PI 8HR 2011 Miscell

THE PHILLIP ISLAND EIGHT HOUR - ATMOSPHERE: The Eight Hour included one International Team, one Australian Rules Player attempting a new sports career as a road racer, opportunities to get really close to the Pits and Race Riders and all things considered, the inaugural event has set the stage for a solid annual event on the Australian Motorsports calendar.

There was however a sombre issue to attend to and that was a display in the pits, commemorating the passing of Australian Motorcycle Journalist, Ken Wootton, with respect to Ken, I must start this page with a couple of images:

KEN WOOTTON, RIP.

THE TEAMS: A selection of the various team facilities and personnel I photographed during the race weekend. Critically everyone was very approachable, there was a great atmosphere at the Eight Hour.

#1 AND #11: TEAM SUZUKI: Definitely the favourite team for the Eight Hour, their overall commitment and professionalism was clearly apparent in every department, well done. I noted they had many spare rearsets, they didn't need them.


THE TEAM SUZUKI TRANSPORTER	THE TEAM SUZUKI BIKES, THEY FINISHED 1st AND 2nd!


THE TEAM SUZUKI 'LOUNGE'	SPARE 'PTR' REARSETS, THEY DIDN'T NEED THEM

#21: AKERMANIS RACE WORKSHOP: Something different here, Jason Akermanis competed as part of a scheduled five rider team on a Honda CBR600 in the Superstock 600 Class. Jason is still active as an Australian Rules Football Player, he is a triple premiership player and Brownlow Medallist, he is also well known as an outspoken person on various matters. I met Jason for the first time at the Eight Hour and I was pleasantly surprised to meet a man that certainly was aware of his limited abilities in Road Racing having never competed before, his Phillip Island experience being restricted to a great deal of ride days, prior to the event. He stated and maintained his intention to ride within his limits and then gauge any future involvement in competition, a very level headed approach.


AKA, CHECKING OUT THE MAIN COMPETITION OF 2011, TEAM SUZUKI	AKA, SUITING UP	AKA, INTERVIEWED ON RACE DAY

#68: WNR KAWASAKI: Very well credentialed with two time World Endurance Champion, Warwick Nowland managing the team and sponsorship by Insure My Ride. A minor issue on the start line and subsequent accident damage hampered their overall performance. At one point they were last, with perseverance they finish a creditable fifth outright, a great team effort.

#83: TEAM JP & K1 RACING: The only International Entry in the inaugural event. The team suffered from lack of track knowledge and a considerable number of accidents. To their credit they persevered, continually patching up, or should I state taping up an outwardly ailing motorcycle. For the team photo, two different arrangements of personnel were requested, so here they are. The lady team member, in traditional garb on race day, an absolute delight to meet.


	TEAM PHOTO - ARRANGEMENT 1

EXCELLENT MANNERS	TEAM PHOTO - ARRANGEMENT 2

#330: FNQ LAGER: A superb fourth place at one point was cruelly taken away by a failed front tyre valve which resulted in accident damage, the team persevered to the end. The sponsorship by a North Queensland Brewer was quite an achievement for a Victorian based race team. The upshot of all that was that the motorcycle and of course the team, including Team Manager, Trish Simpson wore matching FNQ logos and T-shirts, even the umbrella got into the act, they were arguably the best presented Eight Hour team entry.




TEAM MANAGER: TRISH SIMPSON	#330: FNQ LAGER: YAMAHA YZFR1

FUN AND INTERESTING MOMENTS: A selection of fun and interesting moments during the weekend:

THE 'PRACTICE' LE MANS START

THE 'PRACTICE' LE MANS START ON RACE DAY, SPONSOR 'INSURE MY RIDE' WAS WELL REPRESENTED, IN POLE POSITION!

OFFICIALS AND MR PIRELLI:


THE PIT LANE SPEED CAMERAMAN, NOT VERY POPULAR AT TIMES	OFFICIAL FINGER POINTING	PIRELLI NOTATIONS

TEAM SUZUKI, THEY CAME TO WIN:


TEAM SUZUKI HAD ALL THE CONNECTIONS, MULTIPLE AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION SHAWN GILES AS REFUELLER AND AN IN-HOUSE TYRE FITTING SERVICE

IT WAS A LONG, LONG EIGHT HOURS....


RIDERS AND MECHANICS ALIKE FOUND THE GOING TOUGH AT TIMES


TRYING TO REST	MAGICIAN'S SECRETS ON TV AND THE LAP SCORE FEED, COOL!			MOBILE RELIEF

MIXTURES OF COLOUR AND BOTH EXTREMES OF MIXTURE SETTINGS:


A MIXTURE OF RIDER ARM BAND COLOURS, VIA BRENDAN MURPHY	INTERESTING MIXTURE SETTINGS

DISTRACTIONS:


#1: JOSH, JUST CHECKING HOW THE V8's WERE GOING ON SATURDAY	RACE DAY CLASH? CRICKET, V8's DECIDER, SOCCER, NO WAY!

ENDURANCE RACING SPECTATORS!

AUSTRALIA'S ROAD RACING AND ENDURANCE RACING FANS CAN DO A LOT BETTER THAN THIS, DISGRACEFUL

LET ME IN!


THE 'LOCK OUT', I WAITED AND WAITED UNTIL 'EXACTLY 7am' ON RACE DAY MORNING TO BE FIRST IN, YIPPEE!

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Andrew, going from strength to strength in Australian Motorsports Photography, Ray takes some fantastic images and he certainly is expected to with a lens as big as a truck and Russell, he is really moving forward with his Photography.


RAY OXFORD AND ANDREW GOSLING (RHS)	RUSSELL COLVIN	DOUBLE TROUBLE

MORE PHILLIP ISLAND EIGHT HOUR 2011 COVERAGE: For more coverage of the Phillip Island Eight Hour 2011 please select from the following pages.

I LOVE NEW TECHNOLOGY, TABLETS, LAPTOPS, DIGITAL CAMERAS, MOBILE PHONES/WIRELESS BROADBAND, GPS, ETC. ALL SO COOL AND 'PORTABLE'......