1. Bayliss decides that he likes the home life. At the World Ducati Weekend, Troy Bayliss took the opportunity at the Press Conference to scuttle once and for all rumours about his WSBK comeback. “This year I had some tests on the Superbike lined up. I went to Mugello, jumped on the bike and as we all know it went very well. Everything felt easy for me and I said that I wanted to comeback; I guess I started my own rumour.”
“I love riding the bike and I love winning races, but I found out here that it’s not always like that. When I tested here I found out that things weren’t going that good and we ended up going around in circles. That’s when it hit me and it was hard things like that that I didn’t miss about racing. That completely I changed my mind and I spoke too early. I don’t want to come back racing and I don’t want to do any wild cards. I’m retired and I’m happy.”
So he loves the racing, but hates the testing. That sort of figures, doesn’t it? In any event, Haga and Fab can now breathe easy; I do wish they’d both get on with it, though.
According to experts, Bayliss was mobbed at WDW and the lines waiting for autographs outside his tent were longer than any other person in attendance. Bayliss is STILL “The Man”, as this local’s paintscheme attests.
2. I visited the Motorlife Museum yesterday. Just around the corner (almost literally) the museum is the new name and location for the old Illawarra Motoring Museum (a much better name, in my opinion). It was their Open Day and there were plenty of delectable goodies on display. The guest of honour was Sir Jack Brabham, Australia’s 3 times World Formula One Champion. Unfortunately I got there after lunch and didn’t get to see the great man. He’s 84 now and very frail and the organisers were caring for him well. But, on display amongst all the good stuff was the Brabham BT23A that Jack drove to 4th place at Warwick Farm raceway in the Tasman Cup Series race in February 1967. Amazingly, I was there at that meeting and, with the brashness of youth, parlayed my way into the AMPOL tent and introduced myself to the man.
It was a joy to see a proper racing car so lovingly cared for.
Also on display was this.
The Johnny Schonberg/Jack Brabham Special. Brabham won the 1948 Australian Speedway Championship, the 1949 Australian and South Australian Speedcar championships, and the 1950-1951 Australian championship with this car before swithcing over to road racing a couple of years later.
And, inside the museum, this.
I’m not going to say anything about this one. I wonder if any of you can identify the bike and tell me something about it?
Finally, another excellent superbikeplanet interview, this one with Rossi just after his release from hospital. Well worth reading.
Vince says
Sorry to split hairs but the car is in fact a Repco Brabham (as they all were) and should be referred to as such.
Phil Hall says
And you are quite correct. BT23A is the factory designation. And, being a 1967 model, it has the DOHC motor too.
Vince says
That car should have the SOHC 2.5 litre engine used by Sir Jack for the ’67 Tasman Series only with limited success. The Repco Brabham BT-23A was never used as an F1 car and is chassis number 1 of only 1 ever built. The ’67 model F1 Repco Brabham also utilized a SOHC to win both world titles. Neither Sir Jacks nor Hulmes cars had DOHC engines in ’67, just different exhaust exits.
Phil Hall says
I believe that Sir Jack only finished 4th that day at Warwick Farm, beaten by Stewart, Clark and Frank Gardner.