amcn.com.au 125
THE MOTORCYCLE
Sportsmen of Queensland
clubisgearingupfor another
big year ofcompetition and
joiningitagainin 2018is
one ofits oldest members,
Phil Casey. Phil is a part of a
growing group ofriders who
are takingup racinglater in
life, andloving it.
“It all started with aguy
named Trevor Cox,”Casey said.
“I’d always wanted to have
a go at racing so I startedat
this little track in Proserpine.
Trevor gave me Dave Fuller’s
number [from Advanced Rider
Training] andIshoutedhim an
airfare to come uphere for the
weekend–which he did.Then
he did a coachingweekend
and I thought,‘Oh, I like this!’
So I went down to Warwick
foraschoolandafter that I
decided togo racing.
“I was 64 when I started.”
Phil’sfirst bikewas a
Hyosung 650, then a Ducati
848, takingadvantageof
the Motorcycle Sportsmens’
frequent coachingdays and
ClubRacer category, a class
for new riders, until they’re
readytobeunleashedinto the
championshipclasses.
Phil has had a few nasty
injuries, all at his home track
in Proserpine,buthehasn’tlet
that stophim.
“I did myACjoint, I’ve
broken the back of my
shoulder, I’vebroken ribs...
once I missedthe gear and
must have touched the front
brake earlyand another timeaguy crashedinfront ofme and
it was eitherhithim orditch
thebike.
“I heal pretty quickly – even
at this age. Ihaven’thada
dayoff due to injuries on a
motorbike. A lot ofpeople
comeoffandneverhurt
themselves–it’s just theluck
ofthedraw.
“I’ve always loved racing.
I started riding bikes as ateenager and it was always my
dream to race at the Cemetery
Circuit at Wanganui. I wanted
to do Boxing Day at the
Cemetery Circuit andthat’s
what Ididlast year – mybike
gave me allsorts ofgriefbut I
didn’tfinishlast. The Cemetery
Circuit justblew my mind–I
lovedit. IfI’d hadthe money
Iwould have gonebackthis
year.”
“The friendliest track I’ve
been tobyfar is Warwick.
Yo u’ve got great coaches,
peoplearefriendlyandtalk
to you. They’re professional,
theyknow what they’redoing
andwhat they’re talkingabout.
Thenyougotothetrackand
everyonegoes aroundyacking,
that’s what I love...it’s like
family.”
The Southern Downs series
kicks off on February8 with
acoachingday, track dayon
the 9th and racingon the 10th
and 11th. Ifyou’re interested
ingettingstarted in their
Club Racer class, check out
motorcyclesportsmen.com.au.
MAT TO’CONNELL2018 Victorian
Road Racing
Championships
THE VICTORIAN ROAD Race Championship has
made some changes to its classes and format
ahead of the 2018 season, which kicks off at
Winton over the 3-4 February.
Club President Bruce Hill announced a new
Formula 400 support class for pre-2000 bikes.
“It’s essentially a production class, a lot of the
400s tend to ride the Hartwell series, so we’re not
sure of what turn out we’ll get but we hope it will
be well supported,” he said.
Also on the grid will be a Supermono class which
is open to any single-cylinder engine that is not GP
spec. The main championship classes will have two
sessions of qualifying and three longer races, while
the support classes will have four shorter races.
If have a 400 or a single and you’re up for it, visit
motorcyclingvic.com.au for details. MOAge no barrier for rookie Phil Casey
club
THE BEST OF THE RESTTHE BEST OF THE RESTCLUB ME!
Please send your club news to
[email protected] and
pop Club Sport in the subject linePaul HarperBrothers Nathan and
Tyson Jones will again
battle it out in the
Superbike classL-R: Phil, Dave Fuller and
Peter Vermeulen
(yep, Chris’s old man)