Biante Touring Car Masters
Round 5 – Eastern Creek
4-6 September 2009

This weekend was the Muscle Car Masters a round for the Biante independent of the V8 super cars and some unique gems hit the circuit. Speaking of gems, cannot say it was a pearler of a weekend for our team and we were certainly presented with some challenges. Then again, we weren’t orphans in this area, with a higher than normal amount of teams experiencing serious engine difficulties.

Action aplenty [pic courtesy James Smith]

‘Singo’ who is based near Tweed Heads took the transporter into Sydney on Thursday where it was unloaded at Ron Missen’s workshop so Mark ‘birdman’ could prepare her for the circuit, given it hadn’t come back to Adelaide after the round in Queensland. Ron is very experienced in all areas of racing and is the chief mechanic for the very competitive George Miedecke V8
brute ute.

Singo organized a repairer local in his town to repair the rear end damage which was great and once at Ron’s there was a bit to be done. The diff was changed to obtain the correct gear ratio required for Eastern Creek. Due to a concern post race regarding the fuel supplied in Queensland, Mark dismantled, flushed and cleaned the fuel cell and fuel system. The filter was blocked also. This was a big job that took considerable time. Mark fitted up new front brake pads and refaced a second set of pads as back up. A general check over under the car was performed. Satisfied all was done, the camaro was reloaded and taken to the track – I think the long way – I’ve heard a story that Singo and Mark may have been lost – pretty easy to do in Sydney – definitely survival of the fittest up here.

Andrew flew in from Pt. Macquarrie with Bob and Mark flying in on Thursday morning. Our good mate, Trevor Page was there to pick the boys up – what a guy – thanks Trev ! Our home away from the track this weekend was the Panthers Club – Penrith. Huge motel block with club alongside, with the boys making use of the bar facilities on the Thursday night.

The #95 Camaro in action at Eastern Creek.

Friday was a private practice session day, so teams could pay a fee and use the circuit which would allow us 4 x practice sessions. The first session Bobby took to the track which was damp at this stage. And Really just a learn and see run, lots of twists and turns – 12 in fact with hills and rises – pretty challenging first time out trying to become familiar with it. 2nd session, Andrew took the camaro out for a run – was like a bullet train – did several laps and reported back to Mark that he was ‘very happy’ with it, only comment that it was lazy on the ‘turn in’ and not as responsive as he would like it. Based on this Mark made a small adjustment to the rear roll centre to improve the ‘turn in’ characteristics.

3rd practice Bobby was back behind the wheel, however in this session an engine miss had developed when picking up out of corners. On return to the pit Mark performed a carby check and replaced the spark plugs. In the 4th and final session both Andrew and Bobby drove a few laps each. In the meantime, Andrew kept himself very busy in and out of three other cars, the Ian McAlistair entry, the Peter Sportelli, ex. Brian Thompson big block Camaro and Waddington’s Camaro.

The #95 Camaro in action at Eastern Creek.

The boys headed back to the Panthers club for a clean up, then Bob and Mark headed to the airport in the Mercedes Benz sponsored people mover to pick me up from the airport. Now here is where having a ‘sydneyite’ in the vehicle would have been good. On leaving the airport we were heading in the wrong direction and even at 10pm the traffic was like peak hour in Adelaide !!! OMG !!! We pulled up along side a car who gave us directions and after being tooted by a kamikaze – we finally managed to find the M5 and got back to the Panthers about 11.15 pm !! On arrival there, Timmy Bush and JB from Yass our original nascar team members were there !! The boys successfully took care of my shopping list I had emailed but, as always, there were stories to be told. I had already developed a face ache from laughing. With a 5.30 a.m. start we hit the sack, although word is JB went a wandering back to the club trying to win his fortune on the pokies !!

Saturday. Up early we were off to the track with a practice, qualifying and a race scheduled. First things first, Shaz’s egg and bacon muffins to give them the sustenance for the day ahead !! Practice was to be at 9.00 am however, due to a technical glitch the drivers were kept in form up until 9.45 in their race suits inside the cars – even though early morning the sun had a sting in it.

The first session got underway and Bobby was out of his comfort zone. On applying any power to the throttle, the back end was slipping out there was simply no grip. Given the length of the session, there wasn’t sufficient time to come in and change them, so Andrew advised Bob through the headset to squeeze the power, ease the throttle on, circulate and get used to the track. The combination of the poor handling and the ill at ease of Bob would result in a disappointing 20th in qualifying out of 28 cars. Bowe, Richards and Bullas lead the field.

The #95 Camaro in action at Eastern Creek.

The schedule was severely behind with the late start due to the technical glitch first thing, so the qualifying session ran at 12.30. Bob did 6 laps with his quickest achieved in lap 5. Laps 4, 5 and 6 would see a second drop each lap. By the completion of the 5th lap, the loss of grip on the rear end had showed it’s head again. Bobby also commented that he hadn’t quite mastered the gear changing he would have liked.

The crew and Bob discussed the pros and cons of continuing to try and better the time we had, but it was decided given the handling had gone off to preserve the tyres for the race, given the tyres are controlled. So 1.49.5 would see Bob in 15th, a marked improvement on practice this morning. Bowe, Richards and Bullas were 1, 2 and 3. Bowe a very quick 1.42.6

After the session, a couple of minor changes were made which included softening of the back shockers to take bump out and a couple of pound out of the tyres, both changes designed to improve rear grip.
Race one was held at 2.50pm and over 10 laps. Starting positions were as per qualifying, so Bobby was out of 15. Disaster at the start, the engine had flooded and then stalled. Bob managed to get it restarted and thank fully no one had gone up his rear and set off, but was at the back of the field. The engine was popping and banging and on return to the pit Bobby commented that there was no power to accelerate. Further investigation post race revealed we were running on only 6 cylinders, and the changes made for race 1 to back end were changed back to set up of qualifying.

(pic courtesy of James Smith)

During the course of the race Bobby managed to pick up a few spots and this coupled with six dnf’s meant a finishing spot of 15th where he had started. The top three Bowe, Bullas and Mason lead the race from woe to go. Bowe in fact had a considerable lead and Jim Richards was back in eighth being hampered by a fuel issue. For Bowe, Eastern Creek has always been a happy hunting ground with thousands upon thousands of laps under his belt.

The results of this race however, were subject to enquiry, due to the fact on weighing the cars post race, it was found some entrants were alleged to be under the legal racing weight. George Miedecke here at Eastern Creek with his brother Harry headed into town to buy another set of spark plugs to rectify the engine problem before the Sunday races.

Saturday night we ventured over to the Panthers club, but headed back early for another 5.30 a.m. start. It was getting slightly ugly at the club with a group of lads deciding to sort out each other, so the Whiteline Racing fearless crew of JB, Timmy and Birdman, headed to Krispy Cremes Doughnut outlet and pigged out on at least three each !! I guess they are lovers not fighters ??

Top right: This tells the story – pushrod failure would spell the end of the weekend.

Sunday. Up and out to the track early, the team prepared the car for the 2 races to be held today. Large crowd headed in for race day with our first event at 10.40 and again over 10 laps. A clean start generally for the field but not for Bobby in the Whiteline Racing Camaro – initially spinning wheels, the car bogged down and then stalled, managed to get it restarted but had a lot of work ahead of him. By the start of the second lap, Richards lead Edwards and Tilley.

For what was a rarity Bullas and Bowe were not leading the pack. Bob in the meantime was making up a couple of positions. The freight train consisting of the first six cars of Richards, Edwards, Tilley, Bullas, Mason and Bowe were going hammer and tong when on lap five the 27 entry of O’Brien blew an engine in spectacular fashion on the first turn out of the start finish straight away. White smoke filled the air limiting visibility and in reminiscent fashion of nascar racing days on Thunderdome the field around O’Brien was scrambling everywhere trying to stay out of trouble. A safety flag was triggered and the field formed in their positions in Indian file.

Andrew Miedecke and Shaz having a laugh at the races.

With the safety car off, the race got underway at the start of lap 8 with Edwards tapping at Richards door, when bad luck would strike and the engine of Tony Edwards also had a massive problem (piston), allowing Tilley to move into second place behind Richards, followed by Bullas, Bowe, Mason and Hunter. Meanwhile Bob managed to get around 4 and with 2 dnf’s again finished 15th.

On return to the pit, Bob commented he again had no power, so the crew had a look under the bonnet to find we had done a push rod which had destroyed the lifter. We had just over an hour before form up for the 2nd race for the day (third race for the weekend) so the hunt was on for parts. Unfortunately, we were unable to source the parts in time to repair the engine and we were forced to retire for the day. Naturally the team were pretty disappointed, but hey, that’s what they say is motorsport !!

Coming up for a start. Courtesy James Smith.

Work got underway to pack up and get the b-double ready for the journey south to Adelaide, with Bob bringing the transporter back. He travelled with Colin who drives the transporter for the Porsche teams, so they were good company for one another up the highway.

Over the weekend, in our breaks it was great that we caught up with Denzel Mead and Grahame Darke from Tassie. Denzel has raced just about everything and Tim and JB from Yass were part of his race crew in the early years.

Special thanks must go to Mercedes Benz for providing our team vehicle to shuttle the boys (oops and girl) to and from the track. Work is underway to prepare the Camaro and support vehicle for Bathurst in October, however, in the meantime, The Builder will compete in a super truck round in Perth mid September, so I will be back in touch then.

Kind regards, Shaz Middleton

For further information

Sharon Middleton
Director
Whiteline Racing Promotions P.L.
mobile: 0418 826 272
email: shaz@wline.com.au

JB with his ‘shaggin waggon’ - Sunday morning emptying out the back to find the spare tyre to replace the flat.

Timmy on the left and JB on the right ‘discuss’ how to tackle the flat tyre.

The Builder debriefing after a run.
(pic courtesy James Smith)

Timmy and JB improvised with the shopping list and purchased a coconut, which now has a name ‘Wilson’ needless to say he didn’t get eaten and now forms part of the team.

Bob inducted into the Transport Hall of Fame!

In Alice Springs on August 29th 2009, Bob was officially inducted into the Transport Hall of Fame.

Bob had left on Wednesday 26th with the Wild Hogs who powered up through the centre on their motorbikes, with ‘Skull Penetrator’ the bus and a convoy of display Mercedes products in tow and there for support for breakdowns or tired hogs.

They had a lot of fun on the way stopping at Woomera, Cadney Park and Coober Pedy. I believe batman and skeletor may have made an appearance.

On the Friday, Cummins hosted the Alice Springs Cup with the official induction on the Saturday morning followed by a dinner that night. Sunday was a ride to Simpson Gap, the Telegraph Station and a drive through at Bojangles Saloon in the heart of Alice. When I say drive through, I mean ride through the front door of the saloon through the bar and dining room out through the back door.

Some very weary Hogs headed back down south, but for the builder who had racing commitments in Sydney the fun ended there and boarded a plane to rest up before the Eastern Creek round of Biante.

Shaz (Rebel – my Wild Hog persona!)

Above and right: Bob has his place on the Transport Hall of Fame.

…and the pictures to prove it.

Official photo following induction.

Bojangles, the saloon bar the Hogs rode through (pic courtesy Utilities)

Driving through Bojangles

Batman in the outback

Rebel and The Builder at the Alice lookout with the Wild Hogs

Wild Hogs on tour

The Wild Hog boys with Skull Penetrator in the background.

Skeletor makes an appearance (could that be The Builder?)