The last month has been a special time for Limestone Coast motorsport fans with leading Supercars team Erebus Motorsport calling Mount Gambier home.
However, the two new-look Penrite Racing Holden ZB Commodores will depart the Carlin and Gazzard showrooms tomorrow as the team heads to Mount Panorama to begin its chase for the coveted Peter Brock Trophy.
The stay has been an unforgettable period for Mount Gambier-based mechanic Jack Michelson in particular.
The young 18-year-old is the number three mechanic for David Reynolds’ and has quickly settled in with the small team after just over a year with the crew.
However, as the Supercars Championship made its way around the country, Michelson was back home working in Mount Gambier as a fabricator for the team.
But he said this made Penrite Racings’ arrival to the Blue Lake City for the recent Tailem Bend double- header even sweeter as he reunited with his pit crew.
“They are like family to me so to see them for the first time in six months was quite emotional,” he said.
“To have them down here has been fantastic because I actually see them more than my own family in a normal year.
“It has also been awesome to see people come to the windows, ask questions and have a look around the workshop.”
Despite becoming part of the Holden-based outfit, Michelson was a huge Ford fan growing up and his motorsport journey began with one of the blue oval’s top teams.
Michelson completed work experience with Tickford Racing and impressed the successful crew so much he found himself on the verge of working in the motorsport industry.
However, there were no opportunities at Tickford and the youngster rang around searching for any vacant positions at other teams.
A two-week trial opened at Erebus during the 2019 season, which Michelson took with open arms.
“One of the Erebus guys got in contact with my dad and said they are looking for someone, so I started my trial just after they returned from a race in Perth and it paid off,” he said.
“They were thrilled and said pack your stuff up and you can come move to Melbourne next week.
“I was just 17 and suddenly in the city by myself.”
The daunting move to the big smoke certainly did not faze Michelson, who could not believe his fortunes and soaked in every second working alongside race-winning drivers Reynolds and Anton De Pasquale.
On race weekends Michelson is a busy man working all around the garage. When the team arrives at the circuit he helps unpack the truck and set up the car, pit box and garage.
During practice and qualifying he changes many parts of the car such as tyres, dampers and blanking, while between on-track sessions he makes sure all parts of the immaculate garage are clean.
Michelson is not quite as busy when racing gets underway, but he does hold a spare wheel during pit stops in case disasters such as cross-threaded wheel nuts occur.
However, Michelson hinted he might find himself in the middle of the action during this year’s Great Race as a driver-change assistant.
Despite being forced to miss the majority of the 2020 season due to team personal restrictions, Michelson said he would not change a thing.
“Growing up the drivers were my heroes and I had posters of them on my wall and now to be working with them in the paddock I certainly pinch myself,” he said.
“I am living the dream.”
