Welcome to our first journal entry for 2008 !

Hope everyone out there had a safe and wonderful Christmas / New Year period...

As i write this, Team Chaparral is undergoing some major major changes. First and foremost, work is rapidly nearing completion on the #16 Mazda RX-7 of Pete Harmston (formerly # 27). In previous years, we ran the car in an "almost completed" state. What i mean by that, the car had most of the right equipment, but budget and time constraints conspired against us and mechanical gremlins kept popping up and frustrating our on track performance. In 2008 (having sat out the entire 2007 season), Harmo has enlisted "The Doctor" (Rev Doctor Motorsport's resident guru Scott Fleming) to completed the minor surgey required to get the car 100% where we want it to be.

Whilst Scott has always had some serious input into the team, he has basically "adopted" Harmo into Rev Doctor family over the last 18 months - and the # 16 car should mirror Scott's State and National title winning # 58 RX-7 by the time Round One, 2008 rolls around. Harmo himself has been hard at working rebuilding the car, and has also spent plenty of time concentrating on his own personal fitness - so he's itching to get back behind the wheel. And most importantly, a new heart is beating under the bonnet. A SelectMaz prepared engine supplied by Izzy and the boys in Melbourne is ready to rock and roll, and should hopefully deliver the numbers we feel are needed to run with the quicker IPRA guys. The car has also been repainted, a new gearbox has found it's way into the car, and the whole car has been rewired by RDM's "Dog" - once again, in attempt to remove the little niggly issues that plagued us in 2006.

In other news the excitement of seeing the Improved Production Class running at Bathurst is building rapidly as race weekend approaches - March 21, 22 and 23 being the dates for our appointment with Mount Panorama. Harmo, Cam and myself will be up there to crew for the Rev Doctor's Scott Fleming, as well as good mate Mick Posa in the # 73 MazSport RX-3. Not only has IPRA provided a full grid, we have also been nominated to fill the shortfall in Production Sports as well - it should be a huge weekend !

I'll keep this one short and sweet - in summary we're looking forward to the 2008 racing season. Should be a lot of fun, and hopefully Harmo will have a much deserved better run this year than in the last few.

Thanks to all our regular sponsors - Rev Doctor Motorsport, Aussie Auto Art, Conetix Internet, Repco, and Kinx Hair & Beauty.

And a special thanks and huge welcome to our new 2008 supporters - Gatorz Precision Eyewear, Torque Calibration Services, Spray Fever Smash Repairers, and PPG Auto Paints.

Seeya at the track...

Boppa