^.^

So I have me some racing ambitions   I want to compete in the Mantshwabise 1000 Desert Race 2012

I figured I would start a preparationthread up in here, both to document the whole process as well as to draw motivation on the days when I really am not feeling it.

as of posting this the count down stands at

356   days, 8556 hours, 513361 minutes, 30801667 seconds until race day  

To star with I am doing some prep gym training and rebuilding my DRZ, more on that below.

Gym training
I am one week into a basic conditioning program which will last a month and consists of 1 hour a day 5 days a week with alternating cardio training and weight training. controlled diet of 2025 cals per day broken up over 6 337.5 cal meals per day.

Once that is done I will be starting a 19 week long off season MX-straining program which includes riding days

Bike rebuild
Turning this

into this…  

So far: My head is busy being redone, I expect it to be finished today. Engine will go off for rebuild on Monday or Tuesday, new gasket set; hotrods main bearings; hotrods +4mm crank & wiseco timing chain are going into the engine. Athena head (bigger water cooling channels); the head has been ported and flowed by TBR & has a Hotcam on the intake side. The Yoshimura header will be going for matte black ceramic coating next week too.

Once the engine is done It will be taken to Wrench (Julian) @ superbike solution to be jetted and run-in on the dyno.

I have already sourced an IMS 17L fuel tank and rally fairing. I bought a 21″ excel front rim with talon hub from a previous Dakar bike which will require new bearings and possibly brake caliper spacers to fit.

Rider rebuild
I went to see an ENT (ear nose & throat) specialist this morning as I have broken my nose many times and cant breath through my left nostril at all which impacts my ability to breath a fair bit, surgery is scheduled for the 12th of July  

I will need to compete in at least two regional MSA races in order to qualify for the Mantshwabise 1000 so I am looking at buying a 250 exc which has been offered to me, not to mention it will make for a great training bike.

Week one almost done  

A day out at the race track with friends trying my hand at shooting from the sidelines.

A great weekend away with some good friends in the Tankwa Karoo attending the Wilddog Western Cape Bash. Some stunning riding out in this part of the world.

I headed out to take some photos of a regional off road race in Wellington, I did how ever oversleep and only caught the end of the enduro bikes finishing.

My Older sister and friend had a combined 30th a 20′s swing Great Gatsby theme. Made for a beautiful evening with good friends

I was invited to come along and take photos of the Cape Town bull run, an underground’ish street skating event that involves skating down long street in the Cape Town CBD against traffic. Next time round I want to be on a board or on the back of a bike to get better shots.

Went along to take a look at the MP3 Experiment in Camps Bay, Cape Town. I must say it’s awesome to watch such a large group of people at play

Decided to do some playing around with eyes, No color alterations just burning and dodging, red channel grey scale.

Windows to the soul that give away so much

Took these last Friday, was just one of those days where I had to go home and fetch my camera.  Time for a new lens to me thinks, wider and faster