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After completing a list of repairs longer than Santa’s children’s wish list, all systems were go for Round 2 of the Australian Bio Diesel SuperTruck Nationals in front of a large crowd in our home town of Adelaide. As you will read, the team had it’s work cut out for it with some challenging problems arising, but their efforts were not in vain. The incident saw Bobby hospitalised and extensive damage to the Cat Powered Freightliner. Some of the repairs and replacements are as follows: New front bumper assembly, new grill, new front cross member, straightening of the chassis, intercooler, front axle straightened, repair suspension mounting brackets, front trailing arm repairs, repaired engine mounts, rebuilt front shockers, repair bonnet which looked like a shark had been at it, repair cab mounts, repair tyre, side panel, repaired broken back shocker, trim panels front of cab, new left hand windscreen, sign writing, repair to turbos, which do not take kindly to sudden stops – they are normally cooled down before being shut down from 140,000 rpm spinning – and removal of the differential for check over by Russell at Wildcat Diesel.
No obvious problem could be found with the diff, so on reviewing in slow motion the footage of the incident, we believe that the diff may have locked ‘temporarily’ when Bobby mounted the rumble strip causing drive to only one side of the Freightliner, resulting in the hard turn right into the wall. Whilst the diff was okay, the right hand rear shocker had collapsed which would have possibly taken all of the weight off the right rear causing the wheel to lift off the ground, thus only getting drive on the left hand side. These machines are so finely tuned an imbalance such as this can cause major handling problems. It is fair to say, the further Mark ‘birdman’ Peacock would delve, the more he would find. Bobby took a couple of weeks to come good – where the seatbelts had done their job, they also dug into him under the force causing his chest to be bruised and swollen and his neck took some time to settle. I must reinforce how much we appreciated the calls and emails to see how the ‘builder’ was progressing. So, with the machine and the man rebuilt we would go about the weekend ahead. Big Al from New Zealand flew in on Wednesday night, with Terry and Jeff also from kiwi-land arriving on Thursday. Al and Bob headed for Mallala on Thursday to set up the ‘big tent’ and our pit – the SuperTruck was also unloaded into her garage.
Thursday night the team dined locally at Primo reviewing the last meet and what the plan would be for the weekend. With the time difference, the guys were running low on batteries fairly early in the night, so we all retired for a good night’s sleep!! Al having arrived earlier than Tim and Jeff from New Zealand grabbed the main guest room which left Jeff and Terry doing rock–paper–scissors for who would occupy the top bunk in the second guest room. Friday was all go, with the team heading to the track – today would be made up of two practices with the third one combined with the media rides. The first practice on Friday was at 10.25 where conditions were wet and slippery so gauging handling was difficult, but overall given this was the first run since the crash and dramatic repairs the builder was happy with the SuperTruck. After this practice the crew bolt tested the entire SuperTruck and carried out general maintenance checks, together with sway bar adjustments to eradicate the understeer.
Second practice held at 12.05 was good, with the builder two seconds quicker than the rest of the field. Each participant seemed to love the experience and the SuperTruck handled well right up until the last lap, when we lost boost and it was found the turbo bearing had developed more play than it should have and the boost sensor had logged a problem. Cavpower opened up their workshop to provide the parts we required which the team would fit prior to Saturday’s practice session. Friday night the team dined at the Port Anchor Hotel.
Saturday’s practice was scheduled for 11.20 and would see problems with the turbos continue. After having only completed one lap, one of the turbos blew big time, bellowing out smoke with a fire flame. The team worked full on removing the failed turbo, fitting another turbo to the SuperTruck. The turbos we run are not a shelf item and the prospect of continuing turbo problems was worrying the team, as we were concerned we would have sufficient parts, particularly if the problem occurred again over the weekend. On checking, it was discovered we had cracked a left rear rotor also. The team completed the repairs in time for qualifying held at 3.10 however, our turbo issue would play havoc yet again, with Bob the Builder only completing 3 laps before the turbo blew apart yet again, this time doing further damage to associated parts. This really did have the team stumped, the bonnet was up and no real apparent cause could be found. At this stage I was thinking we were going to have this very grand corporate marquee with lots of guests and no SuperTruck to cheer on. Now I’m sure you can understand where I am coming from, with a team the calibre of ours and mechanical knowledge they have, to see them worried was not helping me, I can assure you. I said to Bobby if all else fails he may have to blap around in the Whiteline Racing signwriten golf buggy-come-pitmobile !!!!
The decision was made to load up the Cat Powered Freightliner and take her back to the Whiteline Workshop where we had greater facilities and reassess the situation and possibly fit another engine. On the pit, the team removed every possible troublesome component, cleaning and checking each item. They also built up yet another turbo from available spare parts. The entire oil system was checked so too the bearings. Everything was bolted back on and by 9.00 p.m. the builder was using the Whiteline depot as a test strip – the building was rumbling big time – from where I sat it sounded pretty good. Nuggy was asleep in his bed in the office quite concerned about the vibrations and noise!!! With the feeling that all that could be done had been done, the SuperTruck was loaded back onto the transporter for race day. Hmm, and as for tea, the guys ate chicken hot packs, using a truck chassis as a table. Exhausted from the long day and night, the team retired knowing full well we would need to be up and about at 5.00 a.m. The team needed to get going early to unload the SuperTruck and as for myself, Mark from SAFF, his son Liam, Angie, Brenton and Steve went about setting up the marquee. Steve Underwood was flat out helping and Mark’s partner Jakki helped with some set up and ended up in merchandise with Steve all day which was much appreciated. In addition to the normal set up, the local wildlife and fauna overnight decided to move into more palatial accommodation, trying each chair, leaving their muddy paw prints on most chairs – we were laughing as we cleaned up each one, in awe of how the animal kingdom is so resourceful !!
Sunday morning our warm up session was 8.45 with the conditions cool and the track wet. Bob the Builder and the Whiteline Racing Cat Powered Freightliner only completed four laps and despite being down on boost which gives us the horsepower, it sounded and appeared okay. Not wanting to do any more laps than was absolutely necessary, she came into the pit and despite being well off the pace, at least we were going to make an appearance! Race 1 was held at 10.25 and was to be over 7 x laps of the Mallala circuit. As a consequence of the turbo incident we failed to qualify and would be forced to start off the back of the field. I can’t remember not qualifying in pole and not at least getting to start up the front for one race in any of the other rounds. Obviously this would prove a huge advantage to the likes of Bomber, Zammit and Rose – not only starting positions but qualifying points.
With the Select Trucks Argosy leading the SuperTrucks out for their warm up lap the green flag was dropped and entry to the first corner was full on, with Bobby in the first lap making up four positions into tenth. By the third lap we had moved into sixth with Zammit and Skitzo enjoying a dual up further. Fourth lap saw the Cat Powered Freightliner move into fifth with Amoroso the next challenge to get around, which was achieved moving into fourth. By this time, the three front runners had a handy lead and we would have to be content with this position which was a great effort from his starting position and with a machine not pumping out it’s normal power. The turbo, whilst still in one piece had developed a noise which the crew would check into on return to the pit. Despite finishing fourth, Bob was the quickest out there, by some three seconds with a 1.27 second lap achieved in lap 6, obviously able to get a clear run after having got around Amoroso. John the bomber Bomberle took out the race followed by Zammit and Rose, however, due to a speeding infringement, Bomber’s points were taken off him, which meant our official finishing position was third. The SuperTrucks are to be governed to 160 kph – the category is not permitted to exceed this speed.
On return to the pit, I went over to the builder to congratulate him on his great driving effort in this first race – the first one also since his crash and he was quite overwhelmed – I think the crash and all the problems we had dealt with since Friday had taken it’s toll – relief had set in. Prior to Race 2, with the rain downpour, most guests headed for the marquee, where the ever-charismatic and capable Whiteline Racing close friend and resident m.c. Alan Marks, greeted and entertained guests over lunch. Due to the delay most watched Race 2 from the big top with Bob the Builder answering Al’s probing questions after the race. Race 2 was delayed considerably due to a serious crash in a previous race, by the time this race started it was 1.05 and rain had set in. Again a seven lap race, Bob the builder would start out of 7 with light trucks and the SuperTrucks of Amoroso and Lovett in front of him, both very difficult opponents to pass. The first three laps saw excellent racing between Amoroso, Lovett, Rose, Zammit and Bomberle when on lap 2 a spectacular spin by Amoroso saw the rest of the field narrowly missed – this incident sorted out the group with Bob making his way up into fourth by lap three, third by lap four behind Bomber and Lovett.
With three laps to go Bob managed to move into second having got around Lovett, however, by this stage Bomber had developed a healthy lead. Bob and the Cat Powered Freightliner were again the quickest out there, having achieved this in lap 5, however, the wet conditions saw the entire field posting much slower lap times. The crowd were given some exciting action right in front of the stands, when the slippery conditions saw the 41 entry of Butler spin in the wet right in front of them. Race 3 was scheduled for 1.45 but the program got more and more behind with this race not commencing until 2.30, however the rain had cleared. It would be again decided over 7 laps and we were again starting from the back of the field. Into the first corner of lap one it was on, the light trucks and the SuperTruck field, lead by Amoroso, Skitzo, Zammit, Rose, Lovett saw Bob happy to sit back at the rear until they all sorted themselves out. As the field was well into lap two, Bomber was involved in a spectacular spin, re-entering the field and Bob was lucky to miss it.
Having got through, Bob and the Cat Powered Freightliner began the mission of chasing down the field of light trucks and SuperTrucks, moving into fifth. By lap four had moved into fourth having got around Zammit and was now making the charge on Rose. By lap 6 Bob the builder was in the lead and brought her home to take the chequered flag. Not only did we win the race, but again were the quickest out there, achieved in lap 5, by in excess of three seconds. On return to the pit, we discovered we had cracked a front left brake rotor. The final race for the day was the 10 lap super prix – the field started off not only reverse grid, but handicapped also. With the light trucks in front Bob was running last behind the SuperTruck field, until the straight where he managed to round up Butler and was now behind a dual taking place between Bomber and Skitzo, which saw him get around Skitzo in lap 2. By lap three Bomber had passed Amoroso with Bob almost the full length of the truck past him also, when Amoroso turned into Bob’s back wheel sending him into a spin. Out of the spin Bobby was facing the right direction re-entered the track and obviously a little fired up was in the chase again. With three laps to go Bob had worked his way through the field to move into 5th when the Cat Powered Freightliner lost power and Bob was doing his best to get her home for points. This he managed, finishing fifth, behind Zammit, Bomberle, Coulter and Rose.
As with all the previous races, Bob would clock the quickest time in lap five some 2 – 3 seconds quicker than the rest of the field with a 1.278. So, a 3rd, 2nd, 1st and a 5th gave Bob the Builder in the Cat Powered Freightliner 2nd place for the weekend. And also resulted in him increasing his lead in the National Championships. On return to the pit, it was found the intercooler hose had blown off. The massive packing up operation took place and the ANTRO presentations. Departing the track at 7.30 pm the team celebrated at the Sailmaster Tavern. Jeff and Terry flew home to New Zealand early Monday with Al flying home Tuesday staying a day longer to assist in the packing up operation Monday. Next day was unloading and sorting the equipment and now the preparations are on in full earnest for the Perth Truck Show, followed by the Barbagallo Round in the West. Mark is busy putting the finishing touches on the ‘A’ trailer of the transporter which will become our home on wheels when we are away and I must say it is looking very impressive.
Thanks must go to Beaurepaires for their assistance in providing Mark for tyre fitting over the weekend. Yours
in racing and regards,
Previous Editions of Latest News April 07 Round 1: Oran Park – Australian Championship
November 06 Round 4: Oran Park – Australian Championship October 06 Round 3: Barbagallo – Australian Championship July 06 Round 2: Mallala – Australian Championship May 06 Round 1: Oran Park – Australian Championship
Sept 05 Round 6: Oran Park – Australian Championship May 05 Round 5: Barbagallo – Australian Championship May 05 Round 4: Mallala – Australian Championship May 05 Round 3: Winton – Australian Championship April 05 Round 2: Manfield – New Zealand Championship March 05 Round 1: Timaru – New Zealand Championship
Aug 04 Round 3: Barbagallo – Australian Championship May 04 Round 1: Mallala – Australian Championship Feb 04 Round 3: Pukekohe – New Zealand Championship Jan 04 Round 2: Manfield – New Zealand Championship Jan 04 Round 1: Timaru - New Zealand Championship
December 03 : New truck finshed with only weeks to spare before Timaru race!
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