National Series Round 2 Illinbah Queensland

Thomas Takes 1st Place


National Downhill series round 2 Illinbah Queensland
Team Crimmins once again hit the road or as it was the Airways with a huge long weekend up in sunny Queensland. We flew out on Thursday to Brisbane where we were then chauffeur driven back to my mate Mick's house at Ormeau. We quickly settled in to our base camp for 4 days. A Big Thank you Mick, his lovely pregnant partner Renee and his daughter the one and only Shona! We were made to feel at home from start to finish and were also set up with all the accessories like a Van, esky, chairs, tools and maps. Thursday night also saw Thomas initiated into the exciting game of cane toad golf, producing several drives John Daley would be proud of.

Saturday practice













Mick and his mate George help Thomas wash his bike.


Friday we were out early and the trip to the track was a scenic 35min cruise. Rego, then walk the track, looked good till we got to a section about 2/3rds way up and inspected a section called the woods. An 80m section of steep wet rocks, roots and mud. This section was without a doubt the most technical section Thomas has encountered. The rest of the track looked good and was drying up fast after the previous days rain. The track is about 3.7k's long and drops 500m.
Thomas then started practice runs laying down around 6 and also doing some sections, the woods proving to be as difficult as envisaged. I walked up and it was absolute carnage in there but i got some good footage on the camera. Harro's crew turned up from Berridale for a late inspection run. Track closed at 4pm All good..
Back to base camp and we were treated to the freshest king prawns and bugs tasted in a long time deluxe!!
Upper section in the woods


like this all the way only wetter



Saturday, we got to sleep in a bit due to practice not starting until 12pm. All went well and Thomas said he was getting the woods dialed and the rest of the track flowed well. In the arvo we could see this storm approaching and just as Thomas was on his forth run it erupted, smashing the village and blowing tents everywhere, it dumped about 3 inches. Track closed and we escaped just before the river crossing flooded, game over for the day!!
We later went over to catch up with our good friends Steve and Estelle and their kids Evelyn and Sarah.

Log Jump on lower section


Sunday Race Day!
Up and out early. Track was a muddy wet mess after the storm and it was decided to lay down only one practice run. We also changed to new mud tyres, this went extremely well considering the conditions. With a start time of around 2.30pm Thomas got to kick back while dad washed and serviced the bike.



Around lunch time Thomas' cheer squad turned out in force. He would like to thank the following: Mick and Shona, Shona's friend, Spud, Ben and family, Steve, Estelle and family. All making the journey out to the track to cheer him on.
As the anticipation grew we saw Brock scream down in a time that would have put him on the podium only to have a massive stack on the last corner.
With the open sections of the track starting to dry Thomas came down first rider in under 15's past us flat out and finished in a time of 4;48.45 he was then seated in the hot seat next to Nathan Rennie and interviewed. This time was good enough to take out first by 56 seconds and retain the converted 741 series leader plate



From there it was on to the podium and to the after party back at base camp.
Monday we headed down to Surfers Paradise with Harro's crew for a swim at the beach. I can tell you the lads were very impressed that it was schoolies week and the eye candy on offer!! Then it was time to leave sunny old QLD and we were once again chauffeur driven back to the airport for the flight home.
A top weekend was had.
Next Chapter National Series round 3 at You Yangs Gelong Vic. 11-14 December.
Team Crimmins will be taking the whole crew with Andrew Pinner Crimmins taking on his first National race and Kerry joining the support crew. Stay Tuned!!!!!!