{"id":1218,"date":"2013-02-10T12:43:19","date_gmt":"2013-02-10T02:43:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bikeme.tv\/?p=1218"},"modified":"2013-09-02T11:41:51","modified_gmt":"2013-09-02T01:41:51","slug":"2013-island-classic-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/2013-island-classic-2\/","title":{"rendered":"2013 ISLAND CLASSIC"},"content":{"rendered":"

I hold this to be the premier motorcycling event in Australia. Yes, even above the MotoGP.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Simple.<\/p>\n

It is replete with glorious racing bikes, great racing, incredible racers, good weather (for Phillip Island), and easy access to every part of the track without it costing you a million dollars.<\/p>\n

I went to the 2013 event and it will not be my last such outing. I had a ball. I got to hang out with my son, I was honoured to meet Giacomo Agostini, I watched my mate Spooky ride to racing glory, I drooled over a range of bikes that made me do sex-wee in my pants, I beheld the great Top-Box Build-Off at the Mayoral Residence and Casino Complex, and then I won some money off him at poker on Sunday night.<\/p>\n

Here is my weekend in picture form…<\/p>\n

\"44716_239753412826590_2119211638_n\"

The inimitable, hospitable and revered Mayor of Awesome Town himself, Island Mick.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"263374_544144168969758_701557103_n\"

Res, the War-Ranga of Love and Help comforts a frightened Ross. Ross is easily frightened by all sorts of things. What set him off this time was the Top-Box Build-Off.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"539203_239754016159863_1910421271_n\"

Ross: “Is that Borrie’s son?”
Res: “No. He’s just some random kid that wandered in off the street because he smelled the beer.”
Son (thinking): Dad has a shitload of weird mates. None of whom will give me a beer. Shit.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"27294_239755659493032_1118531109_n\"

Outside, the Mayoral Rocketship was fitted with the first top-box.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"602836_239756686159596_1591937706_n\"

Ross’s excitement mounts to a fever pitch upon discovering that the top-box will easily carry blue plastic cups.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"542345_239756442826287_1254289215_n\"

Indeed. It carries a great deal more than just plastic cups. Is this the ultimate in gentlemanly touring accessories? I think so. I have yet to see better.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"483133_239755789493019_696386461_n\"

Not to be outdone, Ross immediately begins modifying his Gixxer for Grand Touring. Andrew wonders just how weird Dad’s mates are gonna get.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"14901_239756159492982_1851477971_n\"

But with the addition of a fridge-ready tankbag, the Mayor removes all doubt about just who the fuck is who when it comes to prepping a bike for touring. Bravo, sir. Well played!<\/p><\/div>\n

And so to the track…<\/p>\n

\"62319_239766019491996_987152353_n\"

This is where we found Spooky. He was mentally preparing for Total Theatre Domination. And was clearly not to be fucked with. We moved on.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"148384_239759019492696_604158703_n\"

No-one is gonna meet any nice people on this Honda. Only very fast bastards who hate you.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"45520_239759682825963_417637585_n\"

The Mick Hone Suzuki was mighty<\/p><\/div>\n

\"391293_239761402825791_1347130143_n\"

I found a bike with a bottle and what looked like a rocket booster coming out of its arse. I barred up and moved in for a closer look.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"69660_239761486159116_1803661187_n\"

OK. Not a jet. A propeller. Almost as awesome.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"310070_239762612825670_700047803_n\"

“Where’s the rider? I have prepped and polished this to an inch of its life, and now there is no rider.
“I’ll ride it.”
“Go and get changed.”<\/p><\/div>\n

\"312308_239761222825809_397057016_n\"

“You will fit, bastard widget. Of that I have no doubt.”<\/p><\/div>\n

\"601257_239761309492467_460891794_n\"

“Big success!”<\/p><\/div>\n

\"538982_239761099492488_1727095962_n\"

“I have eaten my fill of oxen and bisons and antelopes. Now it is time to race!”<\/p><\/div>\n

\"379357_239769849491613_426475758_n\"

Meanwhile, Spooky surveys the battleground.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"601096_239756886159576_1035017288_n\"

Upon his return after qualifying, he was five seconds faster than his best ever time on the PI track. Five. Fucken. Seconds.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"539138_239764349492163_2041485148_n\"

And then he won. Like a Boss!<\/p><\/div>\n

\"398150_239760932825838_1695630796_n\"

And speaking of Bosses. They don’t get any Bossier than Phillis and Campbell.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"44766_239763652825566_414365636_n\"

This sucks. Hard. No, really.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"45569_239770272824904_1936718316_n\"

No, this is not the new Indian. This is a slightly older one.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"549914_239770179491580_1520677493_n\"

I think this could be the new model.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"734486_239765342825397_2123715396_n\"

This was the American racing team. Bright, happy, articulate and fucken faster than shit off a shovel on the track.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"550340_239763459492252_2052661339_n\"

In other garages, serious operations were taking place…<\/p><\/div>\n

\"385317_239763279492270_2104460267_n\"

…deadly serious.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"387074_239762126159052_1351667508_n\"

The garage of the Yellow Peril.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"419603_239760082825923_23737735_n\"

And a more traditional one just outside.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"533617_239758482826083_87430465_n\"

Nothing at all traditional about this monster<\/p><\/div>\n

\"428181_239760269492571_1784537221_n\"

Still one of the most aesthetically gorgeous bikes ever built.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"538997_239770532824878_1037577503_n\"

The green was strong in this one.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"528778_239759362825995_490333355_n\"

The thundering of the English racing gods was much in evidence<\/p><\/div>\n

\"483100_239765076158757_479030613_n\"

One cylinder, one purpose.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"295382_239770966158168_381792343_n\"

Up in the tower, the dulcet tones of Mark Bracks and Phil Harlem serenaded us all weekend. The blokes do a top job.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"321362_239766996158565_423304263_n\"

That night, at a glittering sit-down dinner, I got to meet some racers.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"71853_239768966158368_4609377_n\"

Some serious racers indeed.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"67994_239769652824966_1523253477_n\"

And the greatest racer of them all.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"156362_239769736158291_40887539_n\"

Il Maestro. Yes, the bitches still fizz.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"321380_239769786158286_1644417597_n\"

“There is only racing. There is nothing else.”<\/p><\/div>\n

\"25962_239773352824596_132483235_n\"

The next morning, we were back at the track and celebrating Spooky’s double-race win.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"387133_239771149491483_1550183399_n\"

Rangas burning together.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"196341_239765919492006_135153098_n\"

Well, it was Australia Day.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"64969_239772796157985_1881741958_n\"

But that was really no excuse for painting your shitbox up like a cop-bike. Seriously, get a life.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"549859_239771929491405_558947948_n\"

The only shade anywhere near the racetrack. Note the giant burning ranga, second from the right. He is roasting like a ham.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"601066_239765642825367_1500705279_n\"

And it was great to catch up with some old mates. All of whom looked older than me. Which was cool.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I hold this to be the premier motorcycling event in Australia. Yes, even above the Moto<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1242,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[4,50,51,49],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1218"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1218"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2973,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1218\/revisions\/2973"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}