West Coast Eagles V8 Supercar Experience
11/6/2004 22:10 (Press Release) -
Four players from the West Coast Eagles learnt what it takes to be a member of a V8 Supercar team today, when they joined Steven Ellery and the Super Cheap Auto Racing crew to learn how to complete a pit stop at Barbagallo Raceway.
The four players, Brent Staker, Mark Seaby, Kane Munro and Mark Nicoski together changed all four tyres on the #31 Falcon while being timed by Super Cheap Auto Racing Team Manager, John McLean.
All four West Coast Eagles players commented on the different team environment within the V8 Supercar paddock. However, Brent Staker made particular notice of the similarities between the diverse sports.
“It [V8 Supercar Racing] is a very competitive environment, there is a lot of team work involved and if you make a little mistake it lets the whole team down which in that respect relates to footy,” said Brent Staker.
Mark Seaby echoed his team mate and noted the differences and pressure placed on the crew who work to ensure the 600 horsepower Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon remains on track.
“It was similar to the footy field in that if one person lets you down it affects the whole team,” Seaby commented, “I didn’t want to stuff up [the tyre change] so I could get a good time. While I was a little slow to start with, I got good towards the end.”
Lucky Kane Munro, received a lap with Steven Ellery in the Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon before taking the air gun and changing tyres with his fellow West Coast Eagles team mates.
“Growing up in the country, I had used an air gun to change tyres in the past, but this afternoon it was a different experience,” Munro stating.
“While it was a very different environment and you had to work under pressure and with every little bit helping the rest of the team.”
Prior to the West Coast Eagles players completing their pit stops, they were shown the ropes by members of the Super Cheap Auto Racing team which impressed Mark Nicoski.
“It was pretty intense to start with. All the noises of the air guns and competition between the different teams also practising their pit stops,” Nicoski commented.
“When it was my turn it was a matter of trying to do what had to be done quickly.”
Super Cheap Auto Racing driver, Steven Ellery an AFL fan himself was glad to share his working conditions with the West Coast Eagles stars.
“The guy’s times where pretty good if one of the crew happens to get sick during the races on the weekend, I know where we can go looking for a replacement to join Super Cheap Auto Racing,” Ellery commented.
However, all four AFL stars agreed that in the meantime they would stick to their following their career paths already established in Aussie Rules.
Steven Ellery was 32nd in the first practice session for the VB300 with a broken steering rack cutting short practice for the Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon with only four laps of the resurfaced Barbagallo Raceway completed.
Tomorrow Ellery hopes to better this result in the second practice session prior to qualifying and race one at 4.10pm.
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