Motorplex Madness
Jan 28th 08

The Outback Express team traveled to the Kwinana Motorplex over the Australia day weekend for the first time since Rob secured the WA title there in November and it was a buoyant Rob who was looking forward to the two nights of high speed action and adrenalin in what was to be the final hit out before the National title pursuit in March.

While there will be some racing happening on the west coast during February, the Power plant of the WA1 Total Asphalt Pontiac is being torn out to be given a well deserved birthday ahead of the National Title meeting.  

Back to the Motorplex for the first heat of the Friday night and it saw the Super sedans roll out onto a dry slick racetrack for the opening round of heats. Rob started out of Pos 6 and struggled with the car to bring it home in 3rd place. Second round of heats saw Rob run the car all over the racetrack to finish in second place. This provided a start from pos 3 for the all important 15 lap final.
Marc Giancola skipped away at the start with Troy Brook hot on his heels. Rob started slowly and then slipped into the high line groove and powered around Brook and set sail after the Yellow and white Pontiac of Giancola. The WA1 closed to within a couple of car lengths of Giancola before the left rear tyre started to overheat and go away leaving Rob to wrestle a car that would not go forward and struggling to stay in touch with Brook who had gotten back past Rob as he struggled with the car.  Final finish position 4th

The team decided that Australia day was meant to be for sun, surf and cold ale or two so the WA1 Rocket was left untouched in the transporter for the Saturday as the team relaxed in the seaside town of Mandurah. The team’s main cheerleaders Blake and Liah were the focus of the day and after having worn out most of the crew chasing them around the team headed back to the motel for a quiet night before the preparations for the Sunday night meeting would commence on Sunday morning.

After unloading the car, washing and looking for any undercarriage or driveline damage, Corey and Rob made the call to change the rear leafs in an effort to try and get the car to drive forward. The springs were changed and the car reset and put back into the truck ready for the night ahead.

Sunday night and The night has started off badly with the new winch rope snapping as the car is being unloaded and sending Corey on a wild ride down the ramps. Worry about that late! Let’s go racin. Rob is in the second heat outta position 6. A look at the track and it looked more like a clay pan than a race track. Tyres, shocks set, mud eater repaired and we are ready to go. Watching heat one it becomes evident that there is some drive up near the fence. Hope Rob tries up there.  The heat is under way and again Rob’s nemesis Giancola is away into the lead but Rob has gone to the high side of the racetrack and soon is right behind Giancola who is running midtrack through the turns and high on the straights. Rob commits to the outside and is past and driving away with Giancola becoming the pursuer. Finish position 1.

Rob emerges from the car and comments the car had gotten loose toward the end so the crew diligently goes about getting ready for the second heat.  Start position 5 in heat 4 and Rob gets to see a bit of the preceding race through the gap under the side screen and is not sure if the high line is the way to go. The start is a bit messy and Kalgoorlie’s Dean Shore driving Rob’s old PFM car is driving away like the police are after him.

A couple of laps mid track and Rob gets a break to head to then top of the track and the car comes to life. Coming off turn two like a bullet he picks off fourth, third then second and is on the hunt for Shorey. After six laps he settles a couple of car lengths adrift and looks like he will be settling for second but then with two to run he hauls arse and gets up on the outside of Dean and the finish becomes a photo with Rob declared the winner by a bumper.  Two heats two wins! Gotta luv that and should start out of pole for the feature.

The feature starts as expected with Rob leading into turn 3 but Giancola slips by on the low line and Rob and Marc battle for 4 or 5 laps before the Formaction Pontiac starts falling back through the field before exiting onto the grass at lap 10. First DNF for the season and as Rob rolls into the pit shed to remove the transponder the reason becomes evident as he shouts for people to stop the car as he has no brakes. 

Can’t win em all is Rob’s philosophy as he emerges from the car. The crew load up, have a few drinks with the other crews and then head back to the motel for some sleep ahead of the long haul back to Kalgoorlie on Monday.    

Look forward to seeing you trackside