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3..2..1 Go! Go! Go!
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Interview
with the stars GLENN
CARPENTER
OWNER/DRIVER STRICTLY BUSINESS RACE TEAM
MIXING
IT UP WITH MARK CRANNY
IT'S
ALL BUSINESS WITH GLENN CARPENTER OWNER/DRIVER
STRICTLY BUSINESS RACE TEAM GF. Glenn this is your 7th season in Ski Racing coming up do you still keep motivated and busy during the off season ? GC. Yeah definitely. There's plenty of work to be done, with pulling out motors and rebuilding them planning next season and working out what classes and races you're going to run and organizing skiers for those races and also trying to stay fit yourself. GF. Is there anything in the pipeline for the upcoming season you can tell us about ? GC. Not really but we won't be running 5 litre this season. That's over and done with for us now and the main reason for that is that not enough boats turn up to the races to compete in our class especially in Victoria. And then when you go up to N.S.W. to compete with some of the good 5 litre boats up there they don't turn up either so with our 5 litre engine where racing against 6 & 8litre boats and obviously you're at a disadvantage straightaway with a smaller engine before you even start racing. GF. Is at a pretty big crew involved with Strictly Business this year ? GC. It's actually a massive crew involved and we all get along very well and each member has a task to perform which is vital to the teams success. We have people involved with sign writing of the boats, driving the team bus, organizing the ,teams clothing to people who clean the boats, refuel the boats. And when you look at it we're really a baby Superclass team. GF. The word around the traps is that you have a new boat called Fast & Furious that's going to enter the team. GC. As everyone knows we had a boat called "Very Touchy" enter the team which my partner in our security business Richard bought. My brother or I actually drove the boat during the races and it was decided that at the end of the season it would be re-painted and re-named and also that the engine would get a few modifications so it should be really good when it hits the water. GF. You swapped hulls during the middle of the season from your little Sawcraft to a 19ft Bullet which runs a leg. We're you happy with the Bullet performance overall. GC. Considering I had to learn to drive a leg boat which is not easy coming from the Sawcraft I was pretty happy and, quite honestly, if we had the bullet twelve months ago we would have definitely won the 6litre Point Score Series. And I'm not just saying that big headed or anything but we would have won it easily.That's just my personal opinion and not anyone's from the team. Overall it is a much more enjoyable boat to drive. GF. Have you got a busy schedule coming up this season. GC. Very much so and with number of other Bullets being sold at the moment we need to keep one step ahead of those guys. It's possible that we might move up an engine class during the year. We'll just have to wait and see and as years gone by we'll contest every race possible. Where not one of those teams concerned with travelling if there is a race on we'll jump in the bus and of we go. GF. You've got a great observer in Darren Vombraucke and between the two of you, you would have towed some great skiers in your time. GC. Justin Cadden without a doubt, he's the sort of guy you can take anywhere. Get him on the back and he does the business no matter what the conditions or venue and with him we won an Australian Title so we hold him in pretty high esteem. Brendon Hanley was another skier that we won an Australian Title with and he went pretty good as does Jason Jezewski from Shepparton. And he is always a pleasure to tow and Slade Edwards who would have to be one of the best up and coming skiers is showing some really good talent. We've also towed Keith Buxton and I don't really need to say too much about a guy who represents Australia. Without these guys we wouldn't have the success we've had so I'd really like to thank them for having a go with us. GF. What race victory do you hold precious the most ? GC. Probably my first Australian Title. All the top 5litre boats were there and we had the old Sawcraft Strictly which no one thought was going to be competitive and we won it by a lap. GF. With the all victories along the way obviously theres some losses and there must be one that you would really love to turn into a victory. GC. We seem to have a bit of bad luck in the river races and the old boat never really wanted to make a right hand turn so that made it hard but when we fixed that it went pretty good so with races like the Southern Eighty we've only managed a third and think that race is really one I would like to nail but as a whole the rivers are where we like to do best. GF. So what's in store for Glenn Carpenter in the ski racing future ? GC. In the near future I'd like to be running a Super Class boat and really mix it with the big boys. It nearl'y costs us as much to run a race meeting as a Super Class team so theres no reason, taking the cost of the actual boat out why we cant make that transition. I mean we run the team like it is a Super Class team and that is as professional as possible. We take everyone away in our big Denning bus with boats in tow. Everyone's kitted out in the team uniform and we take our own fuel to each race so I'd like to think where the most professional non Super Class team out there. GF. All that into consideration it's a huge effort in manpower and in a financial sense so there must be people and sponsors you would like to thank. GC. That's for sure. I'd like to thank Mick Curtain of Fast Fit Frankston who was one of the original owners of the old boat, the guru Brian Clinnick, he does all the engines for the team and we never have an actual engine problem so if it wasn't for him it would be sitting on the side of the river a lot more often. Signsational for doing the artwork and signs on the boats we've had, also Greg Watt at Raceprint for all our team uniforms. Andy Williams for designing our website which is www.strictlybusinessracing.com . All Class detailing who do a fantastic job for us, it doesn't matter what we ask of Jason he's on to it straightaway. Also Federation Motor Garage in Pearcedale and Beachside Automotive Centre have been very supportive. GF. Thanks for your time Glenn and all the best for the upcoming season. GC.
Thanks very much Graham, anytime. GF. Firstly Slade happy birthday. How old today mate. SE. Yeah thanks for reminding me but unfortunately I'm twenty nine today. Closer and closer to that magical thirty mark. GF. So I hear you've made the move from Hallet Racing over to the ever increasing Strictly Business crew. SE. Yeah that's true, I have made the move. Strictly is the next big up and coming team so we'll just have to see what happens next season. GF. No bad feelings between you and Hallet owner Danny Timewell. SE. Nah mate. No problems there, its just time to move on. Hallets staying in 6litre and Glenn ( owner/driver Strictly Business ) is moving up to 6litre and also runs a boat in 8litre so its just the next step for me and I always said I would do things one step at a time. GF. How were your results last season ? SE. They were alright. We won the Point Score Series 6litre title a second at the Australian Titles and won the Victorian Title in 6litre and personally I won Super Novice and a Victorian Title. GF. This is your fourth season coming up now any goals or targets you've set youself . SE . Just to win some of those titles again and to compete and win as much as possible. It wouldn't hurt to stir some of the big boys up aswell. GF. What to you do to stay fit in the off season ? SE. Train as much as possible with skipping, weights and running as the main activities but also drink a fair bit of booze to keep you warm in those cold winter months. GF. You've had a fair bit of success with Hallet over the years. Any other boats you've raced behind ? SE. I won a Vic Title behind the Superclass boat Hellbent driven by Mark Cranny which was pretty awesome but I started out with a SMOC boat Elm Street and then moved onto Hallet and I also had a run behind Very Touchy. GF. Obviously the Observers job is pretty important, has there been any in particular that you've felt the most comfortable with ? SE. Andy Thomassen with Hallet was really good. He observed for me the whole time and he was fantastic. It would be good to take your observer with you wherever you go but you cant do that sometimes but I have every confidence with the observers that Strictly Business has. GF. Any aspirations to drive or observe yourself. SE. Yeah for sure, I've already got my observers ticket and that's great fun and one day I would love to have a drive and get amongst the big boys and show them how its done. GF. Is there anyone you would like to thank for there support over the years ? SE. Danny Timewell deserves a lot of thanks, he's the the one that gave me a chance so I would like to thank him. Also Glenn Carpenter who along with his team is taking me to that next level I want to be at, but the people who deserve most of the thanks is my family with my wife and two boys getting towed around the countryside all summer. They put up with a fair bit of crap and they have been fantastic. GF. Well thanks for your time tonight Slade. Hope you have a great night for your birthday and all the best for next season. SE.
Not a problem Graham and I'll be sure to have a few White Grenades
tonight and we'll give it a good crack this season coming up.
THE CHIEF WITH PLENTY OF FEATHERS IN HIS CAP COLIN
McQIUNN OWNER/DRIVER OF THE 540CI TWIN TURBO 21FT CONNELLY CALLED
"THE CHIEF" GF. So hows the shoulder Colin ? CM. Yeah it's improving. I'm off to the doctors again this week to get the report off the specialist, which should hopefully give me the all clear to race in the first of the Point Score series in September. GF. Whats the impact of the injury going to be on your driving ? CM. We're not quite sure until I actually get back in the water and behind the wheel so it's pretty hard to say. The preparations of the boat are a bit behind schedule because we've changed the configuration of the motor to twin turbo so it's a complete re-fitout of the engine which is not an easy task. GF. Can you tell us what exactly happened at the S.A. Titles in Murray Bridge in regards to the accident. CM. Basically just a racing incident. We were trying to get over to the outside lane to get around the corner. We we're racing against Hellbent and we couldn't move over and we had an outboard jammed on the outside of us and we couldn't move over. As we approached the corner we we're either going to run over Hellbents skier Keith Buxton or spinout to miss him. So being the nice blokes we are we took the second option. GF. With your role as Chairman of S.R.V. and running a Super Class team, the off season must be still quite busy which also would have an impact on your family. CM. It has been fairly hard Graham. At the upcoming A.G.M. I am stepping down as Chairman so I can spend more time with family. My business has suffered over the last two years. I've put in a lot of money, time and effort into ski racing, so now it's time for the family and work it should also give the time I need to get to boat right. GF. With all the insurance matters sorted out for the moment, it must be good to get back into concentrating soley on getting the " Chief " right for the season. CM.
Yeah, now the sport should go ahead real well. We trying to organize
a Super Series for all the top boats from around Australia and if
we can get a major sponsor it will help us with getting the insurance
down therefore making the cost of ski racing not as harsh as it
has been. CM. The Super Series will be run over all the major river races as a point score series which will give us an Australian Champion at the end of the season. And that will give everyone involved an idea of where they stand over the course of a whole season. GF. Now you moved into the " Chief " which is a 21ft Connelly from " Nemisis" a 21ft Stephens, how did you find the transition into a leg boat. And where is "Nemisis" resting now. CM. "Nemisis " is going to come back as an 8 litre boat for this season or perhaps an Unlimited boat but we're not quite sure yet and that's owned by Andrew King now, who bought my Chevy pickup aswell as a pair. Now the difference between the two boats is huge, absolutely huge. One you just steer and use the cav plates a bit and the one is like flying an aircraft flatout. The power they use and the way they use the power so efficiently is just incredible. They are dead set handfull. You just having to concentrate all the time. GF. So by the sounds of it you prefer the leg boat. CM. It's an absolute buzz. Adrenalin flat out all the time. You just don't now if you in control or out of control. GF. What have the results been like lately. CM. We've had a good year. We placed at Sydney and Grafton in the bridge races. We blew an intercooler at Echuca but then we turned that around and placed at Mildura. We also won a few Australian, Victorian and South Australian Titles. So when you look at it like that it was probably the best season we've had. GF. You contested the Australian Team Selection races with Daniel Shipp and Tim Everist, that must have been a great experience. CM. It was great fun. Daniel had to pull out after a couple of races because of a crook foot which he's since gotten over, then we continued on with Matty Brooks and we made the team with him but when I injured my shoulder I had to pull out of the team. Bernie Elliott's boat "Revival" is going over with him now so we wish them all the best. GF. You'ld like to contest them again in the future. CM. Yeah definitely. I'll have another go with Daniel down the track in the not to distant future and probably with his sister Chloe aswell. GF. You've got a pretty settled crew at the moment any changes for the season coming up C.M. No, not at all. I'm very happy with the crew we have at the moment. I couldn't be happier with my two young skiers I have, in Robert Cheetham and Daniel Shipp. They were placing in the big races last season with us, so I can't see why we can't crack it for a few wins this season. The rest of the crew works so well and there a great bunch of blokes so I couldn't be happier with my crew. GF.It's been a couple of tough years for ski racing and now things are starting to look up. Where would you like to the sport in say 4 to 5 years tim. CM. I would hope that we would be self funding our own insurance policy where the cost to the competitor drops dramatically. Teams would a bit more profesional and perhaps a bit more consistent media coverage especially in television would be great. We need to improve on the safety side of things which will make the whole thing more professional and we need to do that to survive. A major sponsor for the sport wouldn't go a stray either. The sport needs to be a low cost entry because you pay enough for your boats and equipment before you even start racing. Our sport is definitely maketable I just don't think it's been done right in the past. I mean you look at our point score series here in Victoria, it's non-stop action all day. You've got boats doing 100mph down the straight then hooking into a corner, power on and there flying down the straight again. That would be fantastic on television.
CM. No we can't but if it means that Superclass has to drag everyone along and get the major sponsorship, that will benefit the sport as a whole. If the sponsors want to just get behind superclass I say take it anyway because the money will be going back into the sport. So as long the money doesn't just stay in Superclass we'll all benefit. GF. You would definitely have some people and sponsors you would like to thank for there support over the last few seasons. CM. Yeah my family foremost. Jennie and Katherine have been fantastic and give me all the support in the world. Owen Morgan my chief mechanic. Ken Goetz of East Coast Marine for all things marinized. Ian Moorehead looks after the boat cleaning it and all that sort of stuff. My two skiers Robbie Cheetham and Daniel Shipp. My observer Tim Everest does a great job and he's always on the look out for me. All my sponsors have been fantastic, starting with my own company McQuinn Electrical, Clipsall, Tudor Trailers, Somerville Auto Electrics, Ross Smith Raicing, Racepaint, Club Marine, Shippy's IGA Supermarket, and F & H Auto Parts in Rosebud GF. All the best Colin and good luck for this season. CM.
Thanks Graham I appreciate the chance to have a say. THE OBSERVER WITH A MOUNTAIN OF TROPHIES SITTING IN THE CABINET TIM
EVERIST. SKI RACE VICTORIA'S " OBSERVER OF THE YEAR "
FOR SEASON 2002/03 & AUSTRALIAN TEAM MEMBER FOR THE 2003 WORLD
TITLES GF. So Tim what's been happening in the off season. TE. I've had a bit of a break for about three weeks and that's been really good. We had to spend a fair bit of time on the " Chief " at the end of the season to get it ready for the boat show which was a bit of a rush but we got there eventually. GF. How did the team get the gig at the boat show. TE. Basically through Colin's involvement with Club Marine who are a major contributor to the boat show. It's been on the stand for a couple of years now and it's quite a head turner and crowd puller. GF. Your schedule last season as an observer was as busy as anyones. How do you fit it all in. TE. It was by far the busiest year I've ever had that's for sure. Couple that with working on the boat most nights, it doesn't leave room for much else. We had a few mechanical failures during the season so that add's pressure as well. I actually started building a house a few years ago and I still haven't finished it so that says it all. People ask you what your doing this weekend and the reply is always ski racing. Sure I might miss out on a few things but you can't replace the great times you have ski racing. When you do well it's just the best feeling. You work so hard to get to the races and you might race three weekends in row and after each race when you get back on the Sunday night your straight back to the factory Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday night to work on the boat and then Friday you pack everything up to go away again. GF. What role do you take when it's time to work on the boat. TE. I'm a bit of a fix it man but when it's get technical I stay out of it. You know I'll pull the motor out and be a spanner man for Kenny and Morgs when the're into the serious stuff. They usually leave me to pull little things a part and fix them. There the experts so I leave them alone Colin McQuinn. So your saying that someone knows less than you Tim, I don't believe it. TE. Don't listen to Mr Director over there. He spends most of the time on the blower while where out the back getting our hands dirty. GF The Australian Team selection races that you contested this year with Daniel Shipp, where they your first. TE. No I actually towed Karen Edwards in 1999 and she actually made the team. That was with a 19ft Cyclone called "Shortcut". That was pretty hairy, slogging it around Botany Bay in a little 19 footer and it was tough work. As far as Daniels concerned and I don't want to put any pressure on him but he's definitely good enough to make it next time around. I've observed for some pretty good skiers now and mind you of only been observing for 5 years but he's got real natural ability. GF. Would making the Australian Team as an observer be a goal you would set for yourself at the start of the season TE. For sure. It going to be huge. I never actually gave myself a chance of making the team but if you get a sniff you give it everything. People ask what your doing this weekend and you say I'm going up to Sydney to trying and make the Australian Team, they just spin out. Representing Australia will be like ( slight pause ) mate it will be huge. Observing for Matty Brooks in Bernie Elliotts boat " Revival" is a great opportunity and I can't wait to go the States. We actually leave a couple of days after the Bridge to Bridge at Grafton so I'm going to be pretty busy around that time. GF. With all the victory's over your career, is there one that has eluded you to the point where you just go " I want to win that race real bad ". TE. The Southern Eighty is the ultimate race for me probably followed by the Sydney Bridge to Bridge To win them in Super Class would just be grouse. I've won them both in lower classes but to do it in the top class is what I want GF.
You've driven quite a lot of boats in races before such as "Instant
Kaama", "Slylubrious" and "Under The Hammer".
How was the transition into observing. GF. What about the accident with Colin at the S.A. titles. TE. It all happened so quickly. He just went flying between me and the motor and he gave me a bit of a shunt when he went past. You know that's 160kg at a 100mph and I'm half he's weight so you can imagine what that felt like. I'm still going to the physio three times a week because of it. GF. You must be a half alright observer because you won "Observer Of The Year for Victoria". TE. That was like fantastic. It was mind blowing. You just go to these presentation nights for a bit of fun and to get nominated is great but to win is like, being at the Logies. You get called up to the stage and you just don't know what to say. There's so many people you want to thank and you don't want to forget anyone. It was pretty overwhelming. The whole night was run so well and professional it was great. The Committee do a great job and they have all year. GF. Daniel Shipp who you observe for is a great young and up and coming skier and is touted to be up there with the best in the future if he isn't already now,has there been any the past that you've observed or drivin for that you thought were really good at what they do TE. Girls like Karen Edwards and Kimberley Hosking were really good. Kimberley's brother Nathan was one of the blokes that went really good. Troy Wilkinson was one that comes to mind and he was progressing so fast but then he had a big getoff and injured his arm. The arm has improved but they say he'll never race again. That's a real shame but the main thing is that at the end if the day he's okay. Because of the speeds we do the sport is not real forgiving. Robbie Cheetham for his size is awesome and he's one of these blokes with pure natural ability. Shippy's sister Chloe along with Bethany Pledger are two girls to look for in the future aswell. Matty Brooks is another one with ability. He's young and he's still got a lot to learn but anyone who's made the Australian Team is doing something right. GF. Being involved at the highest level of the sport what do you think the sport needs to do to get to that next level of professionalism. TE. We need a really good promotional setup with television and more media coverage in general. You look at lesser sports and the coverage they get and you think what about our sport. Take for example yacht racing you see during lunch on the cricket, I don't see how you can find that exciting. Watching boats and skiers doing 100mph around a circuit would be much more exciting. Maybe a professional promotional company is the way to go. They take there cut and we take our big cut. GF. Considering all the involvement you've had with ski racing is there anyone you would like to thank. TE. Probably the big fella sitting over there ( Colin McQuinn ). He's the one that offered me the ride in his boat. It's just a huge opportunity that he's given me and I really thank him for that. All my skiers over the years I've towed have been great. The sponsors of the team for there support and contribution. Theres so many people. I don't want to forget anyone. Also Morgs and Kenny for there work on the boat. They get in, get there hands dirty and don't stop until the jobs done. You can't run a team like ours unless you have guys like Kenny and Morgs. You know It's guys like Max Wilkinson who I observed for, that get to all the races, there the real backbone of the sport. Mick Brooks also for his help during the season. GF. Thanks for your time Tim and we'll have a couple of beers at the first point score to celebrate your new status as a ski racing superstar. TE. Not a problem Graham but we better tone down that superstar stuff. If I get a big head, Col will be up for a new Peltor helmet and they cost a fortune. GF.
Not necessarily Tim. Check out the website www.strisctlybusinessracing.com
and you'll find all the race gear you need at great prices. _____________________________________ OWNER/DRIVER
OF SUPERCLASS BOATS
MC.
YEAH DEFINATELY HAPPY TO GET RACING AGAIN. I THINK EVERYONE INVOLVED
IN SKI RACING IS HAPPY TO GET INTO IT AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR. AS
FAR AS THE OFF SEASON IS CONCERNED WE'RE PRETTY MUCH INTO IT ALL
THE TIME. THERES NO TIME FOR SITTING AROUND SCRATCHING YOURSELF
THAT'S FOR SURE. THERES ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO. IF THINGS ARE GOING
OKAY WITH THE BOATS WE TRY AND GET ANOTHER ENGINE TOGETHER SO THAT
ITS THERE READY TO GO IF NEEDS BE. ITS NOT ALL ABOUT HOW FAST THE
ENGINE CAN GO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS A COMPLETE PACKAGE. MC. LAST YEAR WE TOOK HELLRAZOR UP AND WE DID A MOTOR ON THE FRIDAY IN PRACTICE SO THAT WAS US FOR THE WEEKEND. THIS YEAR WE TOOK HELLBENT AND CAME AWAY WITH SECOND OUTRIGHT. IT WAS A GOOD WEEKEND UP THERE NOT AS HOT AS LAST YEAR SO THE WEATHER WAS A BIT MORE CONJUSIVE TO US SOUTHERNERS. GF. SO THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU'D ACTUALLY RUN THE WHOLE COURSE. MC. IT WAS ACTUALLY AND A LITTLE MORE DAUNTING THAN RUNNING THE COURSES IN OUR RIVERS. IT'S THE SHEER SIZE OF IT THAT MAKES IT HARDER TO NAVIGATE COMPARED TO OUR RIVERS BECAUSE YOU TEND TO JUST FOLLOW OUR RIVERS AND THE BENDS AS THE COME ALONG BUT THERE AT GRAFTON IN SOME PLACES IT'S LIKE A BAY SO ITS HARDER TO PICK YOUR RACE LINE. GF. WITH A SECOND PLACE UNDER YOUR BELT YOU MUST BE KEEN TO HEAD OVER TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA FOR THE MURRAY BRIDGE 110 AND GIVE THIS SUPER SERIES A REAL CRACK. MC. WE'LL HEAD OVER THERE AND JUST SEE HOW WE GO. I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT IF WE CAN FINISH EVERY RACE WE'LL BE UP THERE WITH A CHANCE AND IT'S DEFINATELY SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE WINNING THE SUPER SERIES. GF. I ASSUME IT WILL BE A FULL ON ASSAULT AT THE AUSSIE TITLES AT JINDABYNE IN JANUARY. MC. I NEED TO GET A FEW MORE THINGS IN PLACE AND SEE WHO'S GOING TO DO WHAT AS FAR SKIERS AND WHAT RACES THEY WANT TO DO BUT WE'LL HEAD UP THERE AND GIVE IT A GO. GF. TELL US ABOUT THIS FACILITY YOU HAVE SETUP HERE IN YOUR FACTORY WHICH IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE AND PROBABLY THE MOST PROFFESIONAL GOING AROUND AND ALSO EX GODS GIFT OBSEREVER AND ENGINE BUILDER STUART THOMAS'S INVOLVEMENT HERE. MC. THIS IS ALL SET UP PURPOSELY TO HOUSE THE TWO BOATS AND TO WORK ON THEM ASWELL AND THEREFORE NOT CROWDING THINGS UP AT HOME. MY GARAGE AT HOME WOULD NOT BE BIG ENOUGH TO HAVE THE BOATS THERE AND WE GET TO KEEP EVERYTHING IN HOUSE HERE SO AS NOT HAVING TO TAKE THE BOATS AWAY TO DO ANYTHING TO THEM. EVERYTHING WE NEED IS HERE INCLUDING THREE PHASE POWER AND ITS ALSO UNDER VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SO I CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS. STUART IS HERE PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME WORKING ON THE BOATS, REFINING THEM AND MAINTAINING THEM AT A LEVEL SO AS WE CAN BE COMPETETIVE AT EVERY RACE WE GO TO AND HE COMES AWAY TO THE RACES ALSO TO HELP KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS FOR ME AS FAR AS THE ENGINS IS CONCERENED I ALSO HAVE MARTIN BREE HERE AT VARIOUS STAGES DOING FABRICATION WORK WHEN ITS REQUIRED. GF. WITH SUCH A PROFESSIONAL SETUP HERE DO YOU FEEL THAT ADDED PRESSURE TO PERFORM BECAUSE OF THE EXTENT YOU GO TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE PERFECT.
GF. LOOKING AT THESE TWO BOATS ITS OBVIOUS THAT YOU PUT AS MUCH EFFORT INTO DETAIL OF THERE APPEARANCE AS THERE PERFORMANCE. MC. WE LIKE TO HAVE THE BOATS LOOKING HALF ALRIGHT. IT HELPS PROMOTE THE SPORT ASWELL BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE JUST GOT TO THE RACES TO LOOK AT THE BOATS AND NOT THE ACTUALL RACING. THEY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT GOES INTO THEM AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY DON'T KNOW HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER, THEY JUST LOVE THE LOOK OF THEM. WE GAVE HELLBENT A BIT MORE OF A PAINT JOB AFTER THE S.A. TITLES, REPLUMBED THE BOAT TO NEATEN IT UP A BIT AND ALSO PUT NEW HIGHBACK SEATS IN IT JUST A MODERN IT UP AND BRING IT INTO THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY A BIT. GF. HOW MUCH DO YOU GET INVOLVED YOUSELF WITH WORKING ON THE BOATS YOUSELF. MC. SINCE I'VE STARTED SKI RACING ITS PRETTY MUCH TAKEN OVER MY LIFE. I LOVE WORKING ON THEM AS MUCH AS I DO DRIVING THEM. THE THINKTANKS WE HAVE WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO WORK OUT WHATS GOING TO WORK BEST ARE GREAT.SOMETIMES IT ALL TURNS TO SHIT AND OTHER TIMES IT ALL WORKS OUT. GF. ITS BEEN A HUGE RISE TO GLORY FOR YOU FROM RUNNING HELLRAZOR IN EIGHT LITRE ONE YEAR AT THE SOUTHERN EIGHTY. THE NEXT YEAR WINNING SUPERCLASS IN THAT BOAT AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR HAVING A HUGELY COMPETITIVE LEGBOAT IN HELLBENT. MC. IVE ALWAYS HAD A BOAT AND DONE A LOT OF SOCIAL SKIING MYSELF SO WE MADE A CONCIOUS DECISION THAT IF WE GOING TO DO IT WE'LL DO IT RIGHT. I BOUGHT THE RACECRAFT HULL FROM SYDNEY WHICH WAS THEN CALLED AGENT WITH A TWIN TURBO MOTOR IN IT AND I REALLY DIDN'T FEEL I WAS UP TO RUNNING A SUPER CLASS BOAT WITH A PROBATIONRY LISCENCE IN MY FIRST YEAR WHICH WITH SAFETY IN MIND WAS AGOOD IDEA.SO WE RAN THE EIGHT LITRE MOTOR FOR A WHILE THEN WHEN WE GOT HOME FROM THE SOUTHERN EIGHTY WE REJIGGED THE TWIN TURBO MOTOR AND RAN A THIRD AT ROBINVALE IN SUPERCLASS. GF. OBVIOUSLY THE DRIVING AS COMES PRETTY NATURAL TO YOU THEN. MC. I FEEL LIKE IT HAS A TO CERTAIN DEGREE BUT THERES ALSO BEEN A LOT OF PRACTICE INVOLVED. WE MADE THE DECISION TO DO ALL THE POINT SCORE RACES AND ANY RACES THAT COME UP WHETHER THEY BE IN N.S.W. OR S.A. SO AS TO GET AS MUCH RACE TIME UNDER THE BELT AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU DO A LOT OF IT YOUR BOUND TO GET BETTER. IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE, I'VE GOT THE BOATS I WANT TO DRIVE THEM SO LETS GO AND RACE. GF. WHAT WAS YOUR MAIN REASONING BEHIND PURCHASING THE CONNELY LEGBOAT. MC. HELLBENT EX THE PUMP FROM SYDNEY I FEEL IS THE WAY TO GO,DUE MAINLY TO THE OUTRIGHT SPEED OF THE LEGBOATS. YOUR LIMITED TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WITN A V DRIVE BOAT AND I JUST FEEL HELLBENT IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE FOR US IN SKI RACING. GF. WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR HELLRAZOR NOW THAT YOU HAVE HELLBENT. MC. I'LL RUN HELLRAZOR AT THE SOUTHERN EIGHTY AND BASICALLY USE IT AS A BACKUP FOR THE POINT SCORES AND ANY OTHER RACES WE GOT TO. IT'S THERE READY TO GO PRETTY MUCH ANYTIME SO IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO HELLBENT I'LL GET SOMEONE TO HOOK HER UP AND BRING HER TO THE RACES. IN THAT WAY WE DON'T LET ANYONE DOWN. IN REGARDS TO THE SOUTHERN EIGHTY THE RACECRAFT LENDS ITSELF BETTER TO THAT STYLE OF RACE. ITS NOT AS FAST AS HELLBENT BUT ITS MORE CONSICENT COMING IN AND OUT OF THE CORNERS. GF. HELLBENT IS THE PERFECT SETUP FOR THE SELECTION RACES FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM TO CONTEST THE NEXT WORLD TITLES, IS THAT PERHAPS IN THE PIPELINE FOR YOU. MC. IF THE RIGHT COMBINATION CAME ALONG AND THE SKIER WANTED TO GO THAT WAY IT'S SOMETHING I'D CONSIDER. YOU NEVER SAY NEVER ABOUT THAT SORT OF THING BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING IN THE PIPELINE FOR ME AND IT COSTS A HELL OF A LOT OF MONEY TO DO A WORLD TITLE CAMPAIGN. GF. HOW WAS THE TRANSITION FRON THE V DRIVE TO THE LEGBOAT. MC. DEFINITELY A BIG LEARNING CURVE AND I HAVEN'T MASTERED YET THAT'S FOR SURE. I'LL STILL BE SITTING HERE IN FIVE YEARS TIME TRYING TO WORK THEM OUT COMPLETELY. WE GO TO POINT SCORES AND DO AS MANY RACES AS POSSIBLE. IF THE SKIERS ARE THERE WE'LL DO THE RACES. THE ONLY WAY TO GET BETTER IS TIME OUT ON THE WATER UNDER RACE CONDITIONS. GF. WHATS TOUS SKIER COMBINATION GOING TO BE FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.
GF. CONSIDERING THE FINANCIAL COMITTMENT YOU'VE MADE TO YOUR TEAM IT MUST BE REASSURING THAT SKI RACING IS BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. MC. I THINK THE SPORT AND IT'S SURVIVAL IS INDICITIVE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN IT AND THERE LOVE OF THE SPORT. IT'S FANTASTIC THE LOVE PEOPLE HAVE FOR THE SPORT AND THE FACT THAT THEY FOUGHT TO KEEP IT UP AND RUNNING IS GREAT AND THEY WERENT GOING TO LET IT DIE. AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU DON'T DO IT FOR THE MONEY, LIKE YOUSELF DOING THESE ARTICLES FOR THE PAPER,IT'S PURELY A LOVE OF THE SPORT. YOU GO TO THE RIVER CLASSICS AND YOU JUST KNOW WHY YOU DO IT. IT'S A HUGE ADRENALIN RUSH AND WE NOT HERE JUST FOR A PRACTICE RUN THAT'S FOR SURE .WE DO THE THINGS WE LOVE. GF. IN REGARDS TO THE CLASSIS RIVER RACES WAS WINNING THE SOUTHERN EIGHTY OUTRIGHT YOUR BIGGEST ACHEIVEMENT SO FAR. MC. YEAH DEFINITELY THE HIGHLIGHT SO FAR IN MY CAREER AND I TELL YOU WHAT I'D LOVE TO DUPILCATE IT. GF. IS THERE ANYONE YOU'D LIKE TO THANK FOR THERE SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY.
GF.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY MARK AND ALL THE BEST FOR THE SUPER SERIES
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