I decided to let fate lend a hand. Can I get flights when I want them? Is there a free booking in the group I want? Is there a GSXR600 available for me to rent? The stars were in alignment. I pressed the COMMIT button.
Helmet. Check. Gloves. Check. Back protector. Check. Leathers. Check. Racing boots. Check. Not the usual kit to have in your suitcase heading for an overseas trip, but it didn't raise an eyebrow at Customs. Met up with Graham at his hotel, and we're heading for the track at sparrow's with his colleague Mike who's decided to join us after a couple of years away from riding. Hmm, this could be interesting.
The weather gods were smiling as we pulled in to the circuit and signed our lives and bank accounts away. The heavy rain over the last few days had eased overnight and the track was damp but drying under heavy clouds. Fingers crossed.
Kitted up and our session starts. I'm riding like a nana on a new track on a new bike, and very aware of the consequences if I throw it down the road. After the first session I'm exhilarated but struggling to set my braking and turning points on this deceptively fast 4.5km circuit. It takes a while to form an accurate mental map of a new track, and I'm not there yet.
A couple of laps into the second session and it's starting to come together with a bit more corner speed as the track dries out. I'm overtaken well before tight right hand corner 4 and as I follow him in for some reason he unnerves himself, grabs a handful of front brake and goes down in front of me. He slides to the outside while I clip the apex and keep going, but it's disconcerting to say the least. I ride like a nana again for another couple of laps.
The third session was much better. Reference points sorted, dry track, more speed. Graham goes past me but that's no surprise. I wonder where Mike is. We find out back in the pits when Mike shows up with grass and dirt on his leathers. Fortunately his ego is more bruised than his body, but his rented bike has taken a beating - $A1,500 of damage and his track day is over. Bummer. I start thinking Nana thoughts again.
Phillip Island is a fantastic circuit. It's impossible to ride fast on a first outing because it's both deceptive and technically challenging. Think of it as having the best of Taupo's length with the best of Hampton Downs' elevation changes. Your mental map and reference points have to be spot on or it's easy to get into trouble, as quite a few riders found on the day.
Let's go for a spin. The front straight is very fast (230kph+ for me) with a high entry speed. All you see in front of you is the ocean as as you crest a slight rise and head for the ridiculously fast right hander at turn 1 (Doohan Corner). Turn 2 is a decreasing radius sweeper which takes more skill than I have to ride optimally. This is where Mike came to grief too. The turn 3 kink leads to slower downhill turn 4 (Honda corner) which catches so many riders out it has an escape chute.
Turn 5 takes you into Siberia, then on to turn 9 (Lukey Heights) which was my favorite part of the circuit. You're flying uphill apexing on a blind crest then dropping steeply into a tight right-hander. Short-shifting to third sets the gearing up for a steady boost all the way round the big sweeper at turn 12 on to Gardener straight. Then the magic starts all over again.
We met up with Nicky and Christie, a couple of Californian girls, and you can see the nature of the front straight from the pic. Fortunately they stayed upright too, but a Danish friend of theirs came to grief in a big way. Not injured fortunately, but they wouldn't let him go till they'd docked $A4,500 from his credit card. A very expensive track day!Now all I want to do is do it again. Perhaps a few more of the track day gang can make it next time, and combine it with a bike road trip to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road. Now there's a plan!
