Last update: Tuesday June 2, 2009 16:43
And now for the News
The shale car and transporter have been sold.
Still no positive news about the new Volvo transporter.
Australia Diary Arrived in 35°c temperatures, promptly contracted a virus and was laid low for a few days with all the family. Day 1 - Met up with WVM, Crasher and family at Heathrow, checked in and went straight to the bar (9.00am!).  Landed at Brisbane at 7.30pm local time on day 2, good flight. Met Steve and Tash Bateman and Tommy Singleton at the airport along with Dennis (Aus 69) and Tinfab. WVM and Ma Crasher went to Tinfabs, we all went to Steve's house where we had a drink or two till the early hours.  Day 3 - Went to the Lagoon, did a spot of swimming and sunbathing, all Steve and Tash's kids came as they got the day off.  Day 4 - Worked on cars all day much to the women's delight he he... Day 5 - Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, went on a bus that went in the water, more beer at night. Day 6 - Went to Dayboro, met WVM and Ma Crasher in the bar, before leaving them to go to Doug's Seafood Cafe (healthy Fish and Chips), where we sat watching the tide going out eating them. Day 7 - Women spent day in Steve's pool, while the boys ran round finishing cars and getting tyres fitted.  Beer and Pizza at night with Greg (Aus 1) and Bear. Day 8 - Lads outside doing final check on the cars whilst loading them up ready to go racing later.  Girls going to the Zoo for the day. Now for the racing- click here for details................. Had car problems in both meetings, finished the Final but could have been better.On a personal note, I'd just like to thank Steve Bateman and his wife Tash for all they did for us. Not only did they supply the stockcar, they gave us a car to drive round in, we lived at their house which they had spent a lot of extra money on, just for us to stay there and there were 5 of us, so a massive thanks to them from us all. If anyone gets the offer to go and race in Australia, take it. We had the time of our lives and will be going again one day.
Steve has had an official invite to race in the Australian Championships. He will be travelling with Rachel and Josh and will be staying at Steve Batemen's place in Caboolture, north of Brisbane. Racing over two days at Brisbane's Archerfield he will most likely go into the meetings without any practice. This will be nothing new as this is how he has done it in the UK on shale.
Problems at work with a scaffolder falling and breaking his leg in two places has left Steve short handed and as a result will not be racing at either Christmas meetings . Merry Christmas from all at Team69
The ex Gilbank shale car has been sold. A new one has been purchased from Karl Gilbert. It is a virtually new FWJ built car. More details later.
The Shale car goes international The shale car was lent to Steve Bateman from Australia for 3 meetings over the World Final weekend. In it's first heat the n/s rear disc chafed thro' the brake pipe, the fluid said goodbye and Steve Bateman lost all the brakes. He didn't panic, he just soiled his jockies a bit. See photos on shale car page. The second race was also a disaster, the half shaft dropped out on turn 3 of lap 1. The night got worse when it was discovered the trailer had a flat tyre. The next day, after a replacement wheel and tyre was found for the trailer the team set off for Ipswich where the car behaved itself. The bad luck continued on the way to Northampton when yet again, the trailer had a puncture and the team limped there on 3 wheels. Anyway, that's the international bit over with. Well, there was the trip home to Sheffield still with only 3 wheels on the trailer, but least said about that the better.
The Shale car resumes normal service After the tarmac sortee, the car was reset for shale. The first outing was to be the Ladies charity race at Belle Vue where as last year Ailsa Haigh raced it and came 5th out of 18 lady drivers. Steve then went out in 3 races and came in without serious damage. Hopefully we will be out at Sheffield on Monday. see you there.
The Tarmac car The tar car is now a rolling chassis. A new wing had been made by Andy Ford and it's had new brake pads all round. Body panels are already made up and the whole thing is hoped to be painted up in January.
News We've purchased a set of corner scales and some new tools as well as a welder which was used to stick the nerfs and back bumper on the shale car ready for the Aussie to race. A new workshop nearer to home is nearly complete.
Tarmac Car Photos Both axles are built up and the engine is awaiting a sump from the USA and then all will be complete. It's just a matter of putting it altogether. Click here to see how it’s going on, you might see something we've missed...!!!
Transporter We have a Volvo bus undergoing a revamp. It has been sent off to be converted by Ian Venables and is hoped to be ready before the next Harry Potter film comes out....!
Aims and Aspirations As the season goes on, we hope to bring you photos and damage reports - not too many we hope - as well as the successes, highs and occasional blips. This is Steve's third year of racing and Team 69 will be doing as many shale meetings as possible.