Well, here we go again. I’m in Melbourne and I’ve just spent the day at PI catching up with all my American friends (well, those of them who were at the track) and generally being a nuisance on unpacking day.
Sadly the American team is somewhat depleted compared to previous years as the expense involved in doing the IC continues to rise. The team has drafted in a couple of Aussies to help out this year though I don’t know how much help they will be, they seem to be a couple of nobodies to me. Some Victorian guy called Ruwoldt and a Taswegian whose surname is Campbell. Very dubious.
Anyway, there is no place that I would rather be as I’m sure you already know. Paul and I drove down on Tuesday, leaving in the wee hours of the morning to avoid the predicted stinking hot weather. We had a great run and were here not long after lunch. The temperature in Melbourne was in the low 20’s and it’s predicted to stay around that until well into next week. Bring it on, I say.
Tomorrow will be busy with a private practice day for IC competitors only so it will be full on, that’s for sure.
For those of you who are too young to know what a real racing bike is supposed to sound like, here’s a little video that Paul took this morning in the pits. The sound of TWO TZ750’s doing “the cackle” at the same time is so rare that it should be bottled.
Incidentally, the #29 bike on the right is one of Dave Crussell’s but will be being ridden this weekend by Barry Long, the son of THE John Long of 1970-80’s racing in the USA. And he’s a real nice guy.
Till tomorrow night!
Martino says
Well, if Wally rides for the Yanks, then it just confirms that Tasmania is not part of Oz !
Phil Hall says
Oooooo, harsh!!