MOTORSPORTS

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FULL METAL RACKET

The Metal Mickey Motorsport team will soon have two exhibition vehicles campaigning at a variety of venues from the middle of this year. Team owners Graham "Zooman" Slapp and his wife Oanh have been beating the bushes in a search for an alternative driver to cover overlapping dates when their cars are booked at different venues or Graham is tied up with his oil field consultancy work in Vietnam.

"Ratzilla", the twin-engine Fiat Topolino tyre smoker, and the "Hell Raiser" wheelstander are not balls-out race cars but they do present unique challenges for the pilot, and require a quite unnatural driving style to get down the track safely.

The specimen that caught the Zooman's eye is the highly decorated Greg "Grump" Leahy - two time Australian Champion and national record holder in very competitive Competition classes. The Grump had been sitting out the season after selling his award winning B/Altered, and quickly kitted himself out when offered a test drive of the twin engined tyre shredder.

"I was looking for someone who has demonstrated a high level of skill as a driver, shows respect for machinery, and can present well for the team," explained the Zooman. "Greg has amply demonstrated his qualifications in all respects but I can tell you, his usual politeness evaporated when it came time to strap into Ratzilla - not once did he say to me, 'No, no, after you, I insist.' So I'll have to pull rank occasionally."

Leahy tested Ratzilla at Willowbank just after the Nationals in an experience he says also tested the adequacy of the word awesome! "This is a great opportunity," said Leahy. "To be asked to be involved with such na professional and publicly visible team as Metal Mickey and the Zooman is an honour. We feel these cars will become the next major motorsport attraction in Australia, so these are very exciting times."

Further licensing passes in the tyre smoker are planned for Leahy over the next couple of months. Slapp and Leahy shall also both submit to the tutelage of American wheelstander ace Chuck Swift next month to license in the fully rebuilt blown Hemi "Hell Raiser" wheelstander.

When "Hell Raiser" joins "Ratzilla" on the track soon, there should be plenty of seat time available for both these desperadoes, with the cars travelling independently to their gigs in custom-built containers.