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David
Site Administrator
Australia
999 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Nov 2006 : 10:46:53 AM
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Here is my report in to the 2006 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships held at Mac Park on the weekend of the 23rd to the 26th November 2006:
Saturday:
When I arrived at Mac Park just before race 7 on the Saturday I was made to walk from the make shift car park on the main corner to the road that the Mac Park entrance was on. After a brisk 5 minute walk the ticket arranged from the officials of MGMCLCC was waiting for me with the inside car parking ticket as promised. This was impressive to say the least, and was straight away impressed on the size of the crowd when I drove the car into Mac Park. The fence line was packed with spectators and it was hard to find a place to see the racing that was about to follow, unlike the previous Historic Championship held in Victoria. It was starting to heat up, not only in the weather, but the racing also. After meeting with Phil McGee from MGMCLCC, I went on my own to take photographs and to meet with people and find out what they thought of the meeting so far. All I was able to get was positive feedback, and I tended to agree with them at that stage from what I had seen. I had taken about 100 photographs by this stage and witnessed a lot of close competitive racing. The speed at which not only the racing was at, but also the time to have competitors on the track was amazing. This showed a get deal of organisation from the club(s) running the event. Compared to another Historic Road Championship that was run in Victoria a couple of years ago, there is no comparison. The MGMCLCC at Mac Park has shown it knows how to organise an event of such a huge magnitude compared to that previous event in Victoria. The Saturday provided plenty of excitement with great racing from both the solos and the sidecars. There was a number of minor rider tumbles, including a touch of a few riders off the starting grid in one of the races that not only I witnessed, but a number of the extremely pleased spectators. It was great to see a number of sidecars at Mac Park and some familiar faces from a couple of years ago at Mac Park. They also had noted that this Historic Championship was not to be compared to a past Historic Championship, as “that Historic Championship was poorly run, unlike this Historic Championship, which is well organised”. After racing was finished for the day, I went and setup camp in the camp grounds at the track for a reasonable price an went and mixed with others that know about You must be logged in to see this link. but have not posted to the site. I also found out early in the day that the sidecar riders/passengers are going to make You must be logged in to see this link. their place to report future race meetings so that others know about what is coming up. I am fully supporting this move with creation of new sidecar areas as they need to communicate and share with others to be able to increase the sport. All up, Saturday was a fantastic day with a well organised day, and fantastic people that I meet there. I took about 215 photographs and 7 small movies on day 1 of my visit to Mac Park for the 2006 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships. |
Regards,
David
Webmaster & Owner of Classic Motorcycling Australia
Quote: I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted to be paid. |
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David
Site Administrator
Australia
999 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2006 : 8:39:28 PM
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Here is my report on the Sunday's activities:
After leaving the air bed at home and sleeping on the ground for most of the night and then jumping in to the back of the car for at least 2 hours sleep with a word of advice, take your air bed if you camp at Mac Park. After going to the scrutineers shed and charging the batteries for the camera and talking to the friendly folks down there and finding out the official number of entries for the meeting of 279 actual outfits there, not including the outfits that did not show/cancellations. All trophies were confirmed to be on site and ready at the end of the days riding. Sunday was a great day not only with the weather with sunny skies, but the racing was again fantastic. The crowd started to build early on the day for what would later be fantastic day of events. The sidecars got off to a roaring start with a 3 sidecar pile up at the hair pin near the main entrance to the track. This left 2 out of the race which was later rescheduled after the red flags came out. There was fast racing all day with a few minor spills during the morning and then I was called back to Melbourne for a meeting later that day which I could not postpone. Others I have spoken with since I left at about lunch time told me they had the best time in a long time and were pleased with all that went on. I did however manage to get quite a few photographs of the morning’s session from solos to sidecars which will be added to the You must be logged in to see this link. over the next few days. With all that I had seen to do with the 2006 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships at McNamara Park, it was well worth the effort of turning up and seeing fantastic historic racing of such a high standard in Australia. Well done Mount Gambier Motor Cycle & Light Car Club and the Historic Motor Cycle Racing Register of SA Inc for such a well organised racing event. I give the whole event of the 2006 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships the big thumbs up from my perspective. Well run and organised by 2 clubs that know how to deliver such a terrific event. They should pat themselves on the back for not only for the running of the event, but also producing the atmosphere that along with the 2006 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships.  |
Regards,
David
Webmaster & Owner of Classic Motorcycling Australia
Quote: I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted to be paid. |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2006 : 10:21:16 PM
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| Great news and a good report,David. |
John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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matcho mick
Advanced Member
New South Wales
570 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2006 : 12:03:58 AM
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spoton comments David,it was a funtastic meeting,from the word go i guess(apart from hiccup with the smoker) team K leader lent me his P3 honda 350 so it wasn't a complete disaster trackwise,the organising skills of all involved was impressive ,even the pit guy on the scooter making welcome all competitors with a cheery g'day,returning constantly to check all was good,camping was pretty fullon,tents,vans,buses everywhere,i got lost frequently during the nitely socialising sojurns,(thanx rissole ),amazingly awaking in my own van in the mornings,don't know the spectator numbers but it was fairly impressive,very heartening to see so many lining the fences,even managed to crossover to the bike display in the middle of the track for a squizzy,Jack Findlays TZ,some outrageously trick 24hr wasp outfit,even the 550 suzi outfit sold (even if it was just for the f/end?),so a tough act to follow ,you bet,can't wait till next years,lets see if we can get camping at the creek??,cheers all  |
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ian
Level 1 Member
South Australia
19 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2006 : 4:53:02 PM
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Mick, it was a great meeting. Do you know if the 2007 event is definitely at Eastern Creek? 'Cause I reckon that if there is no camping a lot of us cannot come. Also, the track is too long for the really old bikes. How about Wakefield Park?
Ian |
Old age, treachery and deceit will always beat youth, skill and vigour! |
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Alan
Forum Moderator
Western Australia
353 Posts |
Posted - 04 Dec 2006 : 9:27:30 PM
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What a blast. This would have to go down as one of the best historic meetings ever held. When else could a sidecar rider compete and then watch another two periods of sidecars race in seperate races. Well done guys and many thanks to the organisers for bringing historic racing back to what it should be. There was fantastic racing across all classes, a little luck with the weather, and very good organisation. Not to mention the trimmings like camping at the track which is a huge bonus, the guy on the scooter who organised the pits and camping area all weekend and didnt stop smiling and the cooperation of senior race officials like Phil Baughaun who did all in his power to make sure everyone got a fair go.
Sure it wasnt perfect and yes there were some eligibility issues but given the nature of our sport it was as good as it can get. Lets hope we can all get behind next years event in the same way and make it another big one. So many thanks to everyone who assisted with the event, the competitors, the spectators and the officials for restoring my faith in the historic race movement, thats two good ones in a row.
My personal involvement was not so good, the poor old bike tried hard for me but couldnt do the deed, for that matter neither could I, still it was fun and towards the end I started to enjoy the track, just needed another 5 or 6 days to come to terms with it.
Alan Sidecar 21 WA |
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matcho mick
Advanced Member
New South Wales
570 Posts |
Posted - 07 Dec 2006 : 11:05:30 PM
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| Yes Ian,it's going to Eastern Creek next year,flyers were handed out at Mac Park to that affect,organisere are aware they need to resolve the no camping situation if it's to be truly successful on a larger scale,pity it wasn't at Oran park,a better all round setup there!,(as long as it dosen't rain??),cheers |
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BBJ
Level 1 Member
South Australia
8 Posts |
Posted - 14 Dec 2006 : 12:31:30 AM
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Well, was a top weekend for racing and i enjoyed it even if i was flat out after working getting things ready from Tuesday at the track along with Scooter Boy and other Committee members. I think David's report is spot on and was good to catch up with some old friends while not out taking pictures and the action was hot and well what could not have been hotter was the pass made by Graham and Terry which was executed very well but ended up seeing the BSA and fella's checking out the black stuff.
Look forward to doing it again someday.
John
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www.oz-images.com |
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popeye
Level 2 Member
Western Australia
187 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2006 : 12:24:14 AM
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pass on congrats to all the crew John, the guys from here were absoluteley buzzing about the meeting. well done all concerned for their success |
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we may as well dance |
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BBJ
Level 1 Member
South Australia
8 Posts |
Posted - 15 Dec 2006 : 10:10:40 PM
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Hi there Popeye, yes was agreat weekend and all went well, enjoyed and was stuffed after but was good. Glad the crew over there liked it and good to see a great turn up to our lil track. Anyhow we can only improve on what has already been done for the benefit of Road Racing here the SE of SA.
Cheers
John
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www.oz-images.com |
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Alan
Forum Moderator
Western Australia
353 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2007 : 7:57:43 PM
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What a great surprise, got home from work tonight to find a letter from the Mt Gambier Club which included copies of newspaper articles related to the Nationals held recently. A very thoughtful touch which to my knowledge no one has done before. This is what Historic Racing is all about, great events put on by people who care, officials that arent over officious and competitors that while being competitive still know what true enjoyment really is.
Its been said before but well done all round, lets hope this years event gets close to last.
Alan Sidecar 21 WA |
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Patrick
Level 3 Member
Victoria
314 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2007 : 9:48:44 PM
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Great post Alan, hope that all competitors acknowledge the Mt Gambier Club's effort with the after match letter.
A nice touch that I experienced many years ago was a terrific guy who had the title of " Competitors Liason Officer".
He had all the gen on how to get more passes, how to get your sponsor into the best tent, what time you had to be on the dummy grid prior to release, where the press wanted to interveiw and photograph you after your win, where the best parties were going to be and/or who had lots of beer to give out after racing finished.
He just smoothed out all of the problems betwen racers and officals during the day which made for a very easy meeting. Best of all he knew exactly what was going on, attending all briefings with the officals and spoke out for the competitors on all matters that effected them.
It's a job any ex-racer would excell at ...... and must be a huge help on the day to the promoting club.
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