Geoff revs up his luck

V8 Supercar Fujitsu Series driver Geoff Emery competed in the Commodore Cup endurance challenge this month. 15518

By Marc McGowan
NARRE Warren racecar driver Geoff Emery couldn’t shake a season of bad luck, despite returning to the Commodore Cup category this month.
Emery is a five-time Commodore Cup champion, but is taking on the V8 Supercar Fujitsu Series this year.
He has suffered plenty of misfortune in 2008 – most recently at Bathurst last month.
Emery was involved in an accident that caused significant damage to his VZ Commodore and ended his race prematurely.
But he has kept ties with his former race category this season, engineering the vehicle of Commodore Cup competitor Ross McGregor.
The duo joined forces on the track two weekends ago for the inaugural Commodore Cup endurance challenge at Mallala in South Australia.
The Emery-McGregor combination made a great start, clocking the fastest and second-fastest times in practice and qualifying respectively.
And they established a considerable lead in race one before differential problems caused Emery to retire on lap 16.
Devon Meadows speedster Nathan Collins, partnering Simon Wills, managed to complete the 40-minute race – finishing in eighth place.
Emery’s superiority over the rest of the field was obvious when he roared from the back of the grid into second spot by lap eight in race two.
He quickly regained the ascendancy before pitting late for McGregor to take over.
McGregor crossed the line first, but received a 29-second penalty for speeding in pit lane that relegated he and Emery to third position.
Collins made a late rally to nab seventh place from Maurice Henkel, who drove with Adam Lloyd.
Emery was able to joke about his misfortunes.
“My whole year has been like that – I’m conditioned to it now,” he said.
“I was more disappointed for my teammate (McGregor) because he had never won a race before.
“Everyone knew we would win it all if all went well, but it was not to be.”
Emery still enjoyed his return to Commodore Cup ranks, despite the drama.
“I had an absolute ball going back to the grassroots of racing, without all the pressure,” he said.
“I think it’s (the endurance challenge) going to be an annual event and everyone was very happy with the weekend, so I’ll probably get a phone call every year now.”
The final round of the V8 Supercar Fujitsu Series, which will coincide with the elite V8 Supercars, is at Oran Park Raceway, Sydney, from 4 to 7 December.
That weekend will mark the final race meetings at the venue that was constructed in 1963.
Oran Park’s owners have sold the land to the NSW Government for a new housing development.
Emery has many fond memories at the track, including clinching his first Commodore Cup title there in 2001.
“I’ve done more race meetings there than anywhere in Australia and it’s always a pretty good round,” he said.
“It’s a shame that it’s gone by the wayside. The owner of it has fallen quite ill and the family decided to sell.
“It’d be nice to finish on a good note because we’ve had three nasty rounds this year out of six.
“A top-10 finish would be pretty reasonable for us.”