Two Podiums For the Ginger Ninja At Timaru

Media Release: 6th April 2008

Caine Lobb aka the 'Ginger Ninja' picked up his game after an initial crash in qualification at the opener of the ENZED V8 Ute Series at Timaru over the weekend.

Forced to sit out the first race of the season, Lobb bounced back on Sunday to battle with fast paced teenager Matthew Lockwood and Rotary driver turned V8 speedster Simon Beirne for podium positions in the second and third races.

Lobb, who slipped up, or rather slipped off the circuit shortly after setting the fastest lap on Saturday morning in the wet qualification session quickly found the limits of the Mark Cromie Holden NZV8RU. Leaving the circuit at the end of the long back straight he crashed into a tyre wall at an estimated speed of 140kph damaging the brand new car which had only 13kms on the dial before Lobb drove it for the first time on Thursday.

"The impact was surprisingly soft considering how fast I was going, there was an in-car camera and the officials told me later they had never heard so much swearing from a driver before!" laughed Lobb.

The team were unable to get the car repaired for the first race that afternoon but with a call for 'all-hands-on-deck' the small crew of five worked until late that night to have it ready for Sunday morning.

Come Sunday, a marble draw determined the starting grid order for Race One and Lobb pulled out third place placing him immediately behind a very anxious Temuera Morrison who was on pole for what was only his second race ever!

"Tem was pretty nervous about being in front of all those cars at his first ever meeting. Even I was a little nervous with all those big heavy V8s behind me." said Lobb.

Lack of experience had it's price for "The Muss" with 18 year old Lobb passing him off the line as though he was a fly on paper. Lobb slotted in behind the other young hotshot in the series Matthew Lockwood who had started from alongside Morrison. The two teenagers soon pulled away from the pack and although Lobb threw all he had at "Matty J", was unable to get past his super-wide Holden on the super-narrow Timaru circuit and finished hard on his tail lights in second place.

In the final race of the round, the grid was reversed with Lobb starting from 11th place. Fighting his way through the pack into third place behind Lockwood in second, the two were once again in battle but this time had to contend with another series favourite, top rotary driver Simon Beirne.

"Jnr Burner" went on to hold out the fast paced youngsters and take the win adding to his previous two third places and "Matty J" added a second place to his previous two wins for the weekend. The "Ginger Ninja" wrapped up his V8 Ute debut with one second place and a third vowing to take the experience gained with him to Teretonga this weekend where he looks forward to going head to head with the group once more at Round Two.

Caine Lobb, has been dubbed the 'Ginger Ninja' by the ENZED V8 Utes media who like to apply nick names to the series drivers. The name was originally given to Lobb a few years back by karting friend Michael McHugh who tragically lost his life in 2003 while racing his Formula Ford at Pukekohe.

Multiple Power Jet Boating World Champion Mark Cromie, who owns the race car and heads the Whangarei based Mark Cromie Holden Racing Team reportedly had a most enjoyable time over the weekend and looks forward to the next round.

"Mark seems to be having a lot of fun with it all and he seemed to take the damages to the new car in his stride as just being part of motor racing. He seems to be very happy with the results on Sunday." said Caine Lobb's manager Brian Craig.

The ENZED V8 Utes head to Teretonga Park at Invercargill this weekend for Round Two and will next head to Taupo over the 9-11th of May.

In addition...

There has been speculation throughout the ENZED V8 Ute camp that there is a trans-Tasman challenge on the cards. There are apparently a number of Australian V8 Ute drivers wishing to contest a round in New Zealand and in return will extend an invitation to the Kiwis to contest an Aussie round this year.

Super Bike rider Aaron Slight will join the series as soon as his car arrives which will hopefully mean we will see him competing as soon as Taupo next month.

Movie actor Temuera Morrison (dubbed "The Muss" for the series) very much enjoyed his debut in not only the ENZED V8 Ute Series but motor racing all together.

"I came to the track feeling like Tom Cruise in the Day's of Thunder Nascar movie. I arrived this morning ready to hop in the car and do amazing things, I've just had a reality check....!" he said after practice on Friday at Timaru.