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Is the electronic era illegitimate

I have to agree Gaz, PI certainly is one of the most spectacular and best circuits in the world, probably only Mugello and Brno are in the same league. However it is at the end of the world, it is very expensive to get to, and be at, and there is not much to do outside of the track. I've made the pilgrimage a few times, and whilst retaining great memories, I would certainly be there every year if it wasn't so pricey, and closer to civilization.



IMO they could double those numbers if the GP was held in SE QLD (if they built a decent facility)......of course a lot of the new additions would also be fair-weather party fans, but hey-they pay the same as everyone else.......and no doubt a lot of the Spanish and Italians at Valencia and Mugello are not hardcore-so to speak.



A couple of years ago Honda were going to build a world class race circuit and testing facility behind my place at norwell, (se qld), mick doohan was on board with the project too. It was to host f1 and motogp, but as per usual, the gold coast city council struck again and .... canned the whole deal.
 
I'm at Philip Island just about every motorsport weekend, not just Motogp or WSBK.

The weather changes just about every 10 minutes, .... happens. Deal with it.

I'm the lucky guy being trackside, not the guy sitting on his couch, regardless of weather, there is nowhere I'd rather be.

It help that I'm a photographic nut as well I guess.



But you're a bloody mexican and should be used to the weather
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Talps is from tropical Queensland so why leave the joint, and I am from NSW and we do not like Victoria (bloody rabid cops).
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I'm at Philip Island just about every motorsport weekend, not just Motogp or WSBK.

The weather changes just about every 10 minutes, .... happens. Deal with it.

I'm the lucky guy being trackside, not the guy sitting on his couch, regardless of weather, there is nowhere I'd rather be.

It help that I'm a photographic nut as well I guess.



Good on ya mate
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But you're a bloody mexican and should be used to the weather
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Talps is from tropical Queensland so why leave the joint, and I am from NSW and we do not like Victoria (bloody rabid cops).
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Damn right I am
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Now sod off you cockroach.
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I live about an hour from the circuit. For a photographer I know no better circuit in our country. I love the place.

Having said that, if a new circuit was built in Perth or Queensland or whatever, I'd be going to Motogp pretty much every year anyway.

But until someone builds a better circuit for motorsport in our country (bloody unlikely) then I'm rolling with the punches as far as weather goes & just enjoying it for what it is.

One of the best circuits in the world.

What Talps said is true. It's a long way from the CBD, but it's only as expensive as you want it to be. There are caravan parks or you can camp at the circuit.

You don't have to book a house or Hotel.
 
Damn right I am
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Now sod off you cockroach.
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I live about an hour from the circuit. For a photographer I know no better circuit in our country. I love the place.

Having said that, if a new circuit was built in Perth or Queensland or whatever, I'd be going to Motogp pretty much every year anyway.

But until someone builds a better circuit for motorsport in our country (bloody unlikely) then I'm rolling with the punches as far as weather goes & just enjoying it for what it is.

One of the best circuits in the world.

What Talps said is true. It's a long way from the CBD, but it's only as expensive as you want it to be. There are caravan parks or you can camp at the circuit.

You don't have to book a house or Hotel.



I reckon the mountain is on par (personally), but it is a completely different animal and totally unsuitable for bikes although there are still hopes to get more races back there in time.



Both circuits are iconic (IMO) as they are unique and certainly, sadly there is no government brave enough to try to build a circuit as they know full well that the vocal minoruty will again come to rise (as a mate of mine has found with a small circuit he has)
 
I reckon the mountain is on par (personally), but it is a completely different animal and totally unsuitable for bikes although there are still hopes to get more races back there in time.



Both circuits are iconic (IMO) as they are unique and certainly, sadly there is no government brave enough to try to build a circuit as they know full well that the vocal minoruty will again come to rise (as a mate of mine has found with a small circuit he has)





Very true - The mountain is even better. But Motogp & WSBK are probably never going to race there.

As a matter of interest, how often do they have an event there?

PI has something just about every 2 or 3 weeks.

For events like classic bikes there is bugger all people there.

I can take the 4wd down there & throw all my camera gear in.

Then I can just drive on the outside of the circuit to any corner I want & start snapping away & get shots like this before throwing the gear back in the car & moving to the next corner.



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Not many circuits you can do that.
 
What about the traffic then! The most important factor.



I don't like driving for more than 15 minutes in traffic.



I went to PI once, there was no traffic then. There was no track, the penguins didn't show up, and the surf was crap ......... so I went on to Bell's the next day. Would have surfed the 12 footers rolling in around the twelve apostles too had I been able to figure out how to get down the cliff ......... and the water looked not so much like worlds largest great white pointer heaven.



No. Stuff that ........ I'd never go to a GP, when it is better to watch at home. Most the guys I know that do the PI thing leave before the race ends anyway!! to beat the traffic
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And the pissheads! whyTF would you go to a race to get pissed! ??
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What about the traffic then! The most important factor.



I don't like driving for more than 15 minutes in traffic.



I went to PI once, there was no traffic then. There was no track, the penguins didn't show up, and the surf was crap ......... so I went on to Bell's the next day. Would have surfed the 12 footers rolling in around the twelve apostles too had I been able to figure out how to get down the cliff ......... and the water looked not so much like worlds largest great white pointer heaven.



No. Stuff that ........ I'd never go to a GP, when it is better to watch at home. Most the guys I know that do the PI thing leave before the race ends anyway!! to beat the traffic
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And the pissheads! whyTF would you go to a race to get pissed! ??
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Barry if the traffic is the most important factor you're just not getting it.

For a once a year event I'll put up with bad traffic for 10 km's or so.

They have opened up the Bass highway now so it's a duel carriageway most of the way.
 
Very true - The mountain is even better. But Motogp & WSBK are probably never going to race there.

As a matter of interest, how often do they have an event there?

PI has something just about every 2 or 3 weeks.

For events like classic bikes there is bugger all people there.

I can take the 4wd down there & throw all my camera gear in.

Then I can just drive on the outside of the circuit to any corner I want & start snapping away & get shots like this before throwing the gear back in the car & moving to the next corner.



6775082075_544018bda8_b.jpg






Not many circuits you can do that.



Its exactly the same at numerous events here in the uk.

Classic bikes are ace to go to for the same reasons you can get anywhere, well a lot more places than a major event.

Not to mention the oppertunity to sniff some two stroke
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And trials riding too. .... I've been that close to the action I've had to wipe the splatters of mud off my lense.
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No its not really the traffic Frizz ........ If I was to be honest I could never spectate at the races well, it just misses so much. Its a completely different experience to being on the track and in the race ....... it actually seems so disjoint from the real thing that it loses all connection to racing for me.



The actual TV footage is much closer to the real thing, as they follow a rider around the track ....... not just short snippits of bikes blurring by at huge speed. On the bike its the scenery that blurs by, and the riders seem part of your world ...... not the fans and background.



I have Marshalled many moons ago, and that is as far as I want to go with making it a frustrating experience.
 
Very true - The mountain is even better. But Motogp & WSBK are probably never going to race there.

As a matter of interest, how often do they have an event there?

PI has something just about every 2 or 3 weeks.

For events like classic bikes there is bugger all people there.

I can take the 4wd down there & throw all my camera gear in.

Then I can just drive on the outside of the circuit to any corner I want & start snapping away & get shots like this before throwing the gear back in the car & moving to the next corner.



Not many circuits you can do that.





Hey Frizz, you don't go by the name Bootlace by any chance?



As for Bathurst they only have 2 - 3 events yearly where the entire circuit is used with the Bathurst 1000 being the most well known, plus a 24 hour recently and a 2 litre car event.



I have heard that one of the car clubs that uses the place has asked the sidecar boys & girls to come along for a ride or three but have no confirmation as yet as to whether it will happen or when (was told by one of the sidecar racers and instructors).



But you are right as well with PI in what you can do outside the circuit and how easy it is to get around. I was down there for a race meeting promoted by a mate a few years back and personally IMO the place is just gold, pure unadulterated heaven to those that just like to sit and watch. Lucky for me I had free rein inside and outside so was able to get to some amazing places including the inside at Lukey, the tyre walls around the Hayshed and my personal favourite, the small gully beside the Honda Hairpin (some good pics were claimed).



Bathurst on the other hand I have not been to for years but I do love the place with the history and ambience, but I also sadly miss Oran Park which was another of the old school technical circuits.
 
Its exactly the same at numerous events here in the uk.

Classic bikes are ace to go to for the same reasons you can get anywhere, well a lot more places than a major event.

Not to mention the oppertunity to sniff some two stroke
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And trials riding too. .... I've been that close to the action I've had to wipe the splatters of mud off my lense.
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Nice. There are quite a few circuits I'd love to visit someday in the UK.

But I need to get to the IOM TT first & foremost.
 
Hey Frizz, you don't go by the name Bootlace by any chance?



As for Bathurst they only have 2 - 3 events yearly where the entire circuit is used with the Bathurst 1000 being the most well known, plus a 24 hour recently and a 2 litre car event.



I have heard that one of the car clubs that uses the place has asked the sidecar boys & girls to come along for a ride or three but have no confirmation as yet as to whether it will happen or when (was told by one of the sidecar racers and instructors).



But you are right as well with PI in what you can do outside the circuit and how easy it is to get around. I was down there for a race meeting promoted by a mate a few years back and personally IMO the place is just gold, pure unadulterated heaven to those that just like to sit and watch. Lucky for me I had free rein inside and outside so was able to get to some amazing places including the inside at Lukey, the tyre walls around the Hayshed and my personal favourite, the small gully beside the Honda Hairpin (some good pics were claimed).



Bathurst on the other hand I have not been to for years but I do love the place with the history and ambience, but I also sadly miss Oran Park which was another of the old school technical circuits.





Hi Gaz - No I'm not Bootlace.

Have photographed at the Honda Hairpin many times, but haven't been able to get myself on the inside of Lukey Heights yet. (need accreditation to get there)

Closest I got was at the very bottom of MG.



Barry for motogp - I record the whole day on my PVR & then head down to the circuit.

I get the best of both worlds.
 
Question Barry... do you enjoy watching live music or only playing music? Would you only watch a concert on TV?
 
Question Barry... do you enjoy watching live music or only playing music? Would you only watch a concert on TV?



Interesting question.



Don't watch music on TV really ....... pretty much ever.



Really these days I only listen to music in an "involved" role. Funny really isn't it ...... much like I will go in the paddock but not in the stands. Never really thought about that before, nor attached it to my experience with racing.



Play music, these days, not often and only for fun when folk pick up an instrument.







I think I'm a lot older than you think ....?





Racing ( and now it appears music perhaps ) are not great spectators pursuits for me.



I don't spectate much at all really in any pursuit, it just means I have to do it. I think MGP is about the only thing I follow as a "spectator" these days ..... and thats on TV.



I ask you ......... if you were given the choice :



a years worth of money to follow the GP circuit as a spectator .....



or



a years worth of "funds" and "time" to race at say club level



what would you chose?



I'd take the club racing .....





To be honest ....... I think I prefer investing the "time and money" in hobby riding, as I do lately.
 
If thats "your thing" good on ya ........ its just not mine, and I suspect I am not alone.

Road racing is a terrible spectator sport. You dont go to a track to enjoy the racing, you go for the smell and sound of racing, the trip with friends and everything that goes with that, such as food, drink, smoke and strippers. Then you go home and watch the race after you have recovered.In other words its an excuse to get away from the ball and chain.
 

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