Joe Gibbs Driven

SYDNEY, AUSTRAILIA (May 11, 2009) - Running a new PB at Willowbank just two weeks ago and not wanting to change anything we left the truck and trailer in Brisbane at Kel & Axle’s place, ready to take on to Sydney. John, Ben, and Alison flew to Brisbane and along with Axle had a relatively short drive to Sydney; 12 hours instead of the usual 28 hours from Ayr. It makes a big difference when we can fly the first part of the journey. Traveling down the New England Highway the scenery was spectacular at times with trees in their autumn colours; differing shades of green, red and yellow, and clear skies all the way. Thursday night we caught up with Allen Puglia & his team (from WA) and Dave Newcombe’s team, over a couple of drinks and a good feed at the Eastern Creek Tavern.

Friday we woke frozen to the bone, but the temp did rise during the day. Unfortunately the race schedule didn’t go to plan and it wasn’t until 8.00pm that Pro Stock had their 1st qualifier. Aaron Tremayne top qualified in the first session with a 7.135 @ 190.62. Shane Tucker #2 with 7.178 @ 189.95. Tyronne Tremayne #3 with 7.192 @ 188.73. The rest of the entrants appeared to skate their way down the track with non-representative passes. 9.486 was the bump spot.

4.30pm Saturday with a large Sydney crowd in the stands Pro Stock came out for their 2nd session of qualifying. The JB Automotive Ford ZX2 Escort ran 7.141 @ 192.41 placing it a firm 3rd in the qualifying order. Dave Newcombe’s rooster powered Pontiac GTO top qualified with 7.121 @ only 186.33mph. The bump spot now stood at a stunning 7.180; 0.059 spreading the 8-car field; a new record quickest ANDRA Pro Stock field in history, bettering the previous quickest bump of 7.193 seconds set at Round Two of the Championship.

Now after dark and well after the scheduled 5.30pm session time, with dew settling on the cars, the track condition was less than ideal for the 3rd session of qualifying. The pecking order did not change. Most drivers abandoned the 4th session due to the conditions.

Allan, with helper – Rhett Strano -cooked up a feast of seafood to feed the Team and anyone else in the vicinity. Sunday dawned, fine and warmish. Bacon, eggs and toast – a breakfast for champions. 12.30pm Pro Stock commenced with a reasonable corrected altitude of 1.0254 on the weather station; the JB Automotive Ford ZX2 Escort was seeded against 6th qualifier Tyronne Tremayne. Although Tyronne had the holeshot with 0.426 against JB’s 0.465, from the 330ft on it was all JB Automotive. With a 1.004 60ft, under the Pro Stock record pass of 7.045 @ 192.96mph (310.55kph), to Tyronne’s loosing 7.148 @ 190.89mph. The Team was ecstatic! Hugs & kisses all round.

With Team moral on a high between-round servicing was completed in record time with very little adjustment required for the Semi final. This time we were racing the 2nd of the Tremayne cars; Aaron. As 3pm rolled around, and with the air and track conditions almost unchanged the JB Automotive Ford ZX2 Escort streaked by the Chev Cobolt. By the 660ft mark it was all JB Automotive once again, with a 1.002 60ft and 154.03mph half track speed to a fantastic 7.042 e.t. @ 193.18mph (310.90kph). The rest as they say is history. Made history that is. A new ANDRA Pro Stock e.t. record eclipsing the record of 7.075 set by Tyronne Tremayne at the 2008 Winternationals. It now stands at an official 7.042 secs. The JB Automotive Ford ZX2 Escort Team not only set a new record but was in the final.

JB Team Once again the between-round serving took very little time, and very few changes were made to the set up. The Tremayne supported Pontiac GTO of Jason Hedges was next to feel the dominance of the JB Automotive Ford ZX2 Escort. After a little snooze by John, on the line with a 0.523 to Jason’s 0.445 reaction, the race was on. With another 7.0 run (the third in a row) 7.064 sec @192.74mph against Jason’s 7.203 @ 188.81mph to take a convincing win. Hugs, tears and hand shakes were the order of the day.

Let’s now acknowledge the JB Automotive / Joe Gibbs Driven Oil / Fabre Australia / Adrian Britton Asset Reliability & Consulting Ford ZX2 Escort Team and the part each one plays in this sport of drag racing:

Shawn – crew chief, clutch specialist, tuning calls, start line co-ordinator and more.
Ben – gear box removal, parachute packing, car detailing, start-line staging anchor, catering and more.
Axle - gear box removal #2 (cause they are heavy), wheelie bar & other rear end adjustments, and more.
Alan – track and start line analysing, catering (“Aristos”), social butterfly, engine servicing, and more.
Philip – between-round engine servicing, support vehicle driver and more.
Alison – data downloading, parachute packing, camera person, and more.
John – data analysing, tuning calls, team socialite, oh and most importantly - the driver, and more.

A most loyal and reliable Team – thanks everyone.
Also, thank you Robert & Rhett Strano for your friendship and support over the weekend.