The start of the week signalled the much anticipated arrival of Craig Cassell from the USA. Craig has come down under for the next couple of months to help with the Minetec Racing Team and impart much of his knowledge on setups and race car management, information we have been longing to get. He has fitted into the team like a long time member and already made an impression, and produced results that we were hopeful of getting. Craig’s enthusiasm, his love of dirt motor racing, and working on race cars, is enormous, and supports the cost and whole idea in bringing him to Australia in the first place. Added to this he is a really nice guy and has been able to communicate with Rob (which anyone who knows him is a task in itself!) by asking the right questions and offering advice on his driving that has already shown huge improvement to the # 28 Green Machine.

At the moment some horsepower would be nice, as the car is giving away more than 200 hp to most of the field. I am hoping that Ziggy, who is the new team engine builder, manages to get the 430 motor finished and ready to put into the car this week so we can try to go faster and maybe shock a few of the more fancied competitors in the division.

Whilst Rob failed to make a big impact on opening night and a few carby problems cut down the laps we completed overall, the feedback, and handling, was greatly improved from last year. The major rebuild, and new parts, combined with the better setup, has left me very positive of our prospects this season. The level Craig has bought to the team in just the way he prepares a race car has certainly shown a deficiency in the way I previously did the job. The whole crew are learning so much and the desired result will be to continue the standard when Craig heads home in January.

The opening night ended on a sombre note like nearly everyone's did as the tragic news filtered through the pits of Mike Figliomeni passing away earlier in the night. The sentiments expressed by Craig Nylander and Wade Aunger truly only touch on the quality that Michael really was, as a competitor, and a person. He will be missed by all of us in the Speedway fraternity as the true champion he was, and as a great ambassador of our sport. I extend our prayers and thoughts from the entire Minetec Racing Teams to his family and friends on your loss, and know that he will be dearly missed by all.

The venture out to Northam over the weekend was a more joyful occasion as the opportunity to get some more laps under our belt seems to be a priority. The outlook of rain was quickly expelled as Rod and the guy's at Northam put on a real top quality track for us to run on. After the criticism levelled at the facility over the last few seasons it now has the potential to become the best race track in the state. Sure it will never be as good a facility as the Motorplex but it is heading in the right direction. For those who bucket the track I think time will soon change your mind. Well done Northam and lets hope more cars get there on the 2nd of December and support the 50 lapper. If last weekend was anything to go by a big field of late models will be awesome to watch with the opportunity to pass clearly available. Thanks to the other cars that took the time to travel up there.

I think everyone got something beneficial out of the night and a good social drink after the racing was enjoyed by all. I hope no one is silly enough to ask Rob how he went Saturday night as the story is now greatly embellished and poor John Mac had to endure the whole thing in its many versions all the way back to Perth that night. All joking aside it was an impressive display of what our car can do and as much as it pains me, a great driving job done by the short one. Lets hope this is a sign of things to come and a prelude to the future success of the team.

With the 2 day meeting at the Motorplex this weekend and a promise of a longer feature I can only hope that our racing is first class with less controversy and that the sprinters get their act together and make this a great two nights of racing. See you all there.

Ian Groves.