Folks, at the prompting of RDjase,here's a draft copy of how my trip to Phillip Island went in January so my brother and I could ride our TZ350's, race by race. Sorry it is a bit long but it was 3 full on days racing plus before and after. Innocents Abroad Part 12 The ongoing Saga of the Wilton Brothers’ International Racing exploits – Return to Phillip Island for the 18th International Island Classic. This event has to be the unofficial Post Classic world championships! The stats alone tell a story : • The International Challenge events (3 teams of 13 riders from Aussie UK and usually NZ) including 2 world champions (Steve Martin and Warwick Nowland) ,TT winners (Ryan Farquar, Cam Donald), a 250 and 500GP pole sitter (Jeremy McWilliams), 3x Aussie Superbike Champion (Shawn Giles) and a current Aussie Champion (Beau Beaton) who has just snagged a world championship ride for the year. • 350 bikes on the respective grids - the biggest classic road race event in southern hemisphere • 19800 people through the gate, the biggest domestic Australian motorcycle event. • The outright Historic lap record lowered by 1.2 seconds to 1.38.9 by Steve Martin on a 1982 Katana. This is only 0.7 a sec slower the National Superstock lap record set on a 2009 R1 and 7.0 seconds slower than the worlds Superbike lap record set by Troy Corser in 2007… • Riders from Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, France, USA all shooting for glory. This was my 10th consecutive time at the event and my biggest task apart from riding was notional ream leader for the “Rest of the World” international challenge team. It was ROTW as we were unable to muster a full kiwi rider compliment and we again had an American (Dave Crussell), Frenchman (Paul Remaud) joining us. Additionally we had a larger band of Aussies, all claiming some Kiwi linkage – though some were as tenuous as “I sold a bike to a Kiwi once!” It was also with some excitement, when I also received details before we departed of the dual announcement by 3 times Australian Superbike title winner, Shawn Giles. One was his retirement from racing, the second was that the Australian team was full and he was joining the ROTW… Woohoo the ROTW team had just got a lot stronger as he also had access to a front running bike and support team. This year was also the first time in a while that Kerry was able to make it from Dubai having missed the 2009 and 2010 events. What with my wife Pip, plus Kerry’s wife and daughter (Rhianon and Isabella), it was the full “Team Wilton” event again by the time our mother also made the trip over, not counting Team Wilton’s chief engineer/coach/race psychologist/strategist/extra pair of hands(!), Murray Delacy who decided at the last minute it would a great idea to be there too. Kerry and I had last ridden together at Spa in June, but mostly in different classes. So this was the first time we’d be on the track together on almost identical machines for a while and we both had a target in mind (sub 2 min lap)….who would get there first though? 2011’s kiwi contingent’s unpack took all of ˝ an hour to unload and have the bikes AQIS checked on the Wednesday afternoon. We spent another hour so squaring away a few details and catching up with the UK team – many of whom we have become friends with. All of a sudden I was really glad to be here! After 10 trips the work required to get here wears a bit thin…but once here all that falls by the way side. Helping the fact was I had a very fresh motor (new crank, cylinder, pistons and ignition system), a brand new set of my favourite Dunlop KR’s fitted, an awesome new front brake set up and I’d had a good ride the previous weekend on my TZ750 and OW01 at the ART day. Kerry arrived Thursday so the afternoon saw us at the track again collecting our new tyre warmers, sorting a few details, starting bikes, scrutineering, signing on and watching some of the open practice. Friday morning and it was all starting to feel like a race meeting again after a few days of just lurking around doing odd jobs and generally kicking back. Warmers were on, gas mixed, tyre pressures done, rider’s brief done and even the sun was shining…. And Kerry and I had 16 rides each ahead of us across three days as we’d entered both the Pre 1980 Up to 350 class and the Up to 500 class (we’d made use of a little know Aussie historic rule which allows cross entry into the next capacity class up), giving us plenty of riding. First things first though was scrub tyres in and run my motor in, in the first session (P1 <500), so my times were not that flash (2.20) ….Kerry was a little quicker (2.05) as apart from a new front tyre his bike was ready to go. I was 27th fastest, Kerry was 2nd! Our second practice (P1 <350) was me drop 11 seconds and Kerry 3 seconds as we started learning our way a round again and I was starting to work my engine a bit harder, as it had a few miles on it. 6th and 15th fastest in the group. Third practice (P2 <500) saw Kerry down at the 2min mark, another 2 seconds quicker and me a slightly frustrated 2.06. Symptomatic I think of trying to hard and making myself go slow as a result. Kerry’s bike was going well, though the front brake pads were slow in bedding in. We’d both taken a little bit of front compression damping out as we were both funding the bikes a bit harsh over the some surface ripples in Southern Loop and Hayshed. 4th Practice (P2 <350) and Kerry breaks the magic 2 min mark with a 1.59.4 for 6th fastest Pre 1980 350 (we were running also with Pre 63 0-350cc bikes being scored separately), I’m slowly trying to close the time gap with a 2.04 and 8th.
1st Qualifier (Q1 <500cc) and Kerry went a little slower but was 3rd fastest in class for a provisional front row start while I dragged another tenth of a second out for provisional 6th fastest. 2nd Qualifier and our last event for the day was the more keenly fought 350 class. Kerry was back under 2min again for 8th (provisional) and I was a few tenths quicker than my last for 10th fastest, but still some 1.6 seconds off my fastest lap here. Up my sleeve was the fact I usually pull 2 seconds out in the races, it was only Friday and I was on the 2nd row! All in all a very successful day with only minor tweaks to the bikes being made and both of us with reasonable qualifying times posted should any issues arise tomorrow. Straight after practice we got the bikes ready for Saturday and any final changes we wanted to make. I’d been back and forth a little also with rear rebound damping trying to balance front patter and some movement under brakes in a couple of places. But more importantly looking for some more power, I dropped the main jets a size as we’d set the bike up very rich before coming over hoping it might make the bike a little cleaner, on top. Friday night’s function was the usual riotous affair with Ken Wootton as MC, and lots of guest speakers. I was back up on stage (to a big cheer when Ken announced it was my 10th trip) to announce the ROTW team and hand out the team caps. Lucky Ken was there who knew most of the Aussies as I didn’t know much of their history. Sat morning and we’re back into again with the 2nd qualifier for each event and 3 races (2 x <500 and 1 x <350). 3rd Qualifier and we’re straight into it, loving using the tyre warmers – straight out of pit lane and into it. No losing a lap trying to get tyres up to temp. First full run down the front and I feel the bike stutter at the top of 6th gear just before the braking area. I coast around the fast turn one and get back on the gas into Southern loop, gave the bike a good run down through 5th gear T3 where I did a plug chop into Honda, running straight on and into the back of the pits. I quickly parked the bike outside stripped my gear off and sure enough there’s alloy on the right hand spark plug. Bugger. 10 minutes later and I have the head off and we’re showing signs of pre ignition with a little depression on the piston right below the spark plug. Kerry didn’t go as quick as Friday afternoon but neither did anyone else, so both our grid positions were set from Friday’s times, 3rd and 7th respectively for 1st and second row start positions, one behind the other. Murray and I soon had the barrell off, spare piston swapped over and the bike back together with main jets 2 sizes bigger (massive 290’s) in time for the first race, missing my last qualifying session for the <350 class. However, my time from Friday afternoon kept me on the 3rd row in 10th. Kerry was lurking in the 1 min 59’s again for 9th fastest, leaving us side by side on the grid for this class. Race one on Saturday afternoon was the first <500cc class. Was going to be an interesting race what with the wind picking up considerably from the morning, plus there was a small slip up and the other class running in the same event (pre 63 open capacity bikes) where placed on the grid in front of us with a 10 second head start, not the way we’d been advised. This meant we’d have slower bikes we’d have to get through. Sure enough after one of my usual rocket starts we catch the older bikes quite quickly and 2 laps in I come around Turn 12 and I see a bike in the middle of the front straight and the rider WALKING back up towards it. Seems one of the race leaders had touched handle bars with a slower rider in the other group. Race was red flagged and we had to do it all again. Off the start I didn’t quite get away as quickly as I usually do and Kerry was a little ahead and to my left, though I was gaining on him – just in time to see out of the corner of my eye a cloud of smoke as a rider behind jinxed one way and his front wheel touched the Kerry’s back wheel and fall over….I soon realised Kerry wasn’t impacted by this when he smoked around the outside of me at turn one…. and buggered off into the distance eventually finishing 2nd in class behind Grant Boxhall. I came home in 6th in class, fighting some pretty big sidewinds through T3. I’m usually in 5th into T3, but it was so blustery, I was fighting to keep the bike on the track in 4th. I asked Kerry if it was a close run thing off the line and it was news to him – he never felt a thing! Race 2 was the 1st <350 class. Should be interesting – every bike in the race was a Yamaha and most were factory built TZ race bikes like mine with the remainder being RD350’s. As usual I got a flyer of a start, dragging into Turn one with the front row. Kerry came past and we’re nose to tail through most of the first lap. Terry Morris (TZ350 Nico Bakker) tried to go around me on the last corner, but couldn’t make it – finally getting past soon after though. I spent most of the race fighting the bike in the wind and doing 2.07’s – 3 seconds slower than qualifying. The wind didn’t seem to worry Kerry who had quite a battle with Terry back and forth, as they drafted each other down the straight. Terry finally making a pass stick at MG on the last lap. Kerry 6th (with his best lap for the weekend at 1.59.2) and 8th for me, a little disappointed that I let 1 well ridden RD350LC past (aim was to have none ahead of me all weekend!).
Race 3 for Saturday was the 2nd <500cc race. This time the grid was swapped around so the Pre 1980 500’s were on the front with a 10 second head start. A good start and running well despite the wind but on the start of the 3rd lap the bike slowed again on entry into Turn one. Not a great corner to coast around! Kerry finished 2nd again, 3 ˝ seconds up on 3rd place. At least I had a great view of the last couple, of laps of the race. The inside of Southern loop is a great place to watch from but is a restricted area so no spectators usually. You can see who’s bike is handling and who’s isn’t around the long 180 degree 3rd gear left hander with a down hill exit. I got the bike back to the pits as soon as we could and as soon as I got my gear off we got the motor out and by 7pm or so had most fitted the spare motor. Leaving only a couple of small jobs and starting it in the morning. Sunday morning and while Murray was helping finish the last jobs, he found the right hand fuel pipe looked to have been kinking….we think the restricted fuel flow causing both problems and a lot of damage. Race 1 Sunday 2nd <350cc race. I went out on the warm up lap and pulled in again before the start to check a couple of things so missed the race proper. Kerry got around in better conditions (head wind not side wind) in 6th place. Race 2 3rd ,500cc race. Kerry was trying a radical jetting change that didn’t quite work and had a seizure at the start of lap 2. I saw him just coasting to a stop as I was tipping into to Turn 2. Each lap I could see Kerry looking down from the same spot I was sitting in the previous afternoon, so I’d try and at least make it look good when I went past! The head wind was a lot less work than the side winds giving me a best lap so far of 2.03.5 and 4th in class, also finally getting in front of a couple of riders who I’ve never been able to beat in previous years. The last lap got exciting with some lapped traffic too…. Getting back to the pits we quickly worked out that we wouldn’t get Kerry’s bike sorted in time for the last 3 races on our programme so we split riding duties on my bike. Kerry would do the last 500 race as he had 2 x 2nd places and may salvage a good overall result still and I’d do the last 2 350 races. Race 3. 3rd <350cc race. I got a great start as usual arriving at Turn one quicker and further up the field than I expected which caught me out a little! I got my head down though as lap 2 was quickest of the weekend thus far, then the next 3 were all quicker than my best ever and successively quicker, finishing with a 2.01.9 – nearly a second quicker than my previous best. All of a sudden I’d just learned something new about the circuit and another couple of pieces of the jigsaw fell into place. Still couldn’t quite catch that one RD350LC ahead of me as his lap times were mirroring mine, but finished 6th – my best ever result in the 350 class. Race 4. Last <500cc race. Kerry’s last ride. We’d completed all the docs for the bike swap and we’d even wrote on the tank that it was a bike swap, but the grid marshalls would not allow Kerry to start from his front row grid position, pushing him back to my 2nd row position “as we hadn’t told them it was a bike change” despite us completing all the paper work….I was having a discussion with them about this fact when they stuck the red flag out. Kerry didn’t come past and as it transpires he’d stepped off my bike up through the hayshed on the first lap while fighting for 2nd place and was in an awkward place in the gravel trap. Race 5. last <350 race. DNS start as my 350 was more than a little second hand so no chance to have a final crack at a sub 2 min lap.….pity as I was dead keen as I’d had such a good ride in my previous race. By all accounts my pick up lap times was visible from the sidelines, too. Once we got the carnage from Kerry’s accident sorted, Murray and I watched the last International Challenge race from the top of the pit garage by the last corner. Would have to have been one of the best races I have ever seen. The first 3 riders were all under the lap record that Steve Martin set in 2010, finally stopping the clock at 1.38.9. Not bad for a 1982 GSX1100 Katana built by a couple of guys more interested in drag racing! Steve was doing big long 4th gear wheel stands on to the main straight and by all accounts was leaving clouds of tyre smoke around the circuit. Prize Giving, pack up, burgers and beer were the remaining tasks of the day. Kerry and I had already got his bike loaded before the meeting had even finished and with only another 7 bikes to get into the container were done and dusted, no time flat.
Outstanding report, thanks for putting it together
Awesome stuff. Will have to put that down on my 'to do' list.
Good read, thanks. Sounds like an expensive weekend with much work to do afterwards.
Great race report Al, How did Andy Mac go? I dropped in there a few weeks ago and talked to Julie as Andy was out, I had just been to wellington and was coming home with my sons new race bike, KR150 all ready for the Winter Series. she said dud fuel and dead engines but wasnt sure of all the details. Tyler wanted to show him his new toy especialy since it wasnt a diesel like his FXR At least some parts of my LC made it to Phillip Island, Andy "borrowed" my (his old pipes ,I bought off him a year odr so ago) LC's pipes at TRRS. I didnt need them after my highside..................... Hows the repairs going on the TZ's?
I've had my bike out with the spare engine still fitted last weekend and was only 1/2 a sec off my best lap time at Puke - having hardly ridden it there for a year! My engine is not too bad - will just need another cylinder plate job which I can slow time now through a cheaper 9but just as good) plate company in the UK. Kerry's I'll pick through slowly and try and work out why a pretty soft motor blew it's top - low comp head with fat squish and easy ign timing and not radical jetting (despite the change) it should have been okay.....At least we'll get a good plug chop on the good side it was full noise it top when it stopped
