By
Andrew Stackpool
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SGT
Andrew Gray.
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The
planned sponsorship pattern for the new car.
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SGT
Andrew Gray hits the track in his previous vehicle, a VX
SS Commodore.
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The
team’s new V2 Series III Monaro.
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SERGEANT
Andrew Gray, from RAAF Base Wagga, is in love with his new toy,
a heavily modified V2 Series III Monaro.
“We’ve fitted a new exhaust system, suspension, road wheels, anti-roll
bars, ventilated brakes and other goodies, with more to come,”
he said.
SGT Gray and former Air Force member Stuart Connor comprise the
Gray/Connor Racing Team (GCRT), which performed well last year
in their inaugural Alphera Dutton Rally in SGT Gray’s modified
VX SS Commodore.
With the experience of that and other races under their belts,
they are now returning to mount a serious challenge.
“My VX SS has been acquired by one of my ex-trainees and is now
residing at Williamtown,” SGT Gray said.
“There were some fantastic runout deals on the Monaro that I couldn’t
refuse.
“I picked the new baby up in Melbourne and began its metamorphosis
to race car as soon as I drove it back to Wagga.
“With a new exhaust system fitted and the engine run in, we were
getting 280rwHP, which is better than the SS with all the mods.”
A new racing suspension, anti-roll bars and modified differential
were fitted and engine modifications continued.
The team trialled an engine control unit, which lifted performance
to 297rwHP. Further enhancements to this are expected to take
the performance to over 320rwHP.
SGT Gray said modifications would continue while he used it as
a streetcar. It has now some 8000km on the clock and is running
faultlessly.
“I am very pleased with it,” he said.
The car’s first introduction to racing occurred on March 11 when
the team turned out at the Winton track for a test day. The results
were somewhat disappointing as the mid-30s ambient temperatures
meant the engine and tyre temperatures had to be closely monitored,
resulting in slower laps.
“I expected to lap two or three seconds faster than the SS, with
the bigger horsepower and work we’d done, but at the end of the
day they were almost identical, although the SS trials were in
much cooler conditions. The slippery leather Monaro seat didn’t
help, so we’ll replace that, too.”
SGT Gray is confident the car will go faster as work continues.
More importantly, “We didn’t bend it.”
The team will conduct a second test at Eastern Creek in Sydney
before the two Alpha Dutton rallies this year, one at Goulburn
from June 3-5 and the second at Shepparton from July 29-31.
