WestOfBen Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 I am definitely going again next year! Have already been to two previous. In 2011 my father and I rode down while I was still Suzuki Bandit 250 mounted. This year was VFR year and I can't wait to do it all again next year! Next year is the 20th running of the Island Classic so it is sure to be a massive event. Rumour has it an American team is planning the trek to contest the International Challenge. For some pictures and videos check out MCNews.com.au (http://www.mcnews.com.au/latest.htm). For those who don't know what it is, basically there are "Periods" in which all manner of bikes, from WLA Harley Davidsons, Velocettes, Manx Nortons and Indians through to Japanese superbikes up to 1982 compete. Two stroke Yamaha 250 and 350s and Bultacos against Honda CR72/77 500s and too many more to mention. Notable mentions are 175Hp Suzuki Katanas, many Honda CB900/1100Fs, the Irving Vincent 1300cc and of course what has to be the worlds fastest and maddest CBX1000 with 6 into 6 pipes! A new category was created this year to meet the rolling ages of bikes. Period 6 allows 750-1000cc bikes from 1983-1990, so you end up with GSXR750 against ZXR750R and so many other models. Malcolm Campbell was to race his original Australian Superbike Championship winning RC30, however it remained in the pits. In the race was an awesome 1989 VFR750F racer. This thing ran third against what I would have thought were much stronger bikes. See pix below. I didn't get the chance to talk to the owner, so I couldn't find out any nitty gritty. Suffice to say I suspect this thing was slightly larger than 750. Does anyone know what common overbores these things took? Were the earlier VFR750Fs still limited to 837cc max? Were the 860s acually based on the older motors and therefore 360 degree crank? This VFR was a 180 degree. Dad and I headed off from home Saturday morning. Took about four hours to get to our cabin ~40Km North of the racetrack. Weather was fine but very warm, about 35C. Visited the Vietnam Veterans Museum on the way to Cowes. Visting the museum is a MUST. Stayed overnight and met up with one of Dad's mates on a ZZR1100 the next morning and got to the track about 8:30. Saw three VFRs, a dark purple/aubergene 4th gen, a red 5th and a RWB 6th (I think). I nodded to all of them just after paying at the booth. Anyone from here in that group? Weather fine for the races, temperatures were between 33C and I reckon it had to have hit 36C+ later on. The beauty of this event is the ability to wander the pit garages. As long as you don't interrupt someone working on their bike, you're free to take photos and chat to owners. Left the track and it was a hot traffic jam. About 10Km from the cabin we could see dark clouds rolling in. I stopped to take my iPhone out of my jeans and put it in a waterproof jacket pocket. Took off again and 500m up the road it hit us. Dad was five minutes ahead by this point and just pulling into the cabin. Our mate on the ZZR was probably fiive minutes behind me. Visibility was down to almost nothing, cars still pushing 100Kmh in the wet. I pulled off down the service road that led to the cabin and out the front of a servo the VFR stepped sideways in a pool of water in front of at least 20 riders taking refuge! I didn't go down though! See the last attached pic of what we were still contending with back at the cabin. Suffice to say we were drenched! Next morning (Monday) we took off and were met with more rain from there to Cranbourne. Stopped at Maccas for some brekky. Rain all the way to Melbourne. Luckily I had put my winter liner in the jacket. Note to self: get wet weather pants. I was lucky to have taken some zip-lock sandwich bags and handed them out to Dad and mate. Electronics guaranteed to be dry. Got home and had forgotten to protect the garage door buzzer in my pocket - toast. Our mate left us in Melbourne, Dad and I continued to Calder Park servo and it was sunny and very steamy. I checked Weatherzone on the iPhone and it said no rain up ahead. So with that info Dad took off his wet weathers, I removed my winter liner because it was 30 something degrees. 20Km North of Calder Park it BUCKETED down. For another 130Km we endured the rest - soaking wet. Yes we could have stopped, but why bother when we were already wet? Put wets over wet jeans? Pull the winter liner out on the side of the road to get it wet before putting it over a wet T-Shirt? Nah, grin and bear it and enjoy the ride! It wasn't cold anyways, probably high 20s. All in all a great little adventure. Hope to see more of you there next year! Malcolm Campbell's RC30 VFR750F Racer And what we contended with after the race. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Thx for the pic's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayarearider Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 " Is it fast?" 'It's got Lightning Bolts, don't it?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestOfBen Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 Hahaha I like that. Yes it was very fast. On a semi-related note, Honda Australia released a commemorative VFR750F (4th gen) replica of the similarly sponsored RC45. Remember Honda Australia produced the Rothmans replica too? We Aussies love our tobacco sponsorship. Scroll down on this link: http://www.mcnews.co...ker/Default.htm Here is one for sale on BikeSales at the moment. I am not linking to the listing, nor am I affiliated with the seller. Apart from the front plate I think it looks well done and as a collectable the price is probably not bad either. UPDATE: 25 of these were produced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Dear WestofBen, Sorry you missed me on the weekend, glad you liked my 750F which has a stock 750 motor, the only mods are a Yoshi 4 into 1, jetted, no air filter and it runs total loss. I have concentrated on weight savings and suspension. I did run 3rd in the last race but a few quicker bikes had dropped out by then. Nonetheless it went well and we all enjoyed being at the island Classic for the first time. Note P6 also covers all the usual other classes, 125, 250 etc, Phillip Island just offered 750 and 1000 as a start-up this time - perhaps next year a few more capacities will be in. For sure the 750 and 1000 numbers will be many more - its going to grow quickly and be a very popular era. I had the very good fortune of riding the Winfield RC30 at the Island on a track day two weeks prior. It's not running the full HRC motor but isn't stock either - compared to mine it felt like a 1000, it was superb. It didn't run on the weekend due to a big drop off in power, probably ignition related but they couldn't solve in time. If you are going to the Barry Sheene at Eastern Creek end March we'll see you there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum CEO HispanicSlammer Posted January 31, 2012 Forum CEO Share Posted January 31, 2012 Nice post, I will feature it later if you put one of those photos at the very top of the post, or I can do it later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestOfBen Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 Nice post, I will feature it later if you put one of those photos at the very top of the post, or I can do it later. Done. How does that look? Thanks for the reply JasonL. Fantastic work! Your efforts do make me want to pick up a neglected RC24 and slowly build her up for trackdays and/or racing. How many kays had your engine done before you took her to the track? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Ben, I have no idea how may km's were on it, wrong side of 50 that's certain - when I bought it, it had FL instruments (so not reflecting true mileage) and the owner advised he had put another motor in it at some point, I seem to remember him saying it had about 80 on it he thought. Anyways, it is testament to these engines that I have raced it now for 5 yrs and it has had only oil and filter changes, plugs, a Barnett clutch and clearances done once (need done again though I think). Fuel pumps have been the only weak point and no surprise there for anyone who's had one of these. It would be a great idea to get another RC24 out there in P6 or just as a track day tool - they can be made to work well enough, and it all depends how serious you want to make it. To get my bike to its current state has taken a lot of time and a fair bit of money, but to get one to a basic track bike level wouldn't take much at all - its just if the bug bites, then you're starting down a long and involved path! A road bike converted to a race bike still remains a road bike - ie: not designed for the purpose and you often have to engineer around that, which can be fun too. For racing, especially club level, its all about finishing and keeping it stock helps here. I have a spare motor and ideas/info to build something with 20 more bhp but its a lot of time and money again - but P6 750 will soon be populated with 130bhp OW01's etc with A graders on them, so if I want to keep competing at the Island Classic level and so on then I'll need to, otherwise its running around mid-field. Money talks in motorsport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogman Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Hahaha I like that. Yes it was very fast. On a semi-related note, Honda Australia released a commemorative VFR750F (4th gen) replica of the similarly sponsored RC45. Remember Honda Australia produced the Rothmans replica too? We Aussies love our tobacco sponsorship. Scroll down on this link: http://www.mcnews.co...ker/Default.htm Here is one for sale on BikeSales at the moment. I am not linking to the listing, nor am I affiliated with the seller. Apart from the front plate I think it looks well done and as a collectable the price is probably not bad either. UPDATE: 25 of these were produced. gc5669894277842137498.jpg gc4689788717161682955.jpg gc4923536702655843515.jpg Apologies for reviving an old thread which I stumbled across by accident but I have one of the Winfield Racing replicas which I bought last year, it doesnt appear to be the one tthat was on bikesales either. Mine is No 9 of 25. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayarearider Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Is it fast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keny Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Nice pics, lovely race bikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porl Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Of the Winfield replica bikes, No 1 of 25 is sitting gathering dust with 0km on the odometer in Birdwood, South Australia. The guy that owns it thinks its worth 6 figures! I think he's dreamin'. It's a stock 4th gen VFR with a non-factory paint job and a cheap looking gold anodised plaque attached to the top triple clamp. And it has been sitting, partly covered up and gathering dust (and worse?) for almost 20 years. I'm sure mechanically it would need work to be rideable. Cosmetically, if you like the look, it would tidy up nicely as a display I suppose... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Switchblade Posted February 13, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted February 13, 2014 No 6 figures but a unique bike for sure .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikesmini080877 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I saw 2 recently on bikesales.com.au ranging from $5500-7500. If I was a collector I would grab one but only at the $5000 price. They do look a little bit cheesy though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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