Autosport International Show

We took a trip down to the Autosport International Show at the Birmingham NEC yesterday, and for anyone that is interested in pieces of metal and bits of carbon fibre and stuff it really is the place to be. I am not saying we are sad or anal or anything like that, OK I guess I am. My mate Andy Green who works at BAE Systems with me came along and we met up with the Smith Sisters there, after several hours of the Smiths, Greenie was noted as saying "they certainly do have a lot of enthusiasm don't they", this roughly translated means, "do they ever stop talking", now for anyone who knows them will understand this exactly, for those that don't, your time will come ! Only joking gents ?
I have to say though this really is one interesting show. The highlight of which was hidden on a small stand in Hall 9, the company EOS, Electrical Optical Systems Ltd. Now these guys manufacture machines than can do the most amazing things with metal and plastics, they can work down to 1 micron and utilising laser technology can produce virtually anything you want. It was funny to watch people's faces when they would come up to the stand, pick up the selection of items on display and see how surprised they were by the products. This really is future technology today. We were all well impressed. Have a look at www.eos.info for more information and to see what I mean. It looks like we may be working with them in the near future to produce some of the trickest gear you will see on a motorcycle in the country. More news to follow.
We had a wander over to the Goodridge guys who have been kind enough to support us this year, this was the funny part of the day when after being grilled by Gary on the technicalities of their dry brake couplings we heard a loud thud as the poor man hit the floor !! Only joking, we saved him a few seconds before this happened, much to the amusement of Goodridge Gill (as she will now be known).
Zircotec (see www.zircotec.com) who are specialists in ceramic coatings and Milltec (see www.millteksport.com) who manufacture exhaust systems were both present at the show and have been supporters of the Smiths for a period of time now so it was good to catch up with these guys and for me to meet some of them and put faces to names. The guys from Zircotec did ask if they could have some more examples of crashed exhausts pipes that have their coating on, now all I can say is guys, hopefully not. But if there are any they are heading your way !
Just to finish off all I will say is that if anyone has an interest in this are then the show is definitely worth a visit, so get it in your diaries for next year.

Full Race Coverage Online

Talk about everything happening at once, following on from the news that MotorsTV are to double their amount of coverage of the ThundersportGB races, comes the news that a new website http://www.bikesportuk.tv/ will launched soon. This is the blurb from their website, it is currently under construction but will be fully launched in the near future. "BikeSportUK.tv is undergoing a major production and conceptual overhaul at the moment and will soon be exploding into the online motorsport community with exclusive footage of club racing events that you will be able to watch right here or download to watch in your home cinema entertainment systems.We will have full coverage of every heat of the spectacular Thundersport GB series. Each race will be presented as an individual programme featuring a full commentary, interviews etc. You will be able to view the screened highlights or if you wish; EVERY lap of every race! We know you are going to love this new motorsport experience and we encourage you to interact with us in it's ongoing development." Sounds good to me !!!!

A 'TV' Star Is Born

We have just heard some great news, ThundersportGB is to raise its presence on MotorsTV by airing four hours of racing coverage per round for the 2010 season. This will afford much improved race coverage, along with more pit lane and podium interviews therefore giving us a chance to promote our sponsors in the best possible manner. The shows will be delivered in the shape of one 2 hour program per event Plus two 1 hour programs with repeats shown at various times. All the shows will be available to download online from the ThundersportGB website so everyone will have a chance to see them. This really is good news.

Keeping Control Of Our Fluids

I am sure you will all agree that from time to time we all have a bit of fluid leakage, both us and the bikes, but well hopefully this won't happen to us this year as Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems have agreed to support us with their comprehensive array of fluid transfer products. We are proud to be associated with such a world renowned company that has been supplying the motorsport industry for over 35 years. We have a few ideas of what we need and fitting to the bikes. We will keep you up to speed as we progress and develop the bikes. In the meantime you can check out all the products that Goodridge have to offer by checking out their website on http://www.goodridge.net/.

Shocked by Nitron

For this year I am pleased to say we will be supported by Nitron Racing Shocks. We contacted Nitron after seeing the quality of their shocks and thought this would offer us improvements over our existing suspension. The shock pictured is for our ZX4-RR GP2 machine, this is their top of the range race shock and offers both low and high speed compression adjustment as well as rebound. I am sure you will agree this really does look a top piece of kit, I can't wait to get out there and test it. Please have a look at their website http://www.nitron.co.uk/ so see the vast range of bike and car shocks they have to offer.
After seeing the quality on offer Leigh is just about to order a Nitron shock for his SV650, so there you go proof in itself.
Thanks again go to Nitron Racing Shocks for their support.

On The Sponsorship Hunt

It is the time of year when all bike racers have to get their begging bowls out and go on the hunt for sponsorship to try and cover some of the costs associated with the running of the bikes and team over a season. I am currently looking at cometing in the GP2 class (formely Junior Powerbike) and the Supermono class if enough funds can be raised to compete in both. As I am sure you will appreciate all forms of motorsport are very expensive and therefore we need help to cover some of the major expenses. To this end we have teamed up with Trevor Flock of Head Start (www.head-start.eu) to help in our search. Trevor has produced a sponsorship proposal, posters, postcards, you name it he can do it. The feedback we have so far received for the presentation has been very positive with all commenting on how professional it is. Please check out his website to see if he can help you as well.

I will post a link shortly to our presentation to allow all to see what we can and have to offer.

If you would like to sponsor us or be involved in some way then please get in touch. As the American propaganda posters use to say 'We need you!'.

250's Axed From North West 200

It is sad that I have to report the 250 race has been axed from the race programme for the 2010 North West 200 in Northern Ireland. We were due to ride Sean Kelly's beautiful 2007 model Honda RS250 (pictured left) that we rode at the Scarborough Gold Cup last year but unfortunately this will now not happen. The text below is taken from the NW200 website as to the reasons why the race has been cancelled. We will try to secure a bike to compete in one of the othe races and wil kepp you up to dat on how we progress.
North West 200 Revs Up for 2010 Race 09/12/2009
International North West 200 organisers Coleraine & District Motor Club Ltd will next year promote a six race programme following a decision to remove the 250cc race category. The revised programme will comprise a 125cc and Superstock race, two 600cc Supersport and two Superbike races.
Speaking on behalf of the new management team, Race Director Mervyn Whyte MBE said, “Having considered this option for the past couple of years we now believe the time is right to discontinue the 250cc category. Two stroke bikes no longer feature in Grand Prix or British Superbike race programmes and as a result manufacturers have reduced the number of models and ranges produced each year.”
“We therefore don’t have the same number of teams nor individual competitors wanting to enter this particular class and having taken all these factors into consideration, felt it was appropriate to promote a strong six race event in 2010.”
The NW200 management team have also proposed significant changes to the Thursday practice session. “In response to competitor and team feedback, the Coleraine Club is examining opportunities to hold our traditional Thursday Practice Race during the day as opposed to later in the evening. We would anticipate roads closing on Thursday morning at 9.30am and re-opening at 3pm and believe it would cause less disruption to residents and the business community as well as providing important additional machine set up and practice time for riders and in particular event newcomers.”
Coleraine & District Motor Club is currently consulting with key organisations and business people as well as local residents. Tuesday evening practice and Saturday Race Day timings are set to remain the same.