What a fantastic Weekend!
Loads of shiny new cars, both on the track and off.
We started our trip off on Friday afternoon, Darryl and Brenton dropped round to my house at 3.30pm and we piled my stuff into the car, it was a very tight fit because there was the three of us and the boot was full of wood and food (the only two things really required for a weekend away) and on the backseat was the other semi-important things (tent). so i travelled the 3 hours up to the Track (may have been a little quicker due to Darryl's driving style but i can't reveal how fast we actually got Tania's car going, or Darryl may be sleeping outside for a while).
As is required on a 'boys trip' such as this the McDonald's stop was undertaken. We got to the track about 6.30 and set up the tent in absolute darkness, it was a fine effort if i say so myself, we even build a kitchen (that what you get for hanging around with builders). The camp fire was roaring within 5 mins and we had settled in for the night of campfire watching and pyromaniacy (not a real word but you understand). Sleep eventually came in small amounts after the 'doughies', illegal fireworks and stereo systems died down at around 3.30.
Rise and Shine at 7am and the fire was again roaring within 2 mins thanks to the aid of petrol and a trust match, that fire was good for that 2 degree morning. Bacon and eggs cooked on the fire (i accidentally dropped the rolls in the fire so they were a little crunchy but i have always said charcoal adds to the flavour. On to the racing, the reason we were here, the real interest.
First we watched the Formula Fords (affectionately called the mosquitoes, due to there loud 'mosquitoe-esque' sound), then the 'main game', the V8 Supercars! The noise was deafening, it was fantastic, the roar of the engines far out ways the thrill of petrol on a fire, qualifying was rough and ready, with both Team Vodafone cars not making it into the top ten (Craig 12, Jamie 20), but what a race, in the wet the cars flew out on to the track, slipping and sliding around, the race began and the wheels just spun, no-one moved for couple of seconds, but then it was on, Lowndes ans Whincup pitted early taking the rick of changing onto Slick tyres, hoping that the rain had subsided and it paid off with Team Vodafone racing to 1st and 4th positions while the others were left 4 seconds slower per lap because of their wet tyres. It was looking good for Vodafone and the on the third last lap Craig Lowndes was taken out by James Courtney and ended up being passed by almost the entire field and subsequently came in at 16th, while Jamie sat undisturbed at the front for almost half the race and taking out race 1.
I even got to meet up with the Vodafone boys and had a good little chat to the and got signatures on my hat which now proudly sits on my wall. What a day! so exciting! If anyone happened to read my article in 'Pursuit' magazine, in which i said i couldn't find anything to be passionate about, well i found it, God still takes number one, but V8 is fast gaining ground for second.
Great Food on the fire, meat, meat and more meat, just what a hard day of V8's calls for, and again the fire barrel, doughies and fireworks were a big attraction. My first day of V8 action and it was the best race since Bathurst last year, what a day.
On a side note there was a guy that proposed to his fiancee by having his proposal printed on Craig's Car, it was very romantic and I appreciate his effort, (Em said that if i did that she would have said yes too, no matter who it was that asked!)
Sunday, crunch-time, Two races, one winner at the end of the weekend, what a day, what a day, rain, sun, safety cars, smashed up cars, drunk yobbo's, lots of Coke and Chips, what more could you ask for.
Race two was hard fought, the rain, came down and the decision to change to 'wets' or 'slicks' was again the deciding factor. Even though 'Toll HSV" team is my moral enemy in V8 racing i have to say that Garth Tander was unstoppable in Race 2, he managed to hold Whincup to second even after numerous safety cars, so Garth, well done, but don't expect it again anytime soon.
After packing up the tent (and buying a new hat because i didn't want to wreck the one i had signed) we returned to the track for Race 3, the decider, with Garth and Jamie on one win each, it was set to be a good one, the weather looked ominous for most of the race but never came, it was dry for this race, it was exciting and everyone had the attitude of 'all or nothing' and that's what happened, a lot of people pushed it hard and went home with nothing, or in the case of Lee Holdsworth, in the back of an Ambulance. It was hard fought and very exciting racing, with Garth winning again, but this time it was a scrap fight to the end and Jamie wouldn't give him an inch of space, it was fantastic.
Jamie's 1st, 2nd and 2nd was enough to get over Garth by one point for the round (weekend) win, so it was Team Vodafone, No 1 on the podium.
What a weekend, thanks to Darryl and Brenton for the good food and for inviting me to their 'Boys Weekend'.
Go Team Vodafone!
