Righto, with a complete looking bike I'm thinking the most important box to tick now is the Historic Logbook: no Logbook = no race. The logbook being a reasonably detailed spec sheet of the bike, detailing all major components to ensure they are of the era (1st January 1983 to 31 December 1990).
Having had virtually nothing to do with Historic racing bar casting lustful glances at some of the fantastic machinery, and enjoying the weird and wonderful mix on track, I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this process. So I downloaded the application form and noticed the estimated time frame for processing: 6 weeks. Hmmmm, best to get the process started and sort the pissy lil' detail jobs while I'm waiting, rather than the other way 'round.
I risked shooting myself in the foot though: you have to supply pic's of the bike, from both sides, faired and unfaired, ready to race. I haven't sorted the mandatory belly pan or crank case guards but I'm hoping they just need to verify it really is an ol' tractor not a Panigale in disguise, rather than sweating the little stuff which is handled at local scrutineering.
Sorry, you'll find the following logbook photo style is from the Federal Police "School of Photographic Composition" text-book, in Chapter 3: "Mugshots", as per the logbook requirements:
A couple more for the family album:
She looks ready to hit the dance floor in her party frock, but the pipes still make my brain itch and there is still a bit to do:
- Fit some sort belly pan
- Sort an air filter (tricky with Corsa air box)
- Trim airbox to clear front tank mounts (tank is just sitting there unsecured)
- Turn up plugs for the footpegs
- Turn up a spacer for rear tank mount
- Install Power Commander PClll (painful: needs exhaust/radiator/front engine mount removal and pivot engine to access under airbox)
- Manufacture battery clamp
- Investigate fouling front brake line
- Re-route clutch line
- The rear hugger is on the endangered species list sitting that close to the rear tyre
- Get a few temperature cycles into the engine, then cover my balls and head for the dyno to set up the PClll.
But, out of a clear blue sky...
....BOOM!!!!
A lightning bolt: the news comes through the only serious race track in Western Australia has been closed to motorcycles due to ongoing safety issues.
Viewed 2 dimensionally the clockwise running Wanneroo Raceway (formerly known as Barbagallo) is a short fairly boring stretch of tarmac at just 2.4km long, with only 1 real left hand turn.
It's saving grace is that it is draped over a hill, peaking about where that short circuit connection runs roughly vertical below. The left hander is a cracker, climbing up the side of the hill, then a blind flick right over the crest, before plunging down into a heavily cambered right hander with what seems like a never ending uphill exit onto the main straight which climbs back over the hill. The entry to the last corner also has an uphill braking area, perfect for those last lap braking duels.
Basically the topography provides the interest missing from the actual layout.
Jump to 9 minutes in to get a current appreciation for the circuit:
So what's the problem then?
The below track map is overlaid with data logged speed info from an elite superbike rider. The white tangent lines show the projected sliding distance to stop should something untoward happen at those speeds. The green lines indicate a hard barrier, either concrete or soil filled earth moving tyres, which let's face it might as well be concrete.
As you can see many of the tangent lines intersect the hard barriers, often at potential coronial inquest type speeds. The track is also too narrow for the speeds involved when compared against FIM standards. With that in front of you it's obvious why there were regular serious injuries, and on average a rider death every 3-4 years.
Interesting related factoid: in 2004 a young 21 year old Josh Brookes, after winning the Australian round of the World Supersport Championship as a wildcard, was on target to be the first rider to win both Australian Superbike and Supersport championships in the same year, only to break his pelvis at Wanneroo. He's gone on to great things (dual BSB champion) but it was very nearly a career that wasn't.
Any excuse for some Cadwell footage, Brookes features quite heavily here:
Back to Wanneroo, there are several issues related to correcting the hazardous areas:
- some of the worst track sections (particularly into the left hander) are cut into the hill, moving the hard barriers would involve removing a literal mountain of dirt and what are popular spectator areas.
- opened in 1969, the track is on land leased from the local area government, with residential areas slowly but surely creeping towards the track so the future is far from certain.
- after years of a resource (iron ore, oil and gas) lead economic boom in Western Australia, resources prices have dropped off the bottom of the charts and the state is officially in recession.
- the track is leased and run by the local Car Club, motorcycles are a long way down the list of priorities.
There's more but with politics a plenty at all levels there is absolutely no consensus on the way forward and zero chance of a quick resolution.
The only air freshener in an otherwise shitty situation was a small race track built on old mining roads a few hours South of Perth. Collie Motorplex sounds pretty impressive, but in reality it was a very basic facility. At just 1.6km long it was surprising fun and great for rider training, but kinda like sword fighting in an elevator on anything with a bit of hp.
So we're not smelling the baltic pine just yet....but, the small country town locale had switched on to the fact motorsport drew in a gaggle of rev-heads every race/track weekend, injecting money into the local economy. So in combination with a grant from the state government trying to boost struggling rural communities they planned an extension to the track and overhaul of the facilities, with works well underway.
In the meantime all I could do was "standby to standby" and chip away at my to-do list.
