FORMULA VEE ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND
FEATURES & INTERVIEWS
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Driver Interview: Shane Hart
Author: Craig Hughes | © VW Magazine Australia
5 October 2009 | reproduced with permission from VWMA (Issue #20)
Author website: www.vwma.net.au
Images: Digital Realism | www.digitalrealism.com.au
Leading aboard his Mick Motors/Exelite Racing Jacer F2K8.
With six Queensland State Formula Vee and five Formula Vee Association of Queensland Club championships under his belt, along with numerous interstate wins and pole positions, it's not surprising that Shane Hart rates motorsport as his number one favourite pastime. With such strict regulations, being at the pointy end of the field requires both driving skill and mechanical aptitude.
Shane is fortunate to have both, spending as much time as possible on the track to improve his race craft, while working on his own car between race meets, sharing workshop space with his father Mal, also a motorsport fanatic and Shane's number one supporter, at Sandgate Automatics. It is here that you will find a number of other Fvee race cars, from historics through to the latest spec 1600, whose owners entrust Shane's experience and spanner work to keep their cars in top competitive condition. As you can see, the sport consumes most of Shane's 12 hour plus days.
Since beginning in FVee racing in 1991, Shane has witnessed many changes and improvements to the sport, especially, in recent years, with the introduction of 1600cc spec engines. Like the evolution of the sport, he too has moved with the changes, starting out in a couple of 1200cc Elfin NGs, followed by a Bee Cee Jabiru, and then 1600cc Jacers. There was also a short stint behind the wheel of a Mazda RX7 13B turbo Sports Sedan. For 2008, Shane upgraded from his race winning Jacer F2K5 to the latest Jacer F2K8, in his quest to become Australian number 1.
FVAQ's Craig Hughes of VWMA spoke with Shane about his passion for Formula Vee:
What first attracted you to the sport of Formula Vee?
I met someone who was already racing Vees back in 1992, and began helping him prepare his race car. Soon after I purchased my own Vee, and 16 years later I'm still going!
Being competitive in Formula Vee has a lot to do with race craft. How long did it take you to master the skills necessary to stay with the leaders?
It probably took me about ten years to get the hang of competitive racing, you know, braking markers, slipstreaming, how to overtake and stay on the track, etc. And I think it is something that will always continue to develop and improve. I started racing at about the age of ten, and when I wasn't on the track, I was always watching some form of motorsport, so I kinda' already had some of the basics in place.
Was there any one person or influence that helped you through your formative FVee years?
Tom Cameron has always helped me out and he still assists me to this day. I met him before I started competing, and a lot of my success can be attributed to Tom.
Winning any motorsport championship is a great achievement. What did it feel like to win your first Qld State Championship?
It was more relief than joy! I had finished runner-up a couple of times and had put a lot of pressure on myself to eventually take the title.
Mick Motors has been a long term supporter of your racing efforts. How did the partnership begin?
I had always bought parts from Mick Motors for the workshop when we were servicing Volkswagens, and also for my racing, so Mick already knew I was into Vees. For personal reasons I had to sit out most of the 2001 season until the Queensland Raceway round at the end of the year. By chance I had to buy some parts from Mick, we got chatting, one thing led to another, and eight seasons later, Mick is still sponsoring my racing efforts. Mick's support has definitely made the difference.
Winning the National Championship seems to have eluded you thus far. Is there a reason for this?
Bad luck, bad timing and too much pressure on myself. Also, the quality of competition is pretty high in the southern states, with 10 or 15 cars all capable of winning races. In Queensland there isn't always that same level of 'tough' racing, so my preparation is probably not as good as it should be. I'm now trying to attend as many interstate rounds as I can afford and where time allows.
What's the key to winning a Formula Vee race?
Lots of hard work. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by the right people. Tom helps work on the car on race days, while I work on it between meets. Ross Loudon from Exelite who sponsors me knows how to make me get my head around driving, he's great at psyching me up. Ron, Mitch and Simon who travel to most meets with me also work on the car, which lets me concentrate on my driving. Mick taught me how to build a decent motor and my dad, Mal, kicks my butt when I need it!
Formula Vee has strict regulations about what can and can not be modified on a race car. Do you find all the regulations make for better racing?
'Restrictor plate racing' - that's what I call it. I believe this is one of the hardest formulas to race in. It does make the field closer, but in some ways I think it is over-regulated. And with any rule book, different states have slightly different interpretations, so come major race meets, there's always questions regarding legalities. I think it would help the sport if certain restrictions were lifted.
Even though Formula Vee does not reach the dizzying heights of Formula One, do you still manage to celebrate your race victories?
Normally I celebrate better and enjoy races more if I finished 10th after a hard race than say a 'cruise in the park' win. Recently I finished 4th after starting 26th at Wakefield Park, and I enjoyed that more than winning the first race!
Is the enjoyment of racing still there?
I love racing, always have, always will. You still have ordinary days when you want to walk away, but 24 hours later, I can't wait to get back out there again. And it's not just Formula Vees - I would race anything if the chance came along.
Claiming a National Championship is obviously one goal for the future. Do you have any other milestones you would like to achieve at this level?
Australian number 1 is a big goal, and I would really like 10 state championships - it seems like a nice round number.
Is there such a thing as retirement from Formula Vee?
As long as I'm competitive and have the financial backing, I'll be racing for some time to come, and I can't really retire until I have that Australian number 1 on my car. Besides, my 9 year old daughter wants to race Vees, so the Hart name will be in the paddock for a few years yet.
QLD Champion in 2007, his 6th title aboard the Jabiru
Jabiru troublesome in the wet. Shane's typical solution...
Author: Craig Hughes | © VW Magazine Australia
5 October 2009 | reproduced with permission from VWMA (Issue #20)
Author website: www.vwma.net.au
Images: Digital Realism | www.digitalrealism.com.au
Leading aboard his Mick Motors/Exelite Racing Jacer F2K8.
With six Queensland State Formula Vee and five Formula Vee Association of Queensland Club championships under his belt, along with numerous interstate wins and pole positions, it's not surprising that Shane Hart rates motorsport as his number one favourite pastime. With such strict regulations, being at the pointy end of the field requires both driving skill and mechanical aptitude.
Shane is fortunate to have both, spending as much time as possible on the track to improve his race craft, while working on his own car between race meets, sharing workshop space with his father Mal, also a motorsport fanatic and Shane's number one supporter, at Sandgate Automatics. It is here that you will find a number of other Fvee race cars, from historics through to the latest spec 1600, whose owners entrust Shane's experience and spanner work to keep their cars in top competitive condition. As you can see, the sport consumes most of Shane's 12 hour plus days.
Since beginning in FVee racing in 1991, Shane has witnessed many changes and improvements to the sport, especially, in recent years, with the introduction of 1600cc spec engines. Like the evolution of the sport, he too has moved with the changes, starting out in a couple of 1200cc Elfin NGs, followed by a Bee Cee Jabiru, and then 1600cc Jacers. There was also a short stint behind the wheel of a Mazda RX7 13B turbo Sports Sedan. For 2008, Shane upgraded from his race winning Jacer F2K5 to the latest Jacer F2K8, in his quest to become Australian number 1.
FVAQ's Craig Hughes of VWMA spoke with Shane about his passion for Formula Vee:
What first attracted you to the sport of Formula Vee?
I met someone who was already racing Vees back in 1992, and began helping him prepare his race car. Soon after I purchased my own Vee, and 16 years later I'm still going!
Being competitive in Formula Vee has a lot to do with race craft. How long did it take you to master the skills necessary to stay with the leaders?
It probably took me about ten years to get the hang of competitive racing, you know, braking markers, slipstreaming, how to overtake and stay on the track, etc. And I think it is something that will always continue to develop and improve. I started racing at about the age of ten, and when I wasn't on the track, I was always watching some form of motorsport, so I kinda' already had some of the basics in place.
Was there any one person or influence that helped you through your formative FVee years?
Tom Cameron has always helped me out and he still assists me to this day. I met him before I started competing, and a lot of my success can be attributed to Tom.
Winning any motorsport championship is a great achievement. What did it feel like to win your first Qld State Championship?
It was more relief than joy! I had finished runner-up a couple of times and had put a lot of pressure on myself to eventually take the title.
Mick Motors has been a long term supporter of your racing efforts. How did the partnership begin?
I had always bought parts from Mick Motors for the workshop when we were servicing Volkswagens, and also for my racing, so Mick already knew I was into Vees. For personal reasons I had to sit out most of the 2001 season until the Queensland Raceway round at the end of the year. By chance I had to buy some parts from Mick, we got chatting, one thing led to another, and eight seasons later, Mick is still sponsoring my racing efforts. Mick's support has definitely made the difference.
Winning the National Championship seems to have eluded you thus far. Is there a reason for this?
Bad luck, bad timing and too much pressure on myself. Also, the quality of competition is pretty high in the southern states, with 10 or 15 cars all capable of winning races. In Queensland there isn't always that same level of 'tough' racing, so my preparation is probably not as good as it should be. I'm now trying to attend as many interstate rounds as I can afford and where time allows.
What's the key to winning a Formula Vee race?
Lots of hard work. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by the right people. Tom helps work on the car on race days, while I work on it between meets. Ross Loudon from Exelite who sponsors me knows how to make me get my head around driving, he's great at psyching me up. Ron, Mitch and Simon who travel to most meets with me also work on the car, which lets me concentrate on my driving. Mick taught me how to build a decent motor and my dad, Mal, kicks my butt when I need it!
Formula Vee has strict regulations about what can and can not be modified on a race car. Do you find all the regulations make for better racing?
'Restrictor plate racing' - that's what I call it. I believe this is one of the hardest formulas to race in. It does make the field closer, but in some ways I think it is over-regulated. And with any rule book, different states have slightly different interpretations, so come major race meets, there's always questions regarding legalities. I think it would help the sport if certain restrictions were lifted.
Even though Formula Vee does not reach the dizzying heights of Formula One, do you still manage to celebrate your race victories?
Normally I celebrate better and enjoy races more if I finished 10th after a hard race than say a 'cruise in the park' win. Recently I finished 4th after starting 26th at Wakefield Park, and I enjoyed that more than winning the first race!
Is the enjoyment of racing still there?
I love racing, always have, always will. You still have ordinary days when you want to walk away, but 24 hours later, I can't wait to get back out there again. And it's not just Formula Vees - I would race anything if the chance came along.
Claiming a National Championship is obviously one goal for the future. Do you have any other milestones you would like to achieve at this level?
Australian number 1 is a big goal, and I would really like 10 state championships - it seems like a nice round number.
Is there such a thing as retirement from Formula Vee?
As long as I'm competitive and have the financial backing, I'll be racing for some time to come, and I can't really retire until I have that Australian number 1 on my car. Besides, my 9 year old daughter wants to race Vees, so the Hart name will be in the paddock for a few years yet.
QLD Champion in 2007, his 6th title aboard the Jabiru
Jabiru troublesome in the wet. Shane's typical solution...
