Winter Workshop - 19c
Superstock - Malcolm Ngatai
September
2008
This should actually be called a "Spring Workshop" now that we are into September and that means we are very close to racing getting underway. A team that looks to be on target to easily make the start of the speedway season is Malcolm Ngatai with his 19c Superstock. Although it's a cool night with plenty of rain when I step into the teams Redwood garage they are feverishly working away. Brother Matt is toiling away on an aluminium radiator and crewman James is polishing the newly installed dash panel. Meantime Malcolm is rummaging around the workshop for parts so I interupted progress to get some photos and have a bit of a chat with the lads.
Firstly Malcolm appears very proud of the new chassis paintwork saying they "had more time this season to change the chassis colur to a new, better silver". And I must agree it looks very sharp and clean so the boys have obviously been kept very busy over winter. There is new barwork which they have completed themselves including side rails plus some additional updates from chassis builder Murray Gordge. The team are awaiting the arrival of some critical parts including shocks, front axle and suspension components. The engine has "quite a few improvements - a new Braswell carb plus we have more horsepower and more torque. So far we have the most horsepower and torque that Midwest Motors and Dave Rosewarne have developed from a Toyota engine". Malcolm adds "we're mounting an alternator cos we had battery problems everywhere we raced cos the new fuel pump drew so many amps plus we've got a new design Phil Game steering box".
Malcolm advises the 19c Superstock colour scheme and signage design will remain the same but with the addition of new sponsor Cart-A-Car who came on board at the end of last season. Malcolm makes particular mention of them: "based in New Plymouth they were keen to be part of the team and travel to the various meetings after we spent time racing through the North Island last season". And while on the subject of the North Island Malcolm continues "We are going at the end of November to do Saturday night at the Modified Champs in Stratford and then a week later we are gonna do a round of the Placemaker series in Palmy". Malcolm obviously enjoys the North Island racing and results speak for themselves especially when he was quick to mention "We broke the lap record at Napier with very limited time on the track!".
"I'm looking forward to a fast, furious year but at this stage I don't want to take it to practice and dirty it. It's a shame to get these all pretty & new then go out and trash them aye!". When asked regarding aspirations for this coming season Malcolm is keen for a top 3 finish in the NZ Champs, the NZ Grand Prix, the World 240's and the Global Challenge. "They are my aims: to be in the Top 3 in any of those meetings".
Both Matt & James had a few comments too: "I want him to annihilate anyone that grizzles cos there's NO flag on the bus - it's a HAMMER" says Matt. "It'd be good to see a Christchurch car get Top 3 at NZ's (especially him) so long as there's unity the Chch boys can do it and in the Teams racing as well!".
James added: "S'pose winning is the second best option, I prefer Malcolm to smash two or three cars instead of flag chase".
Malcolm replied: "I'd rather win the race! But when your smashin' your way through the field in these things it's a huge buzz aye! At some stage you will be seeing me going out for a play in a leased stockcar too".
So with this amount of enthusiasm throughout the team I can see many race wins going their way. Obviously with the NZ Superstock Champs being held at Woodford Glen this season there will be plenty of opportunity for the 19c Superstock team to get dialed in. Events such as the Canterbury and Remembrance Championships should keep Malcolm in the right frame of mind so make sure you check out their progress at the 19c Superstock Website. [article by Roger Nees]
