck with him, not wanting the elastic to break as with him finishing behind me at each race by one spot, things where still tight for the overall. a few corner later and the elastic broke. He was riding a awesome race and I wasn't. Focker in M2 went past in the 4th and again I couldn't go with. going up the switchbacks the last time and I saw Jonty uphead stalling and flaffing. I thought to my self he's toast, hammer down and catch him. Only to find 3 sec's later that I was also toast and the speed I was going was it. Kept the hammer in on all the downs, and really ripped the last time down Exit trail, cos you just never know. Well I must have known, but luckily for Jonty his puncture happened right at the end and could stay in front of me. Freak 1st, Jonty 2nd, and myself 3rd.
This got me 1st in the NI series by a huge 4 points. Epic win.

Mad mad props to Mildie and Hamish and all the other people making this series awesome. they've been doing an awesome job. And mad props to the racers as well for showing up and making the races fun with competition. Shame on those who didn't.