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The 18th running of the Phillip
Island 'International Island Classic' witnessed some very competitive racing
across a wide variety of classes, the Tahbilk International Challenge included entries
from Irish Champion Ryan Farquhar,
Isle of Man TT winner Cam Donald, MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams, World
Endurance Champions Steve Martin and Warwick Nowland, two times Australian
Superbike Champion Malcolm Campbell and multiple Australian Champion Robbie
Phillis.
The International flavour was
clearly evident with riders from Australia, France, New Zealand, the United
Kingdom and the USA. The pre race media coverage specifically highlighted the
return of the 2010 overall winning rider Australian Steve Martin and he
certainly left nothing in the cupboard
in 2011, again dictating terms in three of the four International Challenge
races with a huge performance on a 1982 Suzuki
Katana, sponsored by QBE Insurance.
Please click on the heading or associated image to be taken to
the dedicated page covering the event.....
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THE
INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE:
The
Tahbilk International Challenge was contested over four separate
races and Suzuki XR69's in the hands of Ryan Farquhar, Jeremy McWilliams and
Cam Donald featured prominently. Jeremy McWilliams won the individual
championship from Cam Donald, the overall Team prize once again went to
Australia.
The individual results could
have been very different, the Historic Lap Record holder Steve Martin won
three of the four races on a Suzuki Katana, unfortunately the Katana suffered
an engine failure in race 2.
The 'clickable' image opposite depicts Steve Martin on the #99:
Katana.
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CLASSIC SIDECAR
RACING:
A wide variety of sidecars
contested the four separate heats however the final five lap race provided
some of the best dicing between Doug Chivas/Matthew McKinnon (Yamaha TZ750
power) and Barry Horner/Chris Dinuzzo (Irving Vincent 1300 power).
The Chivo's Motorcycle Tyre
entry won the overall Sidecar event, however the sound of that highly tuned
Vincent attracted a lot of attention.
The 'clickable' image depicts
the #12: Chivas/McKinnon Sidecar.
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CLASSIC SUPPORT RACE CLASSES:
With support
classes covering Period 1 Veteran, Period 2 Vintage, Period 3 Classic, Period 4
Post Classic and Period 5 Forgotten Era, there were forty events
interspersed between the four International Challenge races.
I have recorded
race images from a variety of solo races in this section to give some idea
of the scope of machinery in action throughout the event.
The 'clickable'
image depicts #86: Cam Donald on a 1962 Manx Norton.
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CLASSIC PITS AND CLUB DISPLAYS:
With race entries
for Historical Motorcycle classes covering the years 1919~1982 there was plenty
of eye candy, the vast majority of bikes were active competition types but
there were plenty of production and modified machines on show.
The Phillip Island
Expo Building was the site for various club displays including the CBX
Owners Club of
Australia Inc. and the CB750 (Four) Owners Club.
The 'clickable'
image depicts the magnificent #12: 1926 Indian 8V V-Twin.
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CLASSIC PRESENTATION
OF AWARDS:
The presentation
of awards to the International Challenge winning team, individual winning rider
and all support class winners were held directly after the final race.
I have recorded
numerous images of the awards and images of some of the many riders I had the
pleasure of meeting, including Graeme Crosby, Barry Smith and some of the stars
of the Island Classic at the signature desk, strategically located in Croz's book sales
outlet!
The 'clickable' image opposite depicts the winning Australian
Team.
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