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[V8UTES] Sidey returns to his roots..
by Sean Henshelwood
(Archived)
Sidebottom sharpens skills ahead of Ute return..
10 November, 2008
GP Racing’s Ray Sidebottom made a return to his childhood last weekend in an effort to hone his skills prior to a return to the V8 Ute ranks for the season finale at Oran Park in December.
At the invitation of former fellow karter Graeme Powles, Ray competed in the first annual Over 40s Grand Prix at the Numurkah go-kart track, the very venue on which he honed his skills as a teenager.
“I had a ball,” he grinned. “I don’t know how long it’s been since I last drove a kart, but it’s been at least 15 years. I was surprised at how comfortable it felt.. One thing getting back into a kart did though was show me just how good it is for your reflexes.”
A winner in V8 Utes at Darwin in 2007, Ray elected to sit out the 2008 Ute season after the GP Racing team decided to run just one Ute this season for son Shanan. “Business was the main focus for me this year, so I made the decision at the end of 2007 to sit this season out and work on Shanan’s career. Unfortunately though like many of the Holden teams, we’ve struggled with finding a ‘sweet’ spot with the new cars setup and struggled since swapping to the VE at round three.
“Shanan’s enjoyed himself, but decided after Bathurst that he’d like to see me contest the final round as he’s in the final stages of developing a new business himself.
“I suppose I felt a little bit ‘rusty’ after 12 months out of the seat, so the chance to go back to my roots and get in some miles in a kart was most welcome.
“Graeme used to be the icon in Numurkah when I was growing up, and as a dual Australian champion himself, helped me out a lot, so when he told me what he was planning, I though, why not..”
Ray contested the Over 50’s Clubman category with the assistance of his younger brother Brett who operates a kart buiness in nearby Echuca. A few laps of his former stomping grounds the week prior left Ray full of anticipation for a great weekend.
Drawn grids saw the former Australian Future Tourer champion take 11th on the grid, however a couple of strong heat runs and second in the pre-final, saw the local driver line up on the front row for the final.
One of his trademark strong starts put the Holden star into the lead by the first turn, although as the race wore on, Sidey wore out…
“At the start of the weekend I thought hey, how good’s this, I might revive a karting career, and despite working my way forward in the heats, I got half way through the final and thought ‘I’m buggered’. I’d forgotten how physical it is..”
In the end Ray claimed fifth, and was disappointed not to make the podium. “He shouldn’t be too concerned,” Brett admitted, “the guys he was racing do it almost every weekend, so he put in a pretty good showing for a bloke that hasn’t raced karts for 15 years.”
For Ray his focus now turns to testing at nearby Winton in preparation for Oran Park’s V8 Ute finale.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he grinned, “it will be nice to get behind the wheel again and have proper go. I’m not up for series points, so there’s nothing for me to lose, and it will be nice to drive the VE for the first time..”
2008 Yokohama Australian V8 Ute Racing Series – Championship points
(after seven rounds of eight): 1. Layton Crambrook (632 points), 2. Kim Jane (589), 3. Grant Johnson (533), 4. Gary Baxter (507), 5. Ryal Harris (465), 6. Colin Corkey (460), 7. Jack Elsegood (457), 8. Stephen Robinson (445), 9. Craig Dontas (415), 10. George Miedecke (404), 21. Shanan Sidebottom (234)
GP Racing is proudly supported by Flo Lounge Shepparton, Green Petroleum, Australian Rubber Manufacturers, Aussie Boat Shares, GP Diesel, 321Ignition Magazine, SKIN Industries, Thompson Holden, Tyrepower Numurkah and Podge Constructions.
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