Radio Interview / Andrew Jobling/ High Performance Show/ 1 Aug 2009
Stephen spoke on 88.3fm a Melbourne radio station on the 1st Aug with Andrew Jobling an ex AFL footballer, Writer and Speaker presenting the High Performance Show which he presents every Saturday afternoon from 1pm to 2pm. Andrew “ I run a High Performance Show, no better way to rev up a Saturday than talking Motorsport “. Andrew and I spoke about everything from how I started to what it takes to be a professional driver at top level motorsport. Also getting up and personal with getting into the mind of what a race car driver goes through. Stephen “ A lot of preparation goes in behind the scenes from the Support of Family, Friends, Sponsors, Fitness training and the Physiology doing what it takes to stay one step ahead of the opposition”. I would to say a big thanks to Andrew for having me on his show.
As a professional race car driver, you get to be a part of some amazing events. Doesn’t get much better than this, as an Instructor of Fastrack V8 Supercar rides and drives, I was lucky to participate in a segment for Coxy’s Big Break. It was looking like at great winters day in Melbourne as the team arrived. James started going through different scenes and Interviewing manger David Maidment of Fastrack. Then it was my turn, taking James out on the track and showing him the lines and what to expect when he drives. As James jumps in behind the wheel the heavens opened, rain rain rain. So 2hours later James and I set off out of pit lane and onto a drying track. Got to say James really did a great job in the trying conditions. Then the hot laps came and James was amazed with what the cars can really do. It’s pretty amazing to experience to see what it’s like to get behind the wheel of a real race, It’s a real Blast.
WOW, what can I say, the last time I drove a V8 Supercar was RD4 of the V8 Fujitsu Supercar Series at Winton motor raceway in 2004. I was excited , Team owner John Verdnik of Jay Motorsport invited me to Test his ex HRT and team Dynamik cars at Mallala raceway in Adelaide. Stephen debut his V8 Supercar career at Mallala in 1997 as a Holden Young Lion for the Holden Racing Team. Great memories of my first race weekend taking Pete Brock for a ride in the passenger seat of my V8 Supercar for the media. I was nervous and excited at the same time, I felt like a kid again. As I climbed my way into the cockpit and strapped myself in, had a radio check, then given the signal to start the car, then a voice on the radio, clear , gogogo. As I left the pits to turn 3 and accelerated up through the gears on the back straight , I felt in total Bliss. Nothing could take the smile off my face except for rain, Man did it rain, it turned out to be one of Adelaide’s worst days in History, over 50,000 lighting strikes, hail storms and all. I managed 5 laps before the rain started and the next few laps were a matter of keeping the car on the track and not sliding off, then it was time to pit and call it quiets. Another test is scheduled after Bathurst and I can’t wait.
After a successful weekend at Easterncreek in Commodore Cup two weeks ago, Stephen has been asked to drive in the V8 Brutes, for the next round at Winton Motor Raceway near the township of Benalla with the V8 Supercars. (Stephen)’ I’m wrapped to have been asked by Scott Jennings who is a consisted front runner for Hi Tech Motorsport’.
Stephen flew up to Sydney for a shake down in the car at Oran Park Tuesday 29th July under the watch full eyes of Team owner Barrel. (Barrel)’ It was a pleasure having Stephen test one of our cars, he was straight on the pace and gave good feed back at the same time’.
(Stephen) ‘ What a car, it is so different to drive from what I’m used to. Terry the engineer said jump out now, your fast enough, your only two tenths off Grant, I said I’ve only done 10 laps, at least let me settle in a bit more. It was good also to take a step back and watch the master Grant Johnson who is current champion in the class who drives for the team also’.
Discussions are taking place as we speak and there is good chance that Stephen will drive at Winton this weekend, fingers crossed.
Stephen White contested Rd 3 of the Australian Commodore Cup Series at Eastern Creek on the weekend for Sentinel Fire Services Racing in the Andrew Parker machine.
It all started three weeks ago when Stephen was still in the USA. Andrew Parker phoned Stephen to see if he would be interested to drive at Easter Creek, and of course Stephen didn’t need to be asked twice and said,(Stepehn)‘ I was wrapped to be asked by Andrew, he has been working on developing car over the last 6 months and I would be more than happy to set the car up and help finish it off for Andrew’.
Saturday Practice one saw Stephen well down on the time sheets, ( Stephen) ‘ It was a start to the weekend the team didn’t need. The car had a miss in it around 4200rpm and as soon as it cleared itself, it broke out into wheel spin which made it challenging driving out of the corners, plus the brakes on the car had no feel, lots of work to be done.’
With not a lot of time till Qualifying, Stephen and Dave his Engineer worked frantically on the car so Stephen could have a good shot at getting pole postion.
Qualifying started as Stephen was getting in the car and went straight out from the pit garage onto the track and basically set it on fire with his first flying lap, Stephen put the Sentinel Fire Services Car on pole position to fellow Series Champion Marcus Zukanovic. White came straight into the pits with still a miss in the engine. So straight to work again a find the little gremlin. Second Qualifying Marcus the Z man piped Stephen by one one hundredth of a second. (Stephen) ‘ That was the best I could of done, the miss is still there and to be so close to Marcus I’m really looking forward to a good battle on the track tomorrow’.
Race One
Stephen really struggled to get the car of the line with the miss, quickly settled in to second and put pressure on Marcus the whole race, trading fastest lap times.
(Stephen) “ It was so close as we went over the finish line, only 2tenths apart, we both were faster in different parts of the track and still chasing the miss, I was happy with second.
Race Two
Race two has a reverse grid for the top ten and with Stephen’s experience in Commodore Cup coming through the field, he was really looking forward to it.
(Stephen)’ Once I got blocked at the start and then saw Marcus go around the outside of everybody, I knew I had my work cut out. It took a few laps to claw my way back to second and once I had Marcus in my sight, I haunted him down till the finish’.
Race Three
The pressure was on from the start, Marcus and Stephen left the field in the dust and continued the fight for victory.
(Stephen) ‘ I gave it all I had, the miss was still there and I was right on Marcus waiting to pounce, but I didn’t have enough to get past him and he didn’t make a mistake for me to capitalize on’.
Marcus started to open a small gap to finish 2 seconds in front of Stephen.
(Stephen)’ Great weekend of racing, I gave it my all and I was happy with the way I drove. Thanks’ to Dave for his help and Andrew for giving me the opportunity to race. I enjoy driving Eastern Creek. Also looking forward to pressing on with my USA plans and look to set off again in 6 weeks and start leg two of my adventure and a full drive again’.
The big journey is now slowly coming to an end to close chapter one. I am in San Francisco California for the last few days before flying to LA and heading home. If I drive as fast as this trip has gone, I am set for life. Everything has been slowing down over the last few weeks, lots of phone calls and a couple of meetings with potential sponsors and also Ron Dixon, Scotts dad and a PR lady, you can never have enough support and expertise around.
I didn’t make it to the last Indy Car race I could have gone to at Iowa, because I was still in Canada and to take the trip across and then drive home would have been too much for one day at the track.
The support from everybody has been great, from the track, to the people I have met, my house mate John who is Australian and use to race in the Australian Formula 3 championship has been a wealth of information to learn from, he works for a Indy Lights team, he is looking at starting his own team, you never know I could end up driving for him, John’s looking at Indy lights either next year or the year after.
Meeting Will Power and catching up with James Davison racing in Indy Lights this year was cool, it was great to supporting them, but I must say there are so many Kiwi’s over here, I felt I was nearly in NZ some times, plus catching up with my old open wheeler mate, Marcus Ambrose and to see him mix it with the big boys in Nascar.
One of my high lights came from the Six Flags theme park in Kentucky. I can say I’m not a big fan of heights, but John my house mate, suggested that we face our fears and do the 180 foot swing, Man it was one of the most exhilarating experiences I have ever had, The feeling sensation was like winning a race, one word Amazing.
What’s next, well a friend of mine Andrew Parker has asked me to race his Commodore Cup car at Easterncreek in July. That will be fun to revisit the class and help with developing the car.
WOW, San Francisco, it looks awesome and my old buddy Richie a fellow Aussie now living here is going to show me around, I have photo’s from the Golden Gate Bridge and also Alcatraz.
Next on the agenda, plan a return trip in August and continue working on my career and securing my future in the Big US of A,
Hi Gang, well it happened, I finally got to drive!
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Canada is a cool place, it's been pretty busy the last week with meetings and finalizing everything before I come home at the end of next week.
It all took place in Canada at the Dunnville Auto Drome only 45 minutes from Niagara falls. Many teams in North America use the circuit for private testing, driver/performance training and development. The owner of the circuit Lee Abrahamson is also the business manager for Brian Stewart Racing, the 2006 Indy Lights Champions.{Lee} 'Stephen has been spending time with our team over the last two months and traveling to the races and learning about American Auto Racing, with Stephen talking to sponsors and positioning himself here in the USA, it was my pleasure to invite Stephen to spend a day at my circuit and drive my Formula Renault cars that we use for track days and corporate events'. {Stephen} I was very excited about jumping back into the car I helped develop and raced for the factory Van Diemen constructor back in the UK'.
Stephen didn't need much encouragement to get into the car and was straight on the pace with in his first ten lap outing to learn the circuit and feel comfortable in the car. {Tommy Engineer} 'I was very impressed with how quick Stephen went straight away. I have had a lot of professional drivers in my cars and Stephen was definitely one of the best I've seen'.
Stephen was talking to Jon the circuit manger, saying that I couldn't believe that they hire out the cars, because they are the real deal, there fast, so anyone going to Canada should put this on there must visit list.
By the end of the third session Stephen was right on the lap record times ever done. { Stephen} ' It brings back memories of the old days, I'm wrapped to be right on it from the word go, I loved it, especially when it started drizzling rain towards the end of the day. I'm really looking forward to the possibility of testing an Indy Lights car soon and racing out there with guys after watching them at all the events so far this year'.
{Stephen} I would like thank Lee and his team for giving me this opportunity for the day. It's a great technical circuit with challenging corners fast and slow. Great way to get back in shape.
It’s half way now, I can’t believe I’ve been here for 7 weeks.
After we last spoke, I came back to Charlotte from St Petersburg in Florida. I had a week to find somewhere else to live since Brett the guy I was staying with had his family coming over. I’d thought there is no other place to be in May except for Indianapolis. So after speaking to some teams and discussing possibilities with people, Indianapolis is the heart of motorsport for open wheelers and the month of May is the Indy 500, so bring it on.
After building a good relationship with long term Champions of Indy Lights Brian Stewart Racing would be the best opportunity to learn and been seen with one of the best teams out there. When the plane was only minutes from touchdown in Indy, all I saw was smog, I thought cool, this will great, breathing in all that crap, I’ve never seen so much smog in my life. I stayed at the Brick yard Motel at Indy, the motel is right on the circuit behind turn two, I will show some photos. Brian is well known everywhere and the Motel people welcomed me and spoke about some of the stories and the history of the place.
The next day I meet the team and one guy is from NZ, his name is Mo, he is the veteran of the team. They share the factory with another team and there is an aussie that works there who use to race in F3, his cool. Then of to my first real oval experience in Kansas for the Indy cars and the Lights. Had a great weekend in the freezing conditions networking and catching up with James Davison an aussie who races in the lights series and also Will Power who drives for Team Australia in Indy cars.
Back to Indy after the weekend and back to the Indy Motel for a few days, then the aussie engineer said he had a spare room and I could stay with him which was cool. His old roommate moved back to Aus and now works with the Stone Brothers in the V8 Supercars. I did a deal to borrow his car for a while and joined a gym which is state of the art, but the class trainers are average, man I have been so lucky at home to have great support from my gym for so long.
Now it’s back to the grind, making phone calls and searching for sponsors and making more phone calls. The Indy 500 practice and Qualifying has been taking place, the lights practice starts next week, so I’m looking forward to been there for the big weekend on May 25th.
I finally had a couple of nights out on the town and let my hair down for the first time, one of the other house mates is a chef, and every Thursday night they have Salsa dancing at his restaurant .
Well I don’t know what’s going to happen next. So that’s the guts of everything, look forward to sending out some good news shortly.
Made it over ok, long trip, had delays over 5hrs in total, but it was worth it, this is an awesome place. So it ended up been 30hrs of travel.
I’m living in Charlotte at the moment with my mentor / supporter / manger maybe for another week, then I need to move on because his family is coming over. I can understand about why they have a weight problem, the food, the cakes and ice cream, heaps of it, yummm.
So far I have been to Charlotte Motor speed way, TV doesn’t do this place justice, man it’s unreal, I met the ceo and had some moon shine, that’s something else, I think I was drunk instantly for half an hour.
I went to the 2nd round of the Indy cars in Florida at St Petersburg, stayed on the beach, didn’t get a chance to go in even though it was hot, at the track from dawn to dusk. Met some Indy car teams/ American Le man teams and Indy Lights teams.
Now Indy Lights is back on the calendar, I will push for that. Car has 420hp and weighs I think around 650kg. It will be similar to the F3000 car I drove a few times in the UK. The quick guys are only 2 seconds slower than the Indy Cars. Indy Car has 600 hp.
It’s a cool place, a lot of travel, I think I have spent more time on planes than I have on the ground. I have done about 5 hrs of driving so far, only driven on the wrong side of the road once, not good when you have cars coming towards you, but it was funny.
I’m glad I have done it, I am talking to sponsors and networking and flying around and plan to have a test shortly.
Some of you know already, but for those who don’t, I am packing my bags and heading over to the big US of A. After my plans last year didn’t work out to race in the V8’s, I thought to my self, I have exhausted my poor little brain enough.
So I started to think what I could do with out getting a normal job so to speak 9 to 5, I didn’t see myself only doing driver training etc for ever, it was only for fun, but turned into a job. I don’t regret it, it‘s been awesome, but not for ever, plus I am a great driver, if I was a top 20 contender or something, yes I don’t cut the mustard, but I’m not, so bring it on, as my little motto says, it’s not about having fun, it’s all about winning, uno noomo no 1 son.
I looked at some Personal Development courses to find out why and also how to get my career back on track besides robbing a bank. Half way through one course I realized that I wanted to go US, I had opportunities to do this in the past and even had a plane ticket and still didn’t go. I have always felt that I would be over seas racing some where, not that Aus is not good, it’s just, I lived and breathed F1. I imagined that I would be traveling around the world.
I made a list of people and talked to some close friends to see if I had there support, and of I went. Networking, Emails, Phone calls, Meetings and going to Indy, the jigsaw puzzle started to come together. I have 3 awesome people backing me and all well known in the industry. After weeks of waiting, it looks like I’m flying out next Friday, I know its late notice, but that’s how my life runs sometimes, at the moment my details will remain the same.
STEPHEN WHITE NAMED IN TOP 100 BEST DRIVERS
5 July 2007
In a recent Auto Action feature that named australia's top 100 drivers Stephen was ranked number 96 in their all-time best list.
There were all of the big names in Australian motorsport's history listed and Stephen even pipped some well credentialled drivers who did not make the list.
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