Mark Skaife - legend
August 3rd 2007 11:45
Originally posted on 27 July 2007 on www.orble.com/v8-supercars
For the last twenty years, Australian motor sport has been honoured to include within its ranks the skill and experience of the one and only Mark Skaife.
As Holden Racing Team owner and championship round wins record holder, Skaife is a familiar face around the V8 Supercars paddock. And with five championships and five Bathurst wins under his belt, it’s easy to see just why he’s considered one of the most successful touring car drivers in Australia.
Like many other V8 Supercar drivers, Skaife started off racing Karts before moving up to cars in 1984 at the age of 17. Success began early for the young Mark Skaife with three consecutive Australian Drivers’ Championships in the Formula Brabham open-wheeler category.
By 1987 Skaife had moved on to driving Nissans and was already showing his natural skill, winning the Australian Two Litre Touring Car Championship that year. By 1991, Skaife had become the man to beat, winning the Australian Drivers’ Championship in a Spa FB003 Holden and coming second in the Touring Car Championship in a Nissan Skyline. In 1992, Skaife competed in the Australian Touring Car Championship and Bathurst, with Gibson Motorsports, winning both, in addition to the Australian Drivers’ Championship.
In 1993 the Australian Touring Car Championship was transformed into V8 Touring cars and Holden and Ford became the dominant players in the category. Upon its inception, Skaife and Gibson Motorsport contended the category, enjoying a number of productive years together.
In 1998 the retirement of a legend saw another move for Skaife when he took Peter Brock’s place in the Holden Racing Team. This proved to be a beneficial move, both for Skaife and the team with a third placing in the event on his first year with the team.
An awesome run of unbeatable driving saw Skaife take out the championship for three consecutive years in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Wins at Bathurst in 2001 and 2002 cemented the experienced driver’s reputation as the best in the business.
In 2003 Mark took over ownership of the Holden Racing Team and in an attempt to juggle the responsibilities of team owner and premier driver, his racing suffered as only two round victories came his way in two seasons. Skaifey fans began to worry … would the master ever return?
2004 brought with it a different kind of honour for Mark Skaife. Round wins in the V8 Supercar series may have been few and far between but on Australia Day, Mark was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to motorsport and the community.
Skaife was understandably thrilled and surprised about the award, "when you see the list of well known Australians that have been awarded OAM's,” he said, “it is a great honour to be part of that group and at the same time, a very humbling experience. When you start out on your chosen career path, you are just trying to establish yourself and attain some degree of success so, awards and recognition of this nature is the last thing on your mind!
"It's a great accolade and I'm proud to think that what I've achieved career wise has allowed me to be in a position to put something back into the community - as we have with some of our charitable activities."
Recent years have seen Mark put his energy into a successful charity golf event on the Central Coast of New South Wales, where he was born, as well as giving much support to Ronald MacDonald House in the area.
By 2005 the old Mark Skaife was back, winning Bathurst along with team mate Todd Kelly, and mounting a strong challenge for the championship. In 2006 a series of bad luck and mechanical issues saw Mark drop to 16th in the championship, topped off with a disastrous showing in the Bathurst 1000 when he was involved in a first lap tussle with youngster Jack Perkins which ended his race almost before it had begun.
In a race that was dedicated to ‘King of the Mountain’ Peter Brock, following his untimely death a couple of months before, Mark Skaife was visibly upset by his early exit from the race, wanting to dedicate a win to his good friend and racing hero.
This season has seen Mark Skaife back to his best, vying for the championship and driving with experience, professionalism and great speed. Another honour was gained in June 2007 when Skaifey won the Eastern Creek round of the championship and finally claimed the record for the most round wins in the Touring Car category. Since April 2006 he had been level with Peter Brock on 37 round wins. Eastern creek 2007 was his 38th.
Mark Skaife is one of the most respected and professional of all the V8 Supercar drivers. At just forty years of age he should have many more productive driving years in front of him and I, for one, will be cheering him on for many years to come.
Mark Skaife's car racing in Western Australia: photo by Martin Pot (http://martybugs.net), used with permission
Photo of Mark Skaife courtesy of www.holdenmotorsport.com
For the last twenty years, Australian motor sport has been honoured to include within its ranks the skill and experience of the one and only Mark Skaife.
As Holden Racing Team owner and championship round wins record holder, Skaife is a familiar face around the V8 Supercars paddock. And with five championships and five Bathurst wins under his belt, it’s easy to see just why he’s considered one of the most successful touring car drivers in Australia.
Mark Skaife racing in Western Australia 2007 image courtesy of Martin Pot
Like many other V8 Supercar drivers, Skaife started off racing Karts before moving up to cars in 1984 at the age of 17. Success began early for the young Mark Skaife with three consecutive Australian Drivers’ Championships in the Formula Brabham open-wheeler category.
By 1987 Skaife had moved on to driving Nissans and was already showing his natural skill, winning the Australian Two Litre Touring Car Championship that year. By 1991, Skaife had become the man to beat, winning the Australian Drivers’ Championship in a Spa FB003 Holden and coming second in the Touring Car Championship in a Nissan Skyline. In 1992, Skaife competed in the Australian Touring Car Championship and Bathurst, with Gibson Motorsports, winning both, in addition to the Australian Drivers’ Championship.
In 1993 the Australian Touring Car Championship was transformed into V8 Touring cars and Holden and Ford became the dominant players in the category. Upon its inception, Skaife and Gibson Motorsport contended the category, enjoying a number of productive years together.
In 1998 the retirement of a legend saw another move for Skaife when he took Peter Brock’s place in the Holden Racing Team. This proved to be a beneficial move, both for Skaife and the team with a third placing in the event on his first year with the team.
An awesome run of unbeatable driving saw Skaife take out the championship for three consecutive years in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Wins at Bathurst in 2001 and 2002 cemented the experienced driver’s reputation as the best in the business.
In 2003 Mark took over ownership of the Holden Racing Team and in an attempt to juggle the responsibilities of team owner and premier driver, his racing suffered as only two round victories came his way in two seasons. Skaifey fans began to worry … would the master ever return?
2004 brought with it a different kind of honour for Mark Skaife. Round wins in the V8 Supercar series may have been few and far between but on Australia Day, Mark was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to motorsport and the community.
Skaife was understandably thrilled and surprised about the award, "when you see the list of well known Australians that have been awarded OAM's,” he said, “it is a great honour to be part of that group and at the same time, a very humbling experience. When you start out on your chosen career path, you are just trying to establish yourself and attain some degree of success so, awards and recognition of this nature is the last thing on your mind!
"It's a great accolade and I'm proud to think that what I've achieved career wise has allowed me to be in a position to put something back into the community - as we have with some of our charitable activities."
Recent years have seen Mark put his energy into a successful charity golf event on the Central Coast of New South Wales, where he was born, as well as giving much support to Ronald MacDonald House in the area.
By 2005 the old Mark Skaife was back, winning Bathurst along with team mate Todd Kelly, and mounting a strong challenge for the championship. In 2006 a series of bad luck and mechanical issues saw Mark drop to 16th in the championship, topped off with a disastrous showing in the Bathurst 1000 when he was involved in a first lap tussle with youngster Jack Perkins which ended his race almost before it had begun.
In a race that was dedicated to ‘King of the Mountain’ Peter Brock, following his untimely death a couple of months before, Mark Skaife was visibly upset by his early exit from the race, wanting to dedicate a win to his good friend and racing hero.
This season has seen Mark Skaife back to his best, vying for the championship and driving with experience, professionalism and great speed. Another honour was gained in June 2007 when Skaifey won the Eastern Creek round of the championship and finally claimed the record for the most round wins in the Touring Car category. Since April 2006 he had been level with Peter Brock on 37 round wins. Eastern creek 2007 was his 38th.
Mark Skaife is one of the most respected and professional of all the V8 Supercar drivers. At just forty years of age he should have many more productive driving years in front of him and I, for one, will be cheering him on for many years to come.
Photo courtesy of www.holdenmotorsport.com
Mark Skaife's car racing in Western Australia: photo by Martin Pot (http://martybugs.net), used with permission
Photo of Mark Skaife courtesy of www.holdenmotorsport.com
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