Sam Ayliffe of FYI Mortgages has been a long-time sponsor of dailybike.com and also supports causes such as the Reece Bancell Association but this time, he’s the one counting on support as he prepares to compete in this weekends 6-Hour at Oran Park Raceway. Racing with the Astute Team wearing number 11, Sam has been busy preparing the bike that will hopefully see the team to the end of the race, finishing in front of as many others as possible.

Dailybike.com will follow the progress of the Astute team until the end of the 6-Hour. Here Sam gives us a little history to the lead up to Sunday’s race. Don’t forget to cheer on the boys during Sunday’s race!

db Why the 6 hour?

SA Other than the fact I love motorcycling, would almost do it full time if I was at the top level and could earn a decent wicket as I’ve had a ball this my first year of racing club level. After a fantastic and fun first year racing in the St George Motorcycle Club Honda RJays series, where I teamed up with Jim Corcoran in the Wakefield Park 4 Hour endurance race back in August this year, the next enudrance race seemed apealing too. With Jim and I starting 17th out of 30 teams, and finishing a credible 10th, 4th fastest 600cc, and winning our D Grader classification we were ready for the 6 Hour at Oran Park Raceway!

db The lead up?

SA Teaming up again with Jim, and now his brother Kev too, we ran a budget and realised that using one of our own bikes (or a friends) we would need a budget of $15,000 to get us through the event. Right down to marketing the bike, to catering, to spares… this is one event we knew we wanted to be in. So Jim, Kev and I initially had an offer from our mate Giuseppe to race his ‘05 GSXR600. A few testing days later made us realised we may have more problems with this bike than one of our own. So, in discussions with James Spence allowing us to race one of the three Yamaha R6’s, a 2001/02 model, meant we were back on track with a bike we know we can ride all day around Oran Park (hopefully, touch wood!). 

db The sponsorship?

SA Knowing we have a huge bill ahead of us, knowing it will be worth it, the boys and I set out a plan. Kev did a fantastic sponsorship proposal, and low and behold we were snapped up immediately. Astute Financial Management, our aggregator, like a business partner group, to my Finance Brokering Business (FYI Finance & Property) took us up on our offer and we set off as Astute #11 racing. Securing a second sponsor in Gliderol Garage Doors put us in perfect stead to get into this event looking good, well supported, and an array of spares. We were set!! A huge thank you already to our sponsors, making our dream of racing the last ever 6 hour race at Oran Park a reality!

db What happened next?

SA All sponsored up and ready to go, we set out to get us ready for Race Day. Spencer Evans from APWR at Chard Road Brookvale (that is A.P.W.R, remember the red R) sprayed up our bikes. Spense is a long time supporter and he always makes sure we look good. Cam at BikeBiz got us some spares and tyres for the weekend, Cutgrafix our logo’s and stickers, all set to go! (In fact just getting finished this week). Dave our mechanic has the bike in tip top shape ready to run all day, and we are looking forward to the big race day.

db The result?

SA If you’re as anxious as me, trying to get all my other business interviews done for the week, watch this space, 6 hour here we come!

- Mark M

www.astutefinancial.com.au

www.gliderol.com.au/

www.bikebiz.com.au

www.cutgrafix.com

www.fyigroup.com.au

APWR

All Plastic Welding Repairs
Contact: Spencer
Phone: 0417 029 058
9 Chard Road,
Brookvale,
NSW 

For all details regarding the 6-Hour: www.the6hour.com.au

Or check out the dailybike.com 6-Hour calendar page: 6-Hour