Winter
Workshop - Lovelady Race Cars
August
2008
The latest "Winter Workshop" feature sees us taking a look into the Darfield workshop of Lovelady Race Cars. John Lovelady is the man at the helm and he's been responsible for some of the best looking racecars seen at Woodford Glen since he started racing some 27 years ago. The cars prepared by LRC are not only prestine in appearance but also extremely competitive and successful which I will expand on shortly.
Meantime upon arrival at LRC it was obvious that this workshop is just that "a workshop!" ... not a showroom environment but a down and dirty workshop where all the cutting, grinding and welding happens to produce a quality end product. Realising too that this environment is not merely a garage for a racers hobby but a business which John and his family rely on every week indicates the dedication and commitment required. John is joined by Daniel Burgess who was taken on full time after completing work experience with LRC while still at school plus he is also attending 'tech' to learn light fabrication.
As you would expect
after 27 years of building race cars there is stuff
everywhere and I mean everywhere. Outside and even over
the back fence there are the remains from many a hard
nights racing. John agreed "this may be where
old cars go to die." Within the walls of the
workshop however are panels and pictures displayed from
many of the some 100 odd cars LRC have constructed. These
all bode testament to the wealth of experience which has
been developed over the years. Currently being completed
for Maurice Hedley is a new frame which John says is
around the 55th Modified he has built. Keeping tabs on
all these cars can't be easy so to make it somewhat
easier John names all the cars he builds. And just being
wheeled into the fabrication area while I was there is
"Razor" the perfectly good looking
3nz/77c Super Saloon chassis raced by Greg Keegan last
season which is to undergo a rollcage chop to change it
into a Camaro for Martin Harcourt. This one alone should
be interesting to follow due to it running a V6 instead
of the customary V8. Alongside this is the LRC owned
Modified "Floyd" which is being
prepared for Ralph "The Rocket" Godwin
to drive. This car is being altered to run under the new
trial regulations with an alloy headed 405ci Ford. John
is excited about this car & engine combination along
with the Modified Series being raced at the Glen this
season (it's 20 years ago Greg & I won the title
here) but if this car isn't ready in time LRC plan
to lease Iain Whyte's meantime. LRC also have nearing
completion a brand new Mustang Super Saloon "Elwood"
which John hopes Michael Pickens will race in the
Champion of Champions upon return to NZ from his
successful campaign in the USA. The next new car under
construction is for Paddy North – A VE Commodore
which will be the first of the generation 3 LRC chassis.
"Paddy is going to run his existing car through
to the Hoopla! and why wouldn’t he after he had such
success especially towards the end of last season. LRC
will also have a representative in the A Grade Saloon
field at Woodford Glen this coming season by supporting
Craig Petrie in the 44c Camaro".
Neil Robertson traded in his existing Mustang "LRC1" to purchase "The Dude" which is the 17c car from last season. Gus Alford's Modified is also undergoing the LRC treatment and will be ready for the start of the season. So as you can imagine the boys are very busy and among all this John now sees his focus changing somewhat. I stated earlier about the success of LRC and John iterates "I've gotta mention Greg in the success of our company. His driving, accuracy & coolness along with his ability to 'drive to a plan' has allowed us to develop the cars to level no-one else would. John adds "that after 5 NZGP titles (4 Modified, 1 Super Saloon) plus 1nz, 2nz & 3nz in Modifieds and now 3nz in Super Saloons we have nothing left to prove. However there is always an 'expectation' ... we are expected to do well. That's not to say we wouldn't like to keep going to the big shows and winning them! We have always tried our best and I have been lucky enough to have corporate sponsorship for all the time I have been racing. But now I'd like to see our customers become as successful as we have and I would rather see a customer become 1nz and us not race at all. It's a business for us but also real good fun!
Getting this insight
into John's thoughts shows why he is pleased to assist
Greg along with his son Luke to further their racing
careers through the transition to racing with the Boulton
Racing Team. "We couldn't afford to assist Luke
so I suggested the move to BRT. I hope our customers feel
I have assisted them to help set goals and to be more
confident in what they are doing now but having said
that, winning these things don't come easy. We are very
grateful to all our loyal customers over the years who
have helped build the business. ".
John describes Greg as a "Cool Cat" and now he is also: "Pretty happy to have Brent Emmerson in a new car for this season. This is the first top line/nationally rated saloon driver from the north island to have one of our built cars". John's nickname for Brent is "Loose Cat" for obvious reasons and hence "Have to see what we need to change to make the car work for him or if he needs to change his driving style". I immediately commented that many fans would not like to see Brent change his out wide and sideways style because it's awesome to watch so I suggest John just alters the car to suit.
John's passion is displayed when he starts talking about the 25 lap feature type events. "The lead up time required has seen us tend to focus on a particular title/meeting then put the effort in. A car that works at the end of the night appeals to me cos you can cut down a tyre earlier in the evening and still come back". He is immensely proud of the many occasions they have succeeded in these events. This success also wouldn’t be possible without support of a dedicated crew that have been with LRC for some years – Rick Sterling, Craig Miller, Matt Thyne and Terry Winstanley and plenty of others who have worked for the team along the way.
So after building around 100 race cars John states: "Chris has been there right from the start. We've been married for 23 yrs and as well as being involved in speedway she has become a good dressage rider over those years. She has looked after the PR/Sponsorship side and supported me through the thick and thin. Although we have had 23 brand new cars over these years we have had NO new homes (so I keep getting reminded). Our children are always in the mix of things also, with Jackson (11) already building his first go-kart and helping prepare the car in race season. Georgia (16) is real keen to get out and have a race also! . Business is good with a lot of work and a good client base so our own racing is secondary to that of our clients. Some of the guys with their cars and budgets should, and are now starting to fill those top spots". So do YOU have what it takes to fill one of these top spots .. if so then contact John at Lovelady Race Cars. I'm sure he would be all too happy to build that next winning race car for you. [article by Roger Nees]
