Dave "Sideways" Sieders hits the curbs hard at Sydney Olympic Park en route to the champsionship |
With the brief exception of the El Camino and Ford Ranchero of the 1960s and 1970s, Americans have never really embraced the concept of a coupe front half, and a smaller open truck bed for the back half. There’s actually a term in the automotive industry to describe these vehicles: Coupe Utility.
One place that’s long accepted the Coupe Utility concept is Australia, where they’re referred to as Utes. And while some Utes Down Under are used to drive from Sheep Stations (ranches) into town, Utes with big V8s have also been tearing up the streets of Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and every town in-between for decades.
So popular has the high-performance Ute category become, they have their own racing series starting in 2001. Run in conjunction with the Australian V8 Supercar Series, the V8 Utes race in eight events over the course of the season, including the world-famous Mount Panorama Circuit at Bathurst. Each round is based on a three race format with race two formatted as a reverse grid which can vary depending on the number drawn from a ballot. Race three’s grid is determined by the finishing positions from race one and two.
32 Utes start each race, 16 from Ford and 16 from GM's brand "down under" Holden, all V8 powered |
Engines used in the series are the 5.0 L V8s in Fords and the GM 5.7 L V8s in the Holden Utes. Engines are maintained by an approved supplier and various components of the engine are sealed to make certain parts have not been changed. Modifications to the suspension, chassis, or really any other part of the Ute are strictly limited. All V8 Utes utilize K&N oil and air filters as part of a series sponsorship.
Which takes us to K&N Filters-supported driver Dave "Sideways" Sieders (each driver is assigned a nickname by the series to be more fan friendly). Sieders set new Australian V8 Ute Racing Series qualifying and race lap records on his way to winning the 2016 Australian Ute Championship at the Sydney Olympic circuit in his Mango Credit Holden, the last time the controversial street circuit will be used for auto racing.
While setting the qualifying lap record at the Sydney street circuit by eight-tenths of a second in the first round of qualifying, Sieders didn't make the rest of qualifying easy on himself. He flew down an escape road in the V8 Utes' top ten session on his first flying lap, but managed to cross the line for a second lap locking in his time from the first session and in doing so capturing his 19th career pole position.
After years of coming close, Sieders celebrates a well-earned championship on the Sydney podium |
"I like to add a bit of excitement by leaving my run to the last minute," joked Sieders, "this is the last time we'll get to race around here, and today we set a qualifying benchmark that can't ever be taken away".
By that Sieders means that the Utes that Ford and GM (Holden) have been building in Australia for decades have been discontinued, so it’s the end of the line for the V8 Ute Series. In its place will be a series for mid-sized four-door pickups (like the Chevy Colorado) named SuperUtes and powered by diesel engines.
Sieders entered the V8 Ute Series in 2010, taking the first of his 19 pole positions on his inaugural weekend. He became a regular in the series, finishing second in the championship three times and taking one third. His tally is 28 race wins and 14 qualifying round wins. He changed makes from Ford to Holden before he finally clinched the 2016 Australian V8 Ute Racing Championship in race two at the final race weekend of the season (and the series) at Sydney Olympic Park Street Circuit. Sieders also broke Ford's streak of four consecutive championships, giving the last title to Holden (GM).
A championship driver needs a championship crew, and here are the brains and brawn of the team |
"It's definitely been a lot of hard work to finally win this title," said Sieders, "We've always gone out with the goal of winning races, and being the fastest car on track, and this year it finally all went together".
"It's taken so much to get here, I just don't think it has really sunk in yet," said Sieders, "it's amazing to think of everything we have achieved, the frustrations and the celebrations, it really has been a great journey".
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