Little Green Soldiers

[This story appeared in the first issue of "Street Commodores - Aussie BRutes", pp96 - 102]

Blokey, fun, hectic, with just a bit of larrikin thrown in. Welcome to V8Brutes 2002, the middle market hunting ground for the lucrative 25 to 50-year-old business in everything from prophylactics to just good old-fashioned beer. Think about it for a minute, then throw a big bent eight into a lightweight ute frame with upgraded stoppers, but only minimal rubber, and you have a recipe for dead set thrills and spills. No wonder V8Brutes are bordering on being the most successful niche motorsport formula in the history of the Aussie sport.

It's not all beer and skittles, though, far from it. Away from the limelight, after the races and presentations are long finished, there is a serious side to the sport. With so much notoriety and publicity on offer for the victors, the whole travelling V8Brute circus is treated as a powerful commercial entity. The utes themselves are hand-fettled to within a bee’s whisker of the rules, and the drivers undertake physical training regimes to keep them on the cutting edge. To be successful requires this sort of commitment.

That Coopers the company behind some of my best fun nights and thumping next day hangovers, got into the act is a no-brainer. Get a V8 ute, or 30, race ‘em hard, bang the panels and what’s logical after the race? Other than fisticuffs, you would reckon that a good cold brew would be the answer, with Glenn Cooper having a similar mindset, and plumping the might of his burgeoning brewing company behind a pair of beautifully presented utes.

Entering the HMS Racing workshop in Adelaide is like stepping off in Mars. No greasy floors or dirty rags, lying around here. It is a dead-set V8 Supercar style workshop, unfortunately for one of those other 'things' (Four letter word, starting with F), but still managing to accommodate the pair of luminous (or as Glen would say 'Pale') green utes pictured here.
The guys in the team are well presented, friendly and eager to help, as is the ‘Queen’ of the operation, Ines Stangherlin. The theory is simple. Ever heard the cliché 'behind every good man is an even better woman’? Well, it's a calculated bet that some of this will rub of on the utes, with Ines being behind every step of their organisation and progress.

Getting a handle on the real ins and outs of V8Brutes involved the complicated and taxing task of sitting down with Ines, talking about utes and beer. (Girl, utes, beer - I love my job) while all the time trying to keep my hands off the promotional stock stacked up in the back corner. Here’s what, this dead-set Queen of the Utes had to tell us...

SC: We are all aware of the HMS V8Supercar effort (it’s a Ford … puke), why then would the same operation want to run in the V8Brute class?

IS: The Brutes are popular and exciting. However, it came about because a group of motorsport guys having a regular bi-monthly luncheon last year. After many wines and a few refreshing Pales, they all got excited about Brutes. Next minute Brocky (not P. Brock, I might add) bought one. Chris Smerdon and Gary Young already owned their Brutes and George Nowak, team boss, thought it was a fantastic idea to run them out of the HMS operation. How he has learnt!

SC: How many Coopers utes do you actually have? Are there more than just the two Commodores?

IS: Yes we have. The two Commodores and one Ford. We were going to run with Fords only as we had two Ford Supercars that we were running, but after discussions with Glenn Cooper. it was decided that it would be a good thing to run Holdens as well; that covers all of his Coopers punters – Holden and Ford lovers. It was a good commercial marketing decision and, to be perfectly frank, it’s the Holdens that are the true class of the field.

SC: I notice your drivers have nicks like “Growler” etc. Tell us a bit about the guys. IS: Well, “Growler”, what can I say, I guess he just goes for it! Gary “Growler” Young, pretty cool, very laid back about his racing, rarely gets wound up, but don’t cross him – he will really GROWL! Gary loves his driving and is quite a good steerer, can drive well around problems, doesn’t carry on, he likes to have a red hot go. Last year he was third in the championship in the Brutes and won the most races. He blew an engine at Indy last year, which put a damper on things. Michael Brock “The Hammer” was named after his 20 years of auctioneering expertise of the hammer falling. But after round one at Clipsal, where he got himself into serious trouble and the Red Coopers Brute (the Ford!) had to have a total body swap, we now know that he hammers all if it’s in the way, (not intentionally); just inexperienced at driving a V8 beast with hardly no weight. He is used to the four wheel drive of a Mitsubishi EVO VI. The “Hammer” has been hammering along all season. Brocky is a very vivacious and excited person, loves his Brute and really loves having fun motor racing; only recently going into it after starting in a Mitsubishi Mirage and EVO VI. Before races, he gets a bit toey and goes on walkabout. I’m forever trying to find him to make sure he has his race suit on. After races, it’s his ‘jockettes’ we always find airing out in the transporter! Make out of that what you will … Chris “Snapper” Smerdon. Chris is one of the nicest guys you will meet. A former V8Supercar racer, (thank god, in an LP Commodore no less) over 10 years. Retired from the Supercar, had a break, but an old racer never gives up a drive. He was keen to jump into the utes, as they are V8s and he loves his Holdens. Chris is laid back in many areas and likes to be fairly peaceful, as his business life is very hectic in the IT world. He likes fishing, however, but now hardly goes because of racing.

Chris is fussy about his car, as he knows quite a bit mechanically, from the Supercar days. He is always checking with the guys about this and that, what has been done and also has a habit of changing his mind about settings, tyre pressures and things at the last minute, which drives the boys crazy! Chris thought he would be a bit further up the field, but the competition is strong and there are some young-gun drivers in this ute competition.

SC: More to the point, what have been the 2002 highlights for the Cooper’s utes?

IS: The three-car team really stands out on the track. Our pit bay setup, complete with flooring luminated pit bay panels, with signage has gained Coopers some fabulous response. Drive days and hot laps are also important in helping to build the team’s credibility.

Hot laps have been provided at almost every track the Coopers Brutes have raced on, giving the lucky guys and girls beaming smiles from when they get the suit and gloves on, until they get out of the hot, revving beasts.

SC: And the lowlights?

IS: Unfortunately, Brocky’s ute had to have a body swap after the first race – Clipsal 500 and Chris Smerdon’s had to have one after an incident whilst leading the race at Winton. The utes always come back smashed in some area and it puts a horrific amount of pressure on the mechanics and panel beaters to get the teamready for the next round.

It has been a very expensive year for us. This one-make race series was supposed to be a cheap form of racing, but it really hasn’t proven to be the case. We were expecting Gary Young to be the case. We were expecting Gary Young to be up at the pointy end of the field during the year, but really, Youngy and Smerdon were always around 5th to 8th, and Brocky was always around the 12th mark. I know we can improve on that.

SC: Is body damage a reality at every event?

IS: Yes, it really is the nature of the beast – a manual V8, basically a road car going as fast as it can around race tracks with a light rear end!

Nightmare stuff, but it does make for some really good dicing and great spins.

Panel damage is unavoidable. If you were really worried about it, though, you would never bother competing.

SC: While I am it, how reliable have the VUs been?

IS: They are pretty good mechanically, and don’t seem to have the gearbox troubles that the Fords had at the start of the year. Another advantage with the VU is that they seem to put the power down earlier on corner exit, giving them a better drive down the chute. Put that down to the independent rear end, if you want. The only problem with the Holden is a low brake pedal in comparison to the Ford.

SC: I know the V8Brute class has some heavy parity rules, but which is the gun ute to have?

IS: The Holden is definitely better than the Ford in relation to mechanical reliability and, really, with the parity rules the way they are, there is no clear advantage for either car. It mostly comes down to the driver.

SC: You mentioned that you drive these cars occasionally. How far removed from road cars are they?

IS: They have upgraded brakes, the four-spotters you can see on the front, and good quality suspension. Motec engine management controls the output of the engine (keeps it low), while there is a roll cage, race seats and, most importantly, a locked or spool-style differential to replace the much softer Holden unit. Clutches are aftermarket heavy-duty single plate and the exhaust system is a Gonzo 3-inch.

SC: Why Coopers? What is the benefit of V8Brutes for their company?

IS: The road-going versions of these utes are ‘the’ thing that 25-30 something execs are getting into. It was, and is, cool to have a ute. From a marketing viewpoint, Glenn Cooper was keen on them, as he saw a connection with his beer and target market. The fact that he also loves his motorsport and has been involved with cars previously helps no end. The market extends from the country to the city … in fact, to wherever the folks have discerning taste in beer.

Most of our races are on the eastern side of the country and that’s where his company wanted to make an impact, particularly with Pale Ale. Here in Adelaide, it sells itself due to its high quality and refreshing full-bodied taste, leaving Glenn to concentrate on the East Coast. We have Coopers club nights in the East, with utes on display, and a heap of giveaways to keep everyone captivated.

Then there are the drive days, where Coopers organise for 20 people to come along and have hot laps, followed by a barbie and some of the corporate nectar. This is mainly for the bottle shop and pub people, the staple business if you like.

Glenn likes things to be done professionally and not attacked in a half-hearted manner, and that’s how we approach the whole Coopers racing deal. We have known each other for a while and we really enjoy working together. It has been a great year and Coopers are fantastic sponsors to be working with.

SC: Your role in the team?

IS: I manage the Brute team and organise promotions, hot laps for the Coopers clients, entry forms, media, flights, accommodation, meals and just about everything else. I cook the barbie at the track, prepare meals on Sunday race day for the team and sponsors, organise dynos and ensure the parity changes have been relayed to our mechanics.

I am also in charge of trading bee for parts if we need to … in the case of an emergency. The boys at the track love “Ms. Cooper” as I am regularly called. They must, as they come looking for me at the end of the day when it’s Coopers time! We have a lot of fun and the guys in the V8Brutes competition are very competitive, but really love to have a good time … and get into the Coopers!

SC: Most importantly, what is the drivers’ favourite Coopers beverage?

IS: All three boys love Pale Ale, however it seems that our mechanics are keen on Draught and Sparkling! Beats me, I like a Pale after a long day at the track, but then usually get into the Chards – true South Aussie Chick, hey?

And with that, no more hesitating, no more mucking around, I pulled the top off one of the little Green soldiers and had a see for myself.

By Martin Donnon