Despite a name change and ominous weather the 2017 Internation Festival of Speed once again exceeded expectations. Words: Kris Hodgson Images: Kris, David Hodgson
The 2017 International Festival of Speed has been and gone and once again proved how strong the interest in classic motorcycling and racing remains in Australia.
This year InterFoS concentrated on Italian machinery, with an amazing collection of Laverdas brought over by the Laverda Family, with Piero Laverda also present alongside the infamous Laverda V6.
Local Australian Laverda aficionados from around the country also turned up to proudly display local machinery from the same manufacturer, with Piero reportedly proud to see such loyalty to his family’s marque, visiting the Australian Laverda display.
Giacomo Agostini was also present, with a host of MV Agusta classic racers and Cagiva GP machines, with a huge variety of motorcycling names present.
Names such as Pierfrancesco Chili, Jeremy McWilliams, Maria Costello, Steve Parrish, Graeme Crosby, Troy Bayliss and Kevin Magee were all present, not only out on the track for the Legends Laps, but also giving fans an opportunity to meet them and have memorabilia signed in autographing sessions over the weekend.
InterFoS certainly stands out as an event where you are well and truly able to rub shoulders with legends, with plenty of access into the pits to gawk at amazing machinery and legendary riders.
Weather was no less than appalling leading up to the 2017 International Festival of Speed, with clouds looming and sporadic showers across the early part of the weekend, only for Sunday to prove the perfect day.
And with over 50 races scheduled across six categories it was always sure to be a big weekend, with almost the whole schedule completed over the three days of racing, an impressive feat to say the least.
Off the track there was plenty to keep punters happy with a massive Italian marquee holding the GP machines and Laverdas brought over from Italy, along with some famous local machinery like the Bob Brown Ducati.
There was also tradestands from MV Agusta, Kenma, BMW and many more, offering a variety of bikes, and accessories, with a Swap Meet also included in the schedule.
Sunday saw a Show & Shine held, in the area normally dedicated to motorcycling parking on the inside of the circuit, which left the space looking particularly bare in comparison to the hundreds of bikes parked there on Friday and Saturday.
A very lucky Andy Warburton also went from with the keys to the MV Agusta F3 800, signed by Agostini, while the online ticket competition saw a AGV K5 Roadracer helmet, Five RFX Race gloves and a Motul Bike Care Pack won.
A Spectator Parade Lap also gave everyday punters a chance to get out on track and show their pride and joy, with quite the eclectic mix of machinery out on track.
The weekend certainly delivered on it’s reputation, with the name change from the Barry Sheene Festival of Speed to the International Festival of Speed necessitated to help ensure the events viability and independence, and obviously not phasing the Australian public in the slightest with a great turn up.
The InterFoS weekend had it’s fair share of delays, with some serious incidents on track early in the weekend, with two helicopters transporting injured riders to hospital, however the professional marshals and support staff did a great job in running the track.
You can find below the full results by category from the weekend and more of the on track action.
2017 International Festival of Speed Race Results
On track images in no particular order!
QBE Top 50 – Period 5
QBE Top 50 – Period 6
Period 3 250cc
Period 3 350cc
Period 3 500cc
Period 3 Unlimited
Period 4 125cc
Period 4 250cc
Period 4 350cc
Period 4 500cc
Period 4 750cc
Period 4 Unlimited
Period 5 125cc
Period 5 250cc
Period 5 350cc
Period 5 500cc
Period 5 750cc
Period 5 Unlimited
Period 6 125cc
Period 6 250cc GP
Period 6 250cc
Period 6 500cc
Period 6 750cc
Period 6 Unlimited
Pre-Modern 250cc GP
Pre-Modern F1
Pre-Modern F2
Pre-Modern F3
Sidecars F1
Sidecars F2
Sidecars Period 4
Sidecars Period 5