Pallet Supplies Racing

Pallet Supplies Racing

15 October 2019

NZV8 Ute Championship

The Scud has decided to get amongst it again in the NZV8 Ute 19/20 Season. Although at this stage only committing to two rounds we expect his elbows up pushing for podium results.

The Scud has achieved many results in this category over the years and should fit back in like he never left. Keep an eye out the Brett The Scud Rudd this coming season!!!

ROB VAZEY is looking to compete in his third Western Springs season.

After a good second 18/19 season, Vazey finished 8th from 16 in the Rolling Thunder Championship which had the drivers compete at three tracks. Palmerston North Robertson Speedway, Kihikihi McDonalds Speedway and the famous Western Springs Speedway based in Auckland.

In the Western Springs Championship Vazey ended up 11th overall from 24 competitors. 

Pallet Supplies Racing

22 September 2017

Western Springs Speedway

Pallet Supplies Racing enters Speedway

After many months of preparation, PSR is happy to announce the team will be competing at the Western Springs Speedway this coming season. Rob Vazey will be at the wheel of the 35a Sprint Car, with Blair Davie as crew chief, with Brett Rudd and Mark Sanderson accompanying  him in the crew. More will be revealed in the coming weeks... The team launch is set for October 6. 

Pallet Supplies Racing

9 March 2017

NZ V8 Ute Racing  

SWAN SONG FOR RUDD AT HAMPTON DOWNS

After what must be considered as a stellar performance for a newcomer to Motorsport, Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd is stepping away from the Porter Group NZ V8 Utes after six seasons of racing.

Coming into the series in 2011 as a complete rookie with no previous experience in any category, Rudd was relatively quiet on the tarmac finishing the season in 11th position overall. Then, after a rapid and challenging learning curve he and his team rehashed their operations to immediately become genuine category challengers.

But now with the 2016/2017 season coming to a close this weekend at Hampton Downs, Rudd has decided it will be his last outing within the category – and the experience has not been lost on him.

“My first race was at Pukekohe and I finished 11th. That wasn’t an issue for me but with the reverse grid system I had to start my second race from up front. 1.8 tonne of V8 Ute with no racing pedigree and no knowledge of the circuits or how to deal with them. It would be fair to call it an eye opening experience” explained Rudd.

“I was shitting myself to be honest. Then Race 3 came along and it was raining hard. Utes were crashing everywhere and they called the race off. I think that’s where I got my water wings from!”

Whilst this first run presented him with the accolade of Rookie of the Year, it was his second outing in the Pallet Supplies Holden across 2012 and 2013 that would provide a much more pleasant experience by finishing 4th overall.

“I spent the off-season doing a lot of club meetings and training with various experienced drivers like Mike Eady, Andrew Waite and Jake Stoneman. I was also getting great support from my team, especially Blair and Gary Davie who are Motorsport veterans. I learnt a lot”.

That final season position just behind the much more experienced campaigners put a large amount of confidence into the team and come 2014 they were knocking on the door of a Championship win, falling fractionally short in points to claim second behind the veteran Australian Champion Kris Walton.

“We’d come a long way in a reasonably short time. Walton had won the Aussie V8 Ute Championship and to do that you have to be good. He was on track to win the NZ series in the same season. We had good prep and continued to focus on just being consistent. While we didn’t win the biggest trophy, taking 2nd and benchmarking myself against the best was a fantastic opportunity”. 

From there it was more of the same – chasing down drivers with way more experience and seat time.

“That forth season. We were close again but if you’re going to lose out then doing it to Sam Barry is ok with me. He is a genuine nice guy and a cracking talent as shown in the V8 Touring Cars now. I was happy to come 2nd to him”.

It was at this point in the career when ‘The Scud’ felt the pain of Motorsport after he had his worst season so far.

“2016 we had that short three-round season to get the calendar matching with the touring cars and TRS etc. It was a disaster. We were constantly on the back foot, slow and chasing setups. In the end we found a major horsepower problem with the engine and there’s nothing that could be done at the time. We finished 7th in the Championship and that’s not the position we had been working so hard for”.

In this his final season of NZ V8 Ute Racing, Rudd has certainly come to realise the ups and downs of Motorsport – but he feels that there is more he can do.

“I’ve enjoyed it yes, the teams and drivers have been a lot of fun and I got to experience the buzz of racing at all of the New Zealand circuits – none of them can match the joy I got from racing at the Bathurst 1000 though. That is most certainly the highlight of it all. Having done it I can certainly appreciate the skill-set of the top drivers around there. I have a new respect for them all”.

And it is experiences like the Bathurst weekend that will keep Rudd in a racing seat somewhere at some stage.

“The highs and the lows, like at the Pukekohe round of the V8 Supercars. I had both there. I was leading a race after qualifying on pole and on the last lap I lost the lead to Kris Walton. I held him off for 7 laps but couldn’t get the job done. However I also had a highpoint at last year’s Supercars round. A full house of spectators, live on TV both here and in Australia and I came from 10th to win the race ahead of Paul Manuell and Matt Spratt – that one is embedded in the memory banks forever. But I need to take some time out now, go do some boating and spend time with the wife. But I’ll be back, I certainly don’t want my belated racing career to be defined by just the Utes, it’ll be something with more horsepower and fatter tyres I reckon!”

Rudd has certainly grabbed a fair taste of Motorsport in just a handful of seasons, and like so many others he now has an itch that will need a fair bit of scratching, most likely in endurance races. For now though he is looking to simply end his Ute racing career on the biggest high possible by piloting 1.8 tonnes of racing machine around Hampton Downs for the final time.

 Pallet Supplies Racing

6 December 2016

NZ V8 Ute Racing  

NO DRAMA REQUIRED

  Brett 'The Scud' Rudd left the opening round of the Portergroup V8 Utes in a strong position tied for 2nd overall on the points table and was somewhat pleased with the initial outing in front of a large crowd at Pukekohe. This becomes more so knowing that Taupo is not a traditional points haul for himself and his beloved Holden.

 "Taupo has always been tough for me. I'm unsure why and I've never been able to properly tame it. In saying that I finished 3rd overall at our last round there but that was possibly a fluke!"

 The taupo event will be the first run under the new promotions arm for New Zealand motorsport and is set to have a solid run of categories throughout the 2 day event, this of course includes the Portergroup V8 Ute Series. For Rudd though, it matters very little who is in charge of operating the event as long as he gets to race.

 "The Ute series has been under a few different umbrellas over the years and regardless of who is in charge we get to race, that's the main thing. I'm looking forward to being a part of it all again. I just have to stay focused on my job and as always I want a really good points haul before we go to the South Island, just like everyone else does".

 However Rudd is not so certain that points will come with any ease.

 "Taupo - for the Utes anyway - has always been a Ford track. It's a swings and roundabout thing though because there are tracks that suit the Holdens better too. It would be good though if every track suited every machine equally. Us Holden boys just have to lift our game that's all"

And there are a lot of Holden teams willing to step up to the Challenge.

"Manuell, Spratt, Ward, Moore, Urquhart, the list goes on. They're all going to be hard to beat. The series is really close as we proved at Pukekohe and there will be very little room for errors. Plus the likes of Collinson in the New FG Falcon, he and the Taupo circuit will be a good combination".

The Holden field currently leads the pack from 1st to 6th but Taupo may change that dramatically. And with drivers such as Peter 'Kaos' Ward racing in the Australian series it puts more pressure on the front pack. 

 "You can't get better practice than seat time in the actual races. I can play on the simulator all day long and it just doesn't match actual real racing. Yes it helps with familiarity of the particular circuit but it's never going to match what Wardy is doing. He will be hard to race - harder than normal I think!"

 Difficulties aside Rudd and the crew have prepared the Ute to the best of their ability and are keen on a dry weekend at Taupo.

 "There might be a few reasons that make the Taupo journey tougher than most other tracks but no excuses. We have our routines and systems and will be ready to drop the clutch at the first green. We're as prepped as anyone can be". 

The tightened 2 day event sees Qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday followed up with Races 2 and 3 on Sunday.

Pallet Supplies Racing

1 November 2016

NZ V8 Ute Racing  

GOING FOR BOLD

 There will be a fresh new look for Brett 'The Scud' Rudd when he tries to tame Pukekohe Park Raceway this weekend.

 Coming out of the special '3 Round' season back in early 2016 Rudd and his team were left scratching their heads and looking for answers to solve their relatively poor performance and overall results. Compared to previous seasons the team had what could only be described as a shocker, and it wasn't until they delved deeper into the machine itself that they found a major issue with the engine, being heavily down on power. 

"It was a fairly frustrating last season" states Rudd, "we were never in the game and I didn't know if it was me, the setup, or the Ute. I'm glad we found the problem in the engine!"

With the problem found and a solution in place Rudd used the off-season to race in the North Island Endurance Series to both test the V8 Ute, and to give himself some required seat time.

"We needed to test and the Endurance rounds were perfect for that. It gave me time behind the wheel as well which is always a handy thing".

With the problems and the distance racing now out of the way, Rudd and the Pallet Supplies Racing team get to focus on the refreshed season of V8 Ute racing, which is back to a six round series covering both North and South Islands. It gets underway this weekend as a support category to the Australian Supercars, and to mark the occasion Rudd has decided to make a bold change in appearance and attitude.

"I spoke with the team last year about doing something different and we just left the ideas on the table, but when we spoke about it again while prepping for this upcoming season it was interesting that yellow was an instant decision by everyone".

It is certainly a major change for The Scud who has been in a red rocket since his first outing with the category, but he thinks the change will be a fresh boost for himself and the team.

"It was time for a change, and even though it's only the graphics package it really sparks you up. The previous colour and styling had us voted by the fans as the best looking Ute on the grid - I hope they like the new one!"

But a new colour doesn't win you races and the entire team is fully aware that they have some ground to make up from last time.

"Pukekohe is the best start for us. It's my favourite track and we've had really good results here - especially in the rain. But everyone is on the same plan, make a good start and then you don't have to spend the rest of the season chasing. There's a lot more pressure than a regular weekend though because the Supercars bring in the crowds and no-one likes to fail in front of a big audience!"

Rudd also wants a successful weekend as a tribute to his long standing sponsors like Loscam and Yale, but in particular for ITM Whangarei and Bay of Islands who become an extra special part of this particular event more than others as Rudd openly explains

"To give racing a good shot you need good partners and the ITM team have been with us all the way. It's a massive weekend for them as they are part of the overall event naming holders and to give them some good results on the track would be a real bonus. I'm doing it for all of them as much as for myself and the team".

It wont be an easy run to cross the finish line in front of his fellow competitors but it seems that Rudd is looking forward to the attempt with more enthusiasm than ever before.

Pallet Supplies Racing

2 November 2015

NZ V8 Ute Racing  

MORE SEASON POINTS BACK ON THE TABLE 

Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd has had a welcoming change placed on his progress towards the top of the V8 Ute Racing Championship with the return of Pukekohe Park Raceway to the schedule – where he and his fellow competitors will be a support category to the Australian V8 Supercars.

 Originally scheduled to be in the support mix, a business decision from V8SC had the V8 Utes dropped from the fight card and replaced with the Ssangyongs, however due to a lack of competitors the GTRNZ category has recently pulled out of the event and the call was made to ask the Holden and Ford boys if they could put November 6-8 back on their calendar.

 Going into the previous round at Taupo as second place holder on the Championship ladder, Rudd was hoping to close the 22 point gap between him and Sam Barry, unfortunately it expanded instead and has now moved out to a 33 point deficit, a points gap that he would have had been looking to catch and pass with only the single and final round at Hampton Downs remaining.

  Now, with the Pukekohe event back on the calendar, Rudd is hoping to gain momentum at what is arguably his most successful circuit, and by doing that, slowly claw his way into Barry’s lead and hopefully put some pressure onto his rival when the final round at Hampton comes along at the end of the month.

 Having tasted the spoils at Pukekohe before, which includes leading the way in the Trans-Tasman Trophy battle held with the Australian competitors last year, Rudd is under no illusion as to what his goals must be - that being to at least grab back the points he lost at Taupo. 

 And as Rudd often does, he wouldn’t mind a bit of rain either, although whilst he seems to revel in wet weather racing, it is not essential, as across the last thirteen races held at Pukekohe the stats have him finishing inside the top five a total of ten times, and it includes a good handful of top three spots.

 It’s those kinds of results that need to be repeated, to not only chase down the points leader, but to stop the pursuit from those following in behind like Matt Spratt and James Urquhart, both of who are also racing quickly and competitively this season and would be quite happy to steal away as many points as they can.

 It could be quite the pressure-cooker round, with each and every one of the competitors knowing that any points an opponent gains have quite possibly been to their own detriment.

 The test for Rudd and his V8 Ute Racing compatriots will begin as the first track outing for the ITM500 with their single practice run starting at 8:20am on Friday, followed up with qualifying at 12:05.

 They race once on Saturday at 10:00am followed up with two races on Sunday at 8:50am and 12:15pm.

For those who are unable to attend the event, the ITM500 will be live across all three days on Sky Sport:

 Friday 10 – 3:30

Saturday 9 – 6

Sunday 8:30 – 6

Pallet Supplies Racing

15 Oct 2013

UDC V8 Utes

RUDD READY TO LEAD THE PACK

Pallet Supplies Racing is due for glory and the 5th round of the UDC V8 Utes to be held at Hampton Downs is the target in Brett Rudds sights.

The crew are not only confident that Rudd can finally stand aloft on the podium, they feel that he is deserving of it, given that he is currently fourth in the Championship standings without having a trophy to put in the cabinet.

It is certainly a bizarre feeling for the entire team to be in the position they are yet without any silverware to show for it. However dwelling on such thoughts will do nothing towards changing that, the only way to solve that minor predicament is to be up the front end of the field.

As Rudd explains, they have the package ready to go. “The Ute is in perfect condition, and if we keep the consistency shown so far this season not only will we continue to clock in the valuable points, we will be in with a shot to get our hands on the elusive silverware”.

The field is noteably strong for the weekend and it can often be the simple things that provide the needed inspiration. For Rudd that comes from being part of the Hankook Super Series and racing at the same venue as the V8 SuperTourers. “Having so many top touring car drivers watching on certainly provides a bit of motivation to do well” says Rudd, “but it also has the flip side of putting extra pressure on you, even if they don’t end up watching!”.

So far this season Rudd has been able to handle plenty of pressure from the very experienced drivers directly around him and he has been able to turn that pressure into points, so he feels there is no reason for that to be any different this time around.

Being so close to the two drivers ahead of him on the points table means that he is unquestionably in with a good shot at overall honours, and the true fact of the matter is if you were to look at it openly, it would be the other drivers that have the pressure on them to perform. Being motorsport there is of course a bit of luck that comes with it, but in only his second ever season of motorsport Rudd has worked out already that you can also make your own luck, and let those around you make the mistakes.

Pallet Supplies Racing

8 March 2015

UDC V8 Utes     

NO CHOICE BUT TO KICK ON

Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd and the crew are stating the obvious when they mention they are looking for more consistency on the track this weekend at Ruapuna. Having had a genuine ‘up and down’ season opening round at Timaru, they simply want to keep the good from that weekend and ditch the bad.

“It wasn’t the ideal way to start” Rudd explains, “It was a mixed bag of issues from setup to driver and sometimes you just don’t get it right. However we are confident that we can be on par with the rest and there is no need to panic or chase ourselves yet.”

Given that the UDC V8 Ute Series has not travelled to the Christchurch based circuit since 2013 a lot of the turns and segments will be almost foreign to the returning drivers – and completely unknown to the many debutants.

“I guess we have an advantage over the new guys since we’ve done laps there and they haven’t, but it’s a very small advantage and they also  proved at Timaru that being new doesn’t mean they will be at the back of the pack.” Rudd stated clearly.

In fact if anything, it could be argued that the previous round results have place unwanted pressure on the older contingent of drivers who should have known the intricacies and nuances of the track - that could apply to Ruapuna as well.

However that doesn’t really wash with Rudd. “I can’t think about any of the other drivers, the new ones or the established ones. How good or bad they drive or how they learn or remember the circuit is nothing to do with me. My job is to drive that Ute as best as I can, so worrying about the other guys is silly. The boys will give me the best machine possible and then it’s up to me. I’ve always used their efforts as my motivation, I won’t be changing that.”

The Scud heads into the round 6th on the Championship table which seems to also be giving him secret motivation. “We are in 6th which means we are chasing instead of fighting, I need to fix that.”

Pallet Supplies Racing

30 February 2015

UDC V8 Utes

BRETT ‘THE SCUD’ RUDD SET TO RETURN TO THE NZ RACETRACKS.

After finishing his third season in motorsport with a second placing overall in the UDC V8 Utes, Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd and his Pallet Supplies Racing Team were set to hang up their race gear and go into semi-retirement mode, focusing solely on special events such as the NZ round of the V8 Supercars. However as the summer months rolled on, both Rudd and his crew were getting increasingly itchy about the decision, finally reaching a point over the last few weeks where they agreed that the racing and camaraderie would be missed too much by all.

The decision to return to the series has been welcomed by his racing peers who enjoyed the tough on-track battles from a driver with arguably the least amount of racing experience.

Dubbed ‘Mr Smooth’ by many due to his very calm driving style Rudd was able to claim the second placing in the Championship by focusing on points, not on glory.

“My plan is to continue where I left off from last season” says Rudd, “so not much has changed. The Ute has been fully checked and refreshed, panelled and painted, and the majority of our sponsors have stayed on board, some even in a bigger way which of course is appreciated. It’s more of the same for me, go as fast as possible, stay clean and clock up the points….although a couple of wins would be great!”

Whilst normally operating under their own banner, this season will see Pallet Supplies Racing utilising the trackside garage of Stoneman Race Tech who help with the maintenance of the Ute between rounds. SRT supply the main engineering team for a handful of the Utes at each round but Rudd will continue to use Blair Davie who has been the guiding light for Rudd since day one.

“Watching him grow from a rookie into a race car driver over the past three years has been hugely satisfying and developing his talent is a real focus for us this season” states Davie. “He's a smooth, analytical driver and it's great to see him gaining momentum with every race. It's a family sport for us - we're all behind him 100 percent and we're excited to see what this year brings."

Although already slated as one of the favourites for the title this year Rudd is keeping that idea away from himself. “The series is well run, the other drivers are all good guys and I’m looking forward to the lights going out in Timaru. I would like to thank team manager Rob Vazey, Head race engineer Blair Davie and of course my wife and family for their full support in my decision to return for another season. Let’s just go racing!”

Pallet Supplies Racing

1 December 2014

UDC V8 Utes

NEW DIRECTION – NO REGRETS

After claiming 2nd outright in the 2014 Championship season Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd is saying goodbye to the UDC V8 Utes – at least for the immediate future.

In only his third ever season of Motorsport, Rudd has steadily improved by moving from a rookie placing 11th in 2012, to a 4th overall in 2013, finally ending with a 2nd just behind the expressly paced Kris Walton.

In his short tenure behind the wheel Rudd has competed at all the major racetracks around New Zealand which by default also included the Hamilton Street Circuit with the V8 Supercars - that latter event having the personal bonus of a podium. And of course there was the venture to the hallowed grounds of Bathurst in 2014.

On his race stat sheet it will show a handful of podiums and a single race win but for Rudd that singular win did not count. The faster man was given a penalty for an earlier race infringement which moved Rudd onto the higher spot of the Dias – it was taken but not celebrated. And whilst there are no regrets from Rudd in any aspect of his short racing career, it would be foolish to think that he wouldn’t be reminding himself now and then about any potential wins that had slipped from his grasp.

“I’m sure I’ll look back occasionally, but when most of my potential wins were really only this season and I was losing to Walton I’ll just remind myself that there would be no-one better to be beaten by - he really is the master and I was happy to be in the fight with him.”

‘The Scud’ will now be hanging up the helmet from regular season racing to refocus for a while on other items in his world. He has a rather large bucket list, with the top items clearly marked.

“Having recently bought the family business plus buying another similar operation in Christchurch the first thing I need to do is put my full focus on business matters whilst the economy is good. My wife has also backed me 100% over the last 3 seasons – I’ll probably pay her back now. And who knows, maybe the second half of 2015 will allow me a few chances to go for a play!”  

He will take plenty away from his 3 seasons within the category not only the learning curve of racing itself, but also the making of many new friends and the unexpected but welcomed extended family.

“The team has made some good friends since joining UDC Ute category and we are family. It’s generally been a whole lot of fun but not so much when we lost one just before the previous round. I was incredibly humbled to win the Peter ‘Rocketman’ Robb quiet achiever award, a new prize in memory of our mate. It was great to see his family at the track and at the season prize giving.”

While his immediate racing future in a full series is on hold Rudd is genuinely undecided on any cameo returns for special events such as support racing at the V8 Supercars or another dash on Mt Panorama.

“I might take it to the odd club meet and I will keep thinking about the supercar event next November, and Bathurst? Well, I still feel I can do better at the mountain so let’s wait and see what the latter part of 2015 brings ay!”.

Pallet Supplies Racing

26 November 2014

UDC V8 Utes

RUDD DETERMINED TO KEEP CALM AND HOLD HIS LINE

Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd will head into the final round of the 2014 UDC V8 Ute Championship in second place on the points table – and that is a slim but workable points gap between himself and third placed Mike ‘Buzz’ Lightfoot.

With only 7 points separating the two competitors, and Lightfoot returning to form after a less than satisfactory mid-season, Rudd knows that his reputation as ‘Mr Clean and Consistent’ will be needed more than ever at Pukekohe if he wants to make this season one to remember.

With no chance of advancing up the points ladder, Rudd needs to ensure he doesn’t drop down, and the only way to do that is to stay out of trouble.

“As we have done most of the year it’s about finishing well and picking up good points.” states Rudd “This starts with qualifying and then hopefully a kind marble draw, but the main thing is about maintaining a consistent and clean drive across the entire weekend. I need to keep calm, and just hold my own racing line. If I do that, then the points should look after themselves.”

There is of course still the issue of not yet having a genuine race win in the series, and it is something that while played down, is certainly in the minds of the entire team as Rudd explains.

“Well the entire team returns to Puke confident because last time we raced here which was the ITM 500 we were fast. Bagging pole in the wet and then a couple of second places made for a fairly epic weekend. Certainly for me to get a genuine first across the line taking that chequered flag for a win would be excellent pay back to the team, and yes I want it too so I’ll be peddling hard!”

There will be no change to the system that has put Rudd into the second spot on the Championship table as the routine done by his crew has proven itself to be successful so far. His small but functioning three-man team have specific roles that each member understands and controls, which saves them from having to cross fingers in hope.

The final round of the UDC V8 Utes season kicks off this Friday with two practice sessions, continuing with qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday, culminating with Races 2 and 3 on Sunday.

Pallet Supplies Racing
5 November 2014
UDC V8 Utes

ANOTHER BOX TICKED FOR RUDD

Even though it was done the hard way, Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd still did all that he asked of himself across the last round of UDC V8 Ute Racing, as he was able to leave the Hampton Downs circuit as the stand-alone position holder for second spot of the Championship.

A few rounds ago Rudd was third equal but after some solid driving he moved up the ladder to hold second – yet he had again equalled with another competitor – but finally he is now able to clearly state that he will be running solo when he attends the final round at Pukekohe at the end of November.

“I was never overly concerned about sharing positions” stated Rudd, “I just knew I had to continue with the consistent theme that had got me to where I was. In Race 1 I started on pole and got away from the rest of them but each time I looked back I could see Walton slowly peeling through. I was hoping the boys would hold him out longer however once he caught me I was more annoyed with myself for giving up the lead so easy to him. I missed a gear, this aided his pass.”

On paper Rudd ended up receiving the win as Walton was penalised for an early misdemeanour, and whilst that was officially Rudd’s first V8 Ute win, he considers it a ‘claytons’ win and doesn’t want to claim it.

The marble draw for Race 2 meant a reverse grid and it had him starting from the back, but the game plan was the same as always. “To make as many places as possible and finish” claimed Rudd. “It almost came to fruition because I got a good start picking a couple of spots immediately. However in Turn 5 on the first lap Ward hit Spence and Spence tagged me just as I was passing them both for 5th and the contact bent the steering arms etc. I consequently and frustratingly finished 7th. But on a high note for that race it was great to see Huggi get his first win!”

Knowing the points for the round would come down to a clean Race 3, it ended up being another case of hard yards. “Race 3 was again frustrating, starting off grid 4 I moved to 3rd straight away. Then after 3 laps of close racing I was being held up by the Ute running in second. I was going pretty quickly but we came together and again my steering was damaged - it was all over from there and for the rest of the race it was purely about survival and bagging some points. I limped across the line 9th.”

It ended up being one of the only rounds where the Pallet Supplies Team sustained damage during a race, so in a way the reputation of being ‘Mr Clean’ might now have gone – albeit none of the incidents were of Rudd’s doing.

“I’m just happy to come away clear second, even if only just, and I love Pukekohe, we will be fast at the end of the month.”

Pallet Supplies Racing

20 October 2014

UDC V8 Utes

A WEEK OF REFLECTION FOR RUDD

 A week on from Pallet Supplies Racing epic adventure to Mt Panorama and the buzz is still being felt by Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd’ and his team, and although the

weekend was not entirely hassle free the end result quickly faded the initial setback.

Rudd was to feel the bite of the Mountain during practice session 2 on the Thursday when he hit the concrete wall hard on the winding descent down from Brock Skyline, and the initial thoughts from Rudd was that his weekend was over.

“At first I thought bugger they’ll red flag it and I’ve screwed up practice for the rest of the boys but they continued under a local yellow. I was stuck in the car against the wall and I was busting to go check how bad it was. When I finally got out it was straight into the medical car and I had to wait for it to come off the mountain on the back of the tow truck to see it. It was then we saw how bad it really was. However in typical Aussie fashion the Peters Motorsport team were straight into it, and then a local panel shop opened up on Thursday night for us”.

While there is plenty in common between the Oz and NZ Ute Series, one of those special items is the way that teams will work all night to repair, in readiness for racing the next day. Quitting was not an option, and a team of eight worked through the dark hours to have the Ute back for Rudd’s Friday qualifying session.

“The boys performed an all-nighter finishing it at 6.00am Friday - just two hours before we were due out for qualifying. That was a tremendous effort on their behalf. I was a little more careful on the track in qualifying and I was definitely slower at the dipper! I ended up qualifying 23rd from 30”.

From then on it was all business, and the Scud completed his allotted tasks of racing against not only the experienced Australians, but racing the Mountain itself.

A week on from the pilgrimage and the mind is still racing, with a bit of disbelief thrown in for good measure.

“Looking back now there are some great memories, almost to the point where I can’t believe I have actually done it. Rod & Chris were excellent Aussie hosts who made me and the rest of the kiwi’s feel part of their team. There is a lot of organising goes into running five V8 Utes at Bathurst and those boys do an awesome job. The biggest lesson I learnt is to always respect ‘The Mountain’ – because guess what, if you don’t, it will bite you”.

Rudd now continues his New Zealand campaign with an extra - albeit invisible – tag on his race suit:

‘Bathurst Survivor’

Pallet Supplies Racing

28 September 2014

UDC V8 Utes

RUDD STEPS UP THE LADDER

A calm self-belief in his driving ability has moved Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd into second place overall for the UDC V8 Utes Championship.

Going into the latest round after a long winter break, Rudd was sitting in third equal position with a plan to cement that spot as a minimum by the time he left the Taupo circuit on Sunday evening.

While the weekend produced highs and lows for most of his competitors, Rudd was able to stay safe, clean and straight during all three races and due to that he has walked away with fourth overall for the round, and moved himself one step up the ladder into second equal alongside Mike Lightfoot.

“We stayed out of the carnage of that one and I simply had to keep my eyes forward” stated Rudd after the first race of the weekend. That mild demeanour was evident throughout the weekend with his driving and was also reflected by his knowledge of the Championship point’s situation. “I don’t worry about the points leading up to the races or during; I just wait till after the last race and see what happens. I do have a rough feel for where we are but I don’t analyse it too hard. We are there or thereabouts and that’s good enough for me”.

Rudd was quietly confident of a good result in Race 2 as he would start from Pole, and it would be a wet race, a scenario that he enjoys driving in. “Honestly I was glad to start at the back of the field in Race 1 as there would be some pent-up tension from the long winter break, but getting to be on Pole for the second outing in the wet suits me just fine”.

Rudd did not go on to win that race but was pleased to take second place after losing the lead in the final laps to the current Championship leader Kris Walton. “I was sad to not win, but he was quicker and he eventually grabbed the inside line down the back straight. I figured it was smart play to let him have it, and for me to keep the consolidation going”

He then went on to finish the final race of the weekend in 5th and that was enough to keep his fight for a top-three Championship placing intact, yet it seems he is quite willing to go racing. “With Mike picking up good points as well this weekend it’s going to make it interesting when we head to Hampton Downs. I’m looking forward to keeping my spot on the table”.

 Pallet Supplies Racing

 8 September 2014

 UDC V8 Utes

FRESH LOOK & FRESH FEEL FOR RUDD

Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd and the Pallet Supplies Racing Team have spent a fair bit of time over the winter break refreshing themselves and the Red Rocket in preparation for a return to the fray of the UDC V8 Ute Racing Series.

When the team was last in action back in April as a support category for the V8 Supercars at Pukekohe, Rudd was able to leave the round in a Championship fighting position, cementing himself into 3rd overall, that came from taking 2nd overall for that round, and the honour of the Trans-Tasman Title by being the first Kiwi home – giving the Australian visitors plenty to think about.

That result, along with some small but slick changes over the break comprising of components and a snappy new graphics package, has put Rudd and the team into a good headspace.

 “With the new upgraded gearbox and clutch in place we are now on equal footing with the rest of the pack” says Rudd. “We’ve given the rocket a general freshen up, but so too will all the other teams be doing the same thing”.

 There is however another aspect to Rudd’s game that he hopes will allow him to take an advantage into the weekend that he didn’t previously have, that being his run in a V8 Ute at Bathurst with the Australian Series.

 “I’ve been doing five days a week in the gym to prepare myself for when I take on Bathurst and the Aussies in October, by default that will improve my work back here in the Ute. I’ve always felt that doing a bit of off-track training and fitness is of benefit, now I have upped that level” states Rudd.

He has however had to deal with the lack of drive time across winter, but he is working on that.

“I’ve recently done a club event at Hampton Downs, and I’ll be doing a test day at Taupo before the season returns. On top of that I have spent a lot of hours on the racing simulator – but it shouldn’t take too much to get back into it anyway”.

So now his plan is to simply keep an ear and eye on what his opponents are up too, and go about his normal business come race day.

Pallet Supplies Racing

28April 2014

UDC V8 Utes

RUDD LEADS THE WAY FOR TRANS-TASMAN

It was a case of the same old situation with a bit of extra reward for Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd and his Pallet Supplies Racing Team when they travelled to the home track of Pukekohe to battle for Trans-Tasman honours in the UDC V8 Utes.

As an undercard support category for the V8 Supercars there is always the possibility of ‘errors under pressure’ for any driver, due to the crowd numbers and the viewing presence of the professionals from the V8 Supercar ranks. However Rudd was able to minimise any of this effect by taking plenty of advice and strategy from his Chief Engineer Blair Davie.

“We had done some testing two weeks earlier and from that we were confident we had found some extra speed” states Rudd “hence pre-race strategy from Blair was just the same good clear instructions - to do what we always do”.

To always keep it clean and consolidate points is how the entire weekend unfolded in front of them, however it did need reiterating after Rudd lost the opportunity to take his first ever race win on the Friday. “I was kicking myself about that but had to let it go or it could consume my weekend. We got our mind-set back by taking confidence out of our lap times in that race which were basically the same as Walton’s so we knew we had the pace to continue the weekend successfully”.

With the grid for two of the races sorted by random marble draw Rudd accomplished himself with a veteran’s drive by securing another 2nd and then a mid-pack 7th from the reverse grid, but come the final race of the weekend he had accumulated enough points to deservedly sit himself on the front row, right beside the Championship leader Walton.

There was however more pressure than normal placed on all of the drivers as the race had been shortened due to a previous support category incident, meaning track time restrictions would have the Utes fighting within a bizarre four lap sprint.

With zero chance of recovery if any mistakes were made, Rudd was able to slide across in behind Walton on Turn 1, and then spend those next four laps holding off a spirited fight from the very practiced Geoff ‘SOS’ Spencer to cross the line in second, another podium and even more importantly bagging enough points to take second overall for the round – and that also included the honour of being the first Kiwi home to help secure the Trans-Tasman Title.

With this new found confidence on board that he can foot it with the front runners, Rudd and his crew will take equal third position on the Championship ladder over the winter break before racing resumes at the tight Taupo Circuit at the end of September.

Pallet Supplies Racing

23 April 2014

UDC V8 Utes

SO MUCH ON THE LINE

Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd and the Pallet Supplies Racing Team are set and ready to conquer the Pukekohe circuit at the ITM 500 this weekend.

The team has had what could be described as an easy run so far this season, as the battle plan of staying consistent and out of trouble seems to be working for them. Rudd has completed every race of every round, and has managed to stay out of trouble while still mixing it up. He now lies 6th on the Championship table, and whilst that may not be as high as he would like, he and the team is still insistent that the same plan must remain.

“We have a couple of new drivers entering the round for this weekend, and that will have an effect on the field as it adds more entities into the mix. But that is fine with me, I’m under no pressure. I have confidence in my Ute and my team to prepare it for me, and I’m also fairly confident that there will be some paint sharing between those above me on the points table – and that is nothing but good news for us” states Rudd.

Indeed that is something to always factor in, the five Utes ahead of the team on the table will have more burdens on their shoulders, and more to prove to the always large crowd at a V8 Supercar event. And while it’s not the nature of any race car driver to simply circulate, Rudd will do exactly that – but cleanly, yet still at pace, and let the attrition of others happen around him.

“The machine is in perfect condition yet again” says team manager Rob Vazey. “Rudd looks after it well and with four races on the card he needs to keep it that way. He has proven he can do that and still clock in the points”.

The weather conditions have been forecast as changeable – and that also plays into the hands of Rudd who has relished any wet track surface that he drives on. Qualifying is Thursday afternoon, and the plan is to block out the large crowd and stick to the basics of driving smooth and consistent. The only time he will take in the sights and sounds as he goes around the track will be as he comes over the hill for the final time to claim a spot on the podium.

Pallet Supplies Racing

27 March 2014

UDC V8 Utes

SOLID PLAN NETTED SOLID RESULTS

Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd stayed out of trouble and in the points when he attacked the Pukekohe Circuit as support to the V8 SuperTourers in their new ‘single day format’ last Sunday.

Often the single day of racing can produce a hectic format for teams, especially if they need to undertake repairs or serious modifications, but for the Pallet Supplies Racing crew, it was an almost casual weekend – due mostly to Rudd yet again racing cleanly and smartly.

Rudd finished strong and walked away from the round finishing 4th overall from a list of twelve entrants, and that made him a very content person as he summed up his day.

“I was on the pace from the start and was 3rd quickest in one of the practice sessions. I started in 6th place for the first race which is sorted from the marble draw and ended up grabbing two spots to finish 4th. Then the next race I made another pass to finish in 6th spot. In the final race I started 5th on the grid and after a tussle with James ‘huggi’ Urquhart on the first few turns I was in good position chasing down the speedsters up front. I took to the grass on the hill – which is never a good idea – and lost a spot to Sam Barry, but I was really pleased that I could grab that place back before race end”.

With Rudd, the Ute, and the crew in such good condition after a meet they are very much in the box seat for the next round which is in support to the Australian V8 Supercars in April.

And as Team Manager Rob Vazey states, things are looking good for that next event. “Very happy with the result, it was consistent and exactly what was planned. This team is ready for the Supercar event, and if we can stick to this plan and not go out there to show-pony for the crowd we are in for even more strong results which continues our path as the Championship continues”. 

Pallet Supplies Racing

21 March 2014

UDC V8 Utes

PROGRESSION IS THE KEY FOR RUDD

Brett Rudd left the opening round South Island of the 2014 UDC V8 Ute Racing Series with a solid set of points on the board, which is the start that he wanted.

Even though trophies are the glory Rudd is fully aware that planning a consistent and trouble free season is the key to Championship honours come the end of the year. He is intent on progressing up the ladder from where he currently sits fifth.

The Pukekohe round - which is predominantly a one-day affair with all the racing done on the Sunday - will see Rudd on the track in perfect condition Pallet Supplies Racing Ute. Saturday afternoon is practice and qualifying and although the conditions will vary from one day to the next the team is very confident that they will have a quick machine given their previous strong outings at the famous circuit.

The Ute has received progressive upgrades across the final rounds of last season and building up into the 2014 series, and that has brought the machine up to the same specifications as the current front-runners in the competition, and the changes have made a significant difference to not only the handling and performance of the Ute, but also Rudd’s own confidence.

“Since the new suspension and brakes were fitted I can really throw the Ute around. I can brake slightly later and harder before the corners and it’s also easier to aim and control the Ute going through them” states Rudd. ”We are 100% primed for a good weekend, and Pukekohe has worked well for us in the past, so we deserve to feel confident”.

The UDC V8 Utes will be running alongside the V8 SuperTourers as part of the Ultimate Family Picnic Day with the first of three Ute races starting at 9:35 Sunday morning.

Pallet Supplies Racing

27 January 2014

UDC V8 Utes

FORM READY TO TRANSFER

Brett Rudd has taken a huge positive from the opening round of the 2014 UDC V8 Ute Series by clocking in the fastest lap time of the third and final race of the weekend. Now while this did not transfer into a podium or silverware for the cupboard, it does give him plenty of confidence for the next round which will be based at his home track of Pukekohe.

“My engineer Blair Davie gave me the most driveable car I’ve ever had in that last race to the point where I felt I had a distinct advantage over everybody else, but while the circuit at Cromwell is fantastic to drive, it doesn’t give you many passing chances even if you’re quicker” stated Rudd.

It was in fact so good that he was possibly having the best drive of his so far very short racing career.

“We’re running the upgraded brakes now and we fitted the new suspension before the last meet of the 2013 season, so it stops way better.  We’ve got a couple of ideas to improve things even more and I feel I’m already up to speed with the new equipment, that means I can take momentum straight into the next round”.

It was the second race of the meeting that was costly for the team, having started from 6th on the grid Rudd was shuffled to 10th and had to spend the session trying to recover. “I got boxed in off the line and lost four spots within two corners. I should have been fighting in the front half not the back”.

However one thing Rudd has learnt during the two seasons of racing is that you need to wipe the bad ones immediately from your mind and focus on the next. “I finished race three on the back of two of the quickest guys in the paddock – Ward and Lightfoot. Wardy only beat me by about .2 of a second, just under half a Ute length. It was very wet too and I tend to like that – I almost want it to be raining at Pukekohe!”

Rudd now sits 5th overall in the Championship, something he is looking forward to improving come March 22.  

Pallet Supplies Racing

24 January 2014

UDC V8 Utes

RUDD KNOWS HIS TARGETS

When the season wrapped up late 2013 and Rudd had realised that his chances of finally reaching the podium were gone, despair and regret were not part of his or his team’s mind-set. In fact it was almost the direct opposite as they immediately started the planning for an all-out attack in 2014.

Finishing 4th overall in only his second ever season of racing was quite a milestone, given the experience level of the drivers that finished below him. With that knowledge however does not come any complacency. Rudd is fully aware that while he wants to focus on beating Lightfoot and Ward – the two in front of him last season – he cannot ignore the rest of the field as they too wish to perform and make waves up the front of the field.

“I have to keep my eyes open because it’s not just Ward and Lightfoot to watch. Spencer for example, and then there are the new boys too like Collinson and Barry who even though they are experienced racers they are fresh to the Utes and an unknown to us” states Rudd.

Then of course there is the new track to deal with in the opening round but Rudd is ok with that. “This seems to be a technical looking circuit here at Highlands. They’ve opened up a couple of corners, but it is new for all of us so everyone is in the same situation of learning while racing. If I draw a marble that puts me at the back of the grid for Race 1 I won’t be too disappointed as I can sit back a bit and watch what unfolds ahead of me”.

The format for this round has returned to the 2012 system of points allocated in the Qualifying session, a random marble draw for Race 1, reversed grid for Race 2 and a points earned grid layout for the final Race 3.

According to Rudd the pairing of the Ute and himself is exactly where is should be. “I’ve done no track testing, but I’ve had the Ute serviced and prepped by Stoneman Race Tech so it’s in top physical condition, just like the driver! We’ve done a couple of laps in a road car now around Highlands and we’ve already spotted our potential passing places”

In the end Rudd’s plan is simple, just as it has been in previous seasons but this time with a slight modification. Stay clean as always but get onto the podium.

Supercars and Highlands headline 2014 UDC V8 Ute Series

 A fifth year on the bill for the V8 Supercars and an opening round at the fabulous new Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell are the highlights of the six round 2014 UDC New Zealand V8 Utes championship calendar announced today.

 In 2014 the V8 Supercar round at Pukekohe will be a championship round for the UDC V8 Utes, and it will visit the historic circuit three times during the season, with the series finale being held at the track as the main support class for the SuperTourer season closer. The series will also visit Taupo for the Fathers’ Day 400 meeting and will head to the South Island again in November. Series Managing Director Paul Isaac is excited to have both Highlands and Supercars on the calendar, commenting;

"This year the Supercar round was a non-championship event but in 2014 it will form a points scoring round of the UDC V8 Utes championship and this is great news for our corporate partners, our drivers and their own corporate partners. It's the biggest motorsport event in New Zealand by far during the motorsport year and a real spectacle. We are delighted to be back once again. Highlands in January is equally as mouth-watering - it's a world class facility and our drivers have been keen to go racing on it since it opened for business. They don't have much longer to wait fortunately!"

Australian drivers have been much in evidence in the UDC V8 Utes this past season with Kris Walton, Rod Dawson, David Ling and Chris Berry all competing at some stage. More Australian racers are expected to compete regularly in 2014 and this will push up V8 Ute numbers in the domestic New Zealand series. Fifteen or more V8 Ford and Holden utes will line up for the first round at Highlands as the series continues to grow in its role as the main support category for the BNT V8 SuperTourers, and as a main feeder category for all senior V8 racing series in New Zealand and Australia.

2014 CALENDAR

Round 1 – January 25/26 – Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell, South Island

Round 2 – March 22/23 – Pukekohe, Auckland

Round 3 – April 24/27 – V8 Supercars, Pukekohe, Auckland

Round 4 – September 6/7 - Father’s Day 400 Taupo

Round 5 – November 1/2 – South Island (track venue TBA)

Round 6 – November 28/29/30 - Pukekohe 500, Auckland

Pallet Supplies Racing

4 December 2013

UDC V8 Utes

RUDD SENDS WARNING FOR 2014

Brett ‘The Scud’ Rudd may not have taken any podium silverware during his 2013 UDC V8 Ute campaign but he did manage to achieve plenty – and the list is there to send a warning to the rest of the driving field.

In only his second ever season of motorsport of any kind, Rudd has finished fourth overall for the Championship which is quite a feat given that the majority of the opposition that fell behind him are seasoned motorsport crusaders. Consistency, clean driving and a meticulously presented race ute were the keys to his successful season.

The outside of the Ute was more than just spit and polish, it was a production base to which the entire team set their season on. Underneath and in the drivers seat painstaking preparation to detail was the key to Rudds season, with attention to all the small things from his team being where the real results came from. Not only did it allow Rudd to stay competitive all season, but it garnered him the trophy for Most Improved Driver of the year.

Even more importantly, Rudd was not just making up the numbers on the grid going into the seventh and final round of the season at Pukekohe as part of the Hankook Super Series with the BNT V8 SuperTourers, he was chasing down the leader board competitors directly in front of him, ensuring they looked over their shoulders. In simple terms he was making them work for their glory.

All of that combined has made the rest of the field take more notice of Rudd, as they now fully realise the potential that the Pallet Supplies Racing Team has to be fighting for overall honours next season.

There is only one minor problem with making such statements both on and off the tarmac, whether he likes it or not, Rudd is no longer able to fly under the radar. Opposing teams will now take more notice of his performances, and they will no longer take him for granted as the rookie, plus they will be less certain of their ability to catch him, pass him, or leave him behind.

One of Rudd's fortes this season has been to stay out of trouble and not get caught up in the on-track dramas that always happen in motorsport, but that might be more difficult to stay away from in 2014 given his new level of standing amongst the field.

Pallet Supplies Racing

25 November 2013

UDC V8 Utes

NOTHING TO LOSE AT FINAL

Pallet Supplies Racing or more accurately driver Brett Rudd has absolutely nothing to lose going into this coming weekends Grand Final at Pukekohe.

Currently fourth in the Championship standings Rudd is still without any silverware to show for his efforts, but the feeling among the camp is that his time has come - given that the car has remained in perfect condition all season and that his driving has improved to become more consistant.

But consistancy needs to be thrown out the window now, as in reality this has become an all-or-nothing round. Rudd is only 69 points away from third placed Peter Ward, yet knowing that Ward is fighting for his own higher honours against Lightfoot and Hanley gives Rudd both a positive and negative aspect towards the weekend.

“First I need to get rid of that 69 point deficit” states Rudd, “that wont be easy because Pete is not out there playing around. Any faults on his part will be my gains, but I cant wait for those, I have to go out and take control of this.”

There will be pressure on Rudd for possibly the first time this season, as many, including himself, knows the potential for Ute 99 to secure its first ever podium spot and take the glory that comes with it. The team certainly has a belief in its driver as Manager Rob Vazey explains. “Brett has impressed us all this year in only his second season racing, and along with Blair Davie  preparing the car in top condition every meeting… its surely Brett’s turn for a podium”.

But there is also pressure on those ahead of him on the points table, and that is of huge advantage to Rudd. Still, after this weekend there are no more chances left in the 2013 season for trophy grabbing so that is why it is a genuine ‘nothing to lose’ scenario. With points allocated from everything including the qualifying run, there is only one way for Rudd to achieve his goals, as he so simply puts it while trying to keep the air of cool around him “keep pointing it forward and go fast, pretty easy really.”

Pallet Supplies Racing

25 Oct 2013

UDC V8 Utes

RUDD CLOSE TO REMOVING THE 4TH

Pallet Supplies Racing was looking for glory at the 5th round of the UDC V8 Utes recently held at the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, and although no trophies were taken away by the team, they were so close they could see their reflection in them.

Coming into the weekend the crew was confident that Rudd could finally stand aloft on the podium, not only because they felt that he was deserving of it - due to him being 4th in the Championship standings without having a trophy to put in the cabinet - but because he was showing the driving ability to mix it up front.

As Rudd explains, they had the package ready to go. “The Ute was in perfect condition, and all we had to do was keep the consistency shown so far this season to clock in the valuable points. It really is a bizarre feeling for the entire team to be knocking on the door of Championship honours and yet have no silverware to show for it!”

With a noteably strong field to fight against over the weekend it can often be the simple things that provide the needed inspiration. For Rudd that came from being part of the Hankook Super Series and racing at the same venue as the V8 SuperTourers. “Having so many top touring car drivers watching on certainly provides a bit of motivation to do well” says Rudd, “but it also has the flip side of putting extra pressure on you, even if they don’t end up watching!”.

With four races and only one qualifying session – where Rudd came in 4th – there was plenty of opportunity to grab the seemingly elusive 3rd or higher at some stage, but by the end of the weekend the team was once again without trophies, taking 5th, 6th, 9th and 5th from each race. Regardless of the individual race results Rudd had continued his form, albeit to hold that 4th in the Championship by taking 4th for the round. The team now looks forward to the final round at Pukekohe, not just for the fun of racing, but because Rudd is only 69 points away from claiming 3rd in the Championship – and it’s the number the entire team is going to fight for.

Going into the final round the benefit for the team is that in only his second ever season of motorsport Rudd is fully aware that the pressure is not on him to take the big wins, but on those around him to suffer the big losses, and they know that he is showing the driving aptitude to be there ready to force the mistakes and pounce when required. The mistakes will be from their camps, not from Pallet Supplies Racing.

 Pallet Supplies Racing

 15 Oct 2013

 UDC V8 Utes

 RUDD READY TO LEAD THE PACK

 Pallet Supplies Racing is due for glory and the 5th round of the UDC V8 Utes to be held at Hampton Downs is the target in Brett Rudd's sights.

The crew are not only confident that Rudd can finally stand aloft on the podium, they feel that he is deserving of it, given that he is currently fourth in the Championship standings without having a trophy to put in the cabinet.

It is certainly a bizarre feeling for the entire team to be in the position they are yet without any silverware to show for it. However dwelling on such thoughts will do nothing towards changing that, the only way to solve that minor predicament is to be up the front end of the field.

As Rudd explains, they have the package ready to go. “The Ute is in perfect condition, and if we keep the consistency shown so far this season not only will we continue to clock in the valuable points, we will be in with a shot to get our hands on the elusive silverware”.

The field is noteably strong for the weekend and it can often be the simple things that provide the needed inspiration. For Rudd that comes from being part of the Hankook Super Series and racing at the same venue as the V8 SuperTourers. “Having so many top touring car drivers watching on certainly provides a bit of motivation to do well” says Rudd, “but it also has the flip side of putting extra pressure on you, even if they don’t end up watching!”.

So far this season Rudd has been able to handle plenty of pressure from the very experienced drivers directly around him and he has been able to turn that pressure into points, so he feels there is no reason for that to be any different this time around.

Being so close to the two drivers ahead of him on the points table means that he is unquestionably in with a good shot at overall honours, and the true fact of the matter is if you were to look at it openly, it would be the other drivers that have the pressure on them to perform. Being motorsport there is of course a bit of luck that comes with it, but in only his second ever season of motorsport Rudd has worked out already that you can also make your own luck, and let those around you make the mistakes.

Pallet Supplies Racing

2 September 2013

UDC V8 Utes

GAP CLOSING DESPITE MIXED FORTUNES

Rudd and the Pallet Supplies Racing Team were pleased but not content with their final results coming out of the Fourth Round of the UDC V8 Utes held at the Taupo circuit.

Heading in fourth on the table they were well aware of the points fight that would happen between Mike Lightfoot and Peter Ward who were second equal, and as history has shown, a fight in the UDC Utes usually equals tears. This would be of benefit to Rudd so long as he was to remain out of the way, letting them make the mistakes and allowing him to take the spoils.

Hitting the track with a machine in perfect condition was essential for Rudd, due to the fact that the Taupo circuit suits the Fords with their different gearing and suspension systems. His team was able to provide him with that, but as is often the case in any motorsport, luck plays a part – whether it be good or bad.

Finishing his first race in 9th position was not the plan that the team had looked at, and neither was the 7th placing in Race 2, however things looked a lot better after securing a 4th spot in the 3rd race of the weekend. Had he then not received the always controversial drive through penalty in Race 4 he would have finished a lot higher than 12th.

The highly positive side of the weekend was the fact that he was able to reduce the potential for a DNF by driving clean and smart, and at the same time continually collecting the points on offer each time he passed under the chequered flag. That story however was not similar for one of his closest rivals Peter ‘Kaos’ Ward who ended up having a low points gathering, in turn closing the gap between himself and Rudd in the Championship run.

The season of keeping the Ute out of trouble and in good condition has been a principal reason for Rudd’s current success. He has given himself a clean gap to hold fourth spot in the Championship, and given that there is still plenty of racing to be had, Rudd and the team are setting their sights firmly on some special silverware. The next outing will be at Hampton Downs, a circuit where Rudd has performed well on previous occasions. He is in fact following the age old proverb in motorsport “To finish first, first you must finish” which in his case will only lead to triumph.

Pallet Supplies Racing                          26 August 2013                                   UDC V8 Utes

Winter break makes Rudd even more determined

The large gap between the previous round of the UDC V8 Utes at Pukekohe and the upcoming one in Taupo is a well documented topic, with drivers and teams impatient to get back into the racing scene. For Rudd however there is more than just a keenness to be back behind the wheel, there is a thirst for results.

Currently fourth in the Championship standings Rudd and the Pallet Supplies Team are fully aware of the opportunity that sits before them - not only to take a podium position but to push themselves into the top three overall.

The car is in perfect condition after the dramas and issues felt by many teams at the previous round, but that weekend of difficulties has been put behind them and consistency is the tagline for the Taupo attack.

With a strong field of drivers also looking for glory, Rudd has spent many hours on the computer – a racing simulator to be more precise – to help get the mindset right for the challenge. But along with that he has managed to find some real time to practice on the track under the instruction of the current V8 Ute Champion and Tasman SuperTourer driver Andrew Waite, and that is guidance that is beyond measurement.

Along with the teams own race focus they are fully aware of the situation ahead of them on the points table, with his two closest opponents on equal points for 2nd and 3rd in the Championship, and that can have huge benefits for Rudd. “We know the case for Ward and Lightfoot and both of them will have plans and tactics to cement their positions, but we can’t focus on that, we have to sort our own game first” states Rudd. “But in saying that, if they want to mix it up between each other and make mistakes, I’m ready and willing to pounce”.

The fourth round of the UDC V8 Ute Racing Series is set for the 31s of August and 1st of September – Fathers Day – and that is just a little more incentive….

Pallet Supplies Racing

29 May 2013

UDC V8 Utes

TEMPERS FLARE FROM WITHIN THE UTE RANKS AT PUKEKOHE

Going into the third round of the UDC V8 Ute Championship Brett Rudd and the Pallet Supplies Racing crew were confident of a strong showing, an attitude that was well reflected after the practice and qualifying sessions had Rudd in the hunt for a large points grab. However the mood changed as the weekend went on, and it wasn’t of their own making.

With the track surface and general weather conditions at a difficult and dangerous level, it would require diligence and patience from all drivers to ensure that a genuine race meeting would take place; from Rudd’s point of view however, that did not happen. “Too many driving too fast for the conditions” Rudd puts simply, “Some of the dopey stuff just ruined it for others, our Ute was good and I’m sure theirs were too, its just a pity that they were over-driving them to the conditions”.

With the high knowledge of racing within the line-up of drivers inside the Ute series, it was staggering to Rudd that so much caution was thrown to the wind. “I watched one in front of me going so quick into Turn 1 he ended up going off at Turn 3 hitting the wall, behind me another decided to try pass on the outside of Turn 1 and went straight off, and as I was going through the curve I saw another had gone off as well. I had moved into 3^rd place at that time and we were going great, I was comfortable and driving well and then we were thrown a red flag. It would be safe to say I wasn’t impressed, and the ones that went off had no right to blame the weather for it”.

With Race 1 cancelled and removed from the weekends points tally it was by pure luck alone that those who met with the walls would have a full night of repair to fix their own mistakes. “They were very lucky to have some of the best crew members around working on the machinery, and that got them back into the racing come Sunday morning” said Rudd, “but if they had of played that way on Sunday their weekend would have been a story of disaster, not a story of revival”.

Race 2 on Sunday had now been converted to become the first race of the weekend and Rudd was to start from the back having pulled the number 12 spot during the marble draw. “It was another wet session, but we held the Ute onto the track to come 8^th in that race, moderately pleasing but should have been better”.

 The next race was the reverse grid from the marble draw. In between those sessions the rest of the support classes and the main game of V8 SuperTourers had been fairing no better with both yellow and red flags constantly flying. That did not seem to concern a few of the Ute drivers who in Rudd’s eyes were ignoring the situation and the free lessons being shown by others out on the track.

 “My team and I had prepared ourselves mentally for the next outing, we knew what it was like out on the track and we knew that starting from Pole would be a challenge. This was found to be true as I lined up because I could see the right side of the track was like a grease pan, yet the left was drying. Once the lights went out I was instantly struggling for grip and had to settle into third behind the guys from the outside”.

It was at this point when Rudd was well clear of the first few turns that disaster struck the mid-section pack. Australian Rod Dawson had spun on Turn 3 and Chris Hanley was left with nowhere to move and had the unfortunate situation of hitting the side of the Aussies Ute head on, it was yet another red flag for the group and another restart.

“I had a similar start with lack of traction and once again lost the initial lead, and then Hamish Cross decided to have a few goes at me on Turns 3 and 4, eventually shunting me into the grass. I recovered and I was flying thanks to a quickly drying surface where I managed to finish 3^rd. Cross was 9^th suffering with dramas after his various antics. But even with my result of 3^rd I’d had a gutsful of the way some of these guys were driving, particularly one, so I went down to Cross post-race to have a wee chat and explain things in simple terms. My team were in shock as they had never seen me so angry or in that frame of mind before”.

It went slightly smoother for Rudd and the other race teams during the final session of the weekend which had the Pallet Supplies Holden starting from Grid 4.

“I moved myself into 3^rd during that run and I really loved it. I was racing clean with Spencer and Ward and things were looking really positive, but then there was trouble again after Peter Robb hit the wall. Hanley then snuck past me for third position just before the yellows came out. From there the race was red flagged so I lost that opportunity for minor glory. I may not have been able to hold him out for the last couple of laps anyway, but it sure would have been great fun trying!”

Rudd left Round 3 only two points away from claiming third overall and has mixed emotions about the weekend. “It’s frustrating when you are feeling on song and those around you affect what goes on, not by bad luck, but by simple stupidity. ‘That’s Racing’ is the term used a lot but I don’t think that is an excuse for driving like a moron and it shouldn’t be tolerated. In saying that, I look forward to stepping on the podium next round!”

The Utes take a winter break before heading to the Taupo circuit for the Father’s Day 400 in September.

Pallet Supplies Racing

22 May 2013

UDC V8 Utes

RESET MINDSET FOR BRETT RUDD AND THE CREW AT PUKEKOHE

With a current position of 5th on the UDC V8 Ute Championship points table the entire team at Pallet Supplies Racing is  changing the focus and mindset for this weekends round at Pukekohe.

Having completed the opening two official rounds of the Championship plus the showcase support category duties with the V8 Supercars, Rudd has moved himself into a strong points position with the ability to make inroads towards higher honours.

Only 21 points separate him and 3rd placed Mike Lightfoot, with Rob Gibson sitting between them both in 4th. For Rudd this means that a smart drive at the Brother 350 is on the cards.

“Consistent mistake free driving” states Rudd “I have not had a lot of time to think about the weekend with my other commitments, but as the weekend draws closer the focus will be there – and the focus is on consistent mistake free driving”.

Of course there is little that any driver can do if others wish to cause problems out on the circuit but Rudd knows that his job is to focus on his drive alone and not what the others are doing. In his mind the speed and racing will come by default.

“We have not made any drastic changes to the Ute setup after the run at the Supercars. We will do some relatively minor adjustments, to fit in with the slight change in mind-set. We have done so well in the opening rounds that we need to think about the Championship as a whole now, not the instantaneous glory”.

Rudd has found good pace so far this season and the entire team is confident that he can maintain it. They also hope for a bit of luck come the marble draw for grid positions of Races 2 and 3, and that the red mist and subsequent incidents that often accompany a few of the other drivers is well out of reach from their Holden.

The UDC V8 Utes Qualifying and Race 1 will go green at 2:20 pm on Saturday with Races 2, 3 and 4 on Sunday.

Pallet Supplies Racing

18 April 2013

UDC V8 Utes

Comfort zone not attainable for Rudd

It is a common fact that motorsport is never simple, as found by the Pallet Supplies Racing Team over the V8 Supercars weekend at Pukekohe.

Coming into the non-championship event as a support category for the V8SC Series Rudd was hoping to add to his reasonably successful season to-date, but there was a comfort level missing from the qualifying run that stymied the initial intentions. Rudd summed it up cleanly with “I felt there was a lot of room for improvement”.

The weekend had reverted back to the old points and racing format used up until the end of last season, albeit with a slight twist. Qualifying was not for race grid position, but as an addition to the weekend points tally. Races 1 and 2 would be sorted via the marble draw, and Race 3 would see the team’s line up in respect to their points garnered from the earlier sessions, but in reverse.

The draw gave Rudd an 11th starting position of which he was able to finish in 6th. “The race was full of action” Rudd explained, “I kept myself out of trouble and came in with a respectable result. Many of the other teams however were coming back in with lots of damage to repair”

It wasn’t as smooth sailing for the PSR team after starting the next race in the reverse option, Rudd would struggle to hold on to the second row spot of third. “I missed a couple of gear changes at crucial stages of the race and let others through. They were silly mistakes, but you have to take the good with the bad”. Regardless of the hiccups on track the team did feel that the performance was steady, and they were to start in 6th place for the final race of the weekend.

Rudd initially worked his way up to 4th however he was in a tightly contested fight for the spot with Jeff Kernohan. He eventually lost it and moved back to 5th and the battle continued, only to see Rudd dive in hard on a turn where he connected with Kernohan. This spun his opponent and the PSR Holden was handed a drive through penalty, meaning that he would have to finish the race in 10th spot, and 9th overall for the event.

It was another motorsport lesson for the second-season racer who can now add a penalty to his list of on-track accolades. On a positive for the team and driver is the seat time which will be of added benefit for the next Championship round.

Pallet Supplies Racing

11 April 2013

UDC V8 Utes

Rudd ready to stand on the podium

There is certainly no shortage of confidence from Brett Rudd leading up to this weekends brute clash at Pukekohe Park Raceway. The UDC V8 Utes are part of the support package for the Australian V8 Supercar series, and the stage does not get any bigger for the teams.

The new track layout has been given the thumbs up by Rudd, and so too has his driving – but not by himself or his team, that kudos has come from the current V8 Ute Champion and Tasman Motorsports Supertourer driver Andrew Waite.

Whilst this particular weekend of racing may not be an official points round of the Championship for the Utes, there is still plenty to gain from finishing up the front, and Rudd is fully aware of that.

“I need to simply stay clear of trouble, but it is certainly time for a top three round finish. The nerves are fine and just like the last round at Ruapuna I simply need to be consistent on track”. The only segment of the upgraded raceway that will need learning are the new corners placed into the back straight, being that it is a fresh change, no one has had a chance to test it for real or simulated.

“Looking at the photos and the map there should be more passing opportunites with that new segment, and whilst I have done a lot of laps on the simulator it will be uncharted territory heading into it under brakes – only come Sunday evening will we be able to say we braked properly for it!”

With nothing more than a spit and polish needed on the 1.8 tonne machine since the last round it means there is no need to concern himself about any repairs done, the only difference is that the Holdens have had a de-tune. “The technical team for the NZ V8 Utes have clipped our wings” states Rudd, “apparently the parity is still off and we will have less revs, it will effect 2nd and 3rd but just like our braking into the new curves, only time will tell us the outcome of this one”.

The Utes will only have a 20 minute practise session on Friday to learn it before qualifying, followed by the three short sprint races over the weekend.

Pallet Supplies Racing

12 March 2013

UDC V8 Utes

Pure pleasure for Rudd as he takes control of his season

Taking the self-assurance found at the first round of the UDC V8 Utes from Hampton Downs and putting it into play at Ruapuna proved to be a successful strategy for Auckland’s Brett Rudd.

With the newly found pace from round 1 still resonating within the team, the goal was to maintain a steady and consistent run on the technical Christchurch based track, keep out of trouble, and bring the points home. However qualifying was a minor struggle for Rudd; placing the Pallet Supplies Racing Holden onto the 4th row of the grid, and that fortune remained the same when he crossed the line for a 7th placing. But then the weekend strategy garnered even more than what was initially expected.

With a system that mixes up the field for Races 2 and 3 via the ballot draw for grid placement, Rudd found himself in the middle section, which more often than not becomes the struggle zone. However, when other more experienced drivers in front made some crucial racing errors, the still green Rudd had to suddenly lift his game as his machinery was swiftly located into 2nd position on the track behind Championship point’s leader Chris Hanley. But that itself was not a problem for Rudd, the fact that on-form Peter Ward was on the tailpipe was of concern.

“It felt like I had a rash for a while there” said a smiling Rudd post-race, “I spent a bit of time looking in the mirrors, and noticed Gibson chasing Ward down and I was hoping he would keep Pete off my tail. But when I focused forward I found that I could maintain and sometimes gain on the leader which was good. It’s nice to follow the drive lines of someone that quick!”

When Ward sent himself off into the wilderness Rudd could have taken a more relaxing stance, but there was to be no respite as a flying Mike Lightfoot abruptly took over from Ward in the chase for glory, as Rudd happily explained. “We came out of the carousel segment of the track and Ward was wide. I thought to myself you’d have to be fairly brave to try that here, and then I saw him disappear out of my mirrors. That’s when Lightfoot arrived. My engineer was in my ear just enough to tell me I was doing well and to keep it steady. I learnt very quickly how not to do anything stupid!”

Hanley was in cruise mode up front, yet for Rudd he was about to lay down the best drive of his to-date short career and it was to become a play of seconds. He crossed the line in 2nd to take his first ever podium position, in his 2nd year of motorsport, and only his 2nd time at the Ruapuna circuit.

He completed the stellar weekend with a 4th and 5th in the following races to walk away from the round 4th place overall and in a clear 5th position on the championship standings.

Pallet Supplies Racing

6 March 2013

UDC V8 Utes

Pallet Supplies Racing

19 Feb 2013

UDC V8 Utes Round 1 Hampton Downs

Solid performance gives confidence to Rudd and team.

A weekend of mixed but solid results has put an air of assurance into the Pallet Supplies Racing Team. Coming out on the first practice day of the new season on top of the timing sheets was mildly surprising for both Rudd and the rest of the Ute racing field given his lack of experience behind the wheel – comparative to the rest of the drivers. However while he may lack in the statistic charts and be unable to make a claim of years behind the wheel, what he can do is show that he has an ability to throw 1.8 ton of V8 Ute around a circuit at speed.

With a brand new format for the UDC V8 Utes this season of a qualifying run followed by four races, there would be plenty of opportunity for Rudd to prove his new found confidence across the 2013 run.

He was able to hold his place during the first race, starting and finishing in 5th place, but the second race was not what he had planned after he was shunted off the track by another competitor.

“The marble draw for the grid was certainly not in our favour” claimed Rudd post-race. “Starting 8th would always be a battle, and getting punted off does you no good”.

After finishing 9th in the second run due to the mishap Rudd was then forced to start from 5th on the grid for Race 3, and again it did not quite go to plan, with a final spot of 7th across the chequered flag. This would mean that the combined point’s effort of the weekend to date would see him starting from Row 4 - yet another strong effort would be required from 8th.

It was here that Rudd found his early pace again, he moved up the congested field to finish the final outing in 6th place, good enough to place him 7th overall in the Championship.

Rudd was in a positive mood. “It was a solid performance and a good start to the series considering the second race incident” and so too was Team Manager Rob Vazey. “Our team has a goal and we are focused to achieve this for our sponsors and supporters. Our speed in practice showed that Brett and the car are fast posting the second fastest lap of the weekend and with a little fine tuning we will be further up the field. As Brett has said, it was a solid start to the series”.

The deal now will be for the team to ensure Rudd has the best setup possible for the next round at the Christchurch based Ruapuna circuit, a place where good flow is important. For Rudd, his job will simply be to ensure that the buoyant attitude he found during this opening stanza can be taken south.

The team will be in action again on the weekend of 9/10 March, and the word around the campfire is that after only one season of competition, Pallet Supplies Racing is now a team to watch out for. 

For more information please contact:

Rob Vazey

Team Manager

021 726 986

Media Release

Pallet Supplies Racing

UDC V8 Utes, Round 1 Hampton Downs, 15 Feb 2013

Rudd sets the initial pace at opening round

Brett Rudd has put his UDC V8 Ute competitors on notice after completing practice with the fastest time on the board – a full 2.3 seconds quicker than the slowest Ute in the field.

Although many would argue the fact, practice times are often a prelude to the weekends overall speed, and because of that Rudd is now quietly confident of his new found abilities, given that the 2012 season of V8 Ute racing was his first ever foray into motorsport of any kind.

His 1.17.53 would have also raised the eyebrows of his closest competitor - and early predicted champion - Chris Hanley who followed Rudd with a 1.17.55. It won’t just be Hanley looking closely at the time sheet though, so too will the rest of the field which after five seasons has now become a very experienced selection of drivers and teams. Many of them will be wondering what Rudd is doing right, or they are doing wrong.

The argument against practice form transferring to qualifying and race pace is now void, because if any team was using practice for trial setups, they have no chance to test any overnight changes.

There is a new format for the UDC V8 Utes this season, and it is quite a dramatic change. No longer do the competitors use the qualifying run just for points; it has now been converted to a genuine session where the fastest takes pole, a more traditional style of racing. Races 2 and 3 are decided by the unique marble draw system, and Race 4 is a grid determined by the accumulated points of the previous weekend’s outings.

For Rudd his marble draw was not exactly what he wanted, as he will start Race 2 from position 8 and Race 3 from grid position 5. His initial hope for glory will need to come from Saturday morning’s qualifying run, and the expectation of a practice equalling burst.

Racing proper commences at 10:40 Saturday morning.

For more information please contact:

Rob Vazey

Team Manager

021 726 986

      Former V8 Ute Champ Secures V8 Supercar Drive

V8 Ute stalwart Chris Pither has secured a full-time drive with Brad Jones Racing in the 2013 V8 Supercar Development Series, and will step out of V8 Ute Racing following a long and successful career. In 6 years of competition, Pither scored a V8 Ute Trans-Tasman win at Hamilton NZ, and three V8 Ute Titles (2 x New Zealand, 1 x Australia,) making him the only driver in V8 Ute history to achieve this.

“I’ll definitely miss it. I did a lot of great things and made a lot of good friends in both the Australian and New Zealand Ute categories, they will remain part of my family for a long time. My NZ backer and mentor Ash Cairns suggested I move to Australia to further my career when I was only 18, so I packed up and lived with V8 Ute Category Manager Craig Denyer and his family on the Gold Coast,” Pither said.

Pither raced initially for the Kanga Loaders Team in V8 Utes, (winning the Gold Cast round) and then the Fujitsu Series. An introduction to Darren Park from Ice Break Racing saw Pither take over seat from Layton Crambrook early in 2010, then go on to win the 2011 V8 Ute Series.

Mindful of how hard getting a break in the sport is, Chris set up the Chris Pither/Ice Break Scholarship in 2012, and offered three young drivers (Jesse Dixon, Tom Williamson, Andy Waite), the chance to race in his series winning Holden in the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All.

“2012 was a great year. I obviously only did 2 Ute rounds myself, and having 3 guys in the Ute over the course of the year was great. We decided at the start to give guys with no money but talent a run. It was a highlight of mine to see Jesse Dixon go on to win the Shannon’s Supercar Showdown Bathurst 1000 drive as a result of the scholarship programme. Everyone that drove did a great job, hopefully we helped them as well,” said Pither.

Ice Break Racing, also a long-time supporter of the Australian V8 Ute Series, will be assisting Pither in the next level of his career, backing him in the former Fabian Coulthard Commodore VE. The Ice Break Racing VE Ute was sold this week, and will be driven by 2012 driver Gerard McLeod this year.

This will be Pither’s third run in the Development Series, and he believes with great support (Ice Break Racing), a good team (Brad Jones Racing (BJR)) and a competitive car (Fabian Coulthard Commodore VE), he has the combination to have a successful season.

“I’ve only done the entire championship once before with Kanga Loaders in 2006 and selective rounds in 2007 with Paul Morris Motorsport. I think I’m probably more prepared than I ever have been, and doing a few years in the Utes has made me a better package as a driver. I’m really rapt that Ice Break and our other partners have been willing and excited to step into the Supercar Development Series and I’m confident with BJR running the car, we’ve got a really exciting package,” he explained.

Pither drove in the V8 Supercar Enduro’s in 2012 last year alongside David Wall, where he claimed 14th in the Bathurst 1000. He is yet to practice in his 2013 car; however it will have a similar package to what he drove at Bathurst in 2012.

Category Manager Craig Denyer will be sad to see Pither and Ice Break Racing step out of the Series but wishes them every success.

“I’ve known Chris since he was a young teenager, he is part of our family in many ways and it’s great to see him moving into a competitive V8 Supercar program, thanks to Darren Park. Ice Break Racing has done a lot for the Series since their involvement in 2010 and while we are sorry to see them move on, it again proves that the Australian V8 Ute Series is a great feeder category for V8 Supercars, both commercially and for driver development. When you look at the number of former V8 Ute racers now in the DVS or V8 Supercar Championship, it’s a great story for the category,” said Denyer.

Like many drivers before him, Pither saw the V8 Utes as a great stepping stone towards a career in V8 Supercars.

“It’s definitely a great stepping stone. I competed in a season and a half and it got me back into the Australian motorsport scene and built my profile again.  Australian V8 Ute Racing has definitely been a big part of the process into V8 Supercars; obviously the close hard racing teaches you how to pick your moments and be smart on the track. I think the past couple of seasons have made me a smarter driver and that’s important,” said Pither.

Pither joins three other former V8 Ute Champions in moving into V8 Supercars including: two- time champions Warren Luff and Damien White, and 2006 Champion Marcus Zukanovic.

Other V8 Ute drivers to step up to V8 Supercars include: George Miedecke, Grant Denyer, James Moffat, Nandi Kiss, Gary MacDonald, Luke Youlden and Dean Canto.

Pither will be at the opening round of both the V8 Supercar and the 2013 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All Season at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide Thursday, 28th February – Sunday, 3rd March.

-    Ends –
For more information please contact:
Erin Bain
SPHERIX category managers of Australian V8 Ute Racing
07 566 89 000
0434 314 475