What a great week, topped off by the old boy doing us proud. TB, Johnny Rea, Liam Haslam, Randy de Puniet and Michael van der Mark all came by the officials BBQ tonight to say thanks. It was nice to see them and they were all genuinely grateful. Classic TB quote when he said some Italian journo's thought he couldn't maintain the pace: "that's a load of shit" I'll be back to do it all again in October. It's a shame I was stuck in the infield all weekend and didn't get to catch up with everyone.
Hi Matt, Russ told me you were working the infield so I didn't annoy you. Will catch up with you in October all going well. Was a great day on Sunday although the thing that really surprised me the most was how small the crowd seemed. Maybe it was just the heat that turned a few away or maybe they found out Slowbike was going. Who knows? Now looking forward to the MotoGP in October.
Ive been travelling to the supers every year for the last 10 years or so and this, by far, was the most 'plod free' trip ever. Some friends stayed in Bright on the Thursday night and reported that it was a ghost town. You can get a table at any restaurant in Cowes on any night of the supers, you dont even have to book. People are staying away in droves. Have the nice peeps at Vic Police finally woken up to the fact that their over zealous and heavy handed approach to traffic law enforcement has been killing off the crowds in recent years ??
The decline in numbers is a lot to do with overzealous policing, but also the stonking heat in February puts a lot of folks off. Last time I went I left halfway through the second race, I just couldn't take the blistering heat any more, it was too much, and no fun at all. I dunno why they don't move it from the hottest month of the year to a later date.
we couldn't be leave it when we got to the track (first time to P I ) that there wasn't any where to get out of the sun,no grand stands nothing saturday the heat was too much for us and if we hadn't payed for accommodation sat night we would of gone home and not stayed for the race sunday,
There are trees from Siberia all the way up the fence to lukie heights, and all the way from turn 11 to turn 12 and trees behind the main straight and behind turn 2 and 3. Take a chair set up in the shade and move up to the fence when the race is on and retire to the shade between races
Did anyone else get over to the dirt track? It was pretty cool and an action packed few minutes twice a day. The track was not kidney shaped as I had expected , in fact it was kind of liver shaped or "D" shaped , and very small
Yet been there in the past, stinker the first day then freezing sideways rain the next... that's 'the island'
This is the first year in 12 years tht l have not attended. Blistering heat forecast, cops everywhere and no shade what so ever. I love it but nothing new to see this year so I have saved my admission money for the Airshow this weekend. Always something new to see and bloody shade if you want o get out the sun. Bike s the only way in there tho.
I did not go this year, first one of missed for about 8yrs. I used to really enjoy the campground antics; when it was only bikes allowed in and what ever they could carry. However, the last couple of years, cars, vans, campers trailers have all been allowed into the 'bike only section', which has f*cked it for the little guy who has carted all his shit half way across the country on the back of his bike. I think I'd rather be watching it on the box, instead of looking at the back of someones 'Taj-mahal' camp set up that they've towed in on the back of a car.
I agree, one of the last straws for me was camping next to a cluster of trailers with shiny roadies on them that got unloaded to ride around the circuit, then loaded back up for the trip back home.:huh Weak. As. Piss.
I agree that it has really negatively impacted the atmosphere for the campground. I'll never camp again unless they make it BIKES ONLY and piss off the shit.
I camped at the Bathurst races circa 1970's - I had a great time In the nineties I camped at Eastern Creek in the days of Kevin Schwantz - it was fun, even if at others expense - Bungers in dunnies, burnouts and bike sacrifices - anyone remember the brand new Tiger Blade that was trashed? From what I have seen and heard the PI camp ground and amenities are way above anything I had experienced - if you dont like the camping don't camp regardless, at the end of the day Id expect that everyone that attends the place either in cars, bikes or by shanks pony does so out of love of the sport and skills that either WSBK or MotoGP offer. Just my old wise twopence worth