Previous Editions of Latest News
It is fair to say the second round of the Kiwi series was fraught with challenges and given the bad luck we had in round one, where we missed one race due to the seized wheel bearing, we needed everything going right this round to be in contention for overall honours. This would prove not to be the case and whilst not taking out the series we took away : You may recall following round one the team removed the CAT engine from the Whiteline Racing Freightliner to take it back to Gough’s at Auckland for a freshen up. Terry worked on the engine in between meets, running it on the dyno and Jeff and Al returned to Timaru early in race week to refit it – using the generously supplied workshop by Ivan at DB Brewery. In addition, they stripped the front axle, repacking bearings and all appeared to be okay. Terry and Daniel flew from Auckland to Christchurch, staying the night in Christchurch, where Lauren, Dave and Sally would collect them on Thursday on their way down to Timaru. They left Taupo Wednesday night making the Ferry crossing in the early hours of Thursday morning – conditions were very rough and in fact two ferry crossings after theirs were cancelled. Bob, Andrew, Dori, Daniel and Brett – Bajeema Racing and Beau, Skitzo racing all flew in on Wednesday and were picked up from the airport by Grant of the South Canterbury Car Club.
Once at Timaru the team checked into the Baywatch Motor Lodge where Heather, Lionel and the ever cute puppy mascot of Teddy would be our hosts. They are wonderful hosts and do so much to make us feel welcome – like coming back frozen from the track to find the heaters and lights turned on; like noticing your laundry is finished in the washer so drying it off and folding it and putting it back in your room ; like hanging up a calendar with our truck on it on the wall – just like home. Thursday the team headed down to Timaru Motors – this is where the scrutineering would take place. Once complete, Jeff drove the Whiteline Racing Freightliner out to the Timaru track with a police escort. Daniel and Beau continued on at Timaru Motors completing some work required on their Kenworths. Thursday afternoon was promotional activities time, with two scheduled school visits. Here the drivers mingled with the kids, answering questions and signing posters. On the Sunday I had the kids proudly telling me all about how Bob Middleton had come to their school. Thursday night was the big night sponsored by Ivan at DB Brewery – it is always a highlight for competitors, their crews and sponsors. Gauging by what I have heard a big night was had by all. Friday was practice day and media rides – we took part in three practice sessions plus the rides, with Garfield of Timaru Motors, Chris at Hilton Haulage and Bob’s younger son Andy having rides. Andy’s ride was a bit of a 'hell ride’ with Bob the Builder backing in the big Cat powered Freightliner into turn one.
Friday I flew over – and I must say that did not go too smoothly. Apart from delays, my case with our crew uniforms in it got misplaced by Qantas baggage handlers and did not turn up at all for the weekend. In fact, it rejoined me in Sydney on my return to Australia. Very disappointing. Anyhow, when I got there I jumped in my hire car and headed down to Timaru with the track being my first port of call – around 7pm by this stage – I’d been going since 4.00 a.m. On arrival, Christine & Scratch and Bruce & Kim were busy entertaining our Aussie Teams and the Aussie support team, which included Trevor, John, Steve “Hollywood” Coulter and his son Michael – All from Trevor Page Racing which was fantastic. The kiwi guys set up this fantastic camp site with their huge buses (size of Priscilla Queen of the Desert) creating a compound with the chairs and tables all round – they have a great view to the track – the end where all the action is !! Chris and Scratch have a wonderful 4 legged mate called Stanley who provided great entertainment on the night. He decided the celebrations were far too much opting to go to bed. He proceeded to scratch around until such time he had pulled back the doona and pillows of Christine and Scratch’s bed enough for him to get under and make the most comfy nest – we all gave Stanley a round of applause when he finally came to rest !! Dog gone it all !! After the bbq we headed back to the Baywatch where the reunion with Teddy the maltese was just like love at first site. The team were all tired and with a big weekend ahead all had early nights.
Saturday morning the weather conditions were terrible – cold and wet. We were allocated a practice session, qualifying and would have one race for the day. On arrival to the track the boys did the usual mechanical checks, Lauren and Sally made the best breaky and the rest of us set up our banners and merchandise. Practice was at 9.30 and the visibility on the track was almost non existent. Beau was spectacular with his display of slip sliding in the rain and Kayne Scott who drives the 92 McGintey’s truck took out signage on the track which shortened the session. Bob the Builder was going nowhere with the back wheels spinning and achieving absolutely no traction. There was also debate with officials regarding interpretation of the rules with regard to tyres. Steer tyres are the only tyres controlled – and they cannot be grooved. The back tyres can be grooved, which given the rainy conditions was what we would run. With the feedback from the Builder on return to the pit after practice, the team would soften the rear sway bar to help counteract the lack of traction caused by the track conditions. Qualifying was at 11.30 and whilst the rain had eased the circuit was still holding a lot of water. Despite the changes to the sway bar and the fitting of new front tyres, Bob the Builder was not happy and was not travelling well at all.
This was our worst result ever in qualifying relegated to 5th and would see us starting off the third line of the grid for the first race to be held at 3.30. Prior to this however, the team had some work ahead of them. The team would check the diff to see that it was locking and unlocking correctly; they would check the left hand rear as the wheel bearings were really tight – these were cleaned and readjusted. They would also remove the sway bar all together. Terry was busy programming another engine file to reduce the horsepower in the search for grip. Whilst this was going on, the other categories were struggling with the track conditions also, with one of the utes spearing off the circuit, going over the tyre wall and into the trees. Race 1 was held at 3.30 and was to be decided over 6 laps. Starting off the third row, the super trucks headed around the circuit for a couple of warm up laps lead by the Timaru Motors Freightliner pace truck then the green light was on. Out of turns 1, 2 and three the field came through unscathed with the field led by pole qualifier Kayne Scott in the 92 McGinty entry, followed by No. 12 Ken Rowe, 81 Aussie Beau Hewatt, 7 kiwi Shane Gray, Aus 1, Bob the Builder, 2 Aussie Daniel Bajeema, kiwi’s 111, 666, 05 and 66. By the start of lap 2 Bob the Builder was going backwards, losing another three places and was running towards the tail end of the field. The set up changes made had made no improvement to the handling of the Cat Freightliner and in fact was worse with the back wheels lifting off the circuit as Bob would turn into corners. Lap three saw the first seven positions unchanged with a bit of excitement with the 666 entry spinning all on it’s own at the back of the field. Laps 4, 5 and 6 saw no change to the front runners, with the 05 entry going off the circuit in lap 4 and spinning in lap 5 in the same position on the circuit that the 666 entry came to grief at. So race 1 was 92, 12, 7, 81 (Beau Hewatt-Aus), 2 (Daniel Bajeema – Aus), 66, 111, 1, 05, 666. On return to the pit Bob The Builder relayed to the team how bad the truck was and how he just could not accelerate.
The team contacted Mark Peacock in Australia to discuss the situation. In the pursuit for better drive based on the Timaru circuit, we went to softer springs but found that when this was combined with the decision to run no sway bar as a counter action to the rain we ran out of suspension travel and this resulted in the back wheels lifting off the ground. This had caused us to lose 9 seconds a lap !! Prior this we were clocking the circuit faster than any other competitor. With a full day of racing ahead of us tomorrow, it was important we put the bad luck of today behind us. We headed back to Baywatch for a clean up and out for a meal in down town Timaru. Sunday the conditions were quite a contrast to yesterday, blue skies and a sunny outlook prevailed. A really good crowd had turned out for the day of racing. The team made the necessary spring adjustments, while Sally and Lauren made the yummy breaky and merchandise was set up. The track was abuzz with kids activites for the filming of a N.Z. Children’s show going live to air. There was also the spectacle of the stunt planes overhead, conducted by the Royal New Zealand Air Force Red Checkers Aerobatics Display Team. The practice session was held at 10.20 and thankfully the Builder was powering the Cat Freightliner SuperTruck back into 21.4’s lap times – although Bobby only got to complete 2 laps before the No. 12 entry of Kenny Rowe hit the wall forcing the session to be stopped. Since race one would be reverse grid and given our bad day yesterday, we believed we would be starting at the pointy end of the grid, however, due to the Builder’s quick lap times put in before the handling issues this is taken into account and again would see him at the back of the grid. Prior to the first race the kiwi and aussie national anthems were performed.
Race 1 for Sunday was held at 10.25 over 8 laps, reverse, split grid, rolling start with the Timaru Motors pace truck leading the field around.
On completion of lap one, going into lap two Bob the Builder had got into 4th, behind 111, 2, 81, 1 followed by the rest of the field, it was looking really fantastic with the three aussie trucks up the front. Lap 3 saw no position changes, other than the 666 entry pitting. In lap 4 it was Aussie’s 2, 81, 1 in first second and third when the 111 entry went wide allowing the field through. The Aussie’s were being hotly pursued by the kiwi field, particularly by Gray, Little and McGinty. The positions remained unchanged until the final lap which would see Daniel spinning infield in turn 3, putting Bob the Builder into the lead having successfully rounded up Beau in the 81 entry, followed by Beau in 81, 92, 7, 111, 12, 66, 2 and 5. There was a protest lodged by Aussie Daniel Bajeema against Bob the Builder, however, all officials dismissing the protest. Racing was tight and Daniel had also received a hard tap from McGinty resulting in back right bumper damage. The winners of each event were taken around the circuit for a victory lap in the back of the Timaru Motors Utility. Bob the Builder was also the fastest out there for the field with a 1.22.118. On return to the pit, the team checked the front brakes, as the race being so tight and close found the Builder hard on the brakes for the entire 8 laps – they found both front brake pads had completely worn down and would need replacing – this they had time to do prior to the next race scheduled at 1pm.
Race 2 was again over 8 laps, reverse grid and handicapped. Lap 1 got completed pretty cleanly with the Builder making up 2 places from the back of the field, however, coming into lap 2, confusion would ensue as the field was all over the place as it rounded up the handicapped entry of 666. As a result the 12 Ken Rowe entry and the 666 Thomson entry came together and the red flag was out. The field circulated whilst the track was cleared and the restart would see 81 Hewatt, 2 Bajeema, 7 Gray, 92 Scott, 1 Bob the Builder, 66 Little, 111 Wheeler and 12 Rowe with Bobby rounding up Gray as did the 92 entry – we were now in 4th. By lap 3, 92 Scott had made his way into 2nd behind Beau Hewatt 81 and was applying pressure, Bob managed to get around 2 Bajeema and was now running third, this would remain the status quo with Beau winning in truck 81, followed by Scott in truck 92, Bob the Builder in third, 2 Bajeema in 4th and a dual ensuing for the rest of the positions resulting in Little 66, 5th, 7 Gray, 6th, 111 Wheeler 7th, 12 Rowe 8th and non finishers 666, 5 and 85. Race 3, the final race of the day, was 3 x 2 lappers which form part of the Trans Tasman Points Series. Last of the 2 lappers, start 2, 12, 1, 92, 81, 111, with the kiwi’s taking control with 12 Rowe first, 92 Scott 2nd, 111 Wheeler 3rd, Aus 1, Bob the Builder 4th, 81 Hewatt 5th. The two lappers proved exciting sprints for the crowd, with the racing tight. As the Builder would comment and would later at the presentation dinner be ribbed about, don’t wait for the green light to start racing!!! In Aus the competitors must keep their line even if the pace vehicle has gone off until the green light is illuminated – if you start racing and break position you are penalised for jumping the start – in New Zealand this isn’t so and the Builder found himself left at the gate on the starts. Kayne Scott cheekily pointed this out as he collected his trophy.
The presentation night was a really good night where teams got together and celebrated the success of the weekend. The truck racers are quite a tight knit group and whilst competitive on the circuit are all good mates. There are plans underway with the hope that 2 or 3 teams from New Zealand will be able to cross the Tasman to compete here in Aus. Packing up is quite a task with everything having to be cleaned off for shipping. Bob the Builder spent an extra day in Timaru to assist Bruce and the team at Hilton Haulage with the task of loading up the gear in preparation for shipping back to Sydney. The trip to New Zealand would not have been possible without the assistance of Grant and Karen at the South Canterbury Car Club, Blane and the team at Hemisphere Freight, Ivan and the team at DB Brewery and Bruce and the team at Hilton Haulage. From our point of view personally David Lauren and Jeffrey Kernohan of KCL Contractors were of great assistance catering for our team and for providing their motor home, service vehicle tools and equipment for our team and the other Aussie teams. Our crew of Terry, Jeff, Al are just the best with Sally and Daniel offering a lot of assistance throughout the weekend. Andy and Dori were hands on assisting where they could in what was their first trip away with the team. Without everybody putting in it just wouldn’t happen. At this stage the ship is due in 15th April and then will need to clear customs, so all is on track to have the three Aussie Trucks back in Sydney in time to compete in round one of the Australian Series scheduled at Oran Park Anzac weekend 25-27 April, 2008. Big news with regard to the Australian Series, we now have a new naming rights sponsor and as such the series will be referred to as “Tankworld Australian SuperTruck Nationals” ensuring the continuation of television coverage of the SuperTruck category. Well, with the Aussie series creeping up I will be in touch with our progress and
adventures in our next newsletter following the opening round at Oran Park. Yours
in racing and regards,
The Trans Tasman Series dates are : The Australian Series is scheduled as follows and will kick off in Sydney:
Previous Editions of Latest News January 08 Round 1: Timaru – New Zealand Championship November 07 Round 5: Oran Park – Australian Championship October 07 Round 4: Mallala – Australian Championship August 07 Round 3: Barbagallo – Australian Championship June-July 07 Round 2: Mallala – 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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