Queensland
young guns Clayton Chapman & navigator Adam McGuire are
excited about becoming the AORC Production 4WD Class
Champions for 2009. Clayton said that he didn’t expect to
win but was really hoping that he could and gave it his best
shot. They got off to a shaky start to the championship in
Hyden, completing one section only due to electrical
gremlins, and then disappointingly completed only 190km of
the Race at Finke due to valve problems. Having sorted these
issues the Triton has been very reliable for the last 3
rounds allowing Clayton to place 1st in each one. Geoff
Pickering who has held the title for the past 8 years,
congratulated the boys on their win and is looking forward
to challenging them again next year.
Clayton is grateful to CAMS
for the opportunity to attend the Offroad Driver Development
camps at the AIS this year. He has really valued the things
he has learnt there and been able to put in to practice when
he is competing. He has received support from many people
over the past year. Clayton & Adam have also shown
dedication & commitment, in that when they are not racing,
they have spent numerous hours in the workshop with Rob,
checking and preparing the cars for the next events.
Rob Chapman & navigator Ross
Challacombe are also happy with their 2nd place in the
Extreme 4WD Class in the AORC. The Pajero was new for this
year and completed 4 of the 5 rounds successfully. Rob said
he is very happy with that and is intending to replace the
naturally aspirated 3.5l engine, with something that will
give him a tad more horsepower.
This is the first year that
the Chapmans Offroad Racing Team has competed in all the
rounds of the AORC, and they are more than happy with the
results they have achieved. They have also enjoyed the
friendships they have developed and the new people they have
met. Rob said, “Offroaders really are a great bunch of
people.”
It really has been a mammoth
year, because as well as the AORC, the Chapmans have run 3
vehicles in all 7 rounds of the Queensland Offroad Series
for 2009.
With a successful final
round at Hirstglen, (1st in class & 2nd outright), results
in Clayton & Adam placing 1st in Production 4wd Class and
6th outright in the Qld series.
After achieving an outright
win at Hirstglen, Rob & Ross have placed 1st outright in the
Qld series and 1st in Extreme 4wd Class. Leila Chapman &
navi Melissa Huxstep competing in the twin turbo Pajero
placed 2nd in Extreme 4wd Class & 15th outright after
competing in all of the 7 rounds as well.
Rob, Clayton & Leila would like
to thank Cooper Tires, Penrite Oils, Staun Racing, Nambour
Radiator Works, A Vision Windscreens, Allset Springs,
Autobarn Gympie and Red Hot Shotz Photography for their
sponsorship, and the support of their pit crew, which has
enabled them to realise their aspirations.
