Tempered in
Time
Young guns eye todays heroes as they plot future success
In this issue
Directors Deck...................................4 Mildura 100 review...........................6 FEATURE: Tempered in time meet the ‘Temper 2’ crew........................10 5 Minutes with Mick........................17
Major Events 2016/17 AU G U S T
2 0 1 6
Hawkesbury 120, NSW.....................................August 27-28
O
2 0 1 6
c t o b e r
Grafton Bridge to Bridge, NSW...........................October 1-2 Murray Bridge 110, SA......................................CANCELLED
N
o v e m b e r
2 0 1 6
Bridge to Bridge 2UP, NSW............................November 26-27
J
2 0 1 7
a n u a r y
Australian Championships, NSW.......................January 11-15
F
e b r u a r y
2 0 1 7
Southern 80, VIC...........................................February 11-12
M
a r c h
2 0 1 7
Ted hurley Memorial Classic..................................March 4-5 Robinvale/Euston Ski Race, VIC...........................March 11-12
A
p r i l
2 0 1 7
Mildura 100, VIC................................................April 15-16 Barrie Beehag, VIC...................................................April 29
M
a y
2 0 1 7
Barry Carne Interstate Challenge, NSW..................May 13-14
Directors Deck Cracking Mildura 100, Barrie Beehag on the table
The Easter break provided a great period for the Mildura Ski Club to run the Mildura 100 event over three days of ideal weather for ski racing on the Murray. With a large field of 160 Boats the river and the town of Mildura was consumed by ski racers eager to enjoy a safe event. The Show and Shine in the city centre on the Friday prior to racing was very well patronised and an absolute highlight of the weekend. It underpinned what was a great effort by the Mildura Ski Club across the whole weekend, with entertainment a plenty off the water as well as putting on a great show on the water. The township and visitors were successfully integrated to the event, and the voluminous crowd at the start/finish line saw first hand the athleticism and precision of our competitors. Importantly we also had a safe weekend of racing, which is the primary objective at each of our events. As the season heads towards a close there is still one river classic to go, that being the popular Barrie Beehag event at Echuca. This is the 11th running of this race, often described as not as long but every bit as challenging as the longer Murray River classics! This year the race presents with a field of 110 teams who will all be keen to 4
finish the Classics with a good result, especially with this compact event. Moama Water Sports club do a great job organising this race and many competitors have informed me that it is high on their list of favourite races. I would like to wish all competitors in the Barrie Beehag event good luck and to ‘race to the conditions’ in aiming to achieve a safe race for all competitors over this testing course. I would also like to thank members for making the effort to enter, travel to and compete in this postponed race that was affected by the 2016 Murray flooding. I am sure it will be worth the wait when the starters flag drops at the Deep Creek Marina location for this popular event.
Wesley Lloyd, SRA CEO
MILDURA 100 The Don Pt. III Mildura gives Merc Force triple treat Entering this year’s GTS Freight Management Mildura 100 ski race, the 2016/17 river classic season had been dominated by two boats – Superman and Merc Force. Between them the pair – with drivers Darren McGuire and Don Gulley at the helm respectively – had won six straight races and with two left in the season coming into Mildura were looking for a clean sweep. And that two-boat sweep is still on the cards after Gulley and Merc Force won their third race of 2016/17 after previous victories at the Sydney Bridge to Bridge and Southern 80. 6
The secret is Don. He does is homework so much
and knows the courses and that just gives us con-
fidence that allows us to go faster
- Jake Tegart
third, just one second behind in 32:48.80. Tegart, the multi-sport star who this month graduated from Western Sydney University with an engineering degree, paid tribute to Gulley’s role in the win.
In a masterful display, Merc Force beat Superman and defending champions Sapphire home in the 20km Mercure Hotel Mildura Top 40 on the Saturday by a couple of seconds to set up Sunday’s famous win. In the main event, Merc Force led from start to finish, while Superman blew an engine valve and lost a propeller blade in the first half of the first of the two legs of the race and withdrew at the halfway mark at Wicketts Point. It’s doubtful though, whether a fully flying Superman would have gotten near Merc Force (31:11.23) on the day with Gulley’s 8
crew of observer Kevin Boylan and skiers Kris Knights and Jake Tegart winning by one minute 36 seconds from rising local crew Pigs Arsenal (32:47.71), with Sapphire
“We had a real good day in the office, it was nice,” Tegart said. “This is one we hadn’t won before and Don said he knew the course, he knew where we could make up time and where we could lose it if we were going to lose it.
“We had a game plan, we executed it and we saw how the cards fell.” Tegart believes that Gulley’s hard work in preparing for each individual event has been the big catalyst for his team’s progression this summer. “The secret is Don. He does his homework so much and he knows the courses and that just gives us confidence that allows us to go faster,” Tegart said. “We’ve been doing this as a team now for four or five years and we know how each of us operates. We’ve been slowly building our way up and it’s nice to finally see some results.”
In finishing second overall, the local boat, that was racing in the unlimited inboard expert class, improved from their third overall in last year’s Mildura 100. In the process, skiers – brothers Sean and Jack Stevens - signalled themselves to be future winners of their hometown race. Temper 2 won the U19 boy’s expert class in 34:27.88, good enough for eighth overall and once again indicating the strong futures that skiers Jake Coaldrake and Lachlan Nix possess.
Merc Force wasn’t the only win for Gulley, with the Trent Souwer driven Merc Force F1 taking out the expert women’s event from Superbad and Recoverys Reflection. The winning team of skiers Maddison Boyer and Chelsea Blight, observer Christian Apps and Souwer, clocked a total time of 36:39.31 – a race record and their third race record in Murray River classics. Other highlights on a beautiful Easter weekend that saw 70 boats race in social classes and over 150 in Sunday’s events, included the massive performance by Pigs Arsenal. 9
Tempered in
Tim
me
Young guns eye todays heroes as they plot future success
Speed and trust builds a great ski racing team. At least according to up-and coming driver Rhett Davis, the young man steering Temper 2 to results that no-one expected of an Under 19 class team in just their second season together. For this year Davis has again combined with observer Ben Hackett and skiers Jack Coaldrake and Lachlan Nix to take on races around the country. And while they might seem like a quartet of young men in a hurry, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
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A well-spoken and thoughtful man of 26-years, Davis is still something of a fresh face to the ski racing scene. It was just three short years ago that he dipped his toe in the water on the recommendation of a family friend. Seeing his progress to the current day, it’s almost hard to believe that he hasn’t been in the game for longer. But he didn’t take to it like a duck to water like others do. Davis’ earliest memories range back to when he was around seven or eight years old, sitting in the boat alongside his father Andrew, who would be warming it up ready to race. Like many younger competitors found on the riverbanks in the current day, Davis is involved in ski racing because his family is. Andrew Davis became hooked on the sport roughly 20-years ago, when the then motor mechanic was asked by a mate at the eleventh hour to help install a new engine in his boat prior to the Southern 80. For Andrew it was love at first sight, and soon after he had his own eight-litre boat, the very first Temper.
curve to get to where he is today. “Originally I was racing in 70mp/h with my brother, but that stopped after he came off twice and decided that as a talented AFL player he wanted to focus on footy and not ski racing,” Davis recalled. “Then there was a boat breakdown in Unlimited class at a race soon after, and I offered to tow the guys in need of a driver instead. It was intimidating going from 70mp/h to 100mp/h overnight. “In fact I found it quite overwhelming. “Then the run with Jack and Lachlan as a pair of skiers came up, and for me it was the right thing to do, to step back into the under 19’s and take my time. “We’re in a position where we’re achieving good results now, but to me that says a lot about racing to your own level of development. You need to practice your craft, not just go out and buy the fastest boat. Accidents happen when a team has not been together long enough, when they aren’t patient enough or haven’t done their homework.
As Andrew became more involved, his love of the sport grew. But it wasn’t enough to tempt Rhett off the sidelines. That all changed when Andrew’s friends Malcolm and Karen Priest coaxed Rhett into joining a 70mp/h team for a season to see how he would like it.
“You have to put the hours in, especially in your first year. Take the time to ski in a slower class.”
However this isn’t a success story that saw the young man from Rowville in Victoria make fast steps from 70mp/h to being a top contender overnight. It may have only been three short years from woe to go, but Davis is very clear that he went on a steep, and somewhat sobering learning
It’s no coincidence that the two top teams in the sport have been competing together for a long time. It was the same for teams such as Hellrazor and Island Cooler before them. Much of their success can be attributed to the work done in their formative years. The time shining in the
Discussion of having a team together for lengthy periods of time is something that many of the current day heroes, and those of yesteryear will advocate for. The It goes without saying that the urge to be 2016/17 season has been a shining beapart of this fast, glitzy and sensationally con of that very sentiment with only Suloud sport that didn’t exist before sudden- perman and Merc Force notching up river ly ignited. classic victories so far.
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limelight is but just the tip of the iceberg. Undeniably Davis and his team have their eye on chasing down the best teams in this sport, and fourth outright at this year’s Southern 80 was a clear indication that they’re on the right trajectory. Yet Davis’ big picture goal isn’t to emulate the victories of the sports greatest teams, but to replicate the chemistry and stability that allowed those teams to etch their names into the history books. “There would be nothing more pleasing than for our team to stay together and keep moving up,” Davis says adamantly.
“In the short term we would love to keep improving and set a few records in this class before we are done. But long term our goal is to stick together for as long as we can. On and off the water we are great mates and that’s my goal. “I would like to take after the teams that have stuck together and then got results.” A pair of fourth places has highlighted the current season for the Temper 2 team. The first came in November’s Sydney Bridge to Bridge, where Davis and his team finished behind Merc Force, Stinga F1 and his father’s team, Temper. At the Southern 80 it was again fourth, and they even beat home heavy hitters such as Superman, Top Gun, Strike Force and Sapphire to record that result.
“All the best teams take a long time to come together and win, they ski together a long time before the string of success arrives. I think we’re in a good position to do that. Our skiers were only born a week apart, so at the moment we can do all “The results have not been expected,” three years in the under 19’s class togeth- said Davis. er. 14
“Our proudest achievements so far have been those two races. The results so far is a testament to our skiers and their fitness, endurance is paramount in these races and they bring that. Ben [Hackett, observer] makes a big difference. He has a lot of records, and our skiers are very confident with him as their observer. It’s a big psychological advantage, and a secret to success.” An advocate for building trust and gelling as a team, Davis continued that everyone in the team is amiable and got on from day one at the 2015 Ted Hurley Memorial Classic in Wentworth, NSW. Since then their relationship has been tempered on and off the water. “This team was orchestrated by Malcolm Priest. Dad and Malcolm got chatting and then got in contact with Jack and Lachlan’s fathers and we went from there. They jumped straight into it with me with-
out hesitation and off we went in Wentworth,” he said with an irrefutable hint of satisfaction. “We all gelled really well instantly, and we all work hard to improve. “The other side of ski racing that I love is the family involvement. Getting away with each other’s families, we just don’t stop laughing. It’s grouse. My crew and their dad’s, my dad’s crew we all get on and it’s awesome fun and an awesome outlet from work.” The saying ‘work hard, play hard’ could not be more apt for Davis and his father. Not only competitors, buddies and father/son at ski racing events, they’re also colleagues at the family business and ski racing is often top of the menu in the office as well. “From an early age I wanted to join the family business,” Davis said. 15
“My brother and I are the third generation working in small goods. All dad talks about is ski racing. The business, like our ski racing, exists the way it does because of the family sticking together. “When we’re at a race there’s a bit of pressure to compete with dad, even though we’re in different classes. When the flag drops the eyes are on. We gee each other up, but it’s all fun. “Our boats are a true family effort, we all chip in and I include our skiers in that too. Everyone plays a part. There are a lot of people to thank to be in this fortunate position to be able to enjoy ski racing. Dad, Malcolm Priest, Jack’s and Lachlan’s fathers, Shane Wilson, Karen Pet and all the families and people I have towed throughout the years to build up experience. “It’s seriously good fun.” The present may be awash with boats adorned by the likeness of superheroes, but the future holds a changing of the guard. Sitting on the right side of the bell curve is a cool, calm and collected young man, with an equally grounded team, and an opportunity to take up the mantle of his idols that have been so cohesive in their teamwork and subsequent success for so many years.
5 Minutes With Mick!
Name: Kris Knights Age: 31 Lives: Cowra Years skiing: 26 Years racing: 16 Favourite skier: Wayne Mawer without a doubt, but Cameron Osbourne must get a mention too! Favourite team: Merc Force Mick Kelly: Thanks for having a chat mate, let’s start with the obvious, is the hangover gone from Mildura yet??
Mick Kelly. He’s a former winner of the Southern 80, outstanding racer and mentor to new faces in the sport.
Kris Knights: Let’s just say the hangover from the Saturday night at Wentworth when we broke the boat left a scar! “Probably the worst hangover of my life” was one line that was trotted out. So the beers were flowing well but I knew when enough was enough! And the trip home Monday after Mildura without a hangover was awesome for a change.
MK: It’s been a hell of a season for you A school teacher by weekday, advocate boys, did it all just come together, or was it a natural progression? for our sport by weekend, Mick understands what makes ski racing and its KK:Yeah, it has obviously been my best people tick. season yet. Mate, I would have to say a bit of both, as you know there are 5 parts In each edition of Racer’s Edge, Mick to a ski racing team and they all have to work together. chats with a member of the ski racing community, whether they compete or not, to find out a little more about them. Since doing my knee last year I have changed my diet and the way I train, Every person is committed, a lover of which has helped a lot. Also, Don is putthe sport or someone in it. ting so much time and money into the preparation of each event we go to, way Take five and let Mick introduce you to more than any other team, I believe. Boylo a member of the ski racing community! brings over 40 years’ of experience to the team, there isn’t a race he hasn’t won, 17
and Jake is just a ‘condom full of walnuts’, one of the fittest in the sport, put all that together and things are starting to fall into place. I cannot thank my team enough for all that they do and let’s keep doing it! MK: Don’t think I’ve ever described a mate like that…. KK: Haha, Jake will get a kick out of it! [EDITORS NOTE: We draw the line here fellas!]
yourself to the training that must be required to be at the level you’re at? KK: It’s a juggling act, as you would know Micko. I am up at 5am most mornings for training before or after I train my PT clients! Even working at the gym I have to make time to train, which is something people probably don’t realise. In the afternoons/evenings, Mel is busy training so if I don’t do it early it doesn’t happen!
MK: Is it hard to do what you have to do in order to be at the top of this sport MK: Does it frustrate you at all that knowing you’ve got them at home waitTeam Hell isn’t around? Arguably you’d ing for you? be still a shot at taking the wins, and your times stack up. Do you find there KK: It definitely plays on my mind more are any negative comments of ‘you’re since River was born. I’ve learnt a lot of only winning because Cranny and the lessons over the years and now I am pretboys aren’t there’? ty picky with the situations I put myself in. KK: I mean, it’s nice they’re not there. But I am a racer at heart and beating the best is what we all want to do. In saying that, Superman are just as good and I am glad we’re laying down some hot times. It would have been interesting to see if Team Hell could have continued improving. We could have thrown out the ‘Do you reckon you could win in the wash Zig” Jokes. MK: Gutsy with the Zig joke! Obviously I’m not down playing Superman or the rest of the talent out there, but the enigma that was Team Hell still cast’s a shadow, you saw the hype about another team using their boat! KK: Nothing like a bit of friendly banter! Yes you’re right mate Team Hell still cast a shadow and will always be remembered as the benchmark team. Hellrazor is a beautiful boat, I wonder if Donny would want 3 blue boats? MK: You’ve got a lovely wife and little girl. How do you find time to dedicate 18
MK: Smart. Pretty good attitude to have in a high-risk sport I reckon. You’re from country New South Wales, is it an advantage to sometimes be out of the way, or a disadvantage? KK: I would have to say to be at this level of competition, it’s a disadvantage. It’s very hard to get enough water time. Plus it isn’t very central to most races; Grafton would have to be the furthest at nine hours driving. MK: The Merc Force team has been a complete unit for quite a while, and we’re starting to see success in teams that have similar set ups i.e. have skied together as a group for a long time, and worked their way up. Is it that much of an advantage to work through together? I’m sure you’d be as quick as Team Hell on any given day, with any given team, wouldn’t you? KK: I guess you could say it is an advantage. In saying that Boylo, only jumped in last season and our first race as a whole
team was a series race at the beginning of the season. But with someone of Boylo’s experience he has adapted to the team well, I have a lot of trust in all of the team, which is key. There would only be a handful of crews I would be quick with Micko. MK: We skied together at a Robinvale maybe 10-odd years back. Do you reckon anyone around that picked that either of us would go on to do anything good? KK: Yes I remember! The little Suspect boat with the twin turbo in it. It was a fun day, I remember running out of legs because I did social behind Superman the day before and got 3rd outright, which bought on my retirement from social. Bit ironic seeing you love social!
MK: I’m not sure if Donny reads these or not, but I know Trenno drove for you boys and picked up a win at Wiseman’s. Who do you prefer behind the wheel? KK: You’ve put me on the spot here mate; let’s just say they’re both great! But you can definitely tell Trenno is the mechanic and doesn’t pay the bills, he does give us a great ride in the rough.
K C I M
I’d say they would have seen how easy you were doing it and be like this bloke’s going places! And laughed at the skinny little bloke next to you in the pink wetsuit! MK: I don’t even think I ran social that year – classic! KK: Thank God you didn’t! Otherwise I would’ve never had a social trophy. MK: Trent Souwer is the main man on team Merc Force, just how much work does he do? And how much hot sauce would he go through in a year? KK: Trenno is the man! We’re just lucky he’s single, that’s how many hours he puts in. Everyone knows he’s the cleanest mechanic in the world and loves the dreaded hot sauce! Great product but equals a very slippery deck! He is not just a great mechanic but also an even greater guy. We can’t thank him enough for all the work he does to keep both Merc Force boats at the top level. 19