Outback Express Homeward bound

As these words are being digitally remastered into my computer the Outback Express team is homeward bound from Carnarvon as the end of yet another season draws upon us.

While the 08/09 season was reduced significantly for the team due to serious damage being sustained to the A-Z Panel and Paint Rocket early in the season, Rob and the team ventured to Carnarvon ready to do battle to defend his title as the reigning state #1 against some stiff competition from not only the inform Higgs trio of Dustin, Dusty and Keith, but also Tasmanian Brad Smith, locals Travis & Blake Jackson, fellow Rocket driver Joel Handford who had none other than two times Australian Champion Kevin Purton in his corner and fellow Kalgoorlie drivers Dean Shore and Rick Mussara in the immaculate Goldfields Crane Hire Monaro.

The road to the title defence started on Wed when Rob and the team piled into the transporter and headed off up the road for the 16hr drive to Carnarvon.  After 11 hrs on the road and with the offer of hot showers at the “Squirrel Hilton” in Geralton the team decided to stay overnight and catch up with mate Bob “Squirrel” Andrews and do some practice laps over a cold can before doing the last 5 hrs to Carnarvon on Thursday.

The team arrived in Carnarvon, checked into the Wintersun Caravan park and then headed out to the track to get set up and ready for practice and more importantly the nights festivities that had been arranged by the Carnarvon Club.

With a couple of passes to check gearing and the engine Rob was happy to put the car away knowing that the track would be a totally different animal for the first heat on Friday Night. With the practice session over the focus turned to a few drinks, dinner and the Calcutta. The night appeared to be a sensation and the Carnarvon club has our thanks for a great meal and a fantastic night’s entertainment. With full bellies and empty pockets courtesy of some fierce bidding at the Calcutta we headed back to the Wintersun to call it a night.

Friday dawned and Rob, Corey and a couple of the boys headed off to scruiteneering and then back to the park to prep the car for the nights racing. A special thanks goes to the management and staff at the Wintersun Caravan Park who were so helpful with letting us wash and prep the cars on the lawns in the park.

With the car ready a little relax and then out to the track. Unload the car and look at the track and make some changes to the car. Parade and then hot laps and the car looks great. Unfortunately for a couple of other drivers such as Tassies Brad Smith and fellow Kalgoorlie driver Ray Leonard the news was not good as both cars had suffered terminal engine failures during the hotlap session.

Rob makes a couple of minor changes and then heads out to do battle for his opening heat starting out of pole with Hanford out of two. Hanford gets the jump from the outside and it takes Rob 6 laps to effect the pass and cruise away to a comfortable win from Hanford, Keith Higgs, Mussara, Ivanow and Dustin Higgs in sixth.

Heat two sees Rob start out of position 5 and after a good duel come away with his second heat win of the night

Heat three and Rob starts from position six and struggles to get the car to go forward to finish in second behind the young rookie sensation Kodee Brown from Broome.  

End of the first night and Rob and Kodee Brown are tied for top points with Rob being given the top spot through passing points.

After packing up we head to the clubrooms for a quick drink before heading back to the Park for  a quiet BBQ and drinks courtesy of the teams private Masterchef Hawkeye. Well I can tell you that the quiet BBQ turned into a full on party with the Hanford, Leonard and Mussara teams all stopping in to sample some of the honey satay prawns, steaks and alcohol. So much for the parks “quiet time” between 10pm & 7am.

Saturday saw breakfast prepared by the “Masterchef” before the car is unloaded, washed, prepped, tyres changed and then Lunch as the boys ventured to the Harbourside cafe for the traditional surf and turf before returning to reload the car and settling back for the afternoon “Nana” nap. After the nap it was time to head out to the track and get ready for what was shaping up to be another great night with news that Dusty Higgs had managed to get the #81 car mobile for the second night.

One heat to go and Rob is starting from Pos 2 with Dean Shore out of pole. Rob concerned about the Shore car getting a push into turns so elects to turn in under Dean rather than try and go around him and after two laps gets the job done and starts to build a lead. Shore and Mussara come together which leads to a major stoppage as the Shore car is craned off the track. As Rob rolls by the crew during the formation lap it is obvious to the crew that something has gone wrong as Rob is frantically making hand signs to the crew, On the next roll around Rob rolls to a stop and yells “Boiling” before gassing the A-Z Rocket up and heading to the front of the restart order. With 5 to go Rob takes the green and nurses the car to the finish. By the time he gets to the pits there is more water and bodies around as the Leonard crew have raced into the pits carrying the radiator from Rays car which has been sidelined with terminal engine failure.

After cooling the car down the crew go through an array of check to identify the problem however pressure tests and visual inspection reveal nothing. Rob and father Frank decide that a change of coolant and hope is all that can be done to get the car to start line. With pole locked away the team go through the set up and tyre changes required for the 35 lap feature while a couple of the guys attend to the coolant change out.

With a “ have fun” Rob heads off to the track for the 35lap final starting from pole for the second year in a row. Would he go back to back? Would the engine stay together? These were a few of the questions running through the minds of the crew and probably Rob as well.

After the usual introductions Corey helps Rob get strapped in and the he rolls out onto the track for the start of the final. Starting order for the top six is Rob Bawdon, Kodee Brown, Travis Jackson, Keith Higgs, Rick Mussara, Bert Vosbergen.  As the green drops Kodee gets the jump and Rob knows that he is in trouble with the temp gauge climbing and the right rear doing nothing he decides to try and stay with Kodee and see if the temp will settle and hope the tyre starts to come on. After 14 laps and a couple of restarts Keith Higgs gets past Rob and sets out after Kodee who has opened up a small lead. Another restart and Rob heads up to the wall in the pit turn with the temp light clearly visible Rob looks to father Frank for a sign which comes in a clear waving him on so Rob picks up his spot back in the field.

With the temp light blazing in his face Rob stays in touch with the leading duo before the unexpected departure of Keith Higgs on lap 23 let the smell of blood into Robs nose as the right rear had started to work and he closed right up on Kodee who was starting to get the odd push in the turns and opening up a gap that Rob hoped would get big enough to get through.  A final restart with 6 to go would see Robs tyre cool off while the temp gauge continued its way to meltdown. Rob through everything including the kitchen sink at Kodee over the last 6 but a courageous Kodee would hold off the defending champion to win by 0.923.

With the presentations over Rob brought the car back in the pits and it was packed away and the team headed to the clubrooms for a few drinks and then back to the park for some sleep before the long trip home.

Congratulations to Kodee Brown, the youngest driver to win the WA super sedan title. Not only the youngest but a rookie as well and it is clear that the future of super sedan racing is in good hands with the young blood in Kodee, Joel Hanford and Dustin Higgs all putting in big performances.

Our thanks and congratulations also go to the Carnarvon Club, the WASCF, The Wintersun Caravan Park (a great place to stop) and especially to Jason Crowe who works tirelessly for the sport and has made this event a huge success from a spectator and media perspective.  The internet telecast is awesome.

With the season now over for the Outback Express team I would like to thank all the guys who have crewed or helped out during the season, Corey, Jason, Boof, Jim, Johny, Russel, Ray, Brewster & the team chef “Hawkeye” who kept everyone fed.
Danny and Tania Smith at Rocket Racecars for a great car and support,
Trevor Bale for helping us out with a chassis when the new one got broke,  

 The sponsors

A-Z Panel and Paint
Reliance Petroleum
Brewster Ceilings
Goldfields People Hire
Rocket Chassis
Geoff Watson Autos
Boofs Bobcat Hire
Speedtorque Race Engines
Visign
Basket Bliss
Racecar Tyres and accessories
BCM Motorsports Promotions
Goldfields Bitumen & Bobcat
ROM Services

Without you guys we would not be doing this and we can’t thank you enough.

HOPE TO HAVE YOU ALL WITH US IN THE NEW SEASON