James Golding and Aaron Cameron discuss their strong partnership and the improvements made by Blanchard Racing Team during the off-season. They reflect on their contrasting driving styles and how that complements their teamwork. The duo shares insights into the meticulous car preparation, the confidence boost from a successful first round at Sydney Motorsport Park, and their focus on consistency moving forward. They also touch on overcoming challenges, including James' recent crash, and the positive morale within the team as they aim to build on early success and avoid being a one-hit wonder.
"so they've completely shipped the cars back to just chassis only. A lot of teams just go buy a new chassis but we believe in supercars and the original chassis."
The chassis is like the car's skeleton that holds everything together. Race teams sometimes fix or replace it to keep the car strong and safe.
The chassis is the main structural frame of a car, providing the foundation to which all other components are attached. In racing, teams often rebuild or replace the chassis to maintain performance and safety.
"A lot of teams just go buy a new chassis but we believe in supercars and the original chassis."
Supercars are very fast and special cars made for great performance. Here, it means the kind of race cars they are working on.
Supercars are high-performance sports cars known for speed, advanced technology, and exclusivity. In this context, it likely refers to the type of race cars being discussed.
"who's now got an Audi junior development contract and so on."
This means Audi helps young race drivers by giving them support and chances to race and get better.
A junior development contract is a program where a car manufacturer supports and develops young racing drivers, providing resources and opportunities to progress through motorsport ranks.
MotoGP is the top motorcycle racing series where the fastest bikes and best riders race on special tracks.
MotoGP is the premier class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the FIM, featuring the fastest and most advanced racing motorcycles.
"to make it to F1 and be the next sort of Lando Norris Lewis Hamilton sort of spec guy."
Formula 1 is the top level of car racing where the fastest cars and best drivers compete around the world.
Formula 1 is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA, featuring the fastest cars and most skilled drivers in the world.
Formula 3 is a type of car racing for young drivers who want to get better and eventually race in the biggest races like Formula 1.
Formula 3 is a junior open-wheel racing category that serves as a stepping stone for drivers aiming to reach higher levels like Formula 2 and Formula 1.
"Murph built that and had some assistance with that amazing Dodge Charger. Lots of the drivers have got a little project car or one on the wish list."
The Dodge Charger is a type of car that is famous for being fast and strong. People like to fix up old Chargers and make them look and run great again.
The Dodge Charger is a classic American muscle car known for its powerful engines and aggressive styling. It has been produced in various forms since the 1960s and is popular among car enthusiasts for restoration and modification projects.
"Lots of the drivers have got a little project car or one on the wish list. Have you got something that you..."
A project car is a car that someone is fixing up or changing to make it better or to enjoy working on it. It might not be ready to drive yet.
A project car is a vehicle that someone is actively restoring, modifying, or repairing, often as a hobby or for personal satisfaction. These cars may be incomplete or in need of significant work before they are fully functional or show-worthy.
"Maybe an old go-cart that you've restored or something or other. Have you got something like that? I've got multiple."
Restoration means fixing up an old car or kart to make it look and work like new again.
Restoration is the process of repairing and returning a vehicle to its original or like-new condition. It often involves bodywork, mechanical repairs, and cosmetic improvements.
"I've got my show and title winning KZ Cart which is still in pieces and I need to put back together so I can put on the wall."
If a car or kart is show and title winning, it means it has won prizes for looking great or being very well made.
Winning a show and title refers to a vehicle that has been recognized at automotive shows or competitions for its condition, restoration quality, or performance. It indicates the vehicle is highly regarded in its category.
"I've got my show and title winning KZ Cart which is still in pieces and I need to put back together so I can put on the wall."
A KZ Cart is a small racing vehicle that people drive on special tracks. It's like a very fast go-kart used in races.
A KZ Cart is a type of go-kart used in competitive kart racing, typically featuring a 125cc two-stroke engine. It is a popular class in karting due to its speed and handling characteristics.
""I was trying to be like the mechanical sympathy type thing but I just can't do it. Every time I got them things I'd either blow an engine, blow a gearbox.""
Mechanical sympathy means being gentle with a car's parts so they don't break easily. It means driving carefully to keep the car healthy.
Mechanical sympathy refers to the understanding and careful treatment of a vehicle's mechanical components to avoid unnecessary wear or damage, often by driving in a way that reduces stress on parts like the engine and transmission.
""I literally welded a diff together. We had to grind the thing out and like... Without a welder. Yeah, exactly. It was just incredible how I do these things to these cars.""
Welding is a way to stick metal parts together by melting them so they join as one piece. It's used to fix or build car parts.
Welding is a fabrication process that joins metal parts together by melting and fusing them, often used in automotive repairs and custom modifications.
""I literally welded a diff together. We had to grind the thing out and like... Without a welder.""
A diff is a part of the car that helps the wheels turn smoothly around corners by letting them spin at different speeds.
A diff, or differential, is a mechanical component in a vehicle's drivetrain that allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds, especially important when turning corners.
""You weren't very good in the fab shop, mate. Is this true? No, exactly. I was... Don't ask the boys at me in the fab shop. I thought that was shocking.""
A fab shop is a place where people work with metal to fix or make car parts by cutting and joining metal pieces.
A fab shop is a workshop where metal fabrication is done, including cutting, welding, and assembling metal parts, often for vehicle repairs or custom builds.
""I wouldn't mind doing an old go kart. Have you kept one or you haven't known? No, actually I've still got my Australian championship winning kart.""
A go kart is a small, fast car without doors or a roof that people race for fun or competition.
A go kart is a small, lightweight racing vehicle with a simple frame and no suspension, used primarily for kart racing and as an entry-level motorsport.
"But yeah, I wouldn't mind doing like an old Ford Mustang, shall we? Like CC7 kind of thing."
The Ford Mustang is a famous car from America that many people like because it looks cool and can go really fast. It has been made for a long time and lots of people enjoy driving it.
The Ford Mustang is a classic American muscle car known for its powerful engines and iconic design. It has been produced in various generations since 1964 and remains popular among car enthusiasts.
"But yeah, I wouldn't mind doing like an old Ford Mustang, shall we? Like CC7 kind of thing."
The CC7 is a small, fast car made for racing and driving on race tracks. It's light and easy to handle, making it fun to drive.
The Brabham CC7 is a lightweight sports car designed for high performance and track use. It is known for its agility and is often used in racing or as a track day car.
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A Listener production.
G'day, it's Rusty here, all set for part two of my podcast with James Golding and Aaron Cameron,
the BRT supercars drivers coming into the studio for a fun roundtable convo
that'll give you an idea of just how well this pair is getting on
and the off-season step that the Blanchard racing team has made,
a little lit, I guess you could say, on over-enthusiasm or great expectations,
there is real positivity in that squad.
If you haven't caught part one yet, jump back to the library, give it a listen
because it sets up the early career paths that Jimmy and Aaron followed
and the hard yards that both did to make a life in motorsport genuine hard yards too.
We have a few laughs along the way. You'll enjoy listening into the conversation,
but if you are all up to date, there's only one thing to do.
Let's launch into part two then. Here we go.
I'm told, reliably, you're very inch-perfect with some things.
Some might even say a little OCD. Is this true? Is this true?
You mean CDO? OCD in alphabetical order.
Very good, I like that.
No, I don't think I'll do that. Definitely a little bit.
For me, it's obviously my background as a mechanic from Gary Rogers.
The feedback, I believe, that I can give the team of what's going on with the cars.
Pretty handy. That's something that, as we started the conversation
and mine said in all that early days, there was times where
I was probably getting too involved, thinking too much about that
when I needed to be thinking more about the driving.
Really found that happy medium over the last five to six years
of where that needs to be and being able to give the team the info they need
to make the car as best possible for me.
Then obviously working with Aaron as well.
He's super fast. I knew that going into this season was going to be a good combo
because we go about it a bit differently.
I know that Camo jumps in and just sends it, which is good too.
He doesn't think too much about the technical side of it
because sometimes you can be thinking about that
and if you have someone just go out and drive fast,
they can prove whether it's good or bad.
They might not be able to tell you when, why, or how it happened.
It's just another lot of data and then I can back up
what I'm feeling to him as well.
I think that's going to make us a strong combo as well.
Do you feel like this is a yin and yang thing that you're working quite collaboratively,
working well with a pair of you? It seems like you are.
Yeah, I reckon it's going grouse.
There's a word we don't use often enough anymore.
It's just such a good...
He described it so well that he's probably more into describing it perfectly
where I'm a bit more laid back and don't really...
Obviously I care about the result but I just want to get in there
and I'll just drive the car to whatever it's got
and then give some basic feedback and then afterwards me and him
and the team can really decipher about what's going on
and look, it's probably the same with...
I felt a big difference with Richie coming on board for the weekend.
I've got Zac Best as my co-driver but just having those guys around
and that extra feedback with someone of Richie's experience has been a big help
and yeah, I'm really excited...
It's only we're only one round him but I'm really excited
for what we're all going to do this year I think.
I really believe in this team.
I often don't use the word ingredients right,
but it is the sum of all these different parts from understanding maybe
let's say like triple A traits,
let's say the investment by the bland charts,
let's say the personnel involved
and we always say 1% is doing the 1% is better
but it seems like over summer there's been this another step at BRT, yeah?
Yeah, 100%.
I think we got a lot of people on board during last year
and figuring it all out but when you're in the middle of a race
it's hard to actually implement a lot of big change
and so the boys haven't had much break over the Christmas
so they've completely shipped the cars back to just chassis only.
A lot of teams just go buy a new chassis
but we believe in supercars and the original chassis.
It's like originally it was out and everything, it was like everything.
The whole thing completely just steel, got repainted
and yeah, they've just built everything
and both mechanics on each car working on both sides
just making sure the cars are exactly the same
and I think that's a big part of why our feedback is so similar
is because the cars are exactly the same
except for some buttons that Jimmy keeps moving in the car.
A few colours here and there that aren't in line with the rainbow.
When did you think then, I mean it's only one round
and that's your little caveat, right?
But when did you realise, hey, we've clicked here,
we might be onto something good for Sydney Motorsport Park?
Was it Thursday? Was it before you even got there?
When did you...
It was when we were starting on the front row, agreed together.
Yeah, I actually, I had a good feeling heading into the first round
and I thought that we were in a good place, we were going to have a good round
but to do that round one as well, like honestly
I was heading into this year hoping that we'd be...
I was targeting where we are now at the end of the year.
So to roll out there, I don't know, it's only one round but...
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